Provoking the Enemy

by M. E. Clayton

  I couldn’t help it.

  I laughed at Delany’s homicidal tendencies and I knew everything was going to be okay.

  Chapter 22

  Ace~

  The girls were in the living room while Ramsey, Deke, Liam, and I were in the kitchen making breakfast for them.

  I had gotten up early this morning, despite not sleeping worth a damn, and had swam some laps, trying to clear my head. I had fucked Ava all night and well into the morning, and when she fell out from exhaustion, I knew we were going to have to have a serious talk about our future. I figured she was bound for college somewhere, but I had no idea where. I had registered for Stanford, but I hadn’t given college much thought while my trial had been going on. College had seemed irrelevant at the time when I had been fighting for my life’s freedom.

  But now that I had Ava to consider, I wasn’t sure what I-we were going to do. We were spoiled children with more than enough money at our disposal, but that’s not how I wanted to live my life as a grownup. I wanted to build something. I wanted to be a part of something.

  I glanced around the kitchen and we looked utterly ridiculous with Liam in an apron mixing pancake batter, Deke setting out the plates and cutlery, while Ramsey and I were working on the eggs, bacon, and tater tots. Luckily, the kitchen was huge with stainless steel state-of-the-art appliances because none of us guys could be classified as petite.

  “This is…uh, not something you see every day,” I muttered.

  Liam snorted. “If the masses could see us now, they’d have a field day,” he grumbled.

  “It’s like we’re in denial over how pussy-whipped we are,” Deke grumbled from the kitchen table.

  Ramsey deep voice rumbled throughout the kitchen. “I’m not in denial, in the least,” he announced. “Emerson has me by the balls, and all I can do is pray every day that she doesn’t crush them in a fit of rage.”

  “Or because she’s on her period,” Liam added. “Roselyn is vicious when she’s suffering through that shit.”

  Deke huffed. “What woman isn’t?”

  “Now that we’re engaged, I’m hoping my title of fiancé will make a dent,” Liam muttered hopefully.

  Ramsey laughed. “Yeah, because my title of husband works so well.”

  I glanced over at Ramsey. “So…married, huh?”

  “For the rest of my fucking life,” he confirmed, confident and with enough conviction that I knew Emerson was beyond something special to this guy.

  “Don’t sound so surprised, dude,” Liam chimed in. “Before the girls head off to college, Roselyn will be my wife. There’s no fucking way I’m letting her leave for school without my last name.”

  I looked over at Deke. He cocked his head at me and arched a brow. “I’m proposing to Delaney later today,” he stated, matter of fact. “We’ll be married before she goes off to school, as well.”

  “And where are you guys going to school?”

  Ramsey chuckled. “We’re not,” he announced. “It was high-time to tell our fathers to go get fucked. We’re going to move forward with our own financial firm.” Something told me if anyone could become successful without college and sheer will, it was this trio. They weren’t like other eighteen-year-olds I’ve ever met.

  Deke continued to face me when he said, “That’s one of the reasons we’re here. We already know Ava is registered at Georgetown, but we can get her into Blaineview as a late registration if she would rather go to school with the girls.”

  “We’re also here to let her know that we’re all just a phone call away if she needs anything,” Liam added.

  Ramsey turned towards me. “We’re also here to let her know that I found Peter and he will be dealt with. She can…rest a little easier whether revenge is on her menu or not.”

  I looked around at these three guys I didn’t know and wondered who in the fuck were they? This was some Mafia-style shit. “Is that all?” I wasn’t sure how I felt about other guys coming to Ava’s rescue, but I couldn’t deny her their friendship. Ava needed people in her corner. She’d been alone too long.

  Liam crossed his arms over his aproned chest and said, “No. We’re also here to talk to you.”

  I shook my head and smirked. “Save your threats, guys. Nothing you say or do will make me walk away from Ava. And as long as I can draw a breath, I will make sure no one ever hurts her again. Including me.”

  “What’s not what we want to talk to you about?” Liam corrected.

  “Then what the fuck is this?” I wasn’t angry, but I didn’t like games.

  Ramsey spoke this time. “We’re here to answer any questions you might have about Ava.”

  What?

  What could they possil-oohhhh.

  I straightened to my full height. I wasn’t necessarily feeling defensive, but no guy wanted to discuss their girl with other guys who she’s slept with.

  “We’re going to be honest,” Liam cut in. “Before Deke started dating Delaney, Ava was a nonfactor. She was just a girl we went to school with. But once Deke and Delaney got together, she became more. She’s Delaney’s best friend and that makes her important to us. We know she doesn’t feel like part of the group, but she is, whether she realizes it or not.”

  “This is about her past with…one, a couple, or all of you, isn’t it?”

  “Ask us anything,” Ramsey replied. “We won’t lie to you.”

  I shook my head. If I had questions, the answer should come from Ava, not these guys. Besides, I couldn’t tell her I didn’t care about her past, and then go digging in it. I assumed she’s slept with Ramsey because that’s what Emerson had implied at Delaney’s last night, but I didn’t know about the other two.

  I asked what I thought was fair. “Who?”

  “Me,” Ramsey confirmed.

  “Me,” Liam added.

  I glanced at Deke, but he just shook his head. I guess in hindsight that was probably a good thing since Delaney was Ava’s best friend.

  I looked back between Liam and Ramsey. “How long ago?”

  “Seventh grade,” Ramsey admitted.

  “Summer before eighth grade,” Liam replied.

  That was over five years ago. Five years ago, when I told her just yesterday that I didn’t care who she slept with last week.

  “If you’re going to be with Ava, we need to know if this is going to be an issue,” Ramsey warned.

  In my head I knew it should be an issue. These two guys slept with the girl I want to spend the rest of my life with. It should be a problem to hang out with them. It should feel uncomfortable. But then I thought about how Roselyn and Emerson seemed to have no issues with Ava being around Ramsey and Liam. They were so over it, they defended Ava. Emerson even went so far as to send Ramsey to avenge her.

  I felt like I was missing something, but one thing was clear; there was no way I’d ever make Ava feel ashamed of her past. And if I had to work through my feelings and be friends with these guys to bring Ava a sense of peace, then that’s what I’d do.

  Besides, as awkward as this was, I didn’t feel jealous that they’ve been with Ava. They hadn’t been boyfriends or long, lost loves. They were a part of her coping mechanisms when she had none.

  “It’s not a problem for me,” I told them honestly. “As far as I’m concerned, Ava’s life didn’t start until last night when she faced her demons and set herself free.”

  Liam gave me a tight nod, while Ramsey reached out and clapped me on my shoulder. Deke let out a deep breath as he said, “Good, because I’m about to propose to Delaney after breakfast, and I didn’t want shit popping off because you’re a fuck.”

  I laughed. “Hey, I don’t know you guys, either,” I pointed out. “You guys could be huge assholes.”

  “Oh, you’re not wrong there,” Liam laughed.

  “Come on,” Deke sighed. “Let’s feed these girls, so I can force Delaney to marry me.”

  Everyone chuckled good-naturedly, but as soon as we all went back to our assigned breakfa
st duties, Ramsey said loud enough for only me to hear, “There’s one little part we left out, Ace.”

  I didn’t bother looking at him as I deep fried the tater tots. “Oh, yeah? What’s that?”

  “Those four girls in there matter more than anything we’ll ever accomplish in all our lives, Ace. Emerson, Roselyn, and Delaney have to mean as much to you as Ava does to us,” he insisted, and his voice left no room for argument.

  It was a no brainer. “Understood,” I replied.

  He turned away from the sizzling bacon and faced me head-on. “Good,” he said, looking me right in the eye. “Because, while I would kill for any of those girls, Liam, Deke, and now, you, I wouldn’t hesitate to kill any of you if any of you ever hurt Emerson.” I didn’t like being threatened, but somehow this didn’t feel like a threat. It felt like a matter-of-fact statement made by a guy who wasn’t confused about his purpose in life.

  And I knew just how he felt.

  Chapter 23

  Ava~

  Breakfast had been…a bit unreal.

  If someone had told me a month ago that Ramsey Reed, Deke Marlow, Liam McCellan, and my boyfriend would be in my kitchen cooking breakfast for us girls, I would have bet them a million dollars that they were crazy.

  And if that same person had told me a month ago that they’d be making breakfast while I hung out with Emerson Andrews, Roselyn Bell, and Delaney Martin in my living room, I would have conceded to hanging out with Delaney, but I would have still upped the bet to five million.

  And if that same crazy-as-fuck person would have told me that Emerson Andrews would be Emerson Reed, while Roselyn Bell wore Liam McCellan’s ring, I would have made the bet for ten million.

  Good thing no one had said those words to me initiating a bet I would have lost.

  Now we were all back in the living room, and I knew they were waiting for me to elaborate on last night’s meltdown.

  Buying myself some time, I looked at Roselyn, and nodded towards her hand. “When’s the wedding?”

  Roselyn’s smile was blinding. “Not sure, but before we head off to Blaineview,” she answered.

  I tried not to let the pang in my chest affect my smile, but it was hard. I was going to miss Delaney, so much. “Not much time to plan a wedding,” I joked.

  Liam snorted. “We’re following tradition,” he replied.

  I looked over at him. “Tradition?”

  He smiled and his charm really was something else. “Yeah, the one Ramsey and Emerson started.”

  Roselyn laughed. “Courthouse, here we come.” Everyone laughed, and it felt…light and easy.

  It felt real.

  “Speaking of getting married at the courthouse,” Deke muttered, and the entire room froze.

  We were all in the living room with Ramsey and Emerson on one side of the couch and Deke and Delaney on the other side. Roselyn was curled up in Liam’s lap in one of the armchairs, and I noticed how often they sat like that together. They were by far the most affectionate of the group. Where Deke monitored Delaney like a sentinel, he didn’t hover as badly as Liam did with Roselyn. Ramsey and Emerson weren’t so much affectionate as they were connected to one another. Ramsey never left Emerson’s side if he could help it. I was curled up on the opposite armchair closest to Delaney and Deke while Ace was sitting on the coffee table in the middle of the room.

  My heart started pounding, and I faced my best friend as her eyes rounded to the size of dinner plates. “Deke…” Delaney muttered.

  Delaney hasn’t ever been overly romantic, but I was pretty sure she never envisioned her marriage proposal to go the way it did. However, it…fit. It fit with the kind of guy Deke was and the kind of relationship he had with Delaney.

  “There’s no fucking way you’re going to Blaineview without being married to me, Lamb,” Deke stated as he pulled out a ring from his pocket and slid it on her hand.

  He hadn’t bothered to wait for her to agree.

  He hadn’t given her any time to consider his proposal.

  Deke Marlow wasn’t going to take no for an answer.

  “Liam’s actually going to drag Roselyn to the courthouse next week, and then we’ll be there next month. Our anniversaries will run one in June, one in July, and one in August,” he continued, ratting Liam out and stating his words as fact.

  “Hey, fucker,” Liam yelped, “it was supposed to be a surprise!” He looked at Roselyn. “Surprise, baby.” And then showed her two perfect rows of white teeth.

  I watched silently as my best friend stared down at the gorgeous ring that now adorned her left hand. I saw the tears cascade beautifully down her pretty face, and I couldn’t have been happier for her. She loved Deke beyond what she ever thought possible and I knew this was the beginning of the life she wanted with him.

  Delaney glanced up at him and smiled. “Okay,” she agreed.

  Deke snorted arrogantly. “Yeah,” he huffed, “because you had a choice and all. Baby, you never had a choice in any of this.”

  Delaney laughed and I couldn’t stop the tears when she jumped off the couch and threw herself at me in a hug. “Oh, my God, Ava,” she cried, “I’m getting married!”

  I hugged her back. “I’m so happy for you, Delaney,” I whispered I her ear. “Deke really, really loves you, friend.”

  She pulled back, happiness etched in everywhere on her face. “I know,” she grinned. “I know he does.”

  “We can have a celebration dinner tonight,” Emerson chimed in. “It’ll be awesome.”

  “Maybe there’ll be a September anniversary, too?” Delaney teased with a bit of hope in her voice.

  I laughed as I dropped back in my chair and Deke pulled her back to his side. “Uh, no,” I chuckled, glancing at Ace really quickly before facing Delaney again. I guess it was time to address the real reason they were all here. “I…uh, I have a lot of things I need to work through first-now.”

  Liam spoke from his chair. “Yeah, about that,” he said. “You need to know that we’re all here for you, Ava. We’re all just one phone call away.”

  I couldn’t stop the tears if I tried. Ever since Delaney started dating Deke, I have done my best to keep this group at arm’s length, believing that I’d never be accepted into their private clique. And here Liam McCellan was telling me he was only a phone call away. That they all were.

  I turned my head to face Deke as he added, “Yeah, you’re a part of this group, whether you realize it or not, Ava. We’re here because there’s no way I was going to propose to Delaney without you being a part of it.”

  My breaths were coming out ragged. These people were tying to be my friend, and it was scary as well as overwhelming. I’ve never had real friends outside Delaney before. I didn’t know how loyalty worked with anyone besides Delaney.

  “We’re also here to let you know that I’ve located Peter,” Ramsey announced. “I’ll let him live if that’s what you want, but I will make sure the rest of his life is complete misery, Ava. It’s your call, though.” My eyes bugged out of my head as I absorbed the reality of Ramsey Reed just telling me that he would have someone killed for me if I deemed it so.

  Who the fuck were these people?

  I mean, I knew they were too powerful and ruthless to be eighteen-year-olds, but I never knew the extent in which they could command the unthinkable.

  I sat there in shock, and it wasn’t until I felt Ace lift me and sit me on his lap, that I snapped out of my stupor. I glanced around the room and the seriousness of their offers was bright as neon beacons.

  They really meant this shit.

  “It’s okay, Kit,” Ace murmured in my ear. “Breathe.”

  I took some deep breaths, and it took about a minute or two for me to collect myself, but when I did, my eyes found Ramsey’s. I shook my head at him. “I…I don’t want him dead,” I said, finally answering him. “That…that’d be too easy.”

  Ramsey nodded. “I agree.”

  “But…” I had to breathe deep again before
I could continue. “But…I need him gone from my life, Ramsey,” I said, trying to explain something that could not be explained. “Do…do whatever you deem fit and appropriate, but I don’t want to know anything about it. I want the peace that comes with revenge, but I don’t want him back in my life more than he already is. I’ll never be rid of him. He will always be a part of my past. I just don’t want him to be a part of my active future.” If I was going to seek help for my issues, I couldn’t do it if I was getting constant updates on what Peter was doing.

  “Understood,” Ramsey replied. “I’ll handle it.”

  Ace looked up at Ramsey. “But I want to know,” he declared. “I want to hear the details. Every last painful, miserable one.”

  I turned to face Ace. “Why?”

  He looked at me and his golden orbs never looked so serious. “Because it’s not Ramsey job to avenge you, Ava. That’s my job,” he insisted. “But since I don’t have the resources Ramsey obviously has, I have to be a part of this somehow, or I won’t be able to live with myself.”

  It never occurred to me that Ace would struggle with his lack of involvement in what Ramsey, Deke, and Liam were planning, but I suppose it made sense. “It’s a poison that will damage your soul, Ace,” I told him. “You don’t need to be that close to it.”

  He pushed a lock of hair behind my ear. “Yes, I do,” he argued. “Your poison is my poison.”

  Chapter 24

  Ace~

  When Delaney joked about Ava getting married in September, a small part of me had deflated when Ava shut that idea down without a moment’s hesitation. Sure, I didn’t want to rush into marriage, but Ava hadn’t even entertained the idea as a joke. She had shut it down the idea immediately.

  I had wanted to pipe up and suggest we get engaged, and then maybe marry next year in September, but I had to remind myself this wasn’t about me. We were all here for Ava. We weren’t here to sooth my insecurities.