Page 14 of Duplicity

If the guy ever came by the school, Cat’s brother would recognize Simon right away. She would find out who he really was and that he’d lied. Maybe he didn’t need to worry about that now. Considering his cover had already been blown.

“It’s personal.”

“And you’re telling people it’s a Vanguard case? That gives us a problem, Sie.” Jasper shifted to sit forward, elbows on his knees. “It makes Vanguard liable if anything happens, and you’re missing resources we could provide. Help wewantto give.”

“I don’t need anything.” He needed to do this on his own, without interference. It would be better if the least number of people possible knew what he was doing. Which was why he’d done it this way, keeping things quiet. His business didn’t need to be public knowledge.

Jasper shook his head. “Why are you lying to everyone?”

“I’m not…” He had no way to defend himself. Probably because hewaslying. Jasper wasn’t his father—Simon wasn’t going to get beaten for twisting the truth or pretending that what he’d said wasn’t a lie. There was no physical threat here. And yet, another bead of sweat ran down his back and he had to keep his hands clenched to keep them from shaking.

“Clare never micromanaged me.”

“This isn’t micromanaging you. You work for me now, and this is how I do things. Without anyone falling through the cracks.”

“Clare didn’t tell me what I could and couldn’t do.”

Jasper said, “I’m aware Clare rarely had to assign you tasks. She holds you in high regard, and you’ve more than proven yourself.”

“So why can’t you accept that I know what I’m doing?”

“Oh, I know you know what you’re doing.” Jasper stood. “It’s how you’re going about it, Sie. Lying. Putting yourself at risk so if anything happens no one even knows there’s something wrong. The company works when we pull together to get things done.”

He’d come from the police department and SWAT to work at Vanguard, so Jasper was all about a team mentality. It wasn’t surprising this had come out of his mouth, but Simon didn’t have time for the “stronger together” speech. He was hot, sweaty, and hungry, and he had work to do.

Simon said, “This is something I have to do by myself.”

Jasper looked almost sad, which didn’t make sense. “You’ve been different since Marcus Harper abducted you. Everyone knows it, and Peter is worried about you. He thought it was a good thing you’re taking a break.”

“I am taking a break—from having everyone breathing down my neck at work.”

Didn’t they know enough about him to accept what he needed to do? Simon had never pushed his own agenda before, but this time was different than any other. Clare had given him a choice to go to juvenile detention all those years ago. That day felt like another lifetime now. She’d offered him and Peter an internship on the understanding they’d finish school and get good grades, turn their lives around.

She’d offered him a choice he hadn’t expected.

He’d paid her back tenfold by being the best employee he could be. Keeping his nose clean. Being an invaluable part of the team at Vanguard so his life never made another turn that took away his choices. He hadn’t had any choices growing up. He refused to give them up now.

“I want an email in my inbox by nine tomorrow morning explaining the ins and outs of every single part of this. If you don’t want me to tell your brother you’re lying to him, that’s fine.But my people don’t operate without backup, and if there was a case so personal you couldn’t let it go, then you should’ve told someone so they could help you.”

“I don’t need help. I’m doing fine.”

Jasper shifted his stance. “Yeah? That’s why you came in here and pulled a knife? Because things are fine? I could’ve shotyou.”

Guns never solved anything. He’d had more than enough pointed at him, been threatened more times than he could count, and sat alone in the dark wondering when he would lose his life.

All of it reminded him far too much of the way his father had “raised them” in the way the Lord intended—according to Dear Old Dad—and how he strived not to spare the rod. Discipline had been their salvation.

Simon rolled his shoulders.

A grown man, not a scared child.

“I have it handled.”

Jasper said, “You break my heart, kid.”

He never would’ve said that to Peter. Everyone thought the sun shone on his brother, and he could do no wrong in their eyes. The bigshot operator with his bigshot missions. Simon loved him, but next to Peter, he would always fail to measure up. How many times had his father told him he was the weaker vessel?

This case was his business. He was about to say that to Jasper when the guy shifted and pulled a folded paper out of the inside pocket of his suit jacket.

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