Page 156 of One Bad Idea
I smiled. Maybe it was an evil smile, but I didn't care. Crazy or not, I was glad they'd done it. Absently, I said, "Oh yeah. I almost forgot."
In truth, I hadn't forgotten anything. Mostly, I was irritated that I hadn't thought of it myself. I despised Cassidy's mom. And I despised her so-called boyfriend even more – not that I'd ever met the guy.
But I didn'tneedto meet him to know that he'd surely bring my friend to harm if he ever had the chance.
Cassidy gave a shaky laugh. "Well, aren'tyoublood-thirsty."
Yes. I was.And with good reason. "Hey, he had it coming," I said. "But back to Jax, did he saywhythey did it?"
She winced. "He said he didn't want that guy near me."
I gave a slow, approving nod. "Good."
A few minutes later, sitting in our living room, she offered up more details. Apparently, on Friday night, the night before Cassidy was scheduled to pick up her things, Jax had driven by her mom's place to check it out in advance.
While there, he'd discovered by chance that Dominic was planning another sales pitch to recruit Cassidy. And Cassidy's mom, the selfish creature that she was, was doing nothing to discourage him.
Now, in the safety of our living room, Cassidy was saying, "But it's so strange. I mean, why would Jax do that?"
It was no mystery to me. "I'll tell you why." I smiled. "He's crazy." I meant it in the best possible way. My own heart ached just a little as I added, "Love makes you do crazy things."
Afterward, Cassidy went on to tell me that the two brothers had gotten together and decided to have an anonymous talk with Dominic beforehecould have a talk withher.
"Apparently," Cassidy was saying, "the talk didn't go too terrific, because it ended with Dominic in the bushes."
And in the hospital.
By now, I was half-surprised that Dominic hadn't ended up in the morgue.
Better luck next time.
Cassidy's story haunted me all night. I kept thinking about that stupid mask. I wasn't even sure whether Jaden had left it on my deskbeforethat little adventure or afterward.
And why had he left it for me at all?
I saw no silly joke behind it. AllIsaw was a serious effort to protect someone that Jax cared for.
And Jaden had helped him.
That meant something.
I was under no illusion that he'd done it for me, or even for Cassidy. But hehaddone it for his brother.
I was glad. And thankful. And now, more confused than ever.
On Monday, I woke hours before dawn and lay there in the darkness for the longest time, feeling like I hadn't slept at all. Finally, when I couldn't stand it another moment, I got up and got ready for work.
When I pulled into the parking garage, the sun was barely peeking over the horizon. This was a good thing, I reminded myself, because it would give me some time to calm my nerves before anyone else came in.
But as it turned out, I hadn't come in nearly early enough, because when I walked into my office, someone was already there.
It was Jaden.
And unless I was mistaken, he'd been lying in wait.
For me.
Chapter 58
