Page 34 of Vail

The rest of the evening went well. While Vail would glance around occasionally, he seemed more settled than before. I hated the fear in his eyes though. The doubt that he was truly safe. One piece of shit human did this to him and continued to do it without being there.

I couldn’t help thinking of my brother. If he had been there when Gil was hurting Vail, he would have been livid. Forest had been Vail’s protector from the beginning, even when he didn’t need one. That was who Forest was. At least back then. Forest now had enough of his own problems; he couldn’t help anyone else.

He said he wanted to move here to be closer to us. I wouldn’t believe him until I saw him. Forest said a lot of things. Following through with them was a different story.

Vail squeezed my thigh, pulling me back to the present. We were finally on our way home, me in the back with Vail while Jordan rode up front. “Are you okay?”

“Just thinking about Forest.” Once I said it, I felt like shit. I should be here for Vail, not letting my brother occupy my thoughts.

“Don’t,” Vail said, like he could read my mind. “I’m fine. I was tripped up tonight but I’m okay now. We could call Forest to see how he’s doing.”

“If he’s drunk when he answers, I’ll feel awful. I’d rather hang on to the illusion he’ll move out here, and I’ll get my brother back in my life in a good way.” I didn’t need someone to take care of. If that was what Forest thought was going to happen when he moved here, he was wrong. But if he genuinely wanted to be around Vail and me, I was all for it. I loved my brother and missed the hell out of him.

Vail reached into his pocket to pull out his phone. It vibrated and lit up in the car’s interior. He didn’t say a word, but he didn’t need to. Tears welled in his eyes. Leaning close, I saw the text on the screen from an unknown number that read: You should have bid on the cabin, darling. We have so many fond memories there.

“Jordan,” I whispered.

“Yes?”

“Vail, can I?” I motioned to the phone. He nodded. Carefully, I took it from Vail and handed it to Jordan.

Jordan lifted his own phone to his ear. “Gil texted Vail. We have proof he’s alive.” There was a pause for whoever he spoke to on the other end of the line. “Will do.” Jordan hung up, then turned to Albert. We were pulling into the garage. “Go to the police station.” Albert didn’t hesitate to turn around. Both SUVs followed us as Jordan sent a text.

“Vail.” Jordan turned in his seat. “I know you don’t want to talk about him, but we have to keep everything by the book with this. Lana is sending Em to the station since she’s not able to get here. This text proves he’s alive. The item up for bid could have been submitted by anyone with a fake name on it. The text is different.”

Vail nodded. “I understand. It clears your name.”

“I was cleared anyway, baby. This is so we can protect you.”

“I have you and Hart, plus your men. I’m safe.”

“It’s good to have it documented. Marlie also sent me the email she received for the cabin listing. I’ll present that as evidence as well, so they can see it.” Jordan didn’t hand back the phone, not that I blamed him. Vail was already sick once tonight over Gil.

We pulled up to the station, Albert staying with the car. Oleander jumped out of the SUV behind us, as did Sheldon. The others would wait outside. Vail’s bond with the two guards grew daily. They were both protective of him.

As soon as we entered the building, officers were on their feet. Jordan was the one who spoke, saying he had evidence Gil was alive and obviously well from the text he sent. We were ushered into a room without Oleander and Sheldon, where Jordan said he wouldn’t say another word without his lawyer present. Emeric arrived within minutes of us taking our seats.

I was nothing more than an audience to what took place, keeping Vail’s hand in mine. I wasn’t sure if I should be in here or not. It didn’t directly affect me. As long as Vail held my hand tight, I’d stay where I was.

The officers were kind to Vail and cold to Jordan, not that I expected any different. I just had to hope they took this seriously. Gil was taunting Vail.

The officers saw it and said it was in violation of the protection from abuse, if it was him. There was no solid proof it was, since it was from an unknown number. I couldn’t help but wonder if the cops thought we did this. That we created the text to further prove Jordan’s innocence. How they could look at Vail, at the haunted look in his eyes and question that, I didn’t know. At least he made a record of it with the police.

15

JORDAN

After lying in bed with Hartley and Vail for hours, unable to sleep, I finally got up and left the room. Anger still coursed through me. I didn’t blame Marlie for what happened. She didn’t know it was Gil’s cabin, or that he used a false name to donate it to the auction.

He was alive. That motherfucker was still slinking around. He was breathing, eating, no doubt thriving in whatever space he was in. The man had money. Who knew how much he took or what other identities he used. Slimy, no good piece of shit.

The elevator doors opened, and I exited onto the fourth floor where the security command center was. Multiple rooms had been converted into one large space. Not many had the access code to get in. At four in the morning, I didn’t expect Barry to be inside. He worked during the day. But there he was, sitting behind the desk with another guard by his side on his normal shift.

Screens lined the wall, each showing a different room, hallway, outside of the building. But there were more than that. We had cameras on certain locations I owned throughout the city. Not my legal businesses. Those had their own security systems run by companies I hired. My home I didn’t trust to anyone but my own men.

“Sir, what are you doing up?” Barry asked.

“I couldn’t sleep.” At least I didn’t put on a suit. Hartley and Vail were slowly changing me in multiple ways. I slid my hands into the pockets of the heather gray lounge pants and rocked back on my bare heels as I surveyed the screens. “Why are you awake?”

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