She pressed her phone. “Patrick…” her voice failed her again, but she refused to cry. She was not fucking crying. “We’ve got to go back to the drawing board.”
“What’s your twenty?” Patrick’s voice echoed in the hall as she exited the building.
“Leaving now. Headed to your house tonight. We’ll talk then.”
Her thoughts were so jumbled she didn’t even know what emotions she had.
This changed everything.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Red Hands
The weekend after the meeting with Agent Harris, the one where he bent her over and shoved a pole up her ass, she had plans to spend the night with Millie. A nice, quiet, wine-heavy girls’ night was exactly what she needed. No boys allowed.
When she’d told George what happened with Harris, he couldn’t believe it and made her conference call Greg; they talked for an hour about what her legal options were. It wasn’t very pretty. Patrick had been less surprised and listened to her rant about the FBI and the ATF; they drank and then passed out. Millie was at a reception on the Hill that night, and without her around, she and Patrick were able to talk frankly about her situation. He’d called it “their” situation, but she knew it was hers—it wasn’t his, or theirs, and she was trying to come up with a solution.
Stella took a sip of her third glass of wine and pushed her empty plate across the coffee table. She and Millie were lounging in the den watching Pitch Perfect, laughing hysterically and decompressing from her horrific week. Billy was out of town all month for an investigation in Chicago and Patrick was in Atlanta with Jesse, doing God knew what at football parties. Stella had met Millie at their house after work and made one of the meals she could cook, eggplant rollatini and a salad. She was looking forward to a night without talking about anything heavy, just chick flicks and wine.
“Okay, that had to be one of the funniest movies I’ve seen in a while,” Stella said, picking up their dinner plates.
“I liked the No Diggity part,” Millie agreed, taking a sip of her wine. “So what now? Do you want a romantic comedy? There’s one with Justin Timberlake—let’s watch that one. We could mute it and pause it when he has his shirt off.”
Stella’s laugh rang through the house. “Or we could drink every time we want him to break into song.”
“It’s not a fucking musical.”
“It doesn’t matter. When I see him I see him with the frosted curly hair and the matching denim outfit with Britney Spears.”
“Ummmm okay… I just see him naked with his fucking arrow.”
“Why are you so obsessed with the arrow?” Stella teased, plopping back onto the couch.
“Because that’s the best part of a man’s body.”
“The arrow or the dick?”
“It depends on the day,” Millie commented, which sent Stella into hysterics.
JT didn’t disappoint and Stella was about to open their third bottle of wine when they heard what sounded like a knock at the door. Cooper, who’d been asleep on the floor, stood straight up and growled.
Stella paused the movie, looked out the window, and cursed. “Mil, are you expecting anyone?” she asked, looking toward the foyer.
Millie took a sip of her wine and shook her head. “No. You?”
A year ago, Stella would’ve just chalked up the noise to an aggressive paparazzi dickhead trying to get a picture of her, but since the FBI wasn’t concerned with her and basically told Jamie she’d told them about him, she was scared. She walked to the front windows and gazed out into the dark. The front step was empty, though Millie and Stella had both heard the noise. Shrugging, Stella walked back over to the couch, pressed play, and took a large gulp of her wine. The week caught up with her all of a sudden and she put her glass down. “I’m about to pass out. You care if I change into my night clothes?”
“Night clothes? What are you, fifty?” Millie laughed, spitting red wine on the floor, which made her laugh even more. “Shit.”
“Well, you know I don’t own pajamas. I’m sleeping in shorts and a tank top solely for your benefit. I don’t really think you want me sleeping naked.”
A loud clank sounded in the backyard, making them both look toward the back door.
Cooper growled, the hair on his back standing straight up, and ran from the front of the house to the back, barking like a maniac, stopping occasionally to shake his head, like the noise hurt.
“What the fuck was that?” Millie asked, an edge creeping into her voice.
“Do you guys have anything in the backyard that might’ve just blown over in the wind?” Stella asked.
“Not that I’m aware of.” Millie pulled her caramel hair back into a knot on the top of her head. “Should we go investigate?” she suggested, moving to grab a broom from the closet.
“Really? We’re going to investigate?” Stella laughed and looked toward the front of the house where she’d heard the first noise. “Don’t you know you never go investigate—haven’t you ever seen any horror movies?”
“Good point,” she murmured. “What do you think that was?”
“I don’t know, Mil.” Stella shook her head, her heart beating faster in her chest. “I heard something up front too.”
Millie’s eyes widened at Stella’s concern. Just then, the back door burst open, glass from the window exploding everywhere. Cooper growled and barked and then stopped. Dread filled Stella’s gut and disappeared into her throat; she tried not to throw it up.
Dread crept up her spine when Jamie sauntered around the corner and she knew no one could protect her now. Millie’s shock was evident on her face as she looked at Jamie then back at Stella. Cooper was nowhere to be seen.
“Millie.” Jamie nodded courteously. “Stella.” He grabbed the half empty bottle of cabernet sauvignon and turned it up, enjoying a healthy swig, his eyes locked on Stella. “Stella, why don’t you save Millie a lot of trouble and come with me?”
“Where’s Cooper and what’re you doing here?” Stella asked, trying not to show her terror, her face a blank mask.
Millie stood and flattened herself against the wall, her eyes the size of saucers. Whatever was going on had nothing to do with her, and she tried desperately to fade into the background.
“I’m here for you, babe.” Jamie’s eyes didn’t waver from Stella’s. “Like always.”
“You know,” Stella said, voice oozing with confidence she didn’t have, “I should’ve killed you when I had the chance.” She looked toward the back door and Cooper came waltzing back in with a huge bone Jamie must’ve thrown outside for him. She felt like she could breathe again.
“Me too, Stella, me too.” Jamie laughed and took another gulp of wine out of the bottle. “You know what they say, should a, could a, would a…”
“Why are you here, Jamie? Or should I call you Jack? I can’t remember.” Stella’s eyes narrowed at her former fiancé.
“Oh, babe, you call me whatever you want. I’m here for you and the fucking money you promised me when you were making that recording for the FBI. Now get your bag and let’s go so I don’t have to hurt your friend here. Camille, right? Millie?” Jamie’s gaze went over to Millie for a few seconds. “Unfortunately, Millie, I only have plans for us, so I really don’t have time to deal with you.” He set the bottle on the coffee table right in front of Stella and stared intently in her eyes, daring her to do something stupid.