The Peer and the Puppet (When Rivals Play, #1) (116)

The doorbell rang, so Vaughn got up and looked out the window. I sat up when he blew out a harsh curse. “Well, you better figure it out…Jamie’s here.”

I was hoping to get some rest before round two, but it wasn’t like my cousin to take the time to cool down. He’d much rather explode.

“I’m going to send him home.”

“Nah…let him in.” I took a look around the living room elegantly decorated with original paintings, crystal vases, and antiques. Mrs. Rees had spared no expense. “On second thought, how expensive is all this shit?”

“Very.”

I stood from the couch built for style rather than comfort and started for the door when Jamie rounded the corner. He looked worse than I did even though I was the one with the fucked-up nose and busted lip. His tie was gone, my blood still stained his knuckles, and his hair looked like he’d been tugging at it.

“Call it off.”

“Can’t.”

“I don’t give a shit what you think you’re protecting her from. She’s not yours to protect.”

“She’s my friend. That gives me just as much right. You’re too worried about if she’s spreading her legs for me to ask yourself why she doesn’t trust you with the truth.”

“There is nothing she could say that would make me understand why she betrayed me.”

“If that’s true, then you’ve already lost her.” Vaughn’s warning didn’t seem to penetrate. It only made Jamie more determined to have his way.

“Ever, if you do this, you’re dead to me.”

“I’m sorry you feel that way.”

This time, when he charged me and swung, I ducked, barely missing the blow before delivering one of my own. He managed to counter with a powerful jab before we were pulled apart.

“What the hell is going on,” Franklin bellowed as he kept Jamie restrained.

“Just working through some issues, pops.”

Franklin grunted with a shake of his head.

Jamie bucked to free himself, so Franklin tightened his hold. “Cool it, kid. I don’t know what’s got you so fired up, but I won’t have you knuckleheads destroying my home. Show some respect.”

“Let me go. I’m good,” Jamie gruffly asserted.

Franklin gave us both a warning look before releasing him. Vaughn loosened his hold on me when Jamie started for the door, but a chuckling Franklin stopped him with a hand on his shoulder.

“Come with me to my office, son. You look like you could use a drink.” He quickly pulled Jamie from the room.

I started to nip that shit in the bud, not trusting Franklin alone with my hotheaded cousin, but Vaughn blocked me from going after them. “Move.”

“The last person Jamie will listen to right now is you. Just let him go. He’ll be alright.”

“He better be.” I may be fucking Jamie over, but he was still my cousin, and Franklin was a slimy bastard. Vaughn simply nodded before leaving to get an ice pack. I sank down onto the floor, closed my eyes, and in a moment of weakness, I pictured Four.




My father, all dressed for work, showed up at Vaughn’s early the next morning. He ordered me inside his car and threatened to put me out on my ass if I disobeyed. Once inside his car, he interrogated me about Jamie’s whereabouts. Apparently, he didn’t go home last night.

“Would you like to tell me what’s going on between you, Jamie, and that girl?”

“Not really.”

“It wasn’t a request.”

“I asked Barbette to marry me, and Jamie got pissed about it.”

“Why would he care about you proposing to your girlfriend?”

I shrugged while staring out the window.

“If you want this to end, don’t stonewall me, son.”

“He’s in love with her.”

I waited for the lecture, but he was silent as he drove up the driveway. “Is she pregnant, son?”

My head whipped toward him. “What? No!”

“I had to ask. I certainly don’t agree with your choice to marry so young. I think you’re making a huge mistake, and while I can’t actually stop you, I’ll do everything in my power to persuade you. Just don’t set any dates before you graduate. Give it some time. Please.” When I didn’t respond, he sighed and drummed his fingers against the steering wheel. “If you truly love her, Jamie will just have to accept that she chose you, but I don’t want you to forget that he’s family. Talk to him, and in time, he will forgive you.” He cut the engine and chuckled. “To be honest, I’m surprised by all of this for a different reason.”

“What reason?”

“I was afraid that it was Four one of you boys were sweet on.”

It was all I could do not to show my father how close to the mark he’d come.

“What made you think that?”

“I had my suspicions when she came home marked up after being out all night with the two of you.” His eyes sharpened as he stared me down. “Know anything about that?”

I shook my head when I couldn’t find my voice.

“Good. I’m not sure I would approve of a scandal like that happening under my roof.”

“Did you tell her mom?” Four may not ever speak to me again, but I’d warn her anyway.