Page 170 of Poison Aches

Even Alex King has made some vague comments about Emmett.

Noah has also alluded to this, but of course none of them are afraid of Emmett—but then again, that might be because Emmett has never been their enemy. He’s been their friend.

“My cousin doesn’t believe in giving chances or having proportions,” Vaughn says. “He doesn’t do sentiment, has no mercy, does not bother with trying to lure anyone into a trap. He’ll just directly deal with you. A monster that moves in the shadows without a sound is worse than the one you can hear coming.”

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that Vaughn is warning me.

But I have firsthand experience of having your life destroyed by Emmett Easton.

Hell, not just me, but my grandmother and brother know.

“You say that and yet you two seem to be going at each other’s throat,” I point out.

If Vaughn is being considered for the position of boss along with someone like Emmett, then there’s more to Vaughn than just a sexy smile and captivating eyes.

“I’m the Consigliere of the Family.”

“You’re a lawyer?” I’m surprised.

“I am, yes,” he says. “I went to college at fifteen. I simultaneously studied law both here in America and back home while at the same time, Emmett studied at MIT and even some arts school, and on top of that, he also got a law degree.”

“What?” This time, my mind is reeling.

Emmett has a freaking law degree???

He went to MIT?

When did Emmett do all of that?

“So while I handle most of the legal affairs of both my firm and the Family’s, which forces Emmett and I to deal with each other, he alone in the past eight years has brought in the most lucrative deals and expanded the empire even further than anyone has ever done, so now, every kind of industry you can think of, we’re there, but at the same time, he has also discontinued and destroyed all other deals brought in by my father, uncles, and anyone who has been in league with them.”

That’s because Emmett’s on a mission.

“So the rumor is that he’ll bulldoze over anyone that gets in his way?” I question, changing the topic.

“No, the rumor is that there’s somethingwrongwith him.”

I freeze.

“And judging by that reaction, it seems it's true, and you must know what’s wrong with him.”

“I guess you’re overestimating this so-called relationship between Emmett and I just because we grew up together,” I counter. “You’ve told me more about him than I even knew.”

“So there’s nothing between you two?” he asks.

“Did you expect there to be something?”

“I saw…” he trails off and falls silent, studying me. “Anyway, here.”

Vaughn extends a card to me.

“What’s this?”

“My number.”

“On a card?” I say, unable to stop smiling. “You’re very old-fashioned.”

“And a gentleman too,” he says gesturing out my window to the restaurant I told him I’m going to that’s eight blocks away from where I’m staying. I don’t want him to know that I’m going back to the place I thought I wouldn’t go back to, but here I am.

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