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“It was relaxing,” I admit.
“Good,” Vaughn smiles. “Listen, we weren’t prepared for this because we weren’t expecting somebody to attack the club. It’s neutral ground. It’s a fucking death wish to come at you like this.”
I sink into my favorite armchair. “What about Steve? Did we get anything useful out of him?" ”Actually, yes.” Vaughn lookspleased. “His death wasn’t a complete loss, and let’s be real. They couldn’t keep him alive forever.”
The new doctor I have on the payroll since my old one was dumped in the alley basically said as much before I left for Paris.
“According to him,” Vaughn continues, “it seems that Johnathan hasn’t met the girl he’s looking for. Steve overheard him talking to a private detective about finding her, but she was in LA somewhere. Also, Johnathan is working either with or for someone, which explains a lot if he’s responsible for pulling something like this off at the club. He isn’t smart enough to have done this by himself.”
“But why did he come back?” I comment, leaning back against the chair and studying the ceiling. “He stole from me, and I let him live.”
“Yeah, it’s confusing how you decide whom you’re going to annihilate on any given day.”
I ignore Vaughn’s snide comment and try to work out this situation in my head.
“I assumed he was on the other side of the world spending my money, but he’s returned? He had to know that if he came back here, I’d want him dead. He may not be a criminal mastermind, but he’s smart enough to know not to come back here without a plan or without muscle.”
“Right now, you’re at the top of the food chain in LA. If you’re removed, there’s a large gap that needs to be filled almost immediately. Johnathan knows this, and he might be aiming for that.”
I’m quiet for a moment, thinking over his words. “Did you take care of Steve’s body?”
“Lars handled it.”
Lars is meticulous about these things, so I feel better now.
“I think I should have a word with Nick tomorrow. Get in touch with him and tell him to come to my office at noon.”
Vaughn glares at me. “I’m not your secretary, you know. I have my own company to run.”
“Considering you’re up under my ass lately, you can at least make yourself useful. Hasn’t the whole thing with Shelly been resolved?”
My friend’s expression turns dark. “Well, it’s funny you asked. I haven’t heard from her in a few days since she kicked me out. I’m starting to worry.”
“I can’t believe you let her kick you out of your own house,” I say in disgust. “That’s your house. If she wants to leave, she should be the one walking out.” I shake my head. “And now you’re worried.”
Vaughn is quiet, and then he sighs heavily. “I don’t know what I’ll do if I find out she’s cheating on me. I don’t think I can take that.”
I don’t say anything because I’m not really sure what to say. Out of the few friends I have, Vaughn is the one with the softest heart. His hands are not clean by any means, but unlike me, he has some shred of humanity left in him.
“Christian is coming back tomorrow,” he adds. “He wants to see you. His apartment is getting repaired, so he said he’ll crash here.”
“Fantastic,” I mutter. “Fucking fantastic. We’ll pop popcorn, eat Twizzlers, and make a fucking slumber party out of it.”
“I could do with some junk food,” Vaughn jokes. “You know, if you take the stick out of your ass every once in a while, it might be easier for you to breathe.”
“Maybe I should just shoot you and solve all of Shelly’s problems,” I say darkly, but Vaughn just ignores me.
“So, do you ever plan on talking about how you just took that hot little bartender with you to Paris?” He grins. “It’s not like you to whisk a woman away for a romantic weekend.”
My eyes narrow at his description of Megan. “She’s not just some random hot bartender; she’s a manager at the Blue Whiskey and deserves your respect.”
“Ohhh,” he exaggerates his tone, simultaneously chuckling. “My bad.”
“And it wasn’t a romantic getaway.”
“Then what was it?”
“None of your fucking business, that’s what.” I kick his legs, which are resting on my coffee table, off of it and make my way to the bedroom. “And stop breaking into my house. I’m changing the entry code again tonight. You won’t guess this one.”
