by J Bree
He takes another swig from his beer, draining the bottle. “I found out later that my grandfather was the one who took Ma. My uncles all helped…torture her. They kept saying Da put his honor, his pride, before his blood. They’re fucking crazy. The tattoo was shit, looked awful because I was only nine when they did it, and I was screaming and trying to get them to stop. When I grew it got even worse, stretched and faded out. Two years ago, Ash and Blaise dragged me to a parlor and we had it redone. None of us have good families, blood doesn’t mean shit, but we chose the family we have now. So, when I got mine they both got our new creed tattooed too. Avery keeps saying she’s going to get it done as well but she’s an absolute fucking sissy about needles so I’m not holding my breath. I don’t need her to get it anyway, I know she’s one of us.”
I let his words soak in but one thing is clear to me.
Liam and Domhnall O’Cronin are going to die.
Fuck it, I’m going to wipe every last O’Cronin out of the state, barring Harley and maybe Diarmuid.
My fingers actually tremble from the rage I’m trying to contain. I’m glad he’s still staring at the floor because my face is all Wolf right now. Fucking Liam O’Cronin! I’m going to shame that miserable old bastard and then I’m going to kill him. Or help Harley do it. I’m cool either way.
“How did you go from being shot by Diarmuid to being friends? He hugged you like…like he had a right to. I’d swear that you’d slept with him if he hadn’t made that stupid comment about your tits.”
Why is he so damned fixated on my sex life? Or lack thereof, not that he knew that. “Our mutual acquaintance put him on the books. We met in friendlier circumstances and he kept asking how I'd gotten through his security. When I finally realized he was impressed not pissy I told him and then he started acting like we were best friends. I haven’t slept with him, and I won’t ever in the future. Even if my tits do fill in.”
Harley scoffs and opens another beer. “Your tits don’t need to fill in, they’re fine. Da used to go on and on about how good of a shot Diarmuid was. I wanted to learn from him. I wanted to be just like him.”
I try to ignore him calling my tits ‘fine’ because I don’t know if he’s insulting me or reassuring me. I feel like he’s opened the door to talking about relationships and romantic interests so I ask the question that’s been keeping me up for weeks, trying valiantly not to blush or look too interested in the answer.
“Who are you dating? She seems to be causing waves in your tight-knit family.”
“I’m not dating anyone. Who told you that?” The warmth has leached out of his voice and his eyes are guarded again. Great. Why is he allowed to ask if I’m sleeping with his uncle but I can’t ask this without a mood swing?
“Blaise. Avery asked about his black eye and he said he’d been making a move on your girl. No, wait, he said you accused him of moving in on your girl.”
He blows out a breath and looks up at the ceiling. I’m getting a fair bit of that out of these guys and I don’t know what the hell it means. I need to ask Avery.
“I gave him the black eye in the ring. He was mouthing off and I got pissy. We usually don’t aim for the head but I lost my cool and cracked him.”
I fight the shit-eating grin tugging at the corners of my mouth. “Oh. So, no girl?”
He gives me a sly look. “Not yet.”
Huh. That sounded like there was going to be one soon, as if he’s chasing some girl. That’s probably who he’s been texting throughout the day. Fuck. “Let me know. I’m running background checks on everyone we get involved with from now on. I do not want another Annabelle or Rory getting close ever again.”
He nods and puts the rim of the beer bottle up to his lips. I try so hard not to watch but he’s like a magnet, drawing me in until I’m stuck drooling over him. I watch his throat work and I have to squeeze my thighs together at the sensations running through me. Right, mind out of the gutter Lips. Mind out of the gutter. He’s so unbelievably hot, it is cruel to sit so close to him.
“I'm fairly observant, I think sometimes you underestimate that,” he says, his voice warm and dripping like honey, as he pours another shot. I have to clear my throat twice to find my voice.
“Oh yeah?”
“You’re a virgin, aren’t you?”
Excuse me?
What the fuuuuuuuuuuck?
Was it that obvious? Was our little make out session that bad? Oh my fucking god, I’m a fumbling idiotic virgin and he spotted it. No wonder he wanted to stop. When I stare at him, jaw clenched and eyes narrowed, he fixes his stunning blue-eyed gaze onto mine. “Yep. I'm observant enough to realize that Joey had to be your first kiss. You told me and Blaise at breakfast on the first day back after summer break, you said you held a knife to his dick. Now you’ve just told me I was your first real kiss and that the other one didn’t count. So, unless you’re out fucking guys like the chick in Pretty Woman then I’d guess you’ve never had sex before.“
“How have you seen Pretty Woman?” I’m grasping at straws, trying to buy my brain some time to recalibrate.
He rolls his eyes at me. “When Aves sulks over guys she watches three movies; Pretty Woman, Dirty Dancing, and Ghost. I dunno, it has something to do with Aunt Alice. Stop avoiding the question. Answer it or take the shot.”
I still hesitate. It’s not like I’m ashamed about it, other than my lack of skills. I’m actually proud, considering where I grew up and the six years I spent in foster care. It’s just that everyone at this school seem to bed hop and while I don’t want to do that I also don’t want news of my untouched status getting out and the damned bet getting out of control.
Harley misreads my indecision and curses viciously. “If Joey touched you, I'm driving to his place tonight and I'm setting it on fire. I will burn that fuck alive.”
A shiver runs down my spine and pools between my thighs. Not for the first time, I think about how damaged I must be to find him irresistible when he talks so casually about enacting blood-soaked revenge for me.
“No, it’s—he didn’t. He tried but I’ve found a sharp knife nestled against a guy’s dick is usually a good deterrent. I’m more worried about the bet. How much bigger do you think the payout will be if they find out I’m a virgin?”
Harley groans and rubs his eyes. “I forgot about that stupid fucking bet. So you spent your first year here being accosted by horny guys trying to talk you into a quick fuck for money and every single one of them assumed you were up for it because you’re a Mounty girl.”
I was tempted to point out how often he and his friends called me a slut and accused me of using sex to get my way but he’s actually being really sweet so I let it go. When his hands lower he looks a little embarrassed so I think he realized it all on his own.
We fall back into silence, only the sounds of us drinking to be heard. My phone pings and I ignore it. I don't want the Jackal sullying this moment.
“You should get that. Avery is freaked out that you haven't texted her back.”
Crap.
I WILL DRIVE BACK THERE IF YOU DON’T ANSWER ME SOON ECLIPSE ANDERSON. Also, what is your middle name? I need to know it because apparently you pull the kind of shit that requires a full name sort of reaction.
Well, shit.
I scroll back to find out what I’m supposed to be answering. Fifteen from Avery on our private chat. Twenty-two in our group message. Fuck.
Merry Christmas
Thank you for the gift, you’re too sweet.
Mounty, where did you get the photo? It’s so perfect, I cried.
Well, no I didn’t because I’m not the crying sort. But I thought about crying which is basically the same.
Senior isn’t home. First Christmas I’ve been able to relax.
Has Harley joined you for brunch?
Lips, I’m starting to get worried that you’ve been murdered.
Okay Harley just texted to say you’ve taken to your bed. I told him to make French toast.<
br />
Look, I know you’ve got your demons about today but please get out of bed and text me.
Ash said Senior not being here is your present to both of us for Christmas. Call me with an explanation please.
I text Harley. How is it he can text me back while eating but you can’t? I’m feeling very unloved.
Are you pissed at me or something?
So help me, Mounty, I will set Ash on you.
That’s a lie. I wouldn’t do that to you. Please text me.
Fine. Merry Christmas, you scrooge.
I hit call and wince at the ice she breathes down the phone at me.
“Is this the reanimated corpse of Eclipse unknown-middle-name Anderson?”
The wince turns into a full-blown cringe and Harley takes one look at me and roars with laughter.
What an asshole.
Chapter Seventeen
Avery puts the photo I gave her in the kitchen so she can look at it while she cooks. While she was home, she had the photo blown up and put on a canvas and she hangs that one on the wall between our beds. My heart does little flutters every time I look at it until I force myself to stop looking at it so I don’t have a heart attack.
I know Joey must have been awful over the break because Ash sleeps in our room for a full week when they get back. By Friday, Avery is sick of sharing her bed with him and kicks him onto the couch. I try to move around quietly when I get ready for class because his start later and he prefers to sleep until the very last second he can.
I open my drawers to find one pair of underwear. One. So with the pair I just took off that means I have two freaking pairs of underwear left and, like, twenty pairs missing. What. The. Fuck.
I stomp over to the bathroom and wake Ash up with my raging. He cusses me out without even opening his eyes and I snap back at him, “Sleep on your own fucking couch then!” and slam the door behind me.
The hot water mellows me out a little and by the time I exit the bathroom, I’m level enough to apologize to Ash as he heads in for a shower. Avery hands me a plate of toast and a cup of coffee, and I slump onto the couch to mope.
“I’ll have some more delivered today and we can go see the ladies in the laundry to find out where they’re disappearing from.”
I nod and eat my food. Ash joins us for breakfast and when he’s finished he grabs Avery’s laptop and sits next to me on the couch. When I see the website he’s on I blush. He smirks back at me. “What? I don’t know where Mounties shop. Is there a slum version of Agent Provocateur?”
I elbow him in the ribs but he doesn’t take notice. “I can buy my own underwear, thank you very much.”
He shrugs. “You can but after waking me up you’ll be nice and let me do it. It’s one of my true skills in life.”
Avery narrows her eyes at him over the rim of her coffee cup. “What would you know about choosing lingerie?”
Ash smirks back at her. “More than you. You’ve bought it for one body, I’ve seen it on—“
“Do not give me a number right now Alexander Asher William Beaumont, I will smother you in your sleep. No sister wants to hear how many sluts her brother has gone through. Which reminds me, when were you last tested for STI’s? Annabelle probably gave you herpes.”
He ignores her and continues to add items. I choke on my toast and try to snatch the laptop away from him when I see what exactly he’s picking. “I do not fucking need corsets, suspender belts, or a crotchless bodysuit!”
Ash raises an eyebrow at me. “How very vanilla of you. All cotton granny panties then?”
I cross my arms and seethe at him. No answer I give him will save me so silence it is. Avery comes over to perch on the armrest and point out pieces she likes.
“Why are you doing this? You don’t even like me,” I say finally, after I hand over my card details and find myself thousands of dollars poorer. I’m so glad I risked my life for such a tiny amount of lace and boning. Corset boning, not even the supposedly fun type. Avery pats my head and heads to the coffee machine for round two.
“I know you’re going to fuck us over at some point, I figure why not have some fun until then?” Ash replies, nonchalant.
I glare at him and Avery calls out from the kitchen in a sing-song voice, “Baby steps!”
I groan and pack my bag for the day. Ash watches me and I try not to squirm under the intensity of his gaze.
“What?!” I snap when I can’t take it anymore.
“Who do you think is stealing your underwear?”
I groan. “If I knew, it wouldn’t be happening anymore. I’m fucking sick of replacing it. Whoever it is, they’re taking them when I send them out to be washed.”
Ash grimaces but doesn’t say anything so I continue, “Avery thinks it’s a prank and someone in the laundry is in on it. I think it’s Harlow being a snotty bitch because I found Avery’s shoes.”
Ash frowns at me. “They’re taking underwear you’ve already worn. It sounds like a desperate guy taking them to sniff.”
My stomach roils, I hadn’t thought of that. For fuck’s sake. “Guys are disgusting. Seriously. I’m putting a fucking camera on the door and I’m washing my own shit from now on. Fuck this!”
I storm out and head to my classes in a foul mood.
What next?
Avery texts me during classes to say she’s having our clothes sent out of the school for cleaning for the foreseeable future. I’ll have to order two more uniforms to get through the week but it’s cheaper than buying more of the underwear Ash selected.
When I get back to our rooms and find a package waiting for me I empty it straight into my drawers without looking through it. I’m too pissed to enjoy my new things.
Thankfully Ash sleeps in his own room so the next morning I don’t have to deal with his commentary while I pick out what I’m going to wear. I blush profusely when it finally hits me that he’s picked every piece of lace I now own. Fuck. He didn’t just buy underwear either, no, he bought matching bras for every pair. I didn’t give him my size and yet they fit perfectly. He’s a fucking wizard.
I pick out a black set and once they’re on it’s clear he’s picked out the most risqué underwear possible. They’re completely transparent and sexy as fuck. I blush but I also feel feminine and attractive. Yep, a fucking wizard. I wonder if he’ll pick out all of my underwear from now on if I ask?
Avery ducks into the bathroom behind me and slaps my ass with a giggle. I scowl at her playfully and pull on some jeans and a shirt.
“I need your help with something today, if you’re not too busy?” she says as she brushes her hair. I frown and nod as I brush my teeth.
“A senior, called Yasmin Gilliam, started a gossip website last year. It’s stupid and childish and I’ve barely given it any attention up until now. Someone has made an anonymous account and is posting classified documents on there. Documents from businesses and organizations owned by Hannaford families.”
I finish up and lean on the sink, my arms folded, as I listen. Avery gives me a sidelong look. “None of it affects us but it’s only a matter of time. If something about Senior’s business gets posted, or Harley’s parents, we’re in for a rough ride through hell. Yasmin plays basketball and the team has training now. If we leave soon we can meet her in the locker rooms and I can sort this out.”
I nod. “What do you have on her?”
Avery sighs. “Not enough to get it taken down. I can have it disabled but she can just start it up again. I’m hoping threats are enough. If not she goes on the planner and we destroy her.”
I head out of the bathroom and grab my knife, slipping it into my jeans pocket.
Avery adjusts her dress, and again, and again. I frown at her. “What aren’t you telling me?”
She bites her lip, a nervous tick I’ve never seen her do before. “There’s dozens of posts about Rory and what he did to me. Girls are commenting about how I was leading him on and how I was only getting what I deserved. All anonymous of course but
the idiots don’t realize I can trace them. I’ve got a very long list of bitches on my planner.”
I’m disgusted but not surprised. We don’t have time to deal with any more spoilt little girls, too privileged and naive to understand real world consequences.
“We’ll work something out, Aves. Let’s just talk to this girl and go from there. Whatever happens, we’re in it together.”
Avery smiles and tucks her arm into mine. “I know. I’m just…a little nervous about it. When Ash sees it, he's going to lose his mind and then we’ll have to do damage control for him as well. Like I said, it’s going to spiral.”
I hum my agreement and lock our door behind us.
Avery is silent but determined as we walk down to the gym. Basketball practice is still underway but only the juniors and seniors are still out on the court. Avery leads me into the locker room and, fucking hell, it’s practically a day spa.
The only locker room I’ve been in before is the one at Mounts Bay Middle School and it was a damp, rotting nightmare. This room is a palace of white marble and Egyptian cotton towels. Avery laughs at the look on my face and I give her a lopsided grin in return. Fucking rich kids.
Yasmin blanches when she sees us and Avery easily corners her. I lean against the wall by the door so I can keep an eye on the other girls. Not that I want to, they’re mostly walking around in their underwear and giving me dirty looks. I smile back sweetly and flip them off.
Harlow is naked and rubbing her shoulder down with oil. I’m totally horrified but no one else seems to care so I stare at my toes instead. The smell of mint hits my nose and I hear Harlow grunting as she massages the oil into her skin. She must have an old injury, I’ve used Wintergreen oil on my leg when it’s flared up before. I store that knowledge away because it’s good to know where her weaknesses are.