Page 15 of Soul Mates: Hercules Valentine and I

Vengeance Is Mine

Hercules Valentine

I’m toughing it as I stride up the avenue. I have to think my way through this. I’m holding some cards, and how I play them counts. I pinch my top lip.I kissed Paisley Grove.What the hell was I thinking?I enjoyed it. I want more of her, but that’s impossible. I have to scrub her out of my head, at least in that way.

She hurled in that trash can—that’s a start.

I walk faster. Paisley Grove isn’t going to help me stop them. I bet she’s in her house, safely tucked in bed. I don’t want to dislike her for not doing what I think is right. I get having to please demanding parents who are never happy. I have two of my own, and they can’t even make each other happy. I've seen knock-out-drag-down fights between them. The struck each other with their words, not their fists. I don't even want to remember what they’ve said to each other. I step on the gas and walk faster. If I don't want to be derailed, then I can’t think about my parents.

I’m no vigilante, but I have to do something for Blossom. She’s a girl I liked, but my cousin Nero, who’s a year older than me, worked his charm on her, and they became a couple. I like her because she’s kind to everyone and thinks about others before herself. And Blossom isn’t faking it, either—that’s how she really is. But like the other girls who went out with Nero, she found out that he’s a hard guy to pin down. If she wanted stability, I would have been the best option. I would have been a loyal and dependable boyfriend if she’d chosen me. At least that’s what I like to think, although I’ve never had a solid girlfriend.

Regardless, no girl should have to go through what Blossom went through. She never filed a police report, because she waited three months to tell Nero what happened to her. But later, she heard about another girl at her school who said it had happened to her too. That girl didn’t report the incident to the authorities either. Then they found others, and they all compared notes. Nero and I went to several parties, trying to catch them in the act, but the crew stopped taking advantage of girls for a while. After tonight, I see they’re back at it.

I don't want to make a mistake. O’Brien was caught trying to get into Paisley’s pants. I squeeze my eyes closed, trying to unsee what I saw. If they’re smart, they’ll clean up their mess and fly right for the rest of the night. But Blossom and her friends’ stories would go a lot further with someone like Paisley Grove to vouch for them. The families of Blossom and the other girls aren’t more powerful than their abusers’ families. But Paisley is a Grove, which makes her the nail in their coffins.

Why would he risk it? Sure, she’s sexy as hell, but still, her brother, Max, I heard, is a ferocious asshole.

If only she’d go to the hospital and get tested for pinkies. I’d vouch for walking in and saving her. Donovan would follow my lead and confirm that he saw O’Brien leading Paisley out of the party and that she appeared to be drugged. After that, it would be a slam dunk.

I take out my cellphone. It’s too bad I have to involve Paisley Grove anyway. I have two ferocious assholes of my own to help with this matter, and I know which one to call.

When Orion answers my call,the first thing he says is to make it quick. So I give him the rundown of the night.

He groans, irritated. “I’m too busy for this, Herc.”

I was prepared for him to take that position, which is why I have one name locked and loaded. “You’re not too busy for this girl,” I say as a teaser.

“What girl?”

I lean against the brick wall to the parking garage of Darby’s building. “Her name is Paisley.” I want to save the punchline for the right moment.

“Who the hell is that?”

I shake my head. I hate that about my brothers. They can’t do a good deed unless there’s something in it for them.

“Treasure Grove’s cousin.”

He’s quiet for a few beats. “Where are you?”

I give him the address.

“And you say there’s evidence?”

I stand up straight, knowing I’m getting somewhere with him. “Vomit.”

“What do you need, a cop or something?”

“That’ll help. Just collect the evidence.”

His annoyed sigh fills my ear. “Why aren’t the Groves handling this?”

I have no choice but to lie. “She’s at the hospital, and we don’t have time for the Groves to catch up. I’m here now, and those guys can decide to clean their tracks at any moment. Orion, do you know a cop or not?”

He pauses again. “I know someone. Hold tight.”

I straighten my posture.What’s he doing here?

I’ve been standing here for—I check my watch—forty-seven minutes, guarding the trash can. The gate guard let me in, no questions asked, after I slipped him two hundred bucks. The valets remembered me. I told them I had to wait for someone, and they were cool with letting me hang out in the private lobby. Paisley’s stomach contents are still in the trash can. So far, only a couple has walked out of one of the elevators. We said good evening to each other, and that was it.