Page 111 of Dance of Defiance
“You want me to tell youexactlywhat type I think you are sometimes?”
“Heartless, calculating, driven by a need for control, with Machiavellian and narcissistic tendencies and a possible psychotic resentment of humanity?”
I scowl. Vaughn smiles wider.
“Was that close, Val? Or is there something else you want to add?”
“I think you pretty much covered it,” I growl.
My brother sighs and steps to where I’m sitting on the bed. He bends down, rests his hands on my knees, and looks me in the eye.
“I had nothing to do with what happened at Pavel’s safe house, Val. Firebombing buildings in the middle of densely populated urban areas isn’t my style. Far too messy, to be honest.”
I eye him warily. “Were you a part of it?”
He shakes his head. “No. Nor was anyone else in the Syndicate. Does that address your concerns?”
I glare at him. “So why fuck with Evie, insinuating that you did.”
He smiles quietly. “Because planting little black seeds and watching them grow into nightmares and monsters that jump from the most paranoid parts of your mind is what I do best, Val.”
“Stay the fuck away from Evelina,” I hiss. “She’s not part of whatever game you’re trying to play with Pavel. She’s off fucking limits.Allmy friends are, but her especially. Got it?”
He tips his head to the side, peering at me closely before he shrugs. “Got it.”
“I’m fucking serious, Vaughn. Evie is not a pawn in whatever chess game you’re playing with Pavel. Is that clear?”
He smiles and pats my knee as he stands. “Understood. You satisfied now?”
I suck on my teeth. “Swear it.”
“On what?”
I frown. “On…I dunno…our childhood.”
He smirks. “Exactlywhatis sacred about our childhood?”
“You’re asking the wrong guy.”
He laughs. “Fine. I swear on our childhood…swear what, exactly?”
“That neither you nor the Syndicate had anything to do with that bombing.”
Vaughn holds a hand over his heart and raises the other one like he's taking an oath. “Cross my heart, hope to die, stick a needle in my eye. I swear, Val.”
I nod curtly. “Well…okay then.”
He smiles appreciatively as he turns to drink in the room. “Nice digs.”
“Thanks. And thanks for coming…finally,” I mutter.
Vaughn's mouth twists as he steps closer to me and puts a hand on my shoulder. “I should have come earlier. I apologize. I’m…new to this sort of thing. I didn’thavea brother for twenty years.”
“Neither did I, jerk,” I grumble, smirking. “How about we don’t forget that?”
“Deal.”
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