Throwaway by Heather Huffman

Author:Heather Huffman
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: romance, crime, organized crime, ozarks, st louis, heather huffman, throwaway, cherokee street, jesse james
Publisher: Heather Huffman

Chapter Twelve

Mother Nature was kind enough to cater to Jessie’s mood the next morning. A gray, cold drizzle had settled over the city. She went through the motions of making Spence’s breakfast and listening to his random thoughts on life as they played another round of Rummy.

The drizzle turned into a steady rain and Jessie excused herself to go lie down. She noticed a flashing red light on the cell phone when she pulled her book out of the drawer by her bed. Tears burned her eyes as she listened to the message from Gabe three times before grudgingly erasing it. She didn’t want someone stumbling across his assurances that all would be well or his reminder that he loved her.

She curled up with the phone, letting the rain and the memories lull her to sleep. Her subconscious was given room to play, and in her dreams Gabe’s rich laughter still rumbled. His voice stroked her weary spirit. His hands were there to comfort and arouse.

Commotion erupted in the loft, causing Jessie to shoot up from the bed. Vance burst into her room, his expression dire.

“What did you do?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she struggled to clear her head of the nap-induced fog.

“Coleman was arrested today; three girls were removed from his property. The warehouse was raided. Aleksandar is on the warpath. He thinks he has a mole.”

“And the first place he’s looking is at the guy that was skimming cash? Does he really think Spence is that stupid?”

“Oh he doesn’t think Spence is the mole—he thinks Spence is the one dumb enough to let a pretty woman get the best of him.”

“Oh,” she absorbed that information. “You should leave. Distance yourself from me.”

“I’m not going anywhere. There’s no time even if I wanted to—I’m surprised I beat them here.”

“What did you think would happen?” She held his eyes for a moment. “Spence was dead anyway. Don’t put this at my feet.”

“What’s at your feet?” Spence leaned heavily against her doorframe.

“Aleksandar’s boys are on their way over. They think Jessie is working with the cops,” Vance answered.

“Are you?” Spence’s voice was low and calm.

Jessie instinctively put the bed in between them as her gaze met his.

“I see,” he took a deep breath. “I really should have seen that one coming.”

“What you’re doing isn’t right. Those girls… they aren’t property. They’re people.”

“No, they’re Aleksandar’s property. Just like you’re my property.”

“You’ve been so close to human this week, I almost forgot,” her jaw jutted defiantly.

“Where is he?” Vance interrupted, demanding Jessie’s attention. “Does he have a way to extract you?”

“He’s in Afghanistan… well, on his way.”

Vance muttered a terse expletive under his breath. “So he let you do his dirty work and left you to face the fallout?”

“It’s not like that.”

“Who’s he?” Spence frowned.

“What is it like?” Vance demanded. “How the hell am I supposed to get you out of here?”

“I’ll get myself out.”

“You did this for some guy?” Color flooded Spence’s face and he trembled with rage. He made a lunge for Jessie, falling short of his goal.

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