Page 29 of Diamonds in the Mud

I could have exploded right then and there. Would have if not for her cell phone ringing in the pocket of her jacket.

“Shit.” She leaned her forehead against mine. “Don’t speak,” she warned as she pulled the phone out and answered the call.

“Yeah?” she practically barked into the phone. “When?” She waited. “Shit. Okay, yeah, I’ll be there in ten.” She hung up. “This has been fun,” she said, running her eyes over my face. “How do I reach you?”

I smiled and took her phone from her and entered my private cell number. “Leave a message. I’ll get it.” I handed her the phone back.

She took it and then leaned in and rubbed her lips across mine. I cupped her butt one last time and then watched as she climbed out of my lap, grabbed her jacket, and left without another word.

Shit. I leaned back in the chair and had to take a full five minutes to calm the fuck down after the napalm she’d just set off in my system.

Since I was there, I unlocked the hidden safe in the floorboard, pulled out the duplicate phone, and called Jasmine.

“Updates?” Jasmine answered on the first ring.

“I let a local badge in on the operation,” I said.

Jasmine was quiet for a moment. “Your cop?”

“Rayne,” I answered.

“She’s the one you had me look into. The daughter of the COP,” Jasmine said. She was quiet for a moment, no doubt re-reading every detail of Rayne’s life, much like I had done several times since meeting her. “Okay, what did you tell her?”

“Nothing about why I’m here. Just that I’m DEA.”

Jasmine was quiet. “Fine. I can set up a meet and drop?”

“No need. I’ll fill her in, if and when it becomes necessary.”

Jasmine was quiet. “Is this going to be a problem?”

“Nope,” I said quickly.

“Jameson, I know you’ve been under a long while. If you need time…”

“I’m good,” I said, growing a little agitated. “Really,” I added a little softer. “We agree that whatever this is, it can’t get in the way of why I’m here.”

I heard Jasmine sigh. “Okay, keep me updated. Is there any other reason you’re calling me?”

“There’s a shipment coming into town later this week. I don’t know the details yet, but something big is happening.” I looked out the windows as the rain started falling harder. “When I know more, I’ll send it to you.”

“Good. Jameson?”

“Yeah?”

“Be careful.” She hung up.

“Yeah,” I said, shutting off the phone and putting it back in the safe.

I sat in the chair, watching the rain until it let up some, and then headed back into town.

Since I was off work for the rest of the day, I drove to the bar where I knew some of the Reapers would be. Sure enough, everyone was there except Ben and Declan.

I tried to nurse a beer for the next few hours but was thankful for the burger when Ben finally showed up and bought a couple of rounds for the entire crew.

Everyone seemed to be in a good mood, which made me very cautious for the rest of the night. Then Declan showed up with Evelyn in tow, and the cheerful attitude changed.

The guy was already drunk, and from the bruises covering Evelyn’s face and arms, it appeared that he’d started on her before they’d arrived.