We almost kissed this morning and practically made out at the noodle place. And here she is smooching on this dickhead, too? What the fuck? Time for some answers.
“So, how’d you two meet?” Jasper asked.
Vick jumped in with an answer. “At Dix’s office. We were both workin’ on an, um, project.”
“Yeah, and I couldn’t take my eyes off her.” Justice winked at her.
Jasper could feel the sweat beading on the back of his neck. Had she been dating this fool all along behind his back? Or was this some kind of cover story? He couldn’t quite decide.
Another troubling thought occurred to Jasper. While Justice might not be strictly legit, the bikers prided themselves on helping people. They fancied themselves, vigilantes, righting wrongs and such. Like modern knights on chrome horses. Someone like Vick would be attracted to a self-sacrificing hero type.
Jasper had never claimed to be a good man. Sure, he wasn’t so awful when compared to his mafia brethren, but the biker had him beat when it came to all that heroic bravery crap.
“Now, if you don’t mind, we’d like some time alone together.” Justice draped an arm around her shoulder.
Time alone to do what? If the biker laid a finger on her, Jasper would smash his face in. Then he wouldn’t look quite so pretty anymore.
Justice cleared his throat. “That’s your cue to leave, man.”
Jasper pulled it together. “I should be headin’ out anyway. But Vixen here…” He smirked at Justice. “That’s what I call her, Vixen. She goes to bed early, so you won’t be stayin’ long. You see, every mornin’ we train together. Why just the other day, I had her pinned down on my lawn.”
Vixen buried her head in her hands.
Justice stepped closer. “You don’t say? Well, I’m spendin’ the night, but I’ll make sure she’s up in time for your…workout.” Justice looked Vick up and down. “Providin’, of course, she’s recovered from the one I give her.”
Jasper expected her to slap the asshole, but instead, Vick gave him an impish smile.
And Jasper felt like throwing up his burger.
“Yeah, well, goodnight.” He said the words through clenched teeth.
It took every ounce of self-control he possessed not to clobber Captain America. Instead of starting a fight, he turned on his heel, stomped out onto the porch and slammed the front door.
***
“Did you have to provoke him?”
“Naw, but it was fun.” Justice chuckled, clearly enjoying himself. “Besides, you wanted me to sell this pretend courtship, right?”
“Yeah, and you sold it alright.”
And now Jasper was pissed at her. Although did he really have a reason to be? He’s the one going back and forth between buddy and the green-eyed boyfriend.
Honestly, make up your mind, Jasper.
“Don’t you worry none, a little jealousy hurt nobody.” Justice sat down in a pleather chair.
She sat beside him. “He said we’re just friends.”
Justice grunted. “Yeah? Well, he’s full of shit. Men don’t get territorial over women they consider friends. Believe me, he’s interested.”
“Really?” Under different circumstances, the knowledge would be very welcome. Oh, who was she kidding? Even with a stalker and a possible cartel hitman after her, Vick was still pleased as punch.
“Yeah, so why aren’t you two datin’?”
“No freakin’ clue. And I’m sick of people askin’ about my love life.” She’d had enough of nudges, winks, romantic “work trips,” innuendos, and unsolicited advice. Thank you very much.
“Too damn bad. We’re gonna talk about it anyway. Is it because of your old job?”
Sex work had always gotten in the way. Being a cam girl, and then an escort had taken a toll on her social life. Most people spent their time in college partying. Vick had only slept with three guys in college. Two her freshman year, and then Simon. Whenever she wasn’t at Simon’s beck and call, she studied. Vick never knew when he’d call her for an impromptu date and she was literally on his payroll.
“Work makes things complicated between us. And yeah, Jasper doesn’t know.”
“If a man cares enough about you, the past don’t matter.” His tone was gentle.
He might be a big bad biker and former Navy SEAL, but Justice was kind. There was something warm and gentle about him.
“You think so?” Vick almost dared to hope.
“I know so.”
But right now, she couldn’t moon over Jasper. Thinking about him had a way of distracting her. Besides, she wanted to know more about Justice.
“Good. I’m all squared away then, so let’s talk about your love life. Tell me about the lady friend Ace mentioned.” She angled her body toward him to gauge his reactions.
His grin died. “I’m single.”
“Nah, you’re holdin’ out on me. I saw your face when Ace brought her up. I can tell you’ve got a thing for her.”
He opened his mouth, probably to tell her off, and then welded it shut in a mulish line.
“Justice, if you don’t spill, I’m gonna go all hacker on you. I’ll break into your phone and your social media accounts, and I’ll find out for myself.”
His face fell. “You can do that?”
“Yep. It’d take me about thirty minute’s tops.”
He glowered. “Fine. There’s one woman, a social worker, but she’s a citizen, so it’d never work.”
Vick had heard the term before. Outlaw bikers referred to folks not affiliated with their club as citizens. Like when soldiers called regular people civilians. She supposed it was the same for mafia members. Those who didn’t spend their time breaking the law had a very different experience. It made sense to stick together.
Hmm. Yet another reason Jasper and I belong together. We both live in the same scary world.
Stop it.
“But you like her anyway.”
Justice shook his head. “She’s out of my league.”
“The heart wants what it wants. Maybe you should talk to her.”
He raised a brow. “And you should come clean with Jasper—tell him about your past, and level with him about Simon. The guy’s got it bad for you. He’ll accept it.”
Justice made it sound simple, but it wasn’t. She couldn’t even picture sitting down with Jasper and telling him everything. Wouldn’t it be better to put the past behind her and move on? Surely, he didn’t need to know everything about her.
But if they did get together, would she want to build a relationship upon a lie? Would this secret eat her alive?
It was enough to drive her bonkers.
“Enough chit-chat.” He rubbed his hands together. “Let’s get down to the rules of engagement, okay?”
“Deal.” Vick was grateful for the distraction. Besides, they didn’t have time to waste. The sun would be setting soon, and then they’d be in the thick of it.
“Everything’s gonna be alright, as long as you follow the guidelines.”
“Which are?”
Justice ticked them off on his fingers. “Stay away from the windows. And if I tell you to do somethin’, do it. See? Simple.”
“Got it.”
“When and if this asshole shows up, I’ll handle it.” As though to prove his point, Justice reached into his vest and pulled out a big gun, which he placed on the coffee table. Then he grasped a knife and did the same thing. Lastly, he set a pair of handcuffs on the table. He was like a one-man arsenal.
“Um, I got a gun in the bedroom, if you wanna use it.”
“I prefer my own weapons, but grab it if it makes you feel better.” He took a deep breath. “Now, I have a critical question to ask you.”
“Um… what?” She couldn’t stop staring at his weaponry.
“You got Hulu? Netflix?”
She snickered. “Yeah, that last one.”
“Good, let’s watch somethin’ to pass the time.”
Vick handed him the remote, and he flicked
through the shows until he pulled up a western. At least she’d have something to do besides sit there and wait to be attacked.
“Got any coffee?” he asked. “I’ll need a jolt to stay up tonight.”
“Yup. I’ll make us a pot, and we’ll get jittery together.”
“Are you sure? During missions, I stayed up for days at a time, so it’s a force of habit. But if you wanna get forty winks, go right ahead.”
From the circles beneath his eyes, she doubted he got much rest these days either. She wondered if he had chronic insomnia.
“Nah, I’m stayin’ up.”
Her eyes hurt like someone had taken sandpaper to the lids, and she felt drained. Funny, she was exhausted but too restless to even lie down.
At least, Justice being there made her feel much safer. Last night, she’d wielded a gun, and she’d escape, but it’d been more dumb luck than skill. Justice knew how to use deadly force, and he was armed to the teeth. After the coffee had brewed, she poured them both a cup and sat down again.
It was strange to have someone else seated in Jasper’s chair. It felt wrong somehow.
She wondered what he was doing now. He’d gone off in a huff. Had he traipsed over to Mary’s place to vent? Maybe he’d headed out with Ten to vent his aggression in another way?
To distract herself once more, Vick searched for another conversation topic.
“So, um, why’d you join up with the bikers anyway?” Someone like him could’ve gotten into a lucrative career working for the government or even private security.
“I got my reasons. You ain’t the only one with a past.” His face shuttered, transforming into a smooth mask.
Vick dropped the subject, but she guessed there was a long story there.
***
Later on in the evening, Justice paced the length of her apartment, reminding her of a tiger trapped in a cage.
She knew why he’d grown so impatient. A big nothing had happened so far.
“Why hasn’t he attacked already? Or sent some cartel minion over to do his dirty work?”
“Dunno, but it makes me a might tetchy.”
“Yeah, me too.”
Justice peered through the drapes. “Hmph.”
“What?” Vick strolled over, ready to look for herself when Justice threw up an arm-shaped roadblock.
“What did I say?”
“Don’t go near the windows.” She rolled her eyes.
“That’s right.” He pointed to a chair, without glancing away from the window. “Sit your sweet ass back down.”
“Fine, but at least tell me what’s goin’ on out there.”
“Your little boyfriend is spyin’ on you.”
Ugh. “Please tell me you don’t mean Simon.”
“No, the other one. Jasper.”
“He’s what?” Once more, she got to her feet. She had to see this with her own two eyes.
“Don’t. Even. Think. About. It.” Justice said this through gritted teeth.
“Ugh. Jasper ain’t gonna shoot me.”
“He might not be the only one out there.”
“Then I’m gonna need some narration, so I know what’s goin’ on.”
She didn’t know how she felt about Jasper’s peeping-tom routine. Part of her was pleased. Evidently, he didn’t like the thought of her alone with another man. The other part was pissed. Jasper had no business spying on her like some nosy fed.
“He’s sittin’ by another fella. Kinda hard to make his features out—dark hair, dark eyes, I think. There’s another dude in the backseat.”
“Could be Ten and maybe Butler? They’ve been parternin’ up a lot lately. If I could take a gander, I’d tell you.”
“Ain’t important.” Justice scanned the view from the window once more. “Okay, I don’t see anyone but Jasper and his buddies out there.” He turned to her. “You wanna mess with his head?”
“What do you mean exactly?”
“This poor bastard’s got it bad for you, but for some reason, he ain’t got the balls to complete the mission.” Justice had a wicked glint in his eyes. “You wanna give him a great big push in the right direction?”
“And what about the guy gunnin’ for me?”
“Like I said, the coast is clear, and we’ve got three guys out there watchin’ the house, plus me on the inside. I think we’re safe for the moment.”
“I don’t know…”
“In the service, we used to blow off steam all the time—play pranks and such.” The gleam dimmed a bit. “It helps you get through the rest of it.”
Vick wasn’t a counselor, but something awful had happened to Justice in the desert. But he didn’t seem to be in a sharing mood, so she left it alone.
Hmm. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to yank Jasper’s chain. It’d been a tense couple of weeks, and she could use a break. And maybe it’d make Jasper admit that kiss had meant something after all.
“Okay, I’m in. What did you have in mind?”
Chapter Sixteen
“Why are we spyin’ on Vick again?” Ten asked.
Jasper hunched down further in the driver’s seat and peered through a pair of night vision binoculars. After he’d stormed out of Vick’s place, he’d rounded up Ten and Butler for an impromptu stakeout. Mostly because he needed some backup if things went sideways and neither one of them would run their mouth about the incident.
“Because she can’t be datin’ that fool biker. Somethin’s up.”
“Why not?” Will asked.
“She would’ve told me so.”
“And you care because…?” Ten clearly didn’t get it.
“I know you don’t understand these kinds of things, but she’s my friend, and I watch out for her.” It wasn’t much of an excuse for playing Peeping Tom, but it was all Jasper could come up with at the moment.
“Watchin’ somebody with binoculars is a sign of friendship?”
“Yeah, you said you wanted to expand your horizons. Well, here we are.”
“Even I don’t think that sounds right, so you got a real big problem.” Ten frowned.
“Yeah, and most people stalk alone. It ain’t really a group sport.” Butler shifted in the backseat. “And her drapes are closed, so we’re pretty much starin’ at a great big nothin’.”
“Something’s goin’ on here, and I’m gonna find out what.”
Butler sighed. “Everybody knows you love Vick.”
Ten grimaced. “I didn’t.”
“Shut up, Ten. All you gotta do is let her know you care.”
“I ain’t sayin’ I got a thing for her, but how would I let her know, Butler?”
“Break into her place and watch over her at night while she sleeps.”
“What the fuck?” Jasper glanced in the rearview mirror, and the other man had a straight face. So, he isn’t kidding?
“Or write her a poem instead? Blood is red, my balls are blue…” Butler snorted.
What kind of creepy ass courtship is that?
“Shut it, Butler.”
Great plan, Justice. Ain’t no party like a psychopath party. He should’ve left the Grim Reaper and crazy Chatty Cathy at home.
Jasper had other, more pressing matters on his mind. He had a million horrible scenarios playing through his head. What if she and the biker were curled up together? Kissing? Or maybe they’d already made love? What if she’d been screwing this guy all along?
And then the curtains parted, and the big dumb biker stood in the window.
“Shiiit!” Butler called in a high falsetto as he hit the floorboards.
He and Ten huddled further down into their seats.
“What the hell’s he lookin’ for?” Jasper asked.
Butler snorted. “You? I’m guessin’.”
“I say we kill him.”
“Ten is right. I’m bored as fuck. Enough foreplay.” Butler groaned. “Why don’t you take this to the next level? After you shoot the biker, abduct Vick, tie her up, and wait for that sweet Stockholm
Syndrome to settle in.” Butler wiped his hands together. “Boom. Problem solved.”
“Please tell me you ain’t been kidnappin’ girls.” Or crawlin’ in their bedroom windows at night to watch ‘em sleep.
“Okay, I haven’t.” Butler shrugged. “But nothin’ says commitment like riskin’ a life sentence.”
“He has a point,” Ten said.
Oh, I know a couple people who should be committed alright.
“Keep it up, and I’ll take both your asses home.”
Justice pulled the shades all the way back, and the two were seated side by side in the chairs watching television together.
“That bastard’s sittin’ in my motherfuckin’ chair.”
“Looks like they’re holdin’ hands, too. I guess she is seein’ Justice.” Ten craned his neck, trying to get a better view.
This can’t be happening. And then it hit him.
Jasper had the sudden realization that he and Vick had been “dating” for months now. He stopped over to see Dix far too often, they worked out in the mornings, went for breakfast, spent nights together, talked to each other during the day.
And when Jasper finally made a move on her, he tried to tell Vick it’d been a slip-up.
I’m such an asshole, and Mary was right.
Meanwhile, some other man scooped her up while he was busy playing it safe. He’d spent all his time worrying about losing her like he’d lost his family. Only to surrender Vick to another man.
“Do you think they're serious?” Jasper asked.
“How would I know?” Ten asked.
“Fuck this. I’m goin’ home.” Butler hopped out of the car and stalked off.
Good riddance. Jasper never should’ve brought him along anyway.
“They can’t be. We kissed the other day.”
“Oh?” Ten asked.
“Yeah, and we almost kissed this mornin’, too.”
Ten pulled a face. “Yeah, I don’t care.”
“Well, I do.”
Dammit, he had to do something about this situation, because it was all kinds of wrong. As soon as he got his grandmother squared away, Jasper intended to sweep Vixen right off her feet. Then Justice could go back to Hell where he belonged.
First things first though. “Ten, you got plans tomorrow?”
“No.”
Blood Money (Lone Star Mobster Book 3) Page 14
