5. Chapter 5
Chapter 5
S leeping beside Jude all night was anything but comfortable.
Obviously, he’s used to sleeping alone, because he hogged the blankets and nearly punched me when I tried to pull them back over me.
I quietly slide myself down toward the end of the bed and head off to the kitchen to see if I can figure out how to make coffee for myself. Luckily, he has a single cup brewer and everything for it is in a nice little rack beside the machine.
Once it’s finished brewing, I take my coffee to the living room and scroll through my phone for a while.
It’s strange that Mila didn’t text me at all last night. It doesn’t even show that she read the messages.
I scroll to her number and once again, it goes to voicemail after a few rings.
Did she seriously lose her phone?
I decide to leave it be and allow myself to scroll social media. As soon as the app loads my news feed, I gasp.
A plethora of posts flash before my eyes. All in regards to Charlie Jensen and his whereabouts. Along with the very accusatory search for Mila.
Fuck. What if she’s in trouble?
I try calling her again, and this time, she picks up on the first ring.
“Hey,” she answers.
“Hey, where the fuck are you? Are you okay?”
“Yeah. Sorry I didn’t text you. It was uh… crazy.”
“Was your date with Charlie Jensen?”
“Yeah, why?”
“He is missing. His dad is losing his goddamn mind. He wants to talk to you, but no one knew where you were.”
“So, I left the date early because he straight up tried to drug me. The server and manager saw. I…texted someone and they came and got me.”
“Who?” I ask.
“I need you to do me a favor and I’ll explain everything in person, okay?”
“Uh. Okay?”
“I need you to bring me some clothes. I can text you the address.”
“Girl…who did you go home with?”
“If I tell you, you need to keep it to yourself. Okay?”
“Okay. Okay. Tell me,” I insist.
“Gunner Vega.”
“ Please tell me you fucked him. Please ,” I squeal.
“Veronica, you’re on speaker.”
“I don’t give a fuck. Did he defile your little ass or no?”
“Yes,” she laughs, as I clap my hands together enthusiastically.
“Fuck yes, girl. He has been looking at you for ages like he wants to bend you over his desk. I love this. I’ll bring you clothes, then you’ll tell me why you’re being evasive about dick breath?”
“Yeah, I will. Just…please, keep the information to yourself. Okay? I’m serious.”
“I got you. You know that. Text me the address and I’ll be there soon.”
I end the call and suddenly remember that I don’t have my car here. It’s still at Jude’s bar.
Fuck .
I’ll have to ask Jude to drive me back. I have shit to do anyway, so the sooner the better.
Just as the thought comes to mind, I see Jude walk past the living room doorway and into the kitchen.
“Good morning!” I call out.
“Good morning. How did you sleep?”
“Well, aside from you stealing the blankets and trying to beat me up in your sleep…”
“Shit. I’m sorry. I’m so used to sleeping alone,” he chuckles, strolling into the living room with his coffee and sitting down beside me.
“I kinda figured.” I decide to take my chances and ask; he looks pretty relaxed right now, and I really need to get him to help me out with this. Yet again. “Um, I have something I have to do this morning. My best friend got herself in a predicament, and needless to say—she needs me to bring her some clothes.”
“Mila?” he asks, almost like he actually knows who she is.
“Yeah…she got a ride home with one of our prof—someone we know.”
“A professor?”
“You didn’t hear that from me,” I say, miming my lips zipping shut.
“No worries. Your secret is safe with me.”
“You were right, ya’ know…about me running my mouth too much,” I snicker.
“We’ll work on that.” He smirks, taking a large sip of his coffee.
“So—I guess I’ll need you to drive me back to my car.”
“Sure. I have a few financial meetings to attend today. We can head back to town now, if that works.”
***
“Thank you, for everything,” I say, hopping out of his truck to unlock my car door.
“You’re not getting away that easily.”
“Haven’t you had enough of me already?” I tease, hopping into my car and fastening my seat-belt.
“If you had asked me that last night before we fucked, I would have said yes. Now—I’m not so sure.”
“It doesn’t get any better. I’ll still be just as annoying.”
“Yeah, well now I know what other things your mouth is capable of doing, so I might be able to look past it.”
“Jeez, thanks.” I chuckle as I start my car and close my door.
I roll the window down as he stands there staring at me. “Can I help you with something else, sir?” My biting tone would have frozen over Hell .
“What are you doing later?” he asks.
“Buying a bed,” I chuckle.
“Or…”
“Or…what? You want me to stay in yours again?”
“Well, it’s not a bad idea.”
“I still need a bed, Jude.”
It’s definitely not a no. I’d never really say no to some good dick wrapped in red flags.
“Text me when you’re done. I’m sure we can find something to do…”
“Maybe I already have things to do.”
“I really don’t think you do. Besides—I did you a huge favor.”
“I already offered to help you, financially. If you think that means you’re entitled to more, you’re wrong.”
His arm shoots through the open window and wraps around my throat. “Entitled? You didn’t seem to mind my cock buried inside you last night. You’re putting so much effort into denying it, little leopard.”
“What is wrong with you?” I moan, desperately trying to ignore the throbbing in my clit.
“I think you already know the answer to that.” He finally lets go, and I gasp.
“You’re fucking insane!”
There’s no way in hell I’m letting him know just how incredibly turned on I am right now. My mind is flooded with flashbacks of last night.
“Text me,” he says, as I rev the engine.
He stands there, watching me back out, so I make sure to flip him off as I drive away.
***
“I can’t believe this is real life,” Mila says, plugging her phone into the car charger.
We decided it would be best if she caught a ride to campus with me. I’m sure riding with Gunner would make it pretty obvious.
“I mean, I know Blaise had it coming to him but—” I start to say.
“No, that guy was fucked in the head. Not only was he just weird but, he snuck into your fucking dorm room! He deserved what he got.”
“I’m just scared that the wrong people will find out.”
“There’s only us. Gunner and Jude won’t say a word—they’re the St. Valentines butchers, in fact.”
My entire face drops and my eyes widen. I press on the brakes and pull over to the side as a whirlwind of anxiety hits me all at once.
“What the fuck did you just say?”
“Jude didn’t tell you?” she smiles, seemingly impressed about the fact that she got to tell me the dirty little secret herself.
“For Christ sake, I’m an accomplice now! It all makes sense! The alley, the cleanup—everything!”
“Babe, calm the fuck down. We have two of the most experienced men on our side, doesn’t that count for something?” she chuckles. “Besides—he’s an accomplice to your crime too.”
I shake my head and slam my hand into the steering wheel. “Fuck!”
“Veronica, nobody knows what any of us did. Charlie is long gone, and so is Blaise. Why are you so worried?”
“You’re joking, right? If they go down for any of this, what makes you think they won’t mention our involvement?”
“They won’t. Trust me. Gunner and Jude have been at this for a while. The police already know what they do.”
I sit in silence for a moment, staring out the window to avoid eye contact with Mila. After a few seconds, I put the car back in drive and turn back onto the road.
“We’ll be fine, V. Come on, live a little!” Mila says, reaching for my hand that’s resting on the gear shifter.
I glance over at her and shake my head, letting out a heavy sigh. “I sure hope so. If we end up going down for this, our lives are over. You know that, right?”
“You’re overthinking it.”
“We’ll see.” I let out a nervous chuckle as we pull into the dorm parking lot.