“Cho.”
“You’ll find I’m not as easily convinced to divulge other people’s secrets as my sister.”
Vaughn huffed. His voice sounded hoarse as if he’d been up all night, but when he spoke again, he was plaintive more than frustrated. “Please, Cho. Just tell me something. Danny…he hasn’t been himself.”
The rawness of that statement made Mal’s resolve to blow Vaughn off waver. Glancing at Danny asleep on the sofa, all the shields he’d usually throw up to protect himself seemed less important than protecting Danny.
“Ludgate had a plan to kill us,” he said, leaning back against his desk, “get us to kill each other, whatever, but now he wants something else.”
“What?”
“I don’t know. But there are worse things than dying.”
Vaughn went quiet save the sound of his breathing. Finally, he said, “Look, man, I…I hate to ask, and I promise I’ll only ask once, but…did you kill the guard at the museum?”
Mal sat up straighter. “He was gassed. Knocked out.”
“Not when the police found him.”
Vaughn explained how the guard had been discovered with his throat slit by a piece of broken glass. The case wasn’t just a robbery anymore, it was homicide.
“Ludgate…” Mal growled.
“Evidence doesn’t point at anyone yet, but the assumption is it’s him again, given the other robberies, so for now you’re in the clear. Though youwerethere to rob the place, right?”
“Ludgate got the diamond.”
“Hey, man, I’m not judging.”
Mal rolled his eyes. Team Zeus was an odd bunch.
“Seriously, not judging at all,” Vaughn went on, “especially since I…know you’re how Danny’s been blowing off steam lately.”
“He told you.”
“No. Heard part of one of your rendezvous over the comms. He knows I know.”
Mal didn’t answer.
“Just don’t hit him while he’s low, okay? He’s been having a rough time. Rough even before this mess with Ludgate, and the dead guard isn’t going to help.”
“I know. Ended up a little roughed up myself tonight.”
“You okay?” Vaughn asked without hesitation.
A smile tugged at the edge of Mal’s mouth, reminding him of his still healing lip. He stared down at his lightning bolt sleep pants. Do-gooders. “I’m fine.”
“So, he’s...talked to you about things?”
This was a whole new level of dangerous. Whatever Mal and Danny were, that was one thing; allowing Vaughn into that confidence opened up Mal’s small circle wider than he was usually comfortable with. He didn’t even know Vaughn, but for once, he didn’t want to lie or dismiss what was being asked of him.
“Yeah. He has.”
“Good,” Vaughn said, like there was relief in having someone else be a part ofhissmall circle. “I don’t know much about this whole thing between you two. I only just found out. But youbetter not do anything to make me track your phone and come over there to kick your ass.”
“Now that would be a sight to see,” Mal chuckled. “Might have to think up something to rile you just for the show.”
“Dude, come on, don’t be a dick,” Vaughn said with equal humor. Then more seriously, “Please.”
