Make me beg

Simon

When Jamie returned from meeting his sister, I eased into the topic.

"Jamie, I need to ask you something."

He paused, setting his bag on the table.

"What is it?" he said with apparent unease.

I hesitated, the words feeling heavy. Fuck. This wasn't easy.

"Gray wants to meet you. He's... insisting we go out tonight. To Black Viper."

Jamie's brow furrowed, unease written all over his face.

"Do I have to?"

"No," I said quickly. "If you don't want to, we won't go."

He studied me for a moment.

"If it's important to you, I'll go," he answered, almost grave. "Just... stay close, okay?"

The guilt hit hard in me, but I forced a nod.

"Of course."

By the time Ash got home that night, I steeled myself from the inevitable talk I needed to have with him. I had sent Jamie out grabbing groceries so he wouldn't be right in the middle when it all blew up. Because I knew it would. This was Ash.

"We need to talk," I said, keeping my voice low.

Ash didn't respond immediately, but the flicker of anger in his eyes said he had been waiting for this. When I started explaining, it didn't take long for the storm to break.

"Are you out of your fucking mind?" he snapped, his voice sharp and cutting.

I leaned against the doorway, folding my arms.

"You think I wanted this?" I shot back. "You think I'm jumping at the chance to drag Jamie into Gray's mess? I'm doing this because I have to. Brady needs more on Gray, enough to put him away for good. You know how Gray operates. If I say no, it'll be worse for all of us."

"Worse for all of us? Fuck that," Ash snarled, stepping closer, his frame radiating frustration. "You want to deal with Gray's shit, fine. But leave Jamie out of it. He doesn't belong in that world, Simon."

"You think I don't know that?" My voice rose, the weight of everything pressing down. "I'm doing everything I can to keep him safe. But Gray-"

"Gray can go fuck himself," Ash cut me off, slamming his hand on the counter. "This isn't about him. It's about you. You're so wrapped up in his shit that you can't even see how much you've dragged Jamie into it.

I let out a bitter laugh, taking a step forward.

"I'm the one keeping him out of it. I'm risking everything to get Gray locked up to end this for good. Every move I've made has been to protect him, to protect you. But you don't see that, do you? All you see is the mess. The mess you've decided is my fault."

Ash's eyes narrowed, his tone turning dangerous.

"You're damn right it's your fault. You're the one who brought Gray into our lives. You're the one letting him hold a damn leash around your neck. And now you're letting him wrap it around Jamie, too."

"Fuck you, Ash," I snapped, the words spilling out. "You think this is easy? You think I want any of this? I'm doing the best I fucking can. But if I don't keep Gray in check, he'll come after all of us. Do you get that? Or are you too busy playing the righteous protector to see the bigger picture?"

Ash's fists clenched, his body tense like a loaded spring.

"The bigger picture is Jamie. And you're risking him, Simon. You're risking the one person who's only ever asked you for the truth."