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34
Eden
Meeting with Vincent makes me feel exactly like I thought it would. I contacted him through the information he left in the folder, and here we sit, at the same table, in the same room, earlier this time, though. I loathe to hand over the pictures we printed of the paternity test results that he wants.
A favor, alright. What they don’t mention is that sometimes a favor can make you feel like shit.
He reaches his hand out, and I barely have to move the folder forward before he’s taking it from my hands. He glances briefly inside, not even long enough to see what the results are, but fast enough to see that we have something for him.
“I’m indebted to you both,” he says. His face is grim today, far different from yesterday’s smug fuckery look, and it makes me wonder what’s happened in Vincent’s world to take the ego out of him. Something horrible, I hope.
He drums his fingers over the manila folder, glancing at Ollie and me. At our backs, I feel the presence of our pissed-off bodyguards. They were definitely not happy with our unscheduled detour earlier, but what’s a girl to do?
“That’s not an idle promise,” Vincent remarks. “Favors are an essential piece of the Knights’ structure. You did me a favor, I reciprocate, providing I think it’s of equal or lesser value than the one you provided for me.”
There it is. The smug look is back, and I wonder what the hell he thinks is equal to finding out whether he’s a daddy or not. It doesn’t really matter, anyway, because accepting a favor from Vincent Jarvis is like planning my permanent stay in the Knights.
“We’re finished, then?” I ask.
He nods once. “You performed well. I’ll make sure the Elders are aware. How did you get it?”
I shrug. “It’s a secret.” After Leo and Alaric calmed down, we explained to them how we’d gotten the results, and they’d stood there speechless before cracking up. I somehow don’t think Vincent would have the same reaction. “Plus, does it matter?”
“I suppose it doesn’t.”
I stand, and Leo moves the chair out for me. Almost like a gentleman. Odd, but okay.
My plan is to just leave the room, go back to Jarvis Hall, and take a bath to scrub the icky feelings off me, but Vincent’s voice halts my plan at the door. “Leonardo? Thought you should know, Grandfather’s extremely irritated with you. He wants a check-in immediately.”
There’s something about the way he says it that unnerves me. Check-in? What job could Leo possibly be working for his grandfather right now when he’s been wrapped up in Knights shit with me?
Unless he has Leo so tight on a leash that he doesn’t let him live his own life without having his hands in every part of it. Doesn’t seem like Leo’s style, though.
“Did you hear me, Leonardo?” Vincent asks.
Leo grunts in response, and we all leave the room, the empty hall echoing our footsteps back to us. I don’t dare say anything until we’re outside. The security in the Knights lair is beyond measure. You never know who’s listening.
“Check-in?” I ask, finally turning toward him with a raised brow.
He shrugs. “I don’t know if you’ve heard, but I’m a bit of a disappointment. He likes to keep tabs on me.”
I press my lips together. It’s not that the excuse doesn’t pass, it’s just the combination of the way he says it and the whole not-trusting-them talk that Oliver and I had. Despite all outward appearances of wanting to work with me, what if they’re working against me?
I just can’t shake the feeling.
“Awfully bold to ask questions about me when you’re keeping your own secrets,” he snarks.
My heart squeezes in my chest. “What are you talking about, Caveman?”
“I’m talking about how I saw a British waiter helping a distressed Keegan Forbes into his residence hall yesterday.”
Oliver sighs. “Please. How could you tell he was British?”
“The accent, asshole. And they pulled up in a Mini Cooper. You think any of these twats are driving Mini Coopers?”
“We should talk about this when we get inside,” Alaric notes, shifting his gaze around as we make our way across campus.
“So, I’m not allowed to talk to my dead sister’s fiancé?” I ask, completely ignoring the sensible one of the group.