[chapter thirty]

Disclaimer: If you've heard of them, I don't own them. Everything else is mine, so no stealing, pretty please. ;-)


This story is gonna be darker, and deal with serious, sometimes disturbing issues. Just so everyone knows. Okay? Okay.


**

~Jimmie's POV~

I've been watching him all week.

Just like he's been watching me.

I've had enough of this tiptoeing around. I've had enough of worrying to death about Faye. I've had enough of looking at his criminal face every time I go to work.

"Matt. Outside. We need to talk." I say, my voice dark and commanding as I approach the younger man.

"Sorry. I'm busy." He says curtly, turning back to the engine block.

"Now." That one word is so infused with anger and venom, he shrugs slightly and follows me without another word.

"What?" He asks innocently and I resist the urge to put my foot down his throat.

"You know what. You know exactly what. And you know that I know everything. So here's what you're going to do. You're going to march into Hendrick's office, tender your resignation, and then leave town. And never, I repeat, never contact Faye again."

"Or what?" Matt spits back at me. "Pretty Pussy Boy Johnson is gonna have me fired?"

"Oh, I'll do more than that." I say with an evil smile. "I'll have your ass arrested and thrown in jail. I'm guessing you won't be so tough after those boys in prison do to you what you did to Faye, only a thousand times worse."

He pales slightly and I resist the urge to cheer. Never underestimate the fear factor of a rough prison with sex-starved males who hate sexual predators. Especially predators who beat up their beautiful girlfriends in the process.

"It's your choice." I say, raising an eyebrow. "And you have about a minute to decide."

"You can't do this. It's blackmail!" He shrieks, his voice rising as he stares at me.

"I care. Choose." I say, my tone edged with anger.

We hold each other's eyes for a long moment before he nods slightly with a grin.

"Bitch isn't worth it anyway. I shoulda done that to her a long time ago. I guess fucking some bitchass driver made her soft. You should have seen the way she fought me, man..." He whispers conspiratorially in my ear.

I grab his collar, willing every nerve in my body to silence itself. "Leave. Never come back. Stay away from her. If you don't, you end up in prison. Leave."

"You don't wanna hit me?" He taunts me, watching my other hand clench and unclench.

"More than you can possibly imagine. But only some candyass, pussy, totally insecure, emotionally bereft piece of shit tiny little man would use violence to solve things. Especially with a harmless woman. I'll leave that title to you."

"Fucker." He snarls as I push him away from me.

"Get out."

I release a breath of air as I watch his retreating back, telling myself to calm down, praying I just did the right thing and that he'll go quietly.

One problem down, one to go.

The harder one.

Finding Faye.

And making damn sure she knows she can trust me for the rest of her life.

chapter thirty-one