Page 58 of Defiant
“Ask Archer,” I muttered before pushing past them and leaving Midpark High.
I walked home, stupid as it was. I tried to let the air cool me down, baptize me and wash away the pain of what nearly happened, but it wasn’t long into my walk when I realized that was impossible.
They said you should forget and forgive; some people did one or the other. Me? I would do neither.
Chapter Fifteen – Dante
“Let her go,” Vaughn whispered, stopping me from chasing after Jaz as she left. I was seconds from asking him why, but then I saw his gaze was on a blonde boy heading toward us, looking glum as he fiddled with the strap around his shoulders from his bag.
Archer.
I recognized him immediately. Sort of wish Jaz would’ve let me pound him a little more, but hey. You couldn’t win every battle.
I didn’t let Vaughn stop me from rushing to Archer, grabbing his jacket by the collar and slamming him against the nearest wall. His blue stare focused on me, and he pushed me off him, glaring.
“Tell me who,” I said, baring my teeth, feeling the need to stab something. Maybe a few somethings.
Archer didn’t look shocked. “She told you.”
I nodded as Vaughn moved beside me. He threw a look over his shoulders. “I think,” he spoke slowly, “it would be in your best interest to tell us who was going to hurt Jaz.” He wasn’t as pushy as me, wasn’t as overtly threatening, but I could hear the underlying message in his words: tell us, or else pay the price.
Hmm. Maybe Vaughn and I would get along, after all.
Archer threw a quick glance around, saying nothing for a few moments. “If I tell you, just…don’t tell anyone I said anything, okay? I don’t want them at my throat next.”
I glared. This rich prick was hiding something; I just had no idea what that something was.
“Fine,” Vaughn agreed. “Names.”
Archer told us who had nearly done the filthy deed, and then we let him go. I wanted to pound his face in a bit more, but Vaughn stopped me.
“It would do no one any good to react now. The best plans are ones that involve patience,” he told me. “Come with me.” Vaught did not speak like a typical high schooler; hell, he didn’t even talk like me, and I was twenty-two. Right then and there he sounded like he was much, much older than he was.
I didn’t want to follow him. I still didn’t particularly like him much, but with what we just found out, I supposed I could put my feelings for him aside and go with him.
Vaughn led me outside, to a long, black limo that waited nearby, idling. He opened the door in the back, gesturing for me to get in. I stared at him for a few moments, wondering if he was serious. Me and limos didn’t really mix.
I hesitated. “This is a little too fancy for me,” I muttered, to which Vaughn only frowned.
God, he was such a sourpuss, wasn’t he?
Rolling my eyes to myself, I slid in, Vaughn getting in after me. The driver in the front was separated by a partition, but he rolled the black glass down, eyeing me up in the rearview mirror. He was an older man, and he sounded no-nonsense when he said, “Where to?”
“Pull us in the back of the parking lot,” Vaughn instructed. “Dante and I have some business to talk about.”
The driver said nothing else, nodding and asking not a single question as he did what he was told—after rolling up the glass and giving us some privacy. I ground my jaw, watching as we passed the front doors of Midpark High and turned on the edge of the parking lot, heading to the back, where my bike was parked.
When the limo was stationary, I glanced up front. “The driver cool?”
Vaughn rested his hands on his knees, leaning forward, hunching over his back as he muttered, “Everyone involved with my family is…cool.” It was clear he did not like saying that last word, for I heard traces of bitterness in his tone.
“Ah, cool.” I got comfortable, spreading my knees apart as I looked all throughout the limo. “Got any snacks in here? Any drinks?”
“I didn’t bring you in here for snacks and drinks.”
I slowly moved my blue gaze back to him, asking, “Then why did you bring me here? We going to come up with a plan to take those motherfuckers down, or is this where you try to tell me to back off Jaz?” If it was the former, I was all in. I would gladly team up with Vaughn and make those fuckers pay for what they nearly did to my girl.
Now, if it was the latter? If this was Vaughn’s not-so-subtle way of trying to get me out of the picture…he would have another thing coming. Jaz wasn’t meant to be here in Midpark. She was meant to be with me, back home.
