Page 28 of Defiant
It might not have been smart, but I said, “Yes.” Okay, not every day, but Jacob and I did make plans to meet twice a week from now on. Let’s just say I was hoping he’d figure out something soon, otherwise I’d have to do something where the money was concerned.
Speaking of money…my mom hadn’t texted me at all today. I could only assume she’d seen the envelope full of cash in her purse by now—so why the hell didn’t my phone go off with a text or call from her demanding to know where it came from?
“I haven’t told my family, but it’s only a matter of time until my brother finds out your investigator is sticking his nose in family business,” Vaughn stated. “Once that happens…I can’t guarantee there won’t be consequences. I said I’d keep you safe, and I meant it, but I did not say that about your investigator.”
“Consequences?” I echoed, blinking. “Your family wouldn’t…” Well, I had no idea what his family was and was not capable of, but the thought of them hurting Jacob was not a good one. It occurred to me then: was I putting Jacob at risk by asking him to do what I had? That grumpy guy…I didn’t want to see him hurt.
Jacob Hall wasn’t a bad man, whatever he thought of himself. He was a good guy, and even though he could be mean and rude beyond all belief, I liked him. I couldn’t see the Scotts hurt him because of me. I didn’t know if I could live with that.
Why hadn’t the thought ever crossed my mind before now? I felt almost selfish for how one-sided everything had been until now.
“I can’t say what my family would do,” Vaughn spoke quietly, pushing around the ugly green peas on his tray. “Your investigator wouldn’t be the first who’d stuck his nose where it didn’t belong.”
“What happened to the others?” Did I even want to know? I seriously debated this.
Vaughn stuck a single pea with the short points on his spork, bringing it to his mouth. “People have a way of disappearing around here,” he said. His dark eyes flicked to me, telling me things his words did not, whispering promises and lies all at once. “If he disappears, will you be upset?”
His question caught me off-guard, mostly because it was weird as all hell. Was it some kind of trick question? Of course I’d be upset. Why wouldn’t I? Jacob worked for me, and on top of that, I liked the guy. His personality left something to be desired sometimes, but when I’d needed a hero, he’d stepped up—albeit begrudgingly.
I owed him. He didn’t have to step in and save me that night. Hmm. Maybe Jacob and I would have to talk.
To Vaughn, I finally said, “Yes, I would be upset.”
“Why?”
Why couldn’t I be upset out of the kindness of my heart? Okay, well, my heart had some kindness in it, but not much. I wasn’t a goodie-goodie. I didn’t shit rainbows and wear a smile all the time. Animals didn’t frolic to me.
I’d told Vaughn all about the party, but I did not tell him who’d helped me. He thought I made it home before the drugs really kicked me in the ass, but that had been a bit of a lie. I didn’t want to tell him about Jacob because…I didn’t know. Even though hiring someone like Jacob had been his idea, I wanted to keep the two parts of my life separate.
It seemed they were on a course to collide, now.
Even though we were alone at our table, my voice still dropped, as if I was afraid of someone else hearing me. “I might’ve…kept something from you.” The look Vaughn gave me right then caused me to hurriedly add, “I didn’t get home on my own from the party.”
He glowered, radiating unhappiness, as if he already suspected what I was about to say.
“My PI was there, on another case. He took me back to his place and let me sleep it off before taking me home.” I did not want to bring up his name, just in case Vaughn decided to tell his family about him.
I planned on saying more, but Vaughn startled me by standing. He grabbed his tray and headed for one of the many trash cans situated around the lunchroom, dropping his food in it and sliding the tray on top. The bell hadn’t rung yet.
What the hell…
Ugh. I had to go after the dumbass.
I didn’t pack up my lunch; I just left it as I hurried after him. Not all eyes were on me as I left, but I knew a lot were. I didn’t care about the rumor mill, or about whatever gossip would come of this.
Oh, that new girl. First she sleeps with Archer Vega, and now she’s chasing Vaughn Scott. Wonder who she’ll go after next?
I caught Vaughn not too far out of the cafeteria. The hallways were empty, but if any teachers spotted us, they might think we were ditching class. He had his back to me, and I looked around, trying to figure out a way he and I could have a conversation that didn’t involve teachers stumbling upon us.
A janitor’s closet sat about twenty feet away, so I did the only thing I could think of to do: I grabbed his arm and pulled him toward it. Vaughn didn’t fight me on it, he let me drag him, but he said not a word to me as we went. Thankfully, the door was unlocked, so I shoved him in first before stepping in myself.
The door closed before I was able to find a light. It was a small space, no bigger than two feet by three. I could feel Vaughn’s heat, standing inches away from him—being forced to, since a mop bucket and cleaning supplies took up most of the room. The only light that came in was from the hall, the crack under the door.
I was seriously struggling to find the light switch, but Vaughn muttered, “Don’t.”
I froze, the hairs on the back of my neck standing up. His voice sounded deadly, almost, but unlike before, I wasn’t afraid to be alone with him. In fact, being here with him now, in this dark, nearly pitch-black room, made my mind think of other things.
You’d think I would’ve learned my lesson with Archer, huh? But no, I had to think with my va-jay-jay like I was going for the home run.
