by J Bree
“I thought I’d stop by to be properly introduced to the boy the Jackal is willing to risk everything to kill.” He shrugs out of his leather jacket and hangs it over another seat. He sees the laptop and the open chat room and gives the guys a little mocking wave before snapping it shut. Ash is going to lose his mind.
I groan at him. “Really, Illi? You couldn’t just call me? Or warn me you were coming? We are just about to head out.”
He nods along with me. “Cool. Where are we going?”
“Like fuck am I letting her go anywhere with you.” snaps Harley and I give him what I hope is a stern look. He ignores it, and me, completely.
Illi smirks at him. “You’re adorable. The Wolf doesn’t need a fucking keeper, so cut your shit. I came here to tell you the Jackal offered to triple whatever sum you paid me. He’s put a hit out on the O’Cronin kid.”
I snort. “He can’t. Not without answering to the Twelve.”
Illi cocks his head at me. “He’s put it out amongst the underlings he knows will risk the wrath it’ll bring and he can easily pin the whole idea on. Not many took it up, because they know it goes against you, but there are a few who accepted.”
“And you?” snarls Harley, “Are you here to kill me?”
“I turned him down.” Illi says with a shrug. Well, I assume he was trying to shrug, the thick ropes of muscles that band across his shoulders make it look a little ridiculous. His fingers twitch. He’s itching for a cigarette. I never let him smoke around me.
I know exactly what statement Illi has just made but Harley has no real experience in our world, and he’s still eyeing Illi like he’s an atomic bomb about to level the city. “And what is that going to cost us?” he snaps.
Illi quirks his eyebrow and swings around to give me an incredulous look. I snort and roll my eyes at him. “I’m not his keeper either. He can speak to you however he wants and, well, if it pisses you off, I’ll only step in if I think you’ll kill him. No killing him, Illi.”
Illi glares a warning at Harley and then swings back to me. “That’s not all I’m here for, I’m afraid. The meeting will be postponed. You’ll need to come back down during the fall break. I thought I’d warn you before the Crow reaches out to you.”
My spine snaps straight. Meetings don’t get canceled. Illi eyes Harley again, and I grit my teeth. Fucking boys!
“This is the part where I’m asking for something fucking big from you, little Wolf.” Illi grimaces and stares at Harley for a beat longer.
I wave my hand at him and say, “Harley’s mine. Whatever it is, won’t leave this room.”
Harley’s eyebrows raise but he gives Illi a curt nod.
“The Vulture is dead.”
Fuck.
Oh, sweet lord fuck.
I meet Illi’s gaze and nod slowly. “So, you’re mine now, too.”
Harley blanches but we both ignore him. Illi scrubs a hand over his face. “I didn’t intend on asking but when the Jackal approached me about your boy, he brought up Odie… I can’t leave her open to anything hurting her. Again.”
I’m nodding before he finishes. “I know. You’re mine, both of you. Between us, we’ll keep her safe.”
Harley looks between us and grinds out, “How does the death of that sick fuck suddenly mean you’re inducting him? I thought you wanted to stay away from this world, how does taking on the Butcher keep you free?”
Illi cracks his knuckles absently but Harley watches the move carefully. “The Vulture sold my wife. Twice. I told little Wolf years ago that his death would be mine.”
Harley bursts out of his chair. It’s a testament to how confident Illi is of his abilities he doesn’t so much as flinch. “You’ve killed a member of the Twelve and now you want to risk Lips by having her take you in?! Fuck. That.”
I hold up a hand. “Illi and Odie are in. I should have done it years ago when you asked. I might’ve been able to get away from the Jackal sooner if I had.”
Harley rocks back on his heels. “You’ve asked her before?”
If these two don’t get along my life will get fucking complicated and fast. I can’t even think about how much Ash and Blaise would both hate this.
Illi pauses for a second, and then sighs. “My Odie is alive because of the Wolf. If anything happened to her, there is no reason for me to continue breathing. I’ve asked Lips to induct me before, and I told her that even if she didn’t accept, I would answer any call to arms from her.”
And he had. One phone call to him back at Hannaford and he’d met us at the docks ready to throw down with the Jackal, whatever the cost. I run through the specifics of inducting him in my head and wince. “I can’t pay you yet, I’m—”
“I’m a rich man. Induct me, and I’ll give you a cut of my work.”
I shake my head. “I’m not taking your money.”
Illi stretches his legs out in front of him and laces his fingers behind his head. The move makes him look even bigger and Harley watches him warily. Illi grins at him and then fucking blows him a kiss like an ass. Fucking hell.
“I get it, you don’t want to take on an empire. But that’s why I’ll offer myself to you and no one else. You won’t use me. You won’t betray me. You won’t grow so fucking conceited that you turn into a cunt like Matteo did. You’ve protected Odie from the moment you met her. Offering myself to you and giving you a cut of my work is fucking nothing compared to what I owe you. Induct me. I will protect you and the boy, whatever the cost.”
Resigned, I nod and exhale sharply. “It’s forever, Illi. Just remember that this is forever.”
He smiles, and it doesn’t soften his fierce face at all. “So is Odie. I owe you a life-debt.”
I take another deep breath. “One last thing. It’s not just Harley that I’m protecting. I’m protecting my family. My best friend and… the three guys I’m… seeing.”
Illium blinks at me and then at Harley. Then he fucking roars with laughter.
“Good! Fuck yes! No more abiding by Matteo’s shitty fucking agendas. Done, little Wolf. Send me their details and I’ll stay in touch. We’ll get you the fuck away from Matteo.”
Chapter Three
The Vulture’s death means the Twelve go on lockdown.
The Tiger refuses to meet at the party, texting instead to request a daytime meeting at a deli on the Main Street the following afternoon. Lots of witnesses and places to take cover. The news of Illi and Odie’s inductions travels fast and I think having the Butcher answer to me makes the Tiger extra fucking twitchy.
I slip out of bed without waking Harley and leave him a note. We’d argued after Illi had left and I’d stomped off to bed to video call Avery, seething and ignoring the texts and calls from the other two. Harley had abandoned the beer he’d been drinking before Illi’s surprise visit, and found my emergency bottle of whiskey. He didn’t stumble to bed until he’d finished the damn thing, and I’d spent half the night positive he was going to die of liver poisoning. I should’ve known he’d be fine, he drinks like a freaking fish, but I’d barely managed to get any sleep.
The drop-off runs smoothly. The Tiger doesn’t question me about Illi, although his usual crass jokes are absent and he keeps looking over my shoulder. There are only two members of the Twelve without inductees left and, as one of them, I’m sure that the Tiger never feels more alone than when there is a murder amongst our ranks.
It’s not until I go to leave that he says quietly, “Protecting a killer isn’t a smart move, Wolf.”
I raise an eyebrow at him, forcing bravado I do not feel. “The Vulture sold skin. It’s not the type of business that cultivates admiration and respect. There are thousands of people who wanted him dead. I hope you’re not making assumptions, Tiger?”
He eyes me carefully before giving me a respectful nod and leaving.
I stop at a liquor store that’s protected and used by the Bear to launder his dirty cash. The guy behind the counter takes one look at me and waves me on, refusing to
take my money. I grab more beer and two new emergency bottles of whiskey.
I groan to myself when I think of the hungover mess in my bed. How the actual fuck do I make him understand this? Ugh.
My phone pings and I cringe as I juggle the bottles to check it.
I’m in the Bay. Can you send through your address?
I stare down at Blaise’s text. I’m excited to see him, thrilled actually, but he’s supposed to be in New York with his parents. His texts had been coming less frequently and sounding a lot less like him as the break goes on. I chew my lip as I send him the address and then pause for a second before texting him again.
I’ve just finished a job. Can you pick me up before you head there?
I find a bench to sit on and send him the details of where I am. He must have been only a block over because two minutes later he pulls up.
The Maserati draws eyes. Too many eyes and I know this will get back to the Jackal.
I scramble over to the car and load the bottles into the back seat before climbing in. Once I get my seatbelt on I turn to greet Blaise and the words dry up in my throat. It’s hard, but I do my best not to gape at him. He’s got his nose piercing back in, now we’re out of Hannaford, and his hair is freshly cut. He smells amazing, like he got straight into the car after his shower to come see me. The only thing wrong is the expression on his face.
He’s a void.
There’s no sign of my cheeky, vicious, passionate, dark rock star. Just a blank, empty vessel, even as he pulls the car back onto the road and drives us back to the townhouse. What the ever-loving fuck has happened? I wait him out, but he says nothing.
“How can I fix this?” I say when I can’t stand the silence any longer.
He glances over at me and his eyes are dull. “You can’t. No one can.”
I nod and hesitate before resting my hand on his thigh, too low to be overtly sexual, but high enough that it’s more than a friendly gesture.
When we arrive at the gates I pass him the spare sensor to open them. He doesn’t move to roll down his window, just stares down at the little plastic sphere like it’s the answer to all of his problems. I stay quiet. Sometimes you just have to be patient and wait these things out.
“My mom’s pregnant.”
Huh.
Not what I expected.
“My father told me they’ve given up on me ever growing up. He said that they’d thought my shitty grades were a rebellion or a sign I was too spoilt and lazy to have drive, but now they know I’m just retarded. His exact words, not mine. They even went to a fertility specialist to make sure they would have another boy to replace me. The second he’s born my father is writing me out of his estate.”
The monotone sound of his voice and the complete lack of cussing has me worried. Also, I can’t fix this at all. How fucked is it that we’ve all managed to have shitty families? Where are the decent people of the world?
“I don’t even care about the money. I’m fine, I have enough of my own and I never wanted to run the business. But they’re already talking about keeping my bad influence away from the baby. I’m going to have a brother that I’m not allowed to know because I’m too fucking stupid to be who my father wants me to be.”
Yeah, I can’t listen to this.
Not at all. Not from the guy who gave up parties and fun so he could study three nights a week to get his grades up for his miserable excuse of a father. The guy stands with his friends even if it risks his reputation and his career. The guy who goes toe to toe with Joey when he threatens someone he loves. Not the guy who charmed me, apologized to me, with playlists, poems, sketches, and sweet words. Not the guy who saved my life with his songs years before we even met.
I grab his hand until our fingers are curled together around the sensor. “Listen to me, there is plenty we can do to fix this. Not your parents or their shitty fucking attitudes, but we can make it impossible for them to keep you away from your brother. Don’t even think about it anymore, I will fix it. You’re not stupid. I’m the best person to judge that, I’ve spent hours doing assignments with you. You’re not what he wants but that doesn’t make you less than him. I’ve met a lot of shitty people, Blaise, I’ve had to deal with a fuck ton of stupid, cruel, self-absorbed people and you’re worth so much more than what he wants from you. You don’t owe them anything.”
His hand shakes a little in mine and then he gives me the tiniest of nods.
“No spending blood diamonds on me, Mounty. I’m not worth it.”
I swallow past the lump lodged in my throat. “You’re worth more than my diamonds. I’m planning on spending every single one of them on us. On our family, the one that actually counts. Even if… even if this is all a temporary thing for you guys, it’s still worth it for me.”
His head snaps over to me so quickly I would have startled if I weren’t firmly wearing the skin of the Wolf. His eyes are wild and fierce. “This is not fucking temporary. Not for me, not for Ash or Harley, and not for you. I know we have a hell of a lot to make up for, but I’m going to do whatever it takes to do that. Don’t ever say that shit again.”
How the fuck am I supposed to walk straight after that?!
Fuck me.
Harley is asleep on the lounge chair when we get back. I help Blaise carry his bags in and we take them to our room, stepping over Harley’s bags and dumping them in a messy pile on the floor. There isn’t a whole lot of room left in the bedroom and once Ash gets here we will be in danger of bursting at the seams.
Blaise looks a little less void-like but he’s still fucking morose. I give up trying to cheer him up and instead I start cooking dinner. Harley doesn’t wake up with all our noise and I check to make sure the asshole hasn’t choked on his own tongue.
I make Mac’n’Cheese because Blaise needs some damn comfort food and when I suggest it his lips twitch like he’s thinking about smiling. I put a plate in the fridge for Harley and then I drag the blanket off our bed to wrap Blaise and I up in while we sit on the couch together and eat. Granted, I have to drop the thermostat down to ridiculous temperatures, but it’s worth it when Blaise finally slings an arm around me as we eat and watch the fucking awful movie he’s put on.
“What’s wrong with him?” Blaise mumbles, after he’s inhaled the pasta like a starving man.
I eye Harley as I grimace. “We had an argument about… a friend of mine and then he drank himself to sleep. We need to call Ash and Aves so I can tell you all at once about it. It’s… about my position as the Wolf.”
Blaise nods, and pulls me in closer to his body. His fingers dance over the strip of skin bared between my tank top and booty shorts. “You don’t seem jumpy to me. Did Harley try to get you naked the second he got down here? I wouldn’t have thought he’d be such an idiot, we all know you’re good with knives.”
I blush. Fucking boys. “No, he already knew, and I’m not fucking jumpy. I just needed a little time to get back to being the Mounty again and not the Wolf. This place does things to me.”
Blaise nods again and dips down to kiss my throat, on the soft skin, right under my jaw. I shiver when his tongue and teeth join the mix, his lips moving slowly down until he’s nibbling on my shoulder. My head falls back as I sigh.
“Let’s leave Harley out here and go to bed. We can video call the twins and you can tell us what the fuck has happened now.”
I have to clear my throat twice to get the words out. “I don’t want you angry at me too. Can we just go to bed and I’ll face this tomorrow?”
He relents and then takes me to bed, kissing me slow and sweet, until I can’t keep my eyes open anymore. I’m so fucking glad he’s here and I’m not going to let the morose fucker out of my sight until I’m sure he’s okay.
Sometime after midnight Harley joins us and grunts when his shins hit Blaise’s bags. When he slides into the bed I roll over in Blaise’s arms to face him, the glow of the alarm clock on the bedside table illuminating him enough to see the frown.
&n
bsp; “The fuck is he doing here?” he whispers and I shrug.
“His dad’s a shitty human. Are you still angry? I can’t sleep with rage in the air, it gives me heartburn.”
Harley grumbles under his breath then kisses me, tasting minty and clean. I kiss him back for a second before I break away. I won’t let him distract me with his tongue, talented as it is. “I’m getting away from the Jackal, but I can’t stop being the Wolf. It’s for life. If you can’t handle—”
“I can handle it, don’t freak out on me again. I can’t help that, I want to keep you safe, and let’s be real, the Butcher is a demon. I’m going fucking crazy thinking about how shitty things must have been for you if you’ve met him. If you’ve become friends with him. But I trust you. I’m all in.”
I squint at him in the dark. I wonder if these boys even know how to pronounce the word sorry, if it’s ever passed their lips. Hmm. No, I’ve heard it once from Blaise and Harley’s apologized to Avery in front of me, but I guess this is the best I’ll get.
I kiss him again, just a quick peck, and fall asleep, tucked snugly between them both.
Playing house with Harley and Blaise is ridiculous and a danger to my health.
The twins have to wait another week before they can join us. Ash rages down the phone at me for an hour before I send smoke signals to Avery to get him to shut the fuck up.
Blaise is smug as fuck, and Harley thinks it’s hil-fucking-arious and stops taking his calls to piss him off even more.
They make a game of taunting Ash with random photos and videos of me in compromising positions. Half of them are stupid and the other half make me blush furiously and lock myself in the bathroom. I lose my cool with Blaise after he steals my phone to send fake sexts, and I break his phone against a wall in retaliation. He’s fucking loaded so he barely even shrugs about the loss.
When I video call Ash later that night, he snarks at me, “Well, I didn’t think you’d be texting me about your greedy, dripping pussy aching for my cock.”