Chapter 43

 

Jayce

 

 

TAROT CALLED ME when I was in the middle of an ink job. He left me a message but, unfortunately, I didn’t get it until a couple of hours later.

“Your girl, Ava, paid me a visit today. We’re getting things sorted out, but she needs you, brother. Call me as soon as you can.”

I quickly dialed his number and apologized for not getting back to him sooner.

“It’s fine. She’s already taken off, though.”

“Where’d she go and why in the hell did she pay you a visit?” So much for the nail and hair appointment. Obviously, another fucking lie.

He explained what had taken place, shocking the hell out of me.

“So, she came all this way to kill you?” I growled angrily.

“Yeah, you too, and anyone else associated with Blade’s death, I recon.”

I swore. I still couldn’t believe she’d played me like that. I felt betrayed and hurt.

“Why did you let her go?” I asked. “How do you know she’s not going to try killing you or one of us again? Hell, she might even go after Peyton.”

He told me how he’d explained to her that her brother wasn’t Blade, and that he’d somehow taken Andrew’s identity.

“Did she believe you?”

“I think so. She was pretty shaken up when she left here.”

I grunted. “I bet. So, what now?”

“I called Tank and he’s going to see if the Judge can help us figure out who this Blade guy really was. Or, what may have happened to the real Andrew Bordellini. I promised her I’d help with that.”

This news stunned me more than anything else he’d told me. “Why are you doing this for her?” I replied. “She tried killing you today.”

“She even didn’t get the chance to try. Besides, her brother was murdered. The only guy she ever trusted and… it tore her apart,” he said in a grim voice. “Someone needs to help put her back together again, if it’s at all possible.” He sighed. “I know you have feelings for her.”

“I did.” I laughed coldly. “Not anymore.” I was too angry at the moment to feel sorry for Ava. She’d lied to me the entire time. Even last night. Obviously, she’d been using me all along and probably would have shot me dead if Tarot wouldn’t have set her straight.

Feelings?

Yeah, mine consisted of boiling rage at the moment.

“She came out here to find justice for her brother,” Tarot said. “You have to almost admire the courage it took to try and pull it off. A little thing like that, trying to avenge her brother, who she obviously loved. I’d have done same damn thing. We all would.”

“Sorry, but I don’t admire the way she played me,” I ground out bitterly. “And if it’s all the same to you, I’d like to stay out of what you’re trying to do for her. I know I’m just a prospect and expected to follow orders, but this is not something I want to be a part of.”

He sighed. “I understand.”

We said a few more words to each other and then hung up. As far as I was concerned, I was completely done with Ava, or whatever the hell her name was. If Tarot wanted to help her out, that was on him. I wanted only to forget her and move on with my life.