Page 21 of Vendetta
Normally, Dylan would’ve laughed and teased him.Usually, she had some story to tell, about old bikers getting rowdy over jukebox picks or the regulars ordering one too many cheap whiskeys.But tonight, she was engulfed in a serious sense of dread.Staring out the windshield, she just watched the darkness rush past and swallowed hard before answering.
“Busy’s not the word I’d use.”
Jason didn’t say anything right away.But she noticed his grip tightening on the steering wheel as he drove.His gaze darted to her and back to the road, brief but not sharp.It was like he knew she wasn’t telling him everything.And he wasn’t asking, but then he never did.Somehow, that made it worse, because part of her wanted to spill everything, right now in the dark cab of the van, in the safety of his presence.She wanted to tell him about the stranger who’d come in with Eli, how he’d grabbed her and how Eli hadn’t reacted at all when it happened.She wanted to explain that she felt, deep down, she was noticing strange things atNed’s, and just maybe she’d made a mistake in staying there.
They drove in silence for a few more minutes, and it was the kind of silence that said more than words ever could.When they pulled into her apartment lot, Jason shifted the van into park but didn’t kill the engine.He didn’t look at her right away, just stared through the windshield like he was working through something.
“I don’t have to stay tonight,” he said, “if it’s a bad night and you need space.”His voice was careful, like he didn’t want to spook her.But he sounded so sincere.He rubbed a hand along the back of his neck, the movement almost shy.“And I’m not expecting anything.Not ever.”
The words hung there, soft and steady, giving her all the room in the world to say no.But Dylan didn’t want him to leave.Not tonight.Not when it felt like there was a weight on her chest and she wouldn’t be able to breathe if she sat with it alone.Turning toward him, her hands knotted in her lap.
“I don’t need space,” she said quietly.Sheneededhim.“I just… I don’t have anyone else I can really talk to.”
Jason’s mouth twitched, almost a smile, but not quite.It seemed like he was relieved by her answer, which surprised her.No sex but please listen to me blather about all my problems.Where had this guy been all her life?
Reaching over, he gently brushed the backs of his knuckles across hers.“Then talk to me, sweetheart,” he said, voice rough.“I’m right here.”
“Let’s go up,” she said.
As he usually did, Jason followed her up to her apartment.Dylan moved automatically, turning on the soft lamp in the corner, kicking off her boots, tossing her keys into the bowl by the door.Jason toed off his own boots near the entryway without a word.He made it clear he was here for however long she needed him.
“Anything you want for dinner?”he asked, pulling his phone out of his pocket.
“Anything but pizza.I think I’m turning into a slice at this point.”
He grinned.“Burgers and fries, okay?”
Dylan nodded, her chest easing just a little.“Yeah.Thanks.”
While Jason ordered takeout, Dylan sank onto her worn couch, pulling a blanket loosely over her lap even though the apartment wasn’t cold.She wasn’t shivering from the chilly night.
When he finished ordering, Jason moved into the kitchen, grabbed two sodas from her fridge without asking, and brought one to her.Settling into the chair across from her, the space between them was wide open, but the connection was unmistakable.He just cracked open his drink, waited.And somehow, that patience made it easier.
Wrapping her hands around her soda can, drawing slow circles against the condensation, she took a deep breath and found her voice.“So tonight,” she said quietly.“My uncle came in with some guy.I don’t know who he was.But he was --” She shook her head.“Rich, obviously.Someone important.Types like him don’t come intoNed’s.”
Jason nodded, his gaze locked on her.
The words came easier to her now.“At first, they were just talking, keeping their voices down.I brought them their drinks, and…” She hesitated, taking a breath.“That rich guy grabbed my wrist.Not hard.But he didn’t let go right away.He --” Her hands clenched tighter around the can.“He said I didn’t belong in a place like that.That my uncle wouldn’t mind if I went somewhere else.It was like some kind of inside joke or something.”
Jason visibly tensed but kept listening.
“And Eli,” she continued, her voice cracking slightly, “he didn’t say anything.He didn’t stop it.He didn’t even look at me.”
Her gaze dropped to her lap, her face burning with anger and shame.For a long moment, the only sound was the soft hum of her fridge kicking on.
“You didn’t do anything wrong, Dylan,” Jason said firmly.“You didn’t invite that, and you didn’t deserve it.”
Tears stung her eyes at his words.She wanted to believe that.
Leaning forward, Jason rested his forearms on his knees, his voice gentler now.“And I know you don’t want to hear this,” he added, “but maybe it’s time to think about finding another job.”
Dylan nodded.“Yeah,” she whispered.“Maybe.”But deep down, she knew it wouldn’t be that easy.Not when the place, and apparently her uncle, were tangled up in things she wasn’t supposed to know about.Still, for tonight, she didn’t have all the answers.She just needed to breathe and to hear someone say she hadn’t read too much into what happened.That she wasn’t overreacting.
When their food arrived, Jason rose smoothly, pulling a few crumpled bills from his pocket.Locking the door behind him, he carried the order over to the coffee table, tossing a wrapped burger into Dylan’s lap with a wink.He joined her on the couch, and they ate for a couple of minutes.
But it didn’t last long.Dylan set her half-eaten burger down and wiped her hands on a napkin.Nerves made it impossible to eat anything else.
“My uncle,” she said quietly.“I just…” Dylan stared at her hands for a long moment before finding the words.“I know my uncle’s not perfect,” she said, voice low.“And he’s always had that rough side to him.I never thought he’d act like this.I don’t understand what he wants.Or what I did wrong.”She blew out a breath, tried to push past the tension.“You know he looked right through me, like I wasn’t even worth acknowledging.”
