“That isn’t me,” Jamie said instantly, not even glancing at the phone. He knew what was on it and knew exactly what he’d done.
“No?” I turned the phone to Grant. “That look like that fucker on the couch there to you?”
Grant smirked. “Sure does.”
“I-It isn’t what it looks like,” Jamie countered, trying a new angle. Nothing was going to save him, though. “I was j-just—”
“Save your breath. You’ve been outed by more than just camera feeds.” And those camera feeds showed him stealing, not that I needed proof of it. Lyra’s words had been enough.
“I swear, I—”
“Hayes.” I jutted my chin. “Hands.”
Hayes stepped forward with a twisted grin, forcing Jamie to cower deeper into the couch.
“I’ll go! I’ll even sign the papers your lawyer sent, giving you the company, I swear. Just leave me the fuck alone!”
I tsked. “Pretty sure I told you to do the same for my wife, and you ignored me.”
Hayes shuffled closer.
“Please! I swear, I-I’ll leave first thing in the morning.”
“Now,” I corrected. “You will leavenowand if I catch you around these parts ever again, you won’t have only me to worry about. Think these boys here want you to pay for all the trouble you’re tryin’ to start just as well as I do.”
“I didn’t do a damn thing to them,” Jamie spat.
“You hurt my wife. Stole from me. Tried to weasel your way out of a bet you lost. Someone like that will only get worse. What happens when you decide you want what they have?”
Hayes scowled, gripping his crowbar tighter.
Jamie’s eyes narrowed on his clenching fists. “I wouldn’t—”
“You keep sayin’ that.” I leaned down, rubbing the back of my chain-covered knuckles over the wetness on his cheeks as I chuckled. “But we don’t believe you.” He whimpered right before I reared back and slammed the same fist into his cheek.
Blood spat from Jamie’s mouth near Grant’s boot. Grant’s knuckles turned white on the bat, and with a single nod from yours truly, he swung it into Jamie's chest, forcing him flat on the couch. As Hayes raised his crowbar, Jamie lifted his hand. “Stop! Stop! Please!”
“Beg,” I ordered. “And maybe I’ll give you a ten second head start.”
“Fucking shit, Carver. You know I won’t do it anymore!”
“Ten, nine, eight,” I started counting as Hayes slung the crowbar over his shoulders, resting his wrists over the metal, looking more unhinged than the friend on my left who had murder on his record.
An excellent choice in asking both to come, if you ask me.
“Seven, six,” Grant continued.
Jamie scrambled to his feet while Hayes picked up the count.
The front door slammed shut, and by the time he hit one, a truck’s engine roared to life.
We strode outside and watched Jamie’s nerves get the better of him, his truck going in and out of gear as the tires spun in place. Hayes stepped up and swung his crowbar over the headlights, while Grant dented the hood with his bat. None of us seemed to care about discretion anymore in the desolate streets.
Jamie slammed his hands into his wheel as I stepped up and swung the chain at my side, cocking my brow.
Waiting.
And waiting.
