I nodded, not wanting to get Ivy in trouble. “I used to water Sheila’s plants.”
“Did Sheila have plants?” Jamie mused, cocking his head to the side. “I don’t remember that.”
“She had plants.” I lifted my chin stubbornly. Staring up into those familiar ocean eyes, one of the foremost emotions I’d felt as I pored through Jamie’s research hit me like a punch to the gut.
Fear.
Not for myself.
But for Jamie.
If Foster Steadman realized that Jamie was taking down the people involved in his wrongful incarceration, he’d come after him, and this time I worried he’d shut Jamie up for good. If Jamie’s plans were to hurt innocents, I was way past concerned for him. No matter what he wanted to believe, I knew him. I knew his heart.
It might be all tangled and fucked up right now, but beneath the scarring was his goodness. He would never come back from hurting people who didn’t deserve it.
“I saw everything,” I admitted.
The muscle in his jaw ticked, letting me know he was pissed, despite his bland expression. “Am I supposed to be shaking in my boots now? Or congratulating you for surprising me? Because I am surprised.” He reached out to chuck my chin and I jerked it away, glowering. He smirked. “My little Jane Doe and her hidden spunk.”
“I know it’s hard for you to not be condescending, but at least give it a try.”
Jamie leaned back against the desk, crossing his arms over his chest. “I suppose you came in here with a master plan, not just to ruin my day by making me look at your face again. It’s amazing how something once so beautiful can be so ugly to me now.”
I lowered my gaze, not wanting the hurt that splintered through me to be reflected in my eyes. Straightening my spine, I looked back up at him. “Funny, I’m pretty sure I felt your hard-on digging into me down in the laundry room. Guess it still finds me attractive. On that note, never do that to me again.” I walked away, crossing the room to stand by the sectional. I needed space from him.
Jamie flicked his eyes up and down my body and shrugged. “Get to the point, Jane. I’m bored.”
No one made me want to rail and scream like Jamie McKenna. Swallowing the urge, I took a breath. “I know you’re planning to take down everyone involved in putting you away. That you’ve already dealt with Kramer. That you’re looking for an ‘in’ with the cashier, the cop, and Steadman.” I gestured to myself. “I’m your ‘in.’”
This time Jamie couldn’t keep the shock off his face. “What?”
“I’m your ‘in.’” I took a step toward him. There was no way I would let him take vengeance against these people without having their back, and his. If I was in control of this thing, I could control the line. I’d make sure Jamie didn’t cross it. “In your notes, you state you can’t get close to the cashier or the cop. He’s paranoid, and she’d remember you. Well, no one will remember me. I can get close to them.”
“You think I’ll let you work with me when you’re on my hit list?” He chuckled darkly. “Do you think helping me will save you, Jane?”
No. I think it’ll save you. “This isn’t a discussion. I want justice for what happened to you, Jamie. You and I might not like each other very much, but once upon a time, you and Skye were my family. If we can’t give her justice for what happened to her, we can take Foster down a different way, and take down the others for what they did to the Jamie I used to love.”
Jamie narrowed his eyes as he bit his lip. Hard. Like he wanted to say something that would cut me to the quick. Instead, he released his lower lip and replied, “No. I’d rather spend another five years in prison than make you the Bonnie to my Clyde.”
“I wasn’t asking.”
He snorted. “You think you can force me to allow this?”
“I think I’m close, personal friends with Asher Steadman, and one phone call to his father would make him aware of your activities here.” The words were like ash on my tongue. I might not forgive Jamie for breaking my heart and choosing to believe the worst of me, but I would never betray him. However, he didn’t need to know that.