Right Kind of Wrong(47)
“What?”
She lets out a little sigh. “I’m just happy you’re home, that’s all.”
And that’s my cue.
Clearing my throat, I make a big production of stomping loudly down the hall before turning into the kitchen with a bright smile. “Sorry about that.”
The bottle of Maker’s Mark is on the table next to three glasses filled with ice. As I sit down, Lilly pours me a drink then moves to fill the glass in front of Jack.
He shakes his head. “I have to go out later.”
Lilly’s frown matches my own. “Tonight?” She glances at the clock on the wall. It’s almost midnight.
He nods. “I want to catch up with some old friends.”
“Can’t you wait until morning?” she says.
He shakes his head. “The longer I wait, the more people will know I’m back in town. And I was kind of hoping to… surprise a few people.”
I narrow my eyes. After his whole speech about me not driving at night and being so exhausted, Jack wants to go hang out with friends? I call bullshit. He’s up to something. And after everything I witnessed at the bar earlier, it’s probably something shady.
Lilly shrugs and pulls his empty glass back. “Fine then. More whiskey for me.”
“Is it okay if I borrow your car? Just for tonight—” He runs a hand through his dark hair and mutters, “Shit. You don’t have your car.”
“Nope.” She shakes her head. “Samson drove it to Vipers tonight and left it there.”
“Dammit. Why did he have to sell his bike? So inconvenient.”
“Money,” Lilly says. “That Harley was the only thing of value Samson owned.” She frowns. “Where is that boy, anyway? Is he asleep on my couch? He better not be drooling on the cushions again.” Standing, she plucks her whiskey glass from the table and stalks to the living room, mumbling, “Especially when he’s got his own damn bedroom ten feet away…”
Once it’s just the two of us in the kitchen, Jack’s demeanor changes, like he’s slipping back into a well-worn suit as he smiles at me sympathetically. “I bet you’re pretty tired.”
I eye him as I sip on my drink. “Not really.”
He leans back in his seat with a very fake yawn. “It’s been a long day.”
“Uh-huh.” I lift a brow, knowing full well that this is his gearing-up-to-ask-for-a-favor voice.
Wait for it…
He leans forward on his elbows and implores me with his gray eyes. “Is it cool if I borrow your car tonight? Just for an hour or two?”
There it is.
“So you can go catch up with friends?”
He nods.
“Sure.” I smile sweetly and he perks up. “But only if you tell me why you’re really going out.”
He tries to look innocent, but innocent doesn’t really work with the whole unruly-haired, tattoo-covered, bad-boy thing he’s got going. “I told you. I’m going to see some old—”
“Friends. Right.” I take another drink. “Yeah, you’re a big fat liar. And I’m not letting you use my car unless you tell me the truth.” His features turn stony so I amend, “Either that, or you have to take me along with you.”
His shoulders slump, meaning me coming along isn’t an option in the slightest, which in turn means that he’s up to no good.
“Whatever,” he says.
I shrug. “Whatever.”
He sighs and gets serious for a moment. “I know you probably have some questions. About tonight. About—”
“The bounty on your brother’s head? Uh, yeah.”
“Shh!” Fear flashes in his gaze as he snaps his eyes to the living room. “My mom will hear you.”
I swallow, feeling guilty, and lower my voice. “Sorry. But… shouldn’t your mom know if Drew’s that kind of danger?”
He shakes his head. “No.”
“No? These people want him dead, for God’s sake.”
“I know. But I don’t want to tell my mom anything until I do some digging to see if it’s a real threat or not.”
My mouth falls open. “Are you insane? You should be calling the cops! Not playing detective on your own.”
He exhales. “The cops can’t help us.”
I scoff. “Why? Is Little Vail run by mobsters or something?”
He studies me for a moment. “Something like that.”
I blink, waiting for him to correct his statement, but his expression remains serious. Genuine terror races down my spine as my thoughts fly in every direction, all of which lead to Jack dying.
“What the hell is going on, Jack?” I say, my voice on the verge of cracking.