Brazen Mistakes (Brazen Boys #3)

5. RJ

Chapter 5

RJ

O nce I’m sure Trish and Jade are passed out on the living room floor, I sneak back up to my room, powering up my laptop. This is the first night since I got here that my parents haven’t been up until all hours of the night, whispering to each other. So I’ve delayed everything that needs to be done.

Sure, some people get Christmas off, but I’m not being paid hourly, nor do I have a salary. I’m being paid to keep everything running smoothly, to keep us as safe as I can, and I’m not sure I’ve been succeeding. Not lately. Too many unknown dangers, coming from too many angles.

I can’t leave things unattended any longer.

First, I finish checking our security, and it's clear that whatever leak we have, it hasn't come from our system. That settled, I cycle through the scum accounts, looking for any new action. Finding one unexpected transaction, I spend an hour digging, only to find another damn pool, the pictures there worse than the last one I found. Locking down my horror, I collect the usernames, clean up my footsteps and back out, digitally, of course. I’ll be back. No way I’m letting this one slide.

Jade mentioned a new crush to Trish, so I do a little snooping there. She doesn’t need to know I’m checking up on him. There are more creeps out there than she could imagine. She shouldn’t have to worry about that, so I will instead, keeping her as innocent as possible for as long as I can. Luckily, this guy is a perfectly boring high schooler who’s really into tennis shoes and—secretly—Taylor Swift. She could do worse, that’s for sure.

Then I check on the order for the replacement earpiece, which was delayed because of holiday shipping. You’d think they’d prioritize a replacement hearing aid over an unwanted sweater, but I guess it’s another win for consumerism.

The student portal is up next, and I add everyone to the extra courses they were hoping for, getting us off campus by spring and graduating by the end of summer. Everyone’s schedules look insane, and I’m already worried that it’ll be too much, even if we don’t take any big jobs until we’re done with school. But it’s the safest move. The best one. Get us all out of school and off the grid.

Next, I order more laminate and ink for Walker, knowing he’s got to be running low after that mess with Clara. He fell all the way apart. There’s no way he’s been keeping an eye on his stash, but the orders haven’t stopped.

The last set went out just in time for underage kids everywhere to drink in the New Year. At least early January is quiet. But Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, so we’d better have what we need when the last-minute orders come rushing in.

That done, I send out the anonymous invitations to the New Year’s masquerade, but only to Trips’ top players, as he wanted it to be exclusive. The money on this one will be negligible, but after Chicago, we should be set for a while. This game alone will cover the mortgage and groceries for next semester.

Visiting the state business portal next, I see the nonprofit I submitted has been approved. Good. It’s going to be a close thing getting the scholarship up and running before next semester’s bills come due. But with that approval, we’re one step closer.

Glancing at the clock, I’m unsurprised to see it’s almost four in the morning. But there’s one last thing I need to do before I crash downstairs.

It takes some research, but I find exactly what I was imagining, and pay more money than is reasonable to make sure it gets there in time.

It’s not a Christmas gift. I’m not breaking any promises.

At least, I hope that’s the way it’ll be received.

Finally done with the long list of things that have been hovering, I close up and head downstairs.

The rumble of the garage door has me stalling in the front hallway. And when my dad nearly runs into me, the faint whiff of alcohol drifting off him, I’m not sure what to say.

“Oh, you’re up?” he asks.

“Just heading back to bed. Where were you?”

“Would you believe I forgot one of your mother’s stocking stuffers? Trying to find something at this time of night ended up with me halfway around the city.” He pats the pocket of his jacket. “But we’re good now. I’m off to bed. Get some sleep. You know the girls still wake up early.”

He pushes past me and up the stairs.

It almost makes sense. If he didn’t smell like liquor, if it wasn’t so late, if I’d heard him leave, I’d believe him.

Instead, every inch of me tingles with the knowledge that something is going on with him.

The last time was just that—the last time. And if this is a repeat? He’s not going to like the consequences.