Yep, if there’s anything to pump up the old man’s anger, it’ll be those words, but he continues to sit, staring off in the distance. Hell, he’s drunk enough, he’s probably imagining it right now. It makes me want to stand up and wrap my hands around his throat until he turns purple from lack of oxygen.
“Why don’t you hop on a plane and go do it?”
Murphy’s glassy eyes do their best to focus on Jinx. “I hate traveling.”
That’s good to hear.
“How much for you to do it?”
A wicked smile spreads across Jinx’s face and thank fuck I know the sinister look is hiding his own wishes. I imagine he’s thinking of doing much more to this man than strangling him, but somehow, he doesn’t let it show.
“How much life insurance did you get?”
The old man chuckles, and fuck we lost him. Jinx went too high.
“Not hardly shit.”
“I’m a simple man,” Jinx counters. “I’d probably burn the bitch just on principle, so make me an offer.”
“She’s a stupid bitch,” Murphy says, already getting distracted.
“Most women are, nothing but holes to fuck if you ask me. Shouldn’t have been made with fucking mouths.”
“That’s crazy talk, son. They can’t choke on dick if they ain’t got a mouth.”
Jinx nods, and I can see the shell he built to deal with this motherfucker starting to crack.
“We should get going,” I say as I stand.
At least we got the insurance fraud and possibly opening up an investigation into the sheriff’s department. It’s going to have to be enough. We could possibly be able to prove murder for hire, but Jinx and I both know a payment would seal the deal. He isn’t going to be able to hold it together much longer, so it isn’t going to happen.
“Thanks for the beers,” Jinx says, setting his second full one down on the porch at his feet.
“F-Five thousand is the most I can do,” Murphy stammers as we walk down the front steps.
Jinx turns around. “I can work with five grand, but I don’t take fucking checks.”
Murphy narrows his eyes as if trying to figure out if he’s about to get what he’s been wanting.
“I can do half now and half when it’s done.”
“Cash only,” Jinx barters.
“Deal.”
“Today.”
They stare at each other for a long minute before the old man downs his beer and stands. We wait on the porch unsure if he’s going to come out with cash or a shotgun. Thankfully, when he reemerges, it’s the former.
“One condition,” Murphy snaps, jerking the stack of money back before Jinx can get his hand on it. “I want video. I need to hear her scream and beg for her life.”
“That can be arranged.”
My skin is on fire.
“And—”
“You’re fucking asking for a lot, old man.”
His eyes widen, the evilest look I’ve ever seen filling the features of his wrinkled face. “I want you to fuck her before you kill her, all on tape.”
Jinx’s lip twitches, but not in a humorous way. “I was planning to plow her anyway.”
The money switches hands, and we start to walk away.
“Wait!” Murphy yells after us. “You didn’t get my phone number or anything.”
“Not going to need it!” Jinx hollers back just as Whitman’s sedan pulls into the driveway followed by three Vermont State Police cars.
Jinx hands the stack of cash off to Whitman before walking behind the truck and throwing up.
Chapter 30
Simone
“You’re fine. You’re fine. You’re fine,” I mutter over and over as I let my body sink into the hot water.
Prickles cover my skin which is odd considering the heat surrounding me.
The scent of lavender fills my nose as candlelight dances around the room. I don’t know why it took me so long to sort through the things Delilah and Ivy brought over weeks ago, but I’m damn glad I did. The snacks were gone within days of course, but the bath bombs, candles, and face masks were just sitting around waiting to be used.
After unpacking the remaining gifts, I spent the day cleaning the apartment and waiting for the sun to go down to get the full spa effect.
I know the guys are supposed to be back sometime today. Rocker texted numerous times all the days that they were gone, but he wouldn’t let the texts turn sexual no matter how many times I tried.
It doesn’t exactly feel like another rejection, not when I can still feel him pressed against me like he was