Chapter 58
Fifty-Eight
Violet
I clenched my jaw and stared at Jared as he sat smugly beside my dad, typing something on his phone.
“I told you that your dad will get the money as soon as I have it. You can leave,” I said, not bothering to fight the snarl that came out.
“Yeah, and I was given strict orders to stay put and keep an eye on his investment,” he replied, tucking his phone back into his pocket. “Looks like you’re stuck with me for the foreseeable future.”
“I highly doubt that,” I mumbled, shifting the bag from one arm to another as I checked my phone to see if there were any new messages from the guys.
I hated asking them for favors, but I also knew I couldn’t just call Capshaw and ask for an advance myself.
He would ask too many questions, and I would risk him showing up and making things worse with Jared.
All I needed right now was the money to give to Jared’s dad so they would leave my dad alone.
“Get out of my seat,” I said, pointing to where he was sitting. “You don’t get to disrespect my father by sitting beside him, so move.”
Jared sneered at me as he got up, making a point to look me up and down as if sizing up his opponent.
“Wow, you fuck a few douchebags in town and suddenly think you’re some bad ass.” He spat the words at me as he sat in the other chair and glared at me. “You’re still just a pathetic loser, Violet. Spreading your legs just made you their slut.”
I shook my head and set the bag down beside me as I got as comfortable as possible. My dad still hadn’t woken up, and part of me hoped he wouldn’t until after Jared left. The last thing I wanted was for him to hear all of this.
I ignored the awkward silence that came from my refusing to engage with him.
He could call me a slut if he wanted, but there was nothing he could say that would ever make me feel bad about what I had with Enzo and Asher.
They had loved me more than Jared would have ever been capable of—if he actually knew what love was.
The door started to open, but was yanked shut before anyone could come inside. That did nothing to drown out the voices on the other side of it.
“I’m sorry, but there is a limit of two people in the room. I can’t let you go—”
I got to my feet, wondering what the commotion outside was about when I looked up and saw Asher. My heart skipped a beat as I blinked my eyes, trying to force myself to wake up because this had to be a dream. There was no way he was there right now in my father’s hospital room.
“Sir, I told you—” the nurse started, but I stepped toward Asher, reaching for him to make sure he was real.
“He stays,” I said quickly. “This one was just getting ready to leave.”
I nodded to Jared, not missing the way Asher’s jaw clenched as he stared at him.
“I don’t think so,” Jared said smugly, resting his hands on his stomach as if he planned to sit there. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Asher raised an eyebrow and then looked at me.
“This is absolutely not okay,” the older nurse scolded. “All of you need to leave now. This patient needs rest, and I won’t tolerate any fighting in here.”
“We will take this conversation to the waiting area,” I told her calmly, not wanting to get on her bad side and risk her refusing to let me stay with my dad. “Let’s go.”
I gave Jared a pointed look, but it was Asher heading toward him that got him out of his seat.
“You two are not doing that in here,” I said firmly, shoving Asher back a step before he clocked Jared. “We can talk outside.”
“Fine,” Jared mumbled as he got up and shoulder checked Asher.
I followed them both out of the room and pulled the door closed behind me. Enzo was waiting in the hallway, leaning against the wall as he studied my face.
I shook my head, unable to believe that they were both there. I didn’t have time to think about that if I wanted to get rid of Jared. I walked down the hallway and stepped into the waiting room as they all followed behind me.
“What are you guys doing here?” I asked, needing to know what was going on.
“I think the more important question is what is he doing here?” Asher asked, nodding at Jared.
“I’m here on business,” Jared replied smugly.
“What kind of business?” Enzo demanded, arms folded tightly over his chest.
“The kind that is none of your business.”
I knew this could go on forever with the three of them ending up in a chess match. I didn’t have the time or energy for that right now.
“Long story short, my father got in over his head with a few bets, and Jared’s dad bailed him out.
He’s been working off the debt he owes him, but recently fell behind on a job.
When Jared moved back to Haven Brook a few weeks ago, his dad assigned him to my dad, thinking that I still had access to my mother’s life insurance money.
Apparently, Jared never bothered to tell his dad that we weren’t still together. ” I paused and let out a heavy sigh.
“How much does he owe?” Enzo asked Jared, his tone cold as steel.
“Fifteen thousand,” Jared replied as I whipped my head toward him and frowned.
“What? You told me it was ten thousand.”
“Yeah, the price has gone up due to the delay in getting paid.”
“You smug little asshole,” I seethed, raising my fist as Asher stopped me and pulled me into his waist. “You’re such a piece of shit!”
“And you’re just a little whore—”
Jared didn’t get the last few words of his sentence out before Enzo punched him in the side of the head, forcing him to lose his balance as he toppled to the side.
“Speak to her like that one more time and your dad will never find your body,” Enzo growled in warning.
Jared touched the side of his face and glared at Enzo.
“Call your father now,” Asher said, staring down at Jared. “Put him on speaker phone, and we’ll get this sorted out.”
Jared gave him a dirty look as he got to his feet and pulled his phone out. He pressed a few buttons and then held his phone up and put it on speakerphone.
“Is it handled?” a male voice answered.
“Not yet,” Jared replied tightly.
“Then why are you calling—”
“He’s calling because I told him to,” Enzo said loud enough for Jared’s dad to hear.
“And who the fuck are you?”
“I’m the person who is going to pay the debt for Bret Sanderson. What is the amount he owes?”
“I don’t do business with—”
“What is the fucking amount he owes?” Enzo repeated, his voice raising enough to catch the attention of a few nurses passing by.
“Ten thousand dollars.”
“Ten thousand and you leave him alone?” Enzo pushed, doing something on his phone.
“Yes.” There was a pause before Jared’s dad spoke again. “Put me on the video call, I want to see who I am doing business with.”
Jared pushed a few buttons, and then an older man appeared on the screen. Jared moved over to where Enzo was standing and pointed his phone at him so his father could see who he was dealing with.
“Who exactly am I talking to?” he asked, resting his elbows on a mahogany desk and steepling his fingers in front of him.
“You don’t need to worry about that. What you need to worry about is your son trying to screw you over. He raised the amount to fifteen thousand. I’m sure you were never going to see that extra five thousand that he kept for himself,” Enzo said. “How do you want your money?”
I stood there in disbelief as Asher held onto me while Enzo talked to Jared’s dad, showing him proof of the money he transferred as soon as it was sent.
My heart stammered in my chest, trying to make sense of it all.
Not only had the guys shown up for me when I needed them, but Enzo was paying off my dad’s debt as if it were nothing.
Jared ended the phone call with a sharp warning from his father to get to his house immediately. We didn’t bother to say anything as he stormed off, not looking back. I let out a deep breath and stared at my guys.
“I can’t believe this is all really happening,” I whispered. “I... I... how?”
I shook my head, giving up on trying to get the answers out.
“We told you we would always take care of you, and we meant it,” Asher said softly, pulling me against his chest as he hugged me.
“You never have to worry about handling things by yourself. We’re a team, and we’ll tackle things together.” Enzo pressed a kiss to my cheek as Asher let go of me so I could hug Enzo.
“I have so many questions, but I need to get back to my dad and make sure he’s okay.”
“We can wait here,” Asher said, getting ready to take a seat.
“Maybe if I ask nicely, the nurse will let you guys in with me. I think she just didn’t like Jared. He wasn’t very nice to her.”
“We don’t want to push you to do anything you’re not ready for,” Enzo replied. “We can wait for you here. Just text us if you need anything, and we’ll take care of it. But for now, go check on your dad. We’ll be here.”
I nodded and knew that there was a ton we would have to talk about later, but for now, he was right. My focus needed to be on my dad and making sure he was okay.