Safe in My Arms by Janice Sims

Author:Janice Sims
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2014-09-15T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

Even though Jake’s cover was blown, he was still on the Charlie Betts case, and the following week he went to two funerals in the line of duty.

The first was John Monahan’s. Jake had been the one to break the news of John’s death to his widow, Lynn. She was already aware that John was trying to give up his life of crime and had been hopeful he’d succeed. Jake had been happy to confirm John’s intentions and at least give her something to feel proud about. So, on this rainy day, when he showed up at the graveside memorial, Lynn had given him a wan smile and a nod of acknowledgment.

Jake was also there to observe. He had not expected Charlie Betts to put in an appearance, but the short, stocky, impeccably dressed criminal had walked up with two bodyguards in tow, one holding an umbrella over him while the other brought up the rear. When Charlie first spotted Jake he frowned and narrowed his eyes at him, a sneer twisting his thin lips. But then his facial features relaxed, and he smiled at him and mouthed, “Asshole.”

Jake kept his expression neutral. He didn’t want to antagonize Betts at John’s funeral and end up in a brawl. It was disrespectful, and Lynn had gone through enough.

Charlie chose to keep things low-key, as well, during the service. However, later, as Jake was walking to his car, Betts and his bodyguards waylaid him.

Jake turned and faced them. “It was so nice of you to come and pay your respects to the man you killed.”

Charlie had dirty-blond hair like his younger brother, Danny, but his was cut by an expensive stylist. Everything about him said money, but to Jake, no amount of money could wipe away the stench of corruption.

Charlie sighed as though he were tired. “You can talk. You killed my brother.”

“No, Charlie,” Jake disagreed, “you killed your brother. When you brought him into your business, you signed his death warrant. He gave me a message to deliver to you. He said, ‘Tell Charlie I died like a man.’”

For a second, Jake thought he saw a modicum of regret in Charlie Betts’s gaze when he heard his brother’s last words. Then those cold blue eyes got even colder, and Betts said through clenched teeth, “You’ll pay for killing my brother.”

“I’m already paying,” Jake told him. “Every day I have to live with the fact that Danny used me to commit suicide. You see, he couldn’t face prison, and he definitely couldn’t face you. Now, you live with that, Charlie.”

Charlie leaned toward Jake, and following his cue, his bodyguards put their hands on their concealed weapons. They were waiting for the go-ahead from Charlie. Jake briefly wondered if they were bold enough to shoot him down in a cemetery filled with mourners.

But Charlie gestured for his bodyguards to stand down. The men relaxed and returned to their power stances on either side of him.

Jake didn’t relax, though. He was ready to defend himself, if that’s what it came to.

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