Vigilant (18 page)

“No idea. The bail was set by a management company of some kind. The bail bondsman didn’t care. They just wanted the payment,” he explained. “Just be careful, okay? I’m going to personally do some heavy patrolling around your house, and I’ll let the rest of the officers know, too. If he comes back, we’ll catch him.”

Ari thanked the detective, but his protection didn’t make her feel any better. Jace had barely been stopped last time—and that was by the Vigilante who might or might not really be a vigilante.

Overwhelmed, Ari pulled into her driveway and slapped a hand to her forehead. She’d completely forgotten about Nick bringing dinner. His car was parked behind Oliver’s and she hustled to the door.

“I’m so sorry,” she said the instant she entered the house. Lively music played from the stereo and she heard voices from the kitchen. Everyone sounded happy, which was the exact opposite of how Ari felt at the moment.

“Ari!” Oliver called, when he saw her. He held out a glass of wine, which she eagerly accepted. She might as well drink the funk away. Veronica waved from the kitchen.

“Is he mad? I’m totally late,” she whispered.

“At you?” he asked. “I’m not sure Nick has a ‘mad’ button.”

Veronica left the tiny kitchen giving Ari room to go in. “Hi,” she said, resting a hand on Oliver’s shoulder.

“Hey,” Nick gave her a kiss. “Tough day?”

“Kind of.” Guilt settled in her chest. She’d spent the afternoon sharing secrets with her lover, not her boyfriend.

“Well, I brought over Thai. Enough for everyone. I thought we could all eat together.” He leaned into her ear. “And then maybe you and I could spend some time alone?”

“Sounds great.”

Ari excused herself, telling Nick and Oliver she left something in the car. What she needed was fresh air. This thing between her and Davis had grown complicated. And maybe just for her. After his revelation about his brother, he hadn’t said much more. Only that he would deal with the situation. She didn’t like the way his eyes had clouded over when he spoke about it. Or the way his hands balled into tight fists. Who was she to get in the middle of it? Except she was in the middle. Did that mean his brother had been visiting her room at night? Saving her from the criminals of Glory City? Except no, Davis said he wasn’t the Vigilante. Did that mean he knew who was?

Ari took a deep breath of cool night air.

“You okay?” she heard from the driveway. Veronica stood on the path that led to the back door.

“Oh, hey, Veronica. Just getting some air.”

“Well, you looked a little sick when you ran out of the room. Those guys are kind of clueless. I doubt they’d ever notice.”

“That’s the truth. One time my boyfriend broke up with me by text. I was crushed. Oliver offered to take me to a strip club and not the Magic Mike kind of strip club.”

“He’s a charmer,” Veronica laughed. “But for real. I know we aren’t close or anything but you seem a little stressed.”

“Eh…” Ari started. Where should she start? Missing kids? Mystery men? Murderers? Secret lovers? Her whole life seemed shrouded in drama. “I just feel a little over my head right now.”

“But Nick’s good right? He seems stable.”

“Yes, he’s very stable,” Ari agreed, not meeting her eye.

Veronica raised an eyebrow. “You’re not into stable.” It wasn’t a question.

“No, not always, but that doesn’t mean it’s bad, right? Because unstable guys—that never works out, know what I mean?”

“Yeah, I’ve been there.”

“But,” Ari said, before she thought better. “Those other guys, the unstable ones. They have a habit of getting under your skin.”

“Yes, they do.” Veronica leaned against the porch railing. “So, is there another guy? Someone who fits better with the tattoos and combat boots?”

“How?” Ari couldn’t remember exposing that side of herself when Veronica was around.

“Those tattoos are more noticeable than you think,” she said. “Plus, I’m a light sleeper. I’ve heard you come in late a couple nights. Once in a pretty revealing top. I wasn’t spying, promise. But it’s pretty obvious you weren’t out with Nick.”

The heat of embarrassment and guilt rushed to Ari’s face. “No. Not Nick.”

“So, ditch Nick. Go with the troublemaker.”

“I’m not sure he’s really available for more than what we have. Plus, I’m wondering if it’s time to settle down, leave all that behind.”

“Security isn’t bad. Believe it or not, Oliver may be the safest guy I’ve ever dated.”

Ari rubbed her face with her hands. “Ugh, I have no idea what to do.”

“Well,” Veronica said, wrapping an arm around Ari’s shoulder. “The good news is you don’t have to pick tonight.”

“You’re right.” Ari needed to think. To figure this out.

“But from the worried look on your face about the man serving us all dinner in there, I think it may be time to make some decisions.”

Ari rested her hand on the doorknob and sighed. “You’re right. Thank you.”

“Any time.”

* * *

Ari drained her wine glass and set it on the table. She figured if she was going to break things off with Nick, she might as well have a bit of a buzz.

“Did you hear anything else about the Vigilante?” Veronica asked.

Startled, Ari asked, “Me?”

“Well, anyone, I guess. I haven’t seen the news.”

“I heard there’s a reward out for him. From the mayor’s office,” Oliver said. “The senior partners were talking about it today. Sounds like everyone was kind of willing to let this slide until he shot that kid.”

“Do they have any idea who it is?” Ari asked, playing dumb.

“I think the police know more than they’re letting on,” Nick said.

Oliver leaned forward. “Why do you think that?”

“I talked to some of the cops today at the courthouse. This guy won’t get away with it. In fact, I suspect they’re pretty close.”

“Anything specific?”

Nick took a sip of wine. “Well, I hate to tell Ari this, but rumor has it, the police are very interested in the program Oscar came from. It’s possible the Vigilante has some kind of connection with the GYC.”

“What? Why?” Ari asked.

“You saw the video. The two men were pretty evenly matched. Oscar could have taken him if it weren’t for that gun.”

“That’s too bad,” Oliver said. “They’ve got a great thing going on over there. I’d hate to see it shut down.”

“I doubt it will come to that, but I could see some kind of investigation taking place. Or possibly removing the staff if necessary.”

Ari frowned. “The staff? Why? They’re awesome. What does this crazy guy have to do with the program anyway?”

“Like I said, I’m not sure, but it seems logical if the murderer is connected somehow. Why do you care so much? You only have one kid placed there. Surely Judge Hatcher can help you find another placement.”

“Because, like Oliver, I think it’s a pretty great program and I’d hate to see it get destroyed by some nut job.”

“I didn’t say it would be destroyed. Just possibly under more reputable management.”

“You’ve never even been there. How do you know there’s a problem with management?” Ari’s voice hit an unpleasant level and across the table, Oliver raised an eyebrow. “Sounds like a bunch of courthouse gossip,” she said. She got up and started clearing the table. In the kitchen, she turned on the faucet and scraped the plates into the sink.

Nick came in behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders. “What’s bothering you?”

Ari shook him off and moved to the other side of the kitchen, digging in the upper cabinet for plastic containers. She glanced in the dining room. Oliver and Veronica had disappeared.

“So, you’re mad? Because of what, exactly?”

She turned and said, “Because…” Because what? He offended her secret lover? He called her mystery guy a murderer, which he wasn’t. Not the real Viglante, which had implications she wasn’t even ready to get into. Because she was ready to break up with Nick and a fight seemed better than, “it’s not you, it’s me”?

Nick leaned against the refrigerator, arms crossed. He was handsome, smart, and caring. He was everything she should want. But he wasn’t. And right then, there was too much going on that he didn’t fit into.

“I don’t know what my problem is. I just…”Ari paused. She held the plastic container tight in her hands. “I just think we should take some time apart maybe. I’m not sure we’re a good idea.”

He dropped his arms. And seemed shocked. Ari’s fleeting hope that he might have felt the same were dashed. “Wait, you want us to stop seeing each other?”

“Yeah, I think so.”

“Is this because of tonight? Because I know I can be argumentative—it’s in my nature.”

“No, it’s not that. Things are crazy for me right now and I just need some space,” Ari said, lamely.

They stood across from one another for a short, tense moment.

“It’s that guy isn’t it?”

Ari swallowed the lump in her throat. “What guy?”

Without responding, Nick turned on his heel and stormed out of the kitchen. Ari didn’t follow but heard him gathering his coat and keys. She picked up a rag and started wiping the counter, continuing when the front door opened. He must have stood there waiting for a solid minute but Ari didn’t budge. She knew she was right, even if she wasn’t being honest with him. With no other recourse, Nick slammed the door and walked out.

EIGHTEEN

Ari entered Glorious, pushing past the group of people standing at the door. The DJ’s music vibrated across her skin and thrummed with her already excited heart. Davis said he’d meet her there at midnight.

A guy stopped in front of her and smiled. “Can I buy you a drink?” He was cute. A spikey fauxhawk crowned his head and four rings gleamed down the side of his ear. He lifted an empty beer bottle. Forward, much?

Before she could reply, a heavy arm slung over her shoulder and the guy’s eyes darted next to her. She offered a weak smile of apology and turned her head to inhale Davis’s scent. He hadn’t absorbed the sweaty, dank club smell yet.

“Hi,” she said.

He kissed her in reply.

She kissed him back, right in the middle of the club. Not in the back hallway, or behind the closed door of his office, or in her dark bedroom. It was public—for everyone to see.

She liked it.

Davis led her to the dance floor, stopping in the middle under the cracked hazy lights. Unlike that last time, the first time, when they kept an electrically charged distance, they danced. This time his hands traveled everywhere. Down her bare arms. Flat across her belly. She pressed close to him. Song after song. Until Ari couldn’t stand it any longer. When she was about to burst out of her skin, she looked over her shoulder and beckoned him with a finger.

He followed.

* * *

“I broke up with my boyfriend tonight.” Davis halted his kisses at her confession. Both their shirts were off and for some reason, Ari felt like it was the right moment to tell him about Nick. “I couldn’t do both. Not this and that. Especially since I didn’t really want that. Him. Not anymore.”

“But this?” he finally asked.

She touched the fine hair under his belly button. Her thumb grazed the ragged scar left by his brother.

“I know I promised. I made the deal. And you can turn me away if you want. I just wanted something…better than what I have with him. Even if it’s less.”

Davis rolled on his back, the back of his hand draped over his eyes. “I know the feeling.”

“What does that mean?”

“I guess it means that things are about to get complicated.”

Ari stared at the ceiling. She thought about those glow-in-the-dark stars she stuck on the ceiling over her bed in her parent’s house. Back when the only other person sharing her bed was her dog, Jerry, or one of her girlfriends having a slumber party.

“Complicated how?” she asked.

“There’s a lot you don’t know about me, Ari. Not all of it is good. And like I told you before, with my brother on the hunt, getting close to someone is dangerous. You saw what he did to Oscar.”

“Well, Davis, there’s a lot you don’t know about me, too. I’m not going to be scared off.”

“Really? Because I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s the one behind Jace Watkins coming after you.”

The thought made her blood run cold.

“I’m not afraid,” she lied. Then she rolled toward Davis and placed a series of kisses on his neck. “If it’s worth it.”

He slid one hand under the covers and between her legs, stroking the spot where she’d showed him the two tattoos the other day. Ari’s own hand traveled past the soft hair on his belly.

“Before things get complicated, can we just have one last night? Complication free?” Ari swung a leg over his waist and pulled herself on top of him, easing her body against his. Feeling how hard he was. His need. “Just one more night where this is enough?”

In the shadowy dark of her room Davis brought her to his chest. Ari closed her eyes and braced herself for him. She expected him to be rough—intense like the other times. She loved the way he rocked her hard, unafraid that she would break. He knew she could take it—loved it, even. He entered her slowly, the furor gone. Surprised, she moved with him, rolling her hips languidly. His touch seared, making her skin burn. Making her feel wanted. Worshipped. He licked the star between her breasts where he’d bruised her. He moved to the two under her collarbone and his mouth felt like a salve, healing her loss. Ari’s fingers traced the jagged and rough scar on his side, wishing his wounds away. Both had reminders of how much they’d suffered. This time they marked one another differently, with desire and affection.

Davis’s movements were so caring, so attentive, that when Ari finally felt herself spiral to that place, she allowed her heart to go along with her body—even just for this once. In the darkened room, her eyes met his and he breathed her name, and she knew he felt the same.

* * *

Davis left the way he had the other night. Like a ninja through the back window. Before he left, he leaned back in, easing over the windowsill. Over his shoulder, she saw a movement and pulled away. “Davis,” she whispered.

He looked and said, “That’s just Boyd.”