Vic Vaughn is Vicious by J.A. Huss

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE – VIC

The courtroom erupts into chaos as the general walks over to our table with Alec Steele. Alec begins shoving his legal papers into a folder, then looks at the general, nods his head, and hands the file over.

The general takes the file with a scowl. Then he looks straight at me. “You are not a terrorist, Vicious Vaughn. Do you know how I know you’re not a terrorist?”

“Um…”

“That was a rhetorical question. I know this because you work for me and I do not hire terrorists. Your charges have been dismissed. We will be chatting soon. But before I leave here, I want you to know that this right here?” He waves a finger around. “This is what we call a shitshow. And I do not allow shitshows to occur on my time. Do you understand me?”

“Yes, sir,” I say. “I’m sorry—”

“Nobody gives a flying fuck about your apologizes, Vicious. If you want to continue, I expect a tight ship. Clear?”

For a moment it’s not really clear. “You mean… I’m not fired?”

“Fired? Son, how many non-disclosure agreements did you sign?”

“Um.” I try and think back.

“That was a rhetorical question. You signed a shitload. Do you know how long it takes to get just one of those agreements ready for signatures?” I open my mouth, but again he says, “Rhetorical question! I own you as long as this program is operational!” Then his angry-general demeanor softens a little as he realizes that he’s being a military prick in front of women and children. He tips his hat to Daisy, Veronica, and the kids, then ends his speech with, “Have a nice day.”

His solders all snap off a salute as he passes and then fall in line behind him. But I catch Trev smirking at me just before he turns.

Bobby called him, obviously.

And yeah. I have no clue what’s actually going on up there in the mountains, and I’m sure there is some creative punishment coming my way for the general’s appearance today, but all of that can wait. Because the bailiff is beckoning me to come with him.

“Wait!” Daisy says. “Case dismissed!”

“We need to unbook him, ma’am,” the bailiff says.

I lean in and kiss Daisy. “I’ll be OK. I’ll meet you at home.”

“Home?” Suddenly Jeeves is back. “No. You’re not going home. There are twenty thousand people outside waiting for your statement.”

Daisy is looking bewildered. “What statement?”

“This town showed up for you, Vicious.” Jeeves is looking me straight in the eyes. “You know why they did that?”

“Is this a rhetorical question?” I laugh.

“No,” Jeeves says. “Dead serious one.”

“Well.” I sigh. “I guess they all wanted a tattoo.”

“Yeah.” Jeeves cracks a smile. Then he winks. “That’s probably it.”

I’m taken back to the jail, unbooked, and about an hour later I’m a free man standing in front of a crowd of people outside the courthouse.

I don’t say much. Just thank you.

But I’m touched.

Because I get it.

They really must like me.

Gramps invites the entire town to the mansion for a party. I think this is payback for the asshole neighbor testifying against me. So I take Daisy and Vivi out to the farm on Spencer’s invitation because there is one more talk to have before things can really go back to normal.

It’s… the talk.

About the past.

Everyone is there. And while all the kids play, all the grownups sit in Ronnie’s living room and get serious.

“You can’t be all the way in,” I tell Daisy, “until you actually understand what it is you’re getting into.”

“Well.” All eyeballs are on her, so she looks a little nervous. “I looked you all up. Found a bunch of things. Don’t know what’s true or not.”

“Yeah,” I say. “Well. By the end of this night you’ll know exactly what’s true. And if you want to walk out, Daisy, I won’t blame you. It’s a lot of baggage.”

“But it’s mostly behind us,” Sasha says.

“And we can protect you,” Ford adds. “Promise.”

“I don’t doubt that,” Daisy says. “It’s like… people rally for you.”

I want to laugh about that, but I think about those words for a moment and realize… they sure the hell rallied today.

“This morning Vic was being charged with terrorism,” Daisy says, like she’s reading my mind. “And I was about to lose my child. And now?” She throws up her hands. “We’re all here. Safe. So I’m ready for this story. I want to be a part of this family.”

We tell it from the beginning. Ronin, Spencer, and Ford tell the first part, because that’s all them. Then Rook, and Ronnie, and Ashleigh tell the second half.

But Daisy doesn’t even blink until Sasha takes over.

If Daisy leaves, Sasha will be the reason. No sane person wants to hear the words, “I was a child assassin,” from their future family member.

But when Sasha gets to that last part where she kills the infamous cartel leader and winds up in a hotel room in Wyoming, Daisy walks over to her and gives her a hug.

And that’s when we know for sure—our huge extended family just got two people bigger.