Part 40 (2/2)
”Yes,” Heather said. ”That.”
Jack fidgeted and cast a reproachful look Chase's way. ”Christ, Brett, why'd you have to tell her?”
Heather didn't even blink when Jack used Chase's fake name because Dario was there. ”Brett...didn't tell me, she told Dario.”
”Why would you do that?” Jack asked Chase.
”Can we let it go? I'm really not in the mood for this conversation.”
”Why wouldn't you be?” Heather asked. ”It wasn't you who was being violated.”
”If it makes any difference, she didn't watch,” Jack said.
”Neither of us did. We turned off the visual before anything happened and stayed with the audio. As a matter of fact, Brett didn't even listen in. I did.”
Chase was helping Dario into his chair during the exchange.
When she glanced at them, she saw Heather staring at Jack in surprise.
”Don't look at me like that,” Jack told Heather. ”Someone had to, and it's not like I hadn't heard it all before.” Heather turned to Chase with an unreadable expression. When Chase didn't react, she said, ”Why didn't you just tell me?” Chase didn't reply. She rolled Dario up on the pavement.
* 308 *
”Interesting question, Heather. Please, tell us, Brett.” Dario was clearly enjoying the conversation.
”b.u.t.t out,” Jack said. ”Your voice bothers me.”
”And who exactly are you?” he asked.
”My name's Bite Me and I don't like questions.”
”Let's check in.” Chase started to wheel Dario toward the entrance.
”You never answered the...lady,” he said.
”Another word out of you and I'm going to push you into oncoming traffic. Accidentally, of course,” Jack said.
”Your friend, or colleague, or whatever, wouldn't be too thrilled about that since I'm a precious commodity.” Dario tried to appear unmoved, but Chase could see Jack's threat unnerved him.
She knew Jack would never hurt Dario because it was necessary to keep him alive in order to get to Ca.s.sady, but he had no idea how much Jack had riding on him. If he felt threatened enough by Jack to stay quiet and afraid, so much the better. Chase winked at Jack to encourage her.
”She's not my friend.” Jack loomed over him with a feral grin.
”As a matter of fact, I can barely tolerate her. I'm here because I owe her a favor, but paybacks only go so far.”
”Play nice,” Chase said. ”I need him alive.”
”Fine. But if he so much as looks at me, I'm going to remove his eyes.”
”That's my job,” Dario said casually.
Jack pushed Chase aside and went for her gun. ”Let me at him.” Chase pretended to struggle with her and Dario looked worried for the first time.
”You owe me,” she told Jack as they fought. ”You can't hurt him.”Jack stopped the fake struggle and glared daggers at Dario.
”One more word and all bets are off.”
He looked terrified. Heather was trying hard not to smile.
Chase grabbed her rucksack. ”Can we go now?” she asked them all.
”Yeah. I'm cool.” Jack reached for Dario's chair to wheel him in.
* 309 *
”Not her,” he shouted in panic. ”Don't let her touch my chair.
I'll do it myself.”
”Then get moving.” Jack kicked his chair from behind and Dario rolled through the entrance. They followed with their luggage.
Chase checked them in and, as she collected the pair of key cards, asked the receptionist to have the maids stay away from their rooms.
”I don't want to share a room with anyone,” Dario said as they took the elevator up to their rooms. ”I'll pay for my own.”
”It's not about money, prima donna,” Jack replied. ”It's about leaving your sorry a.s.s alone.”
Dario looked up at Chase. ”I'm not sharing with her,” he said, referencing Jack.
”Aw, too bad,” Jack replied. ”I was really looking forward to bonding with you.”
”Let me stay with Heather,” Dario pleaded.
Heather wrinkled her nose in disgust. ”Yeah, that's gonna happen.”
”You're staying with me,” Chase told Dario. ”Heather, you're with her.” She avoided using Jack's name in front of Dario.
”Why can't I get my own room?” Heather asked.
”I'm starting to feel unwanted,” Jack said.
”I wonder why?” Dario muttered.
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