by KC Kean
I can feel the anger wafting off of my guys in waves, but there isn’t much else we can do.
I fucking hate it. Every inch of the whole situation. But, let the countdown begin.
Jess
“God, that session was amazing,” Luna sighs with a smile as she takes the seat across from me at the lunch table.
“Speak for yourself. My thighs are going to be feeling it for days, and not in that good way after hot sex,” I grumble, making Luna laugh. I’m sitting here looking like roadkill while she’s fucking glowing.
I’m going to have to have words with Maverick. He definitely put me through my paces today, and I have never been more ready for food in my life.
I don’t think I will ever say no to him pinning me to the mat, but I was pleased with myself when I could drop him too. Although, when I felt Reece’s eyes on me, I murmured in Maverick’s ear and dialed it back a bit, not wanting him to know what I am capable of, as limited as they are.
“Hey, beautiful,” Aiden says as he approaches the table, and I scoot closer to the end to let him slip in beside me. Placing a kiss on the corner of my lips, he glances at Luna. “Do you guys mind if I sit here?”
With a raised eyebrow, she stares at him. “Aiden, you have as much right to sit with Red as I do.”
My heart leaps in my chest at her acceptance of us, and he drops down beside me.
“I missed you,” he murmurs in my ear, and I blush at his words.
“I miss you too.” Lacing our fingers together under the table, it feels odd being so open in public with each other, but I love it. However, we have to be a lot more cautious around Reece. I still haven’t been on the academy’s social media platform since he stated we were engaged.
“Oh my god, I can’t deal with you two being all sickly sweet,” Oscar groans as he drops down beside Luna. Roman forces him down the bench just like he does every other day.
“Shut up, Oscar. You love it when I whisper shit in your ear,” Parker jibes as he takes the seat beside Aiden, not complaining that his seat has been taken.
“Mac and cheese?” A server calls out, interrupting their banter, standing beside me with a steaming plate of gooey goodness, and I nod enthusiastically.
“Thank you.”
“Don’t tease me with the dynamics of this group on a sexual level, guys. You have me intrigued,” Aiden says with a grin, and everyone snickers at his word.
“I still don’t take dick if that’s what you’re checking,” Kai responds, taking the seat beside Parker as he grins at him.
“Always a spoilsport,” Aiden pouts, making Luna grin as he turns to me. “I have B.I.C.E. after this. Do you have someone to head back to Ace with you, or do you want me to take you back on the way?”
His thoughtfulness makes me smile around a mouthful of pasta, but I shake my head. “Luna and Roman have B.I.C.E. too, but the other guys are heading back so I can go with them.”
He nods in response as everyone else’s food is brought to the table, and we all eat in comfortable silence. It feels like Aiden has been sitting beside me every day since the beginning, totally natural.
Practically in a food coma, I lean my head on Aiden’s shoulder, ready to nap as Trudy stops beside the table, a weary smile on her face. She’s the perfect vision she always used to be. Her glossy blond hair falls in waves around her face as her uniform sits perfectly on her.
“Hey, are you guys coming to the party on Saturday?” She asks, and I frown in confusion.
“I didn’t tell her yet,” Aiden grunts, and I lift off of him to meet his gaze.
“Didn’t tell me what?”
“It’s our birthday,” Trudy offers, and my eyes flicker between the pair of them.
“When?”
“Our birthday is on Thursday, but we always throw a party on the Saturday after,” Trudy supplies, and I give Aiden the stink eye for keeping this shit to himself.
“I was going to tell you. I just didn’t want to make a big deal of it.” He wraps his arm around my waist, pulling me in close, but my mind is already in overdrive with things I’ll need to do before then.
“I need to figure out a present, and—”
“No, you don’t, Jess. You’re my gift, and I don’t need anything else. This is why I didn’t tell her in advance.” Aiden looks at me sweetly before glaring at his sister, and I melt at his words.
Oscar makes a gagging sound across the table, but I refuse to give him the attention he wants.
“I don’t speak for everyone, but I’ll be there,” I finally answer, smiling at Trudy, who grins back.
“We will be, too,” Luna adds. “We can do the whole girly getting ready together thing you like to do, Red. Catch up on girl talk, yeah?” She adds with a wink as she rises from the table.
“Deal,” I quickly respond, never wanting to turn down the pre-party ritual or hang time with my bestie. “Hey, who knows, maybe this party could be drama-free,” I offer, and everyone hums in agreement.
“You ready to go, Jess? These fuckers have a class to get to while we get to go do nothing,” Parker asks, and I stand along with everyone else.
Walking through the food hall with my hand in Aiden’s, I feel like everyone’s eyes are on us, but I refuse to look. Giving me the sweetest kiss goodbye, he walks away as I climb into the back of a Rolls Royce with Kai. My brain is already considering which book I should read when I get back.
Kai taps away on his laptop as we take the five-minute drive back to Ace. I’m fully aware that the surveillance set up in my childhood home by Rafe’s team was successful, but we haven’t had any further information yet.
I miss the sound of my father’s voice as he calls me pumpkin. His god awful band tees and worn jeans that he loved to wear. As difficult and dysfunctional as my home life was, I loved my frequent phone calls with him, and I just want to hear him ramble on the latest documentary he’s in to.
Sadness overwhelms me. But we’re all hopeful something will come up soon. Otherwise, the timeframe will be up, and we’ll have to cause a scene. But whatever it takes to get my father back safe, if she hasn’t done something already. I shiver at the thought, refusing to go down that path.
“Just a heads up, Jess, but Reece is pacing outside the entrance of Ace,” Kai murmurs, pointing down at his phone.
Wait. What?
My heart pounds in my chest as I frantically search through the car window, but we aren’t close enough to see the building yet.
“We have to play this calm and collected, remember?” Kai soothes, pulling out his phone and calling Parker and Oscar.
I hear him repeat the words, but my mind is overwhelmed with what he wants. As we turn the corner and the blocks come into view, I instantly see him, still in the clothes from Combat.
Fuck. Shit.
“I need you guys to let me speak to him alone. You all know that’s what he’s going to want.”
“No way, Jess,” Parker grunts down the line, but I shake my head like he can see me.
“As Kai said, we have to play this calm. My mother said she would be returning with him, but with the voicemail she left yesterday evening and the fact we have surveillance on her house, we know she hasn’t. This could be a part of her test or plan for me.”
I am met with complete silence, and it’s because they know I’m right.
“Fine. Kai, you stay in the car. Let him think she drove over on her own, and Parker and I will stand inside the lobby,” Oscar orders, and I take a deep breath.
Squeezing my hands together, I try to control the slight tremble, but it’s not much use.
“You’ve got this, Jess, and I’m right here. Okay?” Kai murmurs, and I nod in agreement.
With one final deep breath, I step from the vehicle at the same time Oscar and Parker do. Reece stops his pacing.
“I want to speak to you. Now. Alone,” Reece spits out, and I can see the growl on Oscar’s face at his tone, but Parker guides him towards the entrance.
Ru
nning my hands down my skirt, I remain where I am. “What can I do for you, Reece?”
Marching towards me aggressively, his eyes are filled with rage, and his fists clenched at his side offer me no comfort.
“I think you forget who you belong to.” Stepping right into my personal space, he looms over me.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Reece,” I respond in a calm voice, but it definitely doesn’t pacify him. I force myself to stand my ground. Fake it until I make it repeating on a loop.
“You’re mine, and I don’t like the way you think you can parade around with them in front of me.” His hand whips out to grab my arm, and my body stiffens, but I force myself not to react.
“Honestly, Reece, I’m not parading around with anyone, I—”
“Shut the fuck up,” he spits out in my face, glaring down at me, and my defenses rise.
“Get your hands off me,” I say clearly, but he continues to ignore me.
“This little bargain they have going on isn’t going to last, you know. I’ve always wanted the VIP experience at one of the Byrnes parties, and that’s what I’m going to get this weekend. Then, I think I’ll have finished sowing my oats and all that shit. I’ll be ready to settle down. With you”
“I—”
“Did I fucking say you could speak?” He growls, his other hand gripping my chin as he holds me in place. I bite back the whimper that begs to release at his grip, my nostrils flaring as I try to contain the anger I feel amongst the pain.
“Get. The. Fuck. Off. Me. Right. Now.” I hold my ground, grinding my jaw as I meet his gaze. Holding my hand up to hopefully keep the Aces at bay for a minute more.
“Look at you, trying to be all feisty. Tell me, wifey, are you like this in bed?” He leans in to whisper in my ear, and I fear he can hear my heart beating rapidly. I can hear Luna in my mind yelling for me to head butt him, but that won’t solve anything. Not yet anyway.
“One word from me, and they—”
“One word from me, and your father is dead. You’ll do well to remember that.”
My eyes close as I nod slightly, understanding his threat, standing completely still and compliant.
“I remember.”
“Good. Now, I’m gonna enjoy my treats this weekend, but come Monday, you’re mine whether you like it or not, wifey. You might want to get your little rat boys up to speed because they won’t be coming near you ever again from then. You’ll be back in Diamond too, where I can keep a better eye on you.”
His grip on my arm tightens, and I whimper. His lips ghosting my cheek, almost sealing the deal on his words.
“That’s enough,” Kai growls, his voice deadly, and Reece instantly releases me.
Kai places his arm around my shoulder, not saying another word. But, I can feel him vibrating with anger.
“Don’t forget what I said, wifey,” Reece calls out to my retreating back, and I don’t bother to answer. I heard him loud and clear.
Fumbling for my phone in my pocket, I hit Rafe’s name and prepare a text message.
Me: We’re going to have to speed up that timeframe.
I refuse to let that dipshit touch me ever again.
Jess
God, my face throbs with pain, and my hands feel like they are made from stone at my sides, unable to determine what’s wrong. My feet hurt too, like they’ve been sliced repeatedly with a blade.
What the hell is wrong with me? What is going on?
Darkness surrounds me, not a single ounce of light filtering into my vision, allowing me sight.
There is an intense pain throbbing in my brain, overloaded by stress and fear. My eyes are heavy from the tears streaming down my face, and my lungs hurt from the constant screaming. I can’t stop.
I can’t take it anymore. Make it go away. Please. Make it stop.
“Help me! Somebody help me!”
“You can only help yourself, little bee.”
My heart stills, hearing his voice and that nickname, I can’t be here again. My body shudders in response as my heart races faster.
No, please, no.
“Help yourself, little bee,” Frankie repeats, his face finally coming into view. The only thing I can see in the darkness. The shadows do little to mask his black eyes and chiseled features as he stares me down.
“No, go away. Leave me alone!”
My body screams to scramble back from him as he approaches, but I’m locked in place, and I don’t know what is having such an effect on me.
“I said, help yourself, little bee.”
Grabbing my hands, I feel something hard and cold pressed into my palms. Slowly glancing down, I hesitate when I see a gun. The gun.
“No, you can’t make me. Please, take it back. I don’t want it.”
“Tut, tut, tut. Little bee, I thought you were a survivor?” Frankie murmurs, circling me, whispering in my ear.
“I— I am, but not this, anything but this.” I cry, my mind already seeming to know where this is leading before anything comes into view.
He completely ignores me, wrapping his fingers around mine, pointing the gun out in front of us.
“I’ll set you free when you show me how you are just like me.”
Just. Like. Me.
Just. Like. Me.
The words play on repeat in my head as the guy comes into view, standing in the corner of the small office, hands raised, but the sneer I remember is gone.
His tall frame and broad shoulders no longer look intimidating. His bald head shines with sweat as fear coats his skin. His blue eyes frantically searching mine.
“Please. Please, don’t shoot,” he begs, and my palms are slick with sweat.
“Do it, little bee. Show me.”
“No, no. I—”
“I said, do it!” Frankie screams, and my hands tremble beneath his as he tightens them around the grip. “Do it. Do. It. Now,” he growls, and I can’t take it anymore.
Tears race down my face as I scream. My finger pulls the trigger, and I watch in slow motion as the bullet pierces the guy’s skin. Blood instantly appears, seeping into his shirt as he slumps to the floor, and I see every ounce of life leave his eyes.
“That’s it, little bee. Me and you, we’re just alike. We’ll be bound together by this moment. Forever.”
I crumple to the floor, head in my hands as I cry out, consumed with emotion.
“Jess? Jess. Come on, sunshine, wake up.” West’s frantic voice filters in, but I’m too scared to look. “We’ve got you. It’s just a dream, Jess.”
What the hell is that screaming noise? It’s hurting my ears.
Wait… is that— me?
Taking stock of myself, both physically and emotionally, my throat burns as I stop crying. Sweat pours from every inch of me profusely as my eyes are squeezed shut. Resting my forehead against the palm of my hands, my fingers dig into my scalp. My body is shaking uncontrollably, tense in the curled-up ball I’m in.
One deep breath, followed by another, I try to relax.
“Jessica, I need you to tell me you’re okay,” Maverick murmurs, and as I slowly glance through my fingers, I see him crouched beside the bed, the table lamp offering a soft glow across the room as concern sits thick in his green eyes.
Licking my dry lips, I try to forget what just happened. “I-it was just a nightmare.”
“Can I touch you now?” He asks, and I frown in confusion. “You were having quite the fight with us in your sleep, so we gave you some space. I didn’t want to make you feel physically trapped when I knew you were trapped mentally.”
I did what? “Oh my gosh, I’m—”
Rolling his eyes, Maverick glances to his left. “She’s definitely awake. You know that whole apologizing for no reason shit she’s good at? She’s doing it,” he grunts.
“Hey!” I exclaim, but he turns to me with a wink, softening the blow.
“Jess, do you want some water?” I hear Aiden murmur, coming to stand behind Maverick, and I off
er a small nod.
Maverick offers me his hand while I uncoil my body and sit up.
“Are you okay, sunshine?” West asks, suddenly sitting beside me on the bed, making me flinch a little, and I try to calm my beating heart.
“Of course she isn’t fine,” Maverick answers with a glare before turning his stare back to me.
“I’m sorry, you guys go back to sleep. I’ll take my water and lay on the sofa for a while. I won’t be getting back to sleep anytime soon.” Rising from the bed, I shiver, the adrenaline slowly leaving me.
“I’ll come with you, petal. I’m not a good sleeper anyway.”
I go to protest, but the pointed look he gives me stops any argument.
“I can come too,” Aiden murmurs, but Maverick shakes his head.
“Honestly, you guys, sleep. I’ll stay with her.”
Aiden nods, but I can see he wants to wrap me in his arms. He just doesn’t know how I’ll react. Taking the wonder out of the equation, I lean into him a little, hugging him close as West slowly strokes his hand down my back before hugging me too.
God, I hate how my skittish behavior is impacting them too. “I’m sorry this is affecting you guys, too,” I mutter.
“Maverick is right,” Aiden whispers. “You do apologize too much when you don’t need to.” West hums his agreement from behind me, before Maverick laces his fingers with mine and pulls me away.
“I love you, beautiful,” Aiden calls out, making me smile.
“I love you too,” I murmur in response, glancing between the pair of them as West mouths the words to me as well.
Fuck. I’m glad my current fucked up state hasn’t pushed them away.
Shutting the door behind us, Maverick leads me to the sofa, grabbing the soft blanket off the back and handing it to me.
“How about you find a movie to put on? I’ll make you a hot chocolate with all the toppings, and we can talk?”
Sinking into the cushions, my eyes close on their own accord. “That sounds perfect, Maverick. Thank you.”