Not A Peep: A Forbidden, Bully, Dark College Romance, page 21
“Oh. Oh. The three of you…”
Grant watches me closely. Is he waiting for some sign? A particular reaction? “You had to have assumed.”
“You know what they say about assuming,” I mutter. “So how does that work, and why bring me into this?”
Grant shakes his head in frustration and looks away. Time ticks by. When I’m sure he’s not going to answer, I open my mouth to ask about the house we’re parked in front of. He beats me in breaking the silence.
“We grew up together, been through some shit, and it made us close. Overtime, we realized that what we had, it’s more than a friendship. More than just brothers. It’s us three against the world. We’re not exclusive or anything. We’ve seen other people, both men and women, but we always just gravitate back to each other.” Grant pauses, his fingers drumming on top of the steering wheel as he considers what to say next. “We’ve never shared anyone before. We typically don’t have the same type, but you, dollface, you’re different. You’ve become our singular obsession. And, for what it’s worth, I think we’ve found that this obsession isn’t going away any time soon.”
I don’t know what to say to this. It makes sense with everything that I’ve seen and heard but still. Putting it into words puts things into a new light. He doesn’t have to say the word for me to know what brings the three of them together and keeps them close. They love each other. I don’t know why, but this realization causes my heart to melt a little.
Grant is waiting for me to say something. In his gaze, there is some unnamed emotion floating around those auburn colored eyes. Rather than acknowledge it, I change the subject.
“Why are we here, Grant?”
Seemingly content to let the conversation drop, Grant unbuckles his seatbelt. “You’ll see. Let’s go in.”
With that, he climbs out of his truck.
I hesitate before slowly following his lead. After slipping back on my shoes, I open the door and climb out. Just as I slam the door shut behind me, a beautiful woman with bronze skin and dark, straight hair steps out onto the porch. Her business suit, shark-like red smile, and killer heels immediately clues me in to who, or at least what she is. I start to move toward the house when Grant steps closer to me. He places his hand on my lower back and guides me forward. I shoot him a curious glance and find him wearing a drop-dead gorgeous smile. One I’ve never seen before. I nearly stumble over my own feet at the sight of it. Thankfully, neither of them notice my daze as we take the few steps up to the house.
“Mr. Gipson, I’m so glad to see you again,” the real estate agent greets. She steps closer, and Grant leans forward to kiss her on the cheek.
An unexpected surge of anger shoots up my spine. Before I can analyze where it came from Grant says,
“Rachel, I appreciate you showing me the ranch this evening.” He looks over at me, pushing me forward just a bit. “I’d like you to meet a close friend of mine, Briella Wilson. Bri has a sharp eye, so I wanted her to see the final contestants and get her opinion on this investment.”
I choke back a gasp of surprise. Close friend? A sharp eye? And he wants me to do what? I look over at him and he flashes that same jaw-dropping smile in my direction, leaving me speechless and fiercely turned on.
“You’ll do it for me right, babe?”
Babe? Not dollface? As my mind spins, Rachel turns her attention to me slowly. Her pupils narrow and her smile shifts ever so slightly so that it’s no longer flirtatious, but barely concealed contempt. Oh, so she’s one of those real estate agents. There was one of these agents back in the company that I used to work for when I lived in Cohawk. Mandy slept with most of her clients. Thank goodness most of them were either nearly divorced or single or we’d have had several complaints filed with the company.
It takes me a moment to compose myself. Forcing a tiny smile in Grant’s direction and then at Rachel who is watching me shrewdly, I brace myself to say, “That’s why I’m here, darling.”
Grant’s smile widens as he turns to look back at Rachel. “Now, I know we’ve seen this place already, but let’s pretend that this is our first time. Mind showing us around?”
“Of course.” Rachel spares me one last look before turning all her charm toward Grant. “If you’ll follow me this way, we can start in the office here.”
As we follow Rachel into the house, my mind reels. How long has he been looking at properties? And why a ranch? Wouldn’t a swanky condo work better for a young man? As we step inside the house, I’m hit with a wave of déjà vu. I blink, staring at the pretty coffered ceiling and the wainscoting along the wall. There is a heavy scent of stale air and the dust floating around like a cloud adds to the out-of-date feel to the house, but the wooden floors and the wallpaper are in good condition.
And also vaguely familiar.
“Just inside here, is the office. You loved this, remember?” Rachel says, leading us into a large room with floor to ceiling dark wooden built-ins. The wood floors flow into the room, looking less worn here than in the foyer. “The windows will allow in just the right amount of light all day without it ever being blinding. And we measured the space to double check that a desk, a few chairs and a couch can be put in here comfortably.”
Why does this room also feel familiar? I walk over to the bookshelves as I try to recall where I’ve seen this before. Absentmindedly, I run my fingers over the shelves, leaving a clean trail through the pile of dust left behind.
Without thinking, I ask, “The windows face which direction, north? South?”
“Well, they face northeast but with how the windows are angled, the light from the morning won’t be blinding,” Rachel assures Grant, not bothering to look in my direction.
I hum in quiet disagreement. With where the windows are placed, the room would most definitely capture all the morning light and leave it much darker during the afternoon and evening.
“Let me show you the rest of the space. It really will suit your needs,” Rachel says, ushering us out of the office.
We follow her into the main part of the house. The place seems huge as we move about, but given the closed layout, you can’t really appreciate the size. It’s also a dark house. Especially with the wood accents everywhere, dark paint, and lack of windows. The kitchen is grand, though outdated. It matches the rest of the place.
As we walk around, Rachel gushes about the property. The flourishing she gives to each room and the history of the house is impressive. A little too impressive. Though I can’t be sure, I think she’s making most of this stuff up. But that’s fine. Nothing seems like a downright lie.
While we move about, I can’t help but think about how often Grant’s agent likes to touch him. Especially on his arm and his shoulder. Rachel even grows bold enough to grab his hand and lead him to a game room in the back of the house. Grant doesn’t seem to mind, his smile never falters, and he doesn’t recoil at any point.
If he doesn’t mind, I shouldn’t either.
So why do I grow so frustrated with each passing room? Several times, Grant catches me glaring at Rachel’s back. Each time, I have to play it off when I realize the expression I’m wearing isn’t appropriate. By the time we make it back to the foyer, I swear smoke is fuming from my ears.
Trying hard not to care, I focus on looking around. It’s not until the end of the tour that I realize why this house seems so familiar. If I’m not mistaken, this is one of the houses I’d saved recently while casually browsing the market. I pull up my phone to double check, but I already know I’m right. I’ve virtually walked this house at least half a dozen times.
“So, what do you think?” Rachel asks with a bright smile. “Ready to put an offer down, or do you want to see the other two properties?”
There are two more? I want to groan. I’m going to have to deal with Rachel for hours at this rate. When Grant looks over at me, I force a small smile into place.
“I want you to see all three houses. Are you ok to keep going, babe?”
Do I have a choice? Mentally, I roll my eyes. “Of course, darling.”
Grant’s smile twitches upward, growing incrementally. “Then let’s talk about the pros and cons of this house in the truck while we head to the next place.” He looks at Rachel. “We’ll meet you there.”
“Let me lock up and turn off the lights, then I’ll be right behind you.”
She waves us off as Grant steers me out of the front door. Neither of us say anything as he helps me into the truck. When he gets in and we pull away from the house, I wait for him to say something. When he doesn’t, I finally huff and ask, “So?”
“So what?”
I look at him incredulously. “What the hell was that all about? Why am I here, Grant?”
The heavy sigh he lets out doesn’t give me any clue as to what he’s thinking. It’s followed by a long stint of silence. We go miles without saying a word. But I don’t relent. I stare at his profile until he finally looks over at me.
“I value your opinion and want to hear your thoughts about the properties I’m considering investing in,” he admits.
It sounds just as ridiculous as when he told Rachel. My laughter is loud inside the cab and lasts for what feels like an eternity. The pain in my stomach doesn’t do anything to slow it down. Tears stream down my face.
“It’s not that funny.”
“It’s hilarious,” I gasp as I double over and slap my knee. It takes a few minutes for me to compose myself. When I do, my cheeks are aching. “Ok, so, really. Tell me the truth. Why am I here right now?”
“I wasn’t joking,” Grant objects. “This is a big deal for me and having an extra set of eyes would really help. Your associates at the real estate firm you worked at gave raving reviews about you. According to them, you put the client’s needs first, you’re honest, and have a keen eye for the small details. Those are the qualities I need right now, dollface. I respect and desire your opinion on this matter.”
My mouth twists downward. “Since when did you start respecting me? When I was on my knees in the library or when my pink lipstick was smeared over your dick after dressing up like a slut?”
Grant shoots me a dark look, “What did I say earlier about demeaning yourself?”
I don’t reply. I simply stare until he finally answers.
“Half the thrill of fucking with you comes from the fact you are a powerful, independent woman who is willing to do anything to make sure you’re dirty scheming doesn’t come to light.”
Ah, this makes a bit more sense. My jaw clenches together as I glare at his profile.
“You have a real estate agent who is supposed to have your best interests at heart. You don’t need me.”
“Rachel is a gold-digging, manipulative bitch. She used to work for my father before he fired her. I hired her in the hopes that she would help me toward my goal since she holds a grudge against him.” He rolls his eyes. “The only thing she wants is money and dick.”
I didn’t think I could be more surprised, but here I am, floored. “But you were flirting with her.”
“No, I was tolerating her.” Grant shakes his head. “She has connections that I need. I’m in a delicate situation at the moment.”
“‘A delicate situation’?” I repeat. “What are you trying to accomplish here?”
Grant’s jaw ticks. I watch as his grip tightens around the wheel, and he fidgets in his seat. When he doesn’t say anything, my impatience gets the best of me.
“Grant.”
He glares at me, “If you breathe a word of what I’m about to tell you to anyone, I’ll destroy you. Do I make myself clear?”
I mimic zipping my lips.
He sighs, “My father is a dangerous bastard that needs to get knocked off his high horse. He holds so much power in the community that there isn’t anyone he doesn’t have in his pocket. He could murder someone and get away with it.” His knuckles turn white on the steering wheel. “Already he’s destroyed so many lives, Trip’s and Jason’s parents included. So, the three of us are going to take Garry Gipson down.”
Well… wow. I think back to what Jason’s told me about Garry and how dangerous he is. I was sure, deep down, that Jason had been exaggerating a bit. Judging by Grant’s expression and his own proclamation, however, maybe Garry is someone to really worry about.
“Take him down? How?”
With the sun setting dramatically in the background, long shadows give Grant’s sharp features an extra edge. The tension in the cab grows thick. Grant’s shoulders are stiff and his nostrils flare.
“We’re going to start our own business venture, starting with a ranch, like he did. A luxury one. Once it’s up and running, we’ll have assets and more money coming in that we can invest in other businesses and projects. We have the investors, the money, and the business plan all ready to go. Right now, I want to get a piece of property bought before Dad can swoop in to buy any more land. He’s trying to monopolize the area, more than he already has.” Grant takes a deep breath and continues on. “Still, it will be years before everything is up and running. So far, my dad has no idea what I’m up to, and I’m hoping to keep it that way so when I do defeat him, he’ll be blindsided and won’t be able to retaliate.”
I watch as he swallows, his Adam’s apple dipping and rising dramatically.
“How?” I ask softly. “How do you have the means to do any of this without his help?”
Grant grumbles something before answering. “With the help of someone who’s no longer around. Dad doesn’t know about the funds that Jason, Trip, and I procured. As long as the three of us are careful about how and where we spend it, he’ll continue to be in the dark.”
I shake my head. “If you all have money, then why did Trip not help his dad? And Jason’s family—”
“Their parents work primarily for my father. Even Carlos, with his own company, relies heavily on my dad’s business. Garry would notice right away if there was a change in any of their situations and would look into it. We can’t risk being found out. Their parents don’t even know about the money.”
Wow. No wonder Jason is so frustrated with his parents’ situation. Financially, he has the means to help, but if he does, he’d alert Garry to the money he’s not supposed to have. And Trip… It all makes sense now.
“But the apartment—?”
“Was a purchase to test if Dad knew anything about the accounts. As far as I’m aware, he still doesn’t know the three of us bought it. Since it’s bought under an LLC, he may never find out.”
I stare at him in awe.
“You’re really serious about this, aren’t you?” My words are hardly more than a strained whisper as I stare at the young man beside me.
“Absolutely.”
Piecing together what little I know of Garry Gipson from Grant and his two friends, I have to believe there is something going on behind the scenes that no one but them knows about. Something big. Judging by how much Grant’s already done to get to the point that he’s buying real estate, he’s been planning this for quite a while. I’m sure the others have too, but Grant is different in the fact that he’s the thinker. Methodical, observant, and practical, Grant is the unofficial leader of the trio, and there’s a good reason for it. But what pushed him to go after his dad like this?
“Is what you’re doing dangerous? Would your dad—” I swallow hard “—come after you?”
Grant laughs. The sound is cold and forces another shiver to rush through me. “Garry would smash me like a bug if he knew what I wanted to do to him.”
Heavy trepidation weaves down my spine. Grant, Jason, and Trip are risking a lot to topple the king from his throne. But, if anyone could do it, maybe it could be the three of them. I’ve already had a firsthand account of how careful and cunning they are. These three were watching me for over a year before they made their move. What’s a year in the grand scheme of things for something like revenge? Grant is playing the long game and aims to win.
I reach out slowly and place my hand on Grant’s shoulder. He flinches. When he looks over at me, I see confusion and suspicion in the depth of his eyes.
“Ok,” I whisper.
His brows furrow. “Ok?”
“Ok, I’ll help you,” I concede softly. “Let’s talk about what exactly you want to do with these properties, and I’ll keep my eyes peeled to make sure they meet your criteria.”
His scowl loosens as he shoots me a look. “Yeah?”
At my nod, he turns his attention back to the road with a small smile on his face.
Whatever these three decide to do in the future, I hope the risk is worth it. It must be since they’re willing to risk their lives, right? At least Grant’s not doing this solely for himself. He’s doing this for Jason’s and Trip’s families, and whoever else his father has hurt. If that’s not a noble cause, I don’t know what is. In the fading sunlight, I’m beginning to get a new insight into the young man beside me.
I don’t hate what I see.
Under my hand, I can feel his muscles relax. As I pull away, Grant reaches out and catches it. I try to pull back, hating how my heart flutters wildly in my chest at the contact. His grip tightens as he lowers my hand until both of ours rest on the console between us. I stare at where we’re joined.
“The next place isn’t far. Let’s see how much I can share before we run into Rachel again,” he says and then smiles.
Twenty-Two
“—heard a wind farm is going up here, which backs to the property line of this house. Now I don’t know much about luxury ranches but it’s something you’ll need to consider.”
I zoom in on the satellite view of the second house and pass my phone to Grant who takes it and stares. A scowl pinches the skin between his brows together.
“Another cup of coffee, ma’am?” the waitress asks, coming over to our booth with a pot in her hand.
“Ah, yes. I mean, actually, no, thank you. With how much caffeine is in my system right now, I won’t be able to sleep tonight as it is,” I shoot her a smile.
