Hunted

Marcus

Chapter 21
Four years ago.

There's a point where fun hits a wall, and I can see it in Vaughn as he sniffs out all the cocaine in one go, jaw clenched, his eyes glued to his phone like he wants to punch straight through the screen. He looks wired, like a bomb ticking down, his hand trembling just enough to give him away.

In these few months, his drug addiction worsened, and even more when he would read texts through his phone every night.

Jeremy and I tried to keep it down, hiding it from him, but it doesn't affect him. And it doesn't look like he'll be clean soon.

I settle back on the couch, watching him. "Who was that girl? Black hair, real knockout. Seemed like she knew you."

Vaughn doesn't answer right away, just stares ahead, a lazy, mean smile tugging at the corner of his mouth before he finally shifts those cold eyes onto me. "Who?"

"The bombshell from last night. Seemed real cozy."

His expression goes sour, eyes narrowing. "Nobody. Girl was obsessed with me, thought I cared. Called the cops on me when she figured out I didn't."

I raise an eyebrow, watching for a reaction, and he glares like he can see right through me. "Alright, maybe it wasn't just that. Might've had something to do with me almost putting her brother in the ground."

"Right," I say slowly, dragging the word out, just testing the waters.

He shrugs like it's nothing. "What? Kid thought he could take a swing. Not my problem if he wasn't up to it."

I wait a beat, then press on. "And that kid from yesterday?"

His face darkens, the veins standing out in his neck as his grip tightens around the phone, knuckles gone white. There's something borderline manic in his eyes as he leans closer, voice low and full of this twisted excitement. "Nobody important. Just needed some background noise. Figured hardcore gay porn would do the job."

"Look, I'm in this too. You said he deserved it, so I say he deserves it. But I know you're up to some bullshit. What is it this time, Vaughn?" My voice drips with frustration.

He shakes his head, tipping it back as his phone lights up, a harsh glow in the dim room. A grin breaks across his lips—wide, genuine, the kind that makes his dark eyes sparkle with a brief flash of warmth. It's a look we don't see often, and it unsettles me more than it reassures.

I pull my phone from my pocket, the vibration like a warning shot. My jaw tightens as I press it to my ear. "What?"

"You motherfucker. You told her everything, didn't you?" The voice on the other end is low and furious, a growl wrapped in disbelief.

I raise an eyebrow, my pulse quickening. "Told who what?"

"Don't play games with me, son. What the hell did you say to Naomi?"

The name hits me like a punch to the gut, knocking the breath from my lungs. Naomi? What the hell does she have to do with any of this?

"What are you on?"

"Take a wild guess. If my business goes to shambles, I'm taking her down with me."

My heart races, and a knot tightens in my stomach as confusion and anger collide. I cut the call and storm out the door.

The sound of fists hitting flesh echoes through the house, the walls trembling with every thud. He's at it again, and I can't do a damn thing about it. My door's locked, just like always when things get bad. From the outside.