“Bitch loves pastry, Candy could make some drugged ones and take them to Paxton,” Red Jack said, amused with Loki’s jealousy. “I wonder what the other cops would say to seeing her fuck an outlaw.”
“What kind of pastry?” asked Candy from the door, wiping her hands on a pink towel. So she was listening in.
Red Jack looked between her and Sam. “Croissants.”
Sam slouched, gazing at his cute girlfriend. “Babe? I’ll get you the spice within the next half an hour. That okay?” he asked eventually.
Candy shrugged. “I could add it to the chocolate.”
Monster got up, invigorated by the tea. “And I know just the person for the job,” he said, walking off.
Red Jack looked at Loki. Maybe they should take him to the hospital now, before any shit went down? Just in case? “Thanks, Candy. You’re such a babe. I’d get fat too if I was your boyfriend.” Ah, pulling Sam’s leg. Never got old.
Sam threw a napkin at him. “Oh, fuck you!”
Candy frowned. “He’s not fat.”
“Yeah, I know, I know, all muscle.” Red Jack snorted.
“And not a single freckle.” Candy sent Sam a kiss in the air and left the room again with a sweet smile.
Red Jack sneered. Bitch knew how to hit where it hurt.
Monster got back into the living room but he made his way straight toward the exit. “I’ll be off to grab some supplies. Be back in an hour or so.”
Sam got to his feet, snarling at Red Jack. “Wait for me. Gotta collect some dust.”
Red Jack sighed and raised his hands. “Chill, I’ll be keeping my hands to myself.”
“You won’t need to. Your cousin will keep them in place for you,” growled Sam from the corridor.
Red Jack pouted when he and Loki were finally alone in the living room. He would miss that. Not actually fucking the girls, though it sometimes worried him that he might, but being a threat. He’d always banter with Sam and get him riled up. That would be gone now that he had a guy by his side. The door shut, leaving a silence broken only by sounds coming from the kitchen and a soft, feminine hum.
Loki slid off the armchair and walked up to him. “I wanna talk,” he said after a few seconds.
“Yeah?” Blood started pumping in Red Jack’s chest, as if he’d just snorted a line. This sounded serious. Was Loki rethinking their relationship? Had he taken a look at his life in terms of the bigger picture and decided that Red Jack didn’t belong in it?
Loki slid his tongue over his lip and glanced toward the kitchen. Clearly, he didn’t want any witnesses.
Red Jack got up and put his hands in his pockets as he walked over to the door. “Candy? I gotta talk to Loki. Is there anywhere private we can go? It’s some family stuff, don’t wanna be disturbed.”
Candy looked up at him from above a plastic box full of pale cubes that Jack realized were portions of raw dough. She cleared her throat. “Sure. Go down the corridor. My boudoir is the second door on the left.”
“Thanks, babe,” Red Jack said and followed her directions.
“Just don’t mess with my stuff, some of it’s expensive! And take your shoes off!” she yelled from the kitchen as Red Jack opened the door to the most girly room he’d ever seen. With a queen-size bed, two rails of clothes bursting with lace and pastel colors, glittery boxes, and a fluffy carpet, the room was sweet enough to eat. It even smelled like vanilla-flavored diabetes.
Loki followed him inside, and after a decisive clang of the lock, they were alone. Loki tapped the switch, and fairy lights brightened up the room.
“What do you think?” asked Loki softly.
“About?” Red Jack said when he finally found his voice. He crouched to take off his boots by the entrance.
Loki exhaled loudly, but kicked off his shoes as well. His nostrils flared over and over again. “You know what.”
Red Jack sighed and stood back up again. “You’re gonna live. We’ll sort out your surgery, and it’s gonna be fine.”
“I’m staying,” said Loki, more firmly. He glanced at Red Jack, but his shoulders were stiff like carved out of wood.
“Yeah…” Red Jack swallowed, watching Loki’s every move.
“And you want me to. You know, stay without any deadline,” said Loki, making a move as if he wanted to push back his hair, but he ended up brushing his fingers over the shaved side. The proof of Red Jack trying to keep him alive.
“You were the one who wanted to bareback,” Red Jack blurted out and spread his arms. “I can’t take it back now if I gave you something!”
Loki sighed and folded his arms across his chest. The warm glow of the fairy lights softened his angular face as he shrugged. “I know. Couldn’t stop myself.”