Page 99 of Jesse

“I’m saying it’s not your fault. You were just… the deal.”

“What deal?”

“The one Dad and Uncle Chuck made when you were born.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?” I snap.

“They had to make a trade, OK? Dad and Uncle Chuck. To get this business they had to give something up, and that something was you.” He stares at me. “And Mom.”

“Mom? Dude, I’m not following.”

“You’re the black sheep and not because you’re the black sheep. You’re just… a way to redirect the heat off everyone else.” He leans back in his chair again as these words echo in my head. “Not me, of course. I guess I got lucky. No one gives any fucks at all about me as long as I play my part. You are the reason Johnny can do his job. And honestly, he’s not gonna be upset about this. He’s probably upstairs celebrating right now.”

“What. The fuck. Are you talking about?”

“You really don’t know, do you? All these years living in this building, underneath the shadow of Dad and Johnny, and you never did figure it out.”

I’m not going to repeat myself a third time. So I say nothing.

“Just play along if you want. But I’m here to say, I’m out. I’m done. I’m moving on. I’m not even looking back. Johnny can go fuck himself because I’ve got a life and I’m gonna stop running, and hiding, and start living it.”

It is in this moment that I realize… I don’t know my brothers. I don’t know a goddamned thing about them.

“The story’s good,” Joey continues, rubbing his hands up and down his face like he’s tired. And he looks tired. He looks like shit, actually. He might’ve been wearing a suit earlier but right now he’s just in dark slacks and a white button-down that’s only halfway tucked in. His sleeves are rolled up and he’s got several days’ worth of stubble on his face.

I’m just about to ask him if he’s OK again when he continues. “Deny it, of course. That’s expected. But not too hard. Let everyone be suspicious. Let that Dumas woman take your heat and clean it up for you. Just… stay away from her from now on and everything will be fine. You can go back to being…” He waves his hand in the air. “Whoever the fuck you are.”

And that’s when the doors open and Zach appears with Emma at his side.

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE - EMMA

The Bossy lobby wasn’t empty when I entered. It’s Monday now. Late, sure. But it’s a work day and there were half a dozen security guards standing between me and Jesse Boston.

They didn’t approach me, just glared at me as I approached them. I told them I was here for Jesse, they had a little meeting, and then I guess Zach was summoned, because that’s who showed up to escort me upstairs.

Didn’t even say hello. Just waved me through that security archway thing and led me to the elevators.

The silence continued as we walked into the lobby and then turned to enter Jesse’s apartment.

When I enter I notice two things.

One. Joey Boston is here with Jesse.

And two. They both look like shit. So shitty, in fact, I begin to worry about them and I’m just about to ask if they’re OK when Joey stands up and says, “I’ll leave you to it. Gonna go get this over with upstairs before I change my mind.” Then he looks at Zach and says, “Come with me. I could use the support.”

Jesse looks at Zach. Hell, I look at Zach too. And Zach just shrugs and follows Joey down the hallway. There’s that telltale beeping sound I remember from when Jesse opened up the fire stairs last night, then the door bangs closed and I take my attention back to the reason I’m here.

“You can’t be here,” Jesse says.

“Well, I am here,” I say, huffing the words out with frustration. “And you’re going to listen to me.”

“I’m sorry,” he says.

But I put up a hand. “Just save it. I don’t care that you drugged me. I probably deserved that. Wiping the slate clean now, OK? New day.”

He glances at the windows.

“I know it’s night. Don’t get all specific on me. I have things to say.”