Fourth Debt (Indebted #5)(37)

“Interesting.” Vaughn rubbed his face. “You’ll have to show me that handy trick.” His stomach growled again, even louder than before.

I couldn’t help Jethro or improve his prognosis, but I could help another man I loved. Turning back to the cupboard, I grabbed an armful of apples, biscuits, and another box of muesli bars. I shoved them at my brother. “Here. Have these.” Dashing to my wardrobe, I pulled free a few extra-large jumpers that I liked to wear off the shoulder with a belt and gave those to him, too. “And these. To keep you warm.”

Jaz wheeled forward. “That’s a good idea. That room is freezing.” Her shoulders rolled. “V, it hasn’t exactly been easy dealing with you tonight, but you’ve been amazing. Helping move Jet and Kes, driving the van, filling out the paperwork at the hospital. Don’t think I’m not grateful because I am. But…”

Vaughn had his mouth full with a crisp green apple. “But you have to take me back.”

Jaz nodded.

“No, surely you can just let him go—” I moved between them.

Vaughn swallowed his breakfast. “No chance of a warmer room? Something without a broken window?”

She smiled sadly. “Sorry. We have to make it seem like nothing happened. Cut can’t know Jet and Kes are alive. Any escapes or room changes will make him suspicious. However, I’ll do what I can and move you in a few days.”

I stood in front of V, cutting Jaz off. “I won’t let them keep him in that place.” Putting my hands on my hips, I glared. “Why can’t you just let him go? You were off the estate tonight. Just take him back to London and let him hide until this is all over. Cut can just blame me if he gets suspicious.”

Vaughn grabbed my shoulders. “You think I’d do that? Run away and leave you here?”

I shrugged him off. “If you’re not here, they have nothing to control me with. I’ll be free to do what needs to be done.”

Vaughn’s eyes flashed. “Don’t be so stupid, Threads. I’m not going anywhere without you. End of f*cking story.”

Jaz stiffened. “You do realise saying ‘when this is all over’ is accepting your death, right?”

I groaned. Great. Perfect thing to say in front of an overprotective twin.

“What?” Vaughn demanded. “What the f*ck does that mean?”

I rolled my eyes. “I’m not accepting death. I have my own plan to end this. Either way, I need you gone, V. I can’t have people I love here.”

Jaz suddenly shot forward and grabbed my hand. “Don’t do anything reckless, Nila. I made an oath to Jethro to look after you. I can’t break that promise.”

My eyes widened. “When did you make that?”

Her face softened. “There are a lot of conversations and stolen moments in this house that you don’t see or hear. The day the police came for you after the Second Debt, I knew you’d changed him. He refused to speak to me. He pushed me out of his life completely, but he didn’t need to tell me for me to understand.”

“There is so much shit I don’t know about,” Vaughn grumbled. “I need some education. Someone needs to fill me in on what I missed. Second Debt?”

Jaz and I ignored him.

My heart galloped, drunk on the thought of Jethro. Imagining him alive and happy. The fact he’d talked about me…that his sister knew how he felt about me—it made our love so real. Even if it was forbidden.

My voice dropped to a whisper. “You’re like him…aren’t you?”

“Like who?” V asked around a mouthful of hobnob biscuits.

Jaz lowered her gaze. “He told you?”

Her tone was both awed and slightly miffed.

“Does that offend you?” The residual dislike for her tainted my voice.

She shook her head. “Offend? No. Surprise? Yes. But…I knew he’d fallen in love with you. I could feel it in him.”

“Feel it?” V wiped crumbs off his t-shirt. “That’s a strange thing to say.”

I turned to face him. “She’s a VEP.” After Jethro’s lesson the other day, I felt cocky to know the term. To know the technical name for a condition so common in people that it’d become a regular flaw, according to society.

V scrunched up his nose. “What the hell is that?”

Jaz chuckled. “No. And Nila has it wrong. I’m empathic to the point of emotional sensory but nowhere near as bad as Jethro. I don’t call myself anything different. Just attuned to my brother—same as you’re tuned to each other.” She waved at V and me. “You’re twins. There are differences between you, but overall, you share enough genetic make-up to sense each other on a deeper level.”

Vaughn nodded. “That’s twins for you.”

Jaz smiled. “Twins and Empaths.”

A loud noise slammed a few rooms down.

We all froze.

The inhabitants of Hawksridge were waking up.

I hated that answers had to come later, but I would hate it even more if we were caught. “As much as I want to continue talking, I think…it’s time to hide.”

Jaz nodded, rolling toward the door. “You’re right.” Without looking over her shoulder, she said, “V, I’ll take you back to your room.”