I drop the file on the coffee table and wait for her while she ducks into the bathroom to clean up. When she reemerges, she crosses the room to stand a few feet away from me, and it’s too fucking far. I want her closer. Ialwayswant her closer.
“Come here.” I pat the seat beside me on the leather sofa.
Although I’m sure she hates being told what to do, she obliges without hesitation. I’ll do damn near anything to make sure she always knows she can come to me.
However, there’s still one thing we need to clear up when it comes to getting her vengeance.
“I’ll help you find whoever took out your father, but you’re going to promise me that we make the decision together as to what we do with that information.”
Her lips press together, and she stays quiet for a solid thirty seconds before replying. “Okay. But what if you’re wrong and Dom did it ...”
“He didn’t. He hasn’t pulled a trigger or done wet work in over a decade, Memphis.” To her credit, and probably due to her research and investigations, she doesn’t ask what wet work is.
A single eyebrow raises, and she tilts her head. “But if he gave the order—”
“Let’s find out what the evidence shows first, and then we’ll go from there.” I push a stray lock of her dark hair over her shoulder. “If I told you right now that I’ll put him away no matter what we find, you’d know I was full of shit. Right?”
She inclines her chin, and I keep going.
“But I’m not full of shit. I’ve lived on the edge my whole life. The edge of crime. The edge of respectability. I know how to walk that line between two worlds, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do with you. Let me be your guide to this shit. Because I swear to God, I won’t let you risk yourself by rushing to Dom right now, demanding to know if he had anything to do with it.”
Looking for any way I can to ease her stress, I slide my hand to the back of her neck and knead her muscles. Her eyelids flutter for a second, and her body relaxes enough to confirm it was the right move.
“But what are you going to do if we find out he gave the order?” Her voice is strong, although her eyes are becoming hazy from my movements.
I’m glad she’s not cowed by me, because that’s the opposite of what I want. I want her to have every goddamned thing she wants, but only if we can do it safely. Her head rolls when I add a second hand and massage her collarbone and upper arms as we sit face-to-face.
“Then we’ll go to Dom, and I’ll give him an ultimatum.”
One curious eye peeks open. “What kind of ultimatum?”
“He turns over the name of the man who pulled the trigger, and that man will face justice one way or another. Then Dom steps down and retires.”
“Or else what?”
“Baby, the mob doesn’t give you options. If we make a move on Dom, that’s hisonlyoption.”
Memphis’s shoulders jerk back. “And you think he’ll go with it? Retire and turn over a name that we can hand to the DA? And whoever pulled the trigger goes to prison?”
Memphis only retreated a few inches, but I pull her back and continue working on her knotted muscles. “Let’s go through the evidence first. We’ll answer all those questions once we know exactly what we’re working with.” I give her a jostle to make sure she’s really listening and add, “And no more fucking running away.”
She bites down on her lip for a beat before replying. “I shouldn’t have done that. I ... It’s been a lot lately. I...”
When she trails off, I clasp her hand between both of mine.
“You what?”
Her whole body shudders before she replies. “I lost the battle between fight or flight.” Her gaze drops to her lap. “I didn’t want you to see me break. It’s not something I’d want anyone to see.”
I swear to Christ my heart clenches, and I can’t help it—I haul her into my lap and tilt her chin up to meet my eyes.
“I can handle anything you throw at me.Anything.If you think you’re gonna break, you tell me, and I’ll hold you together. That’s what this is. You and me. The real thing.” A tear tilts over her lid, and I sweep it away with my thumb. “I can even handle your tears.”
I place a kiss on her lips and soak up the moment. Holding her against me. Feeling her heat. Knowing she’s mine.
Against my shoulder, she whispers, “You’re better to me than I deserve. Thank you.”
I pull back so I can meet her gaze once more. “No. This is exactly what you deserve. I’m on your team. I got you. Now, let’s look at the pictures and see what we can figure out so we can put this to rest and move on with both our lives. Deal?”