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.”
“Great. How do you feel about comin’ to a weddin’ reception?”
***
Hours later, Vick awoke to find herself slumped in the same chair. Justice was sound asleep, sprawled a few feet from her. So much for coffee’s alertness powers. Either that or they were both too pooped to resist the pull of sleep.
Bleary-eyed, she peered at the flickering TV screen.
Yeah, I’m still watching. Stop second guessing my life choices, Netflix. She hated the little messages they put up on the screen.
A glance at her cell phone revealed it was four in the morning. Ugh. She had a crick in her neck, and her back ached. Maybe she should’ve stretched out on the sofa instead.
Teasing Jasper earlier had been fun. It hadn’t lasted long though, after a half an hour or so, he’d headed out. He’d actually peeled rubber when he’d driven off, so he must’ve been agitated.
Suddenly, Justice thrashed in the chair.
“No, stop! Take me instead. Do you hear me, goddammit? Take me!” He kicked the footstool away, and it skidded across the floor, hitting the television stand.
Vick jumped out of her chair. This must’ve been what Ace and Justice were talking about.
“The blood—hot, sticky. All over me.” In the dim light, she could see his eyes moving beneath the lids. “Can’t get it off.”
PTSD was common in soldiers. While he seemed intact physically, she wondered if he had some mental battle scars.
“No! Don’t you fuckin’ touch him, you sonofabitch.” The muscles bulged in his forearms, and his breathing came in harsh pants.
She tapped Justice’s arm. “Wake up. You’re havin’ a nightmare.”
No response.
“Justice, you’re in the middle of a bad dream.” Vick squeezed his wrist this time.
Like he’d been hit with a live wire, the biker leaped out of the chair and grabbed his gun in one smooth motion. His eyes opened. They were big and bright, body tense, ready for battle.
Vick gasped.
She wondered if he’d learned how to do that in SEAL training. From what she’d heard they were dropped into some horrific situations. They had to be ready for anything.
And Justice was about to go all Rambo on somebody.
“Hey, it’s me. Take it easy.” Vick held up her hands real slow as to not spook him. “You’re in my livin’ room. Nobody’s after you, for the moment, at least.”
“Vick?” Justice wiped a hand down his face.
“Yeah, I’m Vick, and you’re in Crimson Creek.”
“Right. No worries. I’m fine.” He lowered the gun, but Justice bounced from one foot to the other, filled with nervous energy.
“Wanna talk about it?”
He didn’t answer her.
“Justice?”
“Huh?” He blinked and then shook his head.
Clearly, he needed to talk, so she pressed a little more.
“Where were you stationed? Iraq?”
“Afghanistan.” His lips pressed into a thin line. “And no, I don’t wanna share. It happened a long time ago. I ain’t been in the sandbox since Jesus was a corporal. I’m just fine.”
Yeah, not so much, but denial was going around these days.
“Sure. Sorry. I didn’t mean to pry.”
“You weren’t.” Justice rolled his shoulders and rubbed the back of his neck.
“And you’re…. good?”
“Once I get more rack time, I’ll be fine.” Justice set the gun down. “I’m gonna make some more coffee. I shouldn’t have fallen asleep anyway.” He marched into the kitchen. “You want some?”
“Sure.” Vick slumped back in the chair.
Nobody had come after her. Soon, it’d be first light. Doubtful someone would attack early in the morning when they could be seen.
She should be relieved, but Vick was even more worried. What if Simon was planning something big and he needed time to gather resources?
Vick had a feeling the worst was yet to come.