Chapter 29 Jake #2
“She has a point,” Rick says almost more to himself, but we all hear him in too small a space not to.
“Yeah, she does, but unlike some, I’m not too stubborn to admit when I lose.
” Zander smirks at Rick, making his jaw clench and his posture stiffen.
I’m not sure what Zander meant by that, but clearly Rick understood.
He quickly turns away, stomping the rest of the way up the stairs without another word.
Jade tucks her head into the crook of Zander’s shoulder, but I can still hear her laugh as we all continue up the stairs. Judging by the looks on Kratos and Spencer's faces, I’m not the only one who didn't understand.
We file into the office, and Rick shuts the door as we fall into chairs around the room.
Thankfully, someone put more chairs in here this time.
I fall into the one furthest from the desk that Kratos just settled behind.
Jade grabs a bottle of water from the desk, chugging half of it before Zander snags her around the waist and pulls her back to sit on his lap.
“Can we get to this? I have other things I need to be doing,” Spencer barks as he watches them, his words clipped and angry.
Kratos shoots him a glare that makes him snap his mouth closed.
Spencer sits back, crossing his arms without another word, even though I’m pretty sure he had more to say.
Jade smirks at him, but he isn’t looking her way.
I shake my head because he might act like he hates her, but I’d bet money that’s not the case.
None of them seems able to avoid her allure, and I can’t say I don’t see the appeal.
Jade has all these guys wrapped around her finger, and I’m not even sure she’s aware of it.
Before we can get into anything, a knock sounds at the door, and Dom pops his head in.
“He’s here, boss.”
Kratos gives him a nod, and he disappears again while we all sit and wait. I wasn’t aware we were waiting on anyone else, but a moment later, the door opens again, and in walks Trent.
“The cop, really?” I ask nobody in particular, but I can’t hide the annoyance in my tone.
Trent is one of the guys who run in my group.
He has for at least the last year. I know Rick, Zander, and Spencer used to be close with him, but as far as I was aware, it hadn’t been that way for a long time.
I’m also about ninety percent sure he only hangs around me for intel.
Everyone knows he’s the chief’s, Rick’s dad, golden boy.
It wouldn’t surprise me if he told Trent to watch me.
Not that it matters. Most of the force is in Vengeance’s pocket at this point; the chief just doesn’t know it.
Trent could see whatever he wanted, and it more than likely wouldn’t do a damn bit of good for him since he can’t actually report it.
Kratos knows that. I told Rick when Trent first came around.
Kratos gave me the okay to let him stay, saying he was wasting his time.
I know Kratos built Vengeance to be just about untouchable, but I can’t think of a reason it would be beneficial to test that by letting him not only stick around but be on the inside for meetings.
I feel eyes on me, and when I look over, I’m met with Kratos’s hard stare. It’s not a comfortable feeling. Looking around the rest of the room, I expect the others to feel the same, if not more put off by him being here. They can hardly handle being in the same room as him half the time.
Rick and Spencer both look more annoyed than angry, though, and before I can question what the fuck is going on, I get my answer.
“Trent,” Jade says with a smile. She stands, rushing him with a hug that has him staggering back to catch his balance.
“Hey, Sweetness,” he says, wrapping her up in his arms and pressing a kiss to the top of her head. The smile that spreads across his face is beginning to look familiar, and this time when I look around the room, I think I’m starting to understand.
They aren’t letting him in on random meetings or even accepting him completely. No, they're using what they have, and Trent just so happens to fall into that category now, thanks to Jade. In the same way, I fall into that category, thanks to the fact that my father is an asshole.
When Trent releases his hold on her, she lifts up on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek before turning away. Trent drops down into a chair near Kratos’s desk, his ears red as he refuses to meet anyone's gaze.
For a minute, I assume Jade will head back to Zander, and he looks like he expects that as well, until Kratos clears his throat.
Without missing a beat, Jade makes her way around his desk, hopping up on it with ease.
She pulls her legs up and sits cross-legged, spinning to face the rest of the room, her back to Kratos, though I see his hand as it rests on her waist.
Zander huffs but manages to keep quiet.
Somewhere along the way, the cute, cheerful smile Jade had only a moment ago melted away. Now, as she sits on Kratos’s desk without so much as a worry in a room full of men known for their brutality, anger, and ranks in both crime and the police force, she looks calm and collected.
It’s strange, but as the guys go over what happened at dinner last night, I watch her as she takes in every word, catches every movement, and sees it all.
Jade’s like a snake coiled and ready to strike.
Not for the first time, I can see why she has the guys wrapped around her finger.
Jade isn’t like anyone I’ve ever met before, but if I had to make a bet on it, I’d bet she’s exactly the type of person who can take my father down, and she’ll enjoy it.