by J Bree
I wonder what his father would think if he knew the power his son had amassed. The conversation I’d had with Ash earlier flashes back to me. He’s probably just like his disgusting father.
“I’m not leaving here without her. Name your price,” the Crow says, and fuck if that isn’t the worst thing to say.
“She’s not for fucking sale!” Ash hisses and there it is; the ruthless, killer Beaumont blood. Threaten Avery and you’ll push Ash right into the dark place that exists in his soul. The darkness that lives in him and burns in his eyes when his mask slips. The same fire his father and brother both use to destroy women, Ash uses to protect Avery.
I know I’m pushing my luck when I hold up my hand to stop him. His eyes break away from the Crow for a second to aim that fire at me. Blaise stiffens next to me and I can practically feel the heat of his glare swing around to narrow in on Ash, not liking the shitty attitude one bit.
This is big. This moment could change everything between us all. Ash is holding a grenade and toying with the pin if he doesn’t trust me now then this relationship, and I suspect our family, are going to be blown to pieces. I hold his gaze and I pray.
His eyes don’t lower. He doesn’t back down at all.
A tiny crack starts on my heart and then he crosses his arms and swings back to face the Crow. I don’t know if he’s chosen to trust me or not but I have to follow through. I have to make sure we’re all safe. I glance back at Avery and I see it in her eyes that she knows. She trusts me to get us all out of this safely.
“How much? How much is she worth to you?” I say coolly.
The Crow’s eye never leave mine. He doesn’t so much as glance at her. Another black mark against him. “Three favors.”
Fuck.
Fuck.
This man never gives out favors. I’ve had three favors from him already but those were torn from him in moments of true desperation, for things only I could do for him. For him to offer me three for Avery alone… fuck.
I shake my head at him and he grits his teeth.
“Six but I’ll have your word that you will never tell the Jackal about her.”
I freeze.
The Crow never breaks the rules of the Twelve and that’s pretty fucking close to crossing a line. That’s not what I’m expecting at all. Granted we all keep our cards pretty close to our chests but it’s the unwritten law that we never conspire and scheme against each other. I know he’s been biding his time, waiting to take the Jackal out, but he’s always played by the rules. Even now the Jackal’s gone fucking rogue. What the hell is he playing at?
I look at him then, a proper once over without the rage clouding my eyes.
His face is blank and unreadable but his body speaks loud enough. His fists are clenched, his shoulders stiff, and his elbows are bent slightly like he’s poised ready to attack. He’s not the Crow, here to buy some skin for the night like his father would or a pawn in the game we’re all playing. He’s Atticus and he’s waging a war for Avery. The feelings he’s had for her are real, real enough that he’s here for her, risking the wrath of the Twelve and losing the empire he’s built.
I take a step forward and when his chin lifts I narrow my eyes at him, the tension in the room crackling like electricity.
“You’re in love with her, aren’t you, Atticus?” His eyes narrow to slits at the sound of his real name. I’ve broken protocol but I don’t give a fuck. He’s going to have to come clean if he wants to leave this room with any sort of a relationship with Avery.
Or his life, because Ash is fucking teetering.
“I told you, I’ll—“ he starts but I cut him off.
“She’s not for sale. Not to you, not to Matteo, not to anyone. Either admit you’re here because you have real, genuine feelings for her or leave. And to be perfectly clear, there is nothing I wouldn’t do to keep her safe. I’ll risk the Twelve if I have to.”
His eyes finally leave mine and swing down to land on Avery. I see it then, the feeling in my gut is right, he looks at her like she’s the center of his world. He looks at her with longing and sweetness and worship. He’s here to save her from me.
His eyes only get more vicious when they cut back in my direction but he softens at the sound of Avery’s voice, “The Wolf is my family, Atticus. I’m not leaving with you.”
Some of the tension in Ash eases a little like he was afraid Avery would skip off into the sunset with this guy and he’d lose her forever. I make a note to talk to him again about letting her make her own fucking choices.
The Crow slips away, something I’ve never seen another member of the Twelve do, and it’s Atticus standing there with us again.
“You can’t let Matteo know about her, or what she means to me. He’ll fucking destroy her. It’s bad enough she’s with you.” He sinks down in the armchair and rubs his hands over his face. The room seems to take a deep breath.
“You don’t need to explain to me what that man does to innocent girls when he has an agenda,” I whisper, and regret flashes on his face so quickly I think I might have imagined it.
He chuckles darkly, “I guess I should remember that better than anyone. I was there when he snapped your leg with his bare hands. What were you, twelve years old?”
Blaise’s hand runs down the inside of my arm until he threads his fingers through mine, tugging me back until I’m back at his side. I don’t want to look at any of them while we talk about the damage done to me. “Thirteen. I was thirteen and I had just won the Game. He told me he wanted to teach me how to deal with pain but really he was trying to break me in. Nothing he hates more than a female he can’t break.”
“Well, he didn’t break you, did he? Here you stand with two Beaumonts and the richest kid in the country. You’ve inducted the heir to the O’Cronin family into your fold and let’s not forget the Butcher. I’d wager this wasn’t Matteo’s plan.”
I chuckle, a little shocked that I have it in me to do so, and then I sit on the couch, tugging Blaise down with me. Avery moves to sit with us, perching on the arm of the couch stiffly, and then, slowly, Ash joins us. When he slips his hand to rest on my thigh my shoulders finally relax. Atticus watches us all carefully.
“I was under the impression you were with the O’Cronin kid? That’s what Matteo thinks anyway. I heard a rumor of… more but I thought that was just his delusions.”
I feel a blush start and Avery scoffs at me. “Seriously? We’re in a life-threatening situation and you’re getting all shy about your harem of obsessed boys?”
Blaise nudges Avery’s leg with his shoulder and cackles at her. “Leave her alone, she’s used to being a badass under pressure.”
Atticus watches her the exact way that Harley watched me during our sophomore year, back when I was oblivious to want it meant. God, I was so fucking blind. “This isn’t a life-threatening situation, Avery. As long as you are safe, I’m not going to do anything. The last time I saw the Wolf I knew things had changed between her and the Jackal but I couldn’t risk being wrong. I couldn’t leave your fate up to chance because the Jackal would do things to you that I’ve spent years making sure your father didn’t fucking do.”
Atticus’s voice is kind and gentle. It’s fucking weird. I’ve only been around him a handful of times and he’s always a cold, ruthless dick. Probably because I was always with Matteo.
Avery stares over at him like he’s a stranger to her and if I didn’t hate his guts for lying to her, I’d feel sorry for him.
She is ride or die, and I think Atticus is now firmly on her shit list.
“It’s Lips, and I’m not Matteo’s protégé or girlfriend or whatever it is that the Twelve think. He sponsored me for the Game and he’s helped me out but he’s also done things to me that I can’t ever forgive or forget. I went to Hannaford to figure a way out. That’s what we’re doing, we’re finding a way out of all of this.”
Atticus nods and rubs his chin. He looks older than twenty-two but then he’s the leader of one o
f the largest criminal organizations in the state, possibly the country. Rivaled only by the Jackal’s numbers. I had never thought to approach him for help in getting away from Matteo, his cold manner making me wary. I’m starting to see that was a mistake.
Avery hesitates for a moment and then asks with a surprisingly strong voice, “You were at the meeting with Lips and Harley, do you think the Jackal is going to continue to send people to kill him?”
Classic Avery; she’s just found out the guy she’s been in love with for half her life has been lying to her and she’s instantly thinking about what information she can mine for the protection of her family. I both love her and want to shake her. She should be chewing this fucker out.
“He’s in less danger now he’s under her protection. He was on very limited time with his grandfather before then, despite my efforts. Matteo can’t just kill him, he has to find some sort of betrayal or dishonesty to be able to take him out. He doesn’t just answer to the Wolf if he does, he answers to the Twelve. He’s a big player but he’s not the biggest and definitely not bigger than us all.”
“And what if he continues to try to kill him stealthily?” Avery continues. “I’m sure you’re aware he’s spiraling and recruiting.”
Atticus grins and cocks an eyebrow at me. Again, I blush which is fucking ridiculous.
“Oh, after the Wolf’s declaration at the meeting the Jackal has been served a severe warning about touching her toys. The rest of the Twelve are much more aware of his… instability now. Those who have chosen his side are in as much danger as he is.”
I ignore the look Atticus is giving me, and lean forward in my chair. “If I induct these three as well, would you be willing to back me up in the meetings if Matteo starts with his shit?”
Ash’s leg tenses against mine. I haven’t spoken to him about this but I know how badly Avery wants it. It’s a move on the board against their father. He could no longer threaten them without risking the wrath of the lower criminal organizations. Lower in social standing but certainly dangerous to him and his business.
Atticus stands and runs a hand down the front of his suit jacket. A slow smile forms on his lips and he suddenly looks closer to his age. “If you cut yourself off from the Jackal and start calling me when you need help instead of him, then I will take him on with you. Induct them, keep Avery safe from the Jackal and her father, and I will offer my help with anything from this moment onwards. Whatever the cost.”
That’s exactly what we need.
I glance up at Avery. This is her choice, if she doesn’t want to trust this guy ever again then we’ll figure something else out. If I decide for her then I’m just as terrible as everyone else in her life.
She’s staring at Atticus, her eyes guarded and her mouth turned down a little. I’m not sure he’ll ever be able to repair the damage this has done to her trust of him. She sighs and gives me a little nod. I look at Blaise and he leans in to kiss me under the ear, sweet and sure. Then I take a deep breath and turn to Ash. He’s looking at my thigh, where his fingers are drawing lazy circles on the skin exposed by the deep slit in the dress. I wait him out, this isn’t something I’d ever rush. This is lifelong. As long as I breathe, I am the Wolf. If he chooses this then he will be tied to me forever. His fingers still and then he gives me the smallest squeeze.
“Done,” I say to Atticus, and he shoots a resigned smile at Avery, who stares back at him like she’s plotting his death, before turning to the door.
He hesitates for a second and then turns back to me. “Don’t ever let her wear red again. She wears your color or mine.”
And then he’s gone.
Blaise gets up and locks the door behind him and Avery slides down to take his seat, her hand finding mine.
“His color is black. Mine is white,” I murmur and she nods.
“I’m guessing the Jackal’s is red from that little display. I’ll burn it all. What does induction look like? If you tell me I have to be naked or bleed I’m pulling out. My brother too, I’m not having him frolicking around the city in the nude.”
“Should have told him that earlier,” Blaise murmurs and then laughs at the glare he gets from Ash.
“It’s done. I told the Crow, he passes it on. It’s weird but, yeah, it’s that simple.”
Chapter Thirty
My phone wakes me at three.
I have to struggle my way out from under Ash to reach it, and when I see it’s Harley I answer immediately.
“What’s happened?” I whisper, not wanting to wake Ash if it’s nothing serious.
The line stays quiet, I can hear a rhythmic rustling, a sort of swishing noise, but nothing to tell me what the hell is going on. I sit and just listen for a second, and realize his phone is in his pocket and the noise is the sound of his pants as he walks.
I’m on edge immediately.
Why is he walking around at this time? Why has he called me only to put his phone in his pocket? Butt dialing isn’t really a thing anymore, is it? Is he in danger?
What the fuck has happened in the last three hours?
I keep the phone to my ear and climb over Ash, who’s the deepest sleeper out of all of us and barely mumbles as my weight hits his chest. I grab his phone and then use his finger to unlock it, like some creepy stalker girlfriend but fuck it, this feels like an emergency.
I fucking hope it’s not an emergency.
I dial Illi’s number with my heart in my throat.
“What’s happened?” he answers, an echo of my own worry.
“Do you still have eyes on Arbour? Something is wrong.”
Illi grunts and starts to move. The swishing noise in the other phone stops, and a door opens and then shuts.
He swears low and colorful under his breath. “He’s just taken a girl into his room, kid. Fuck. He’s clearly fucking wasted, she’s practically holding him up, but cheating’s fucking cheating. I didn’t fucking see him doing this, he’s so fucking taken with you. Fuck. You need me to kill him? I can do it with a bullet, nice and quick if you feel squeamish about it.” Illi says, gentle in a way I didn’t know he had in him.
But fuck that.
I know Harley and I fucking trust him.
“No killing, no matter what. Go and get a look at what the fuck is happening in that room.”
Ash grunts and his eyes open, an arm winding around my waist before his eyes even open. He blinks up at me and frowns when he sees his phone at my ear. I cut him a look and, thankfully, he keeps his mouth shut.
“Right. I’m outside the room and - FUCK!”
The booming sound of a door being kicked in startles Ash and he sits up, his arm keeping me stable on top of him.
“What the fuck?” he mouths at me and I swallow roughly.
“Harley,” I croak, my eyes welling up, and Ash can’t contain the vicious curses that spill out of his mouth.
He sets me down on the bed and starts pulling his clothes on, yelling for Blaise and Avery. I can’t move. I can’t do anything until I know Harley is alive and safe. Whatever the fuck has happened I’m frozen until I know he’s okay.
But the second I know he is, someone is going to fucking bleed tonight.
Through Harley’s phone, I can hear screaming and sobbing. I recognize it immediately and look up to find the others, dressed and ready, waiting for me to tell them what the fuck is going on.
“Annabelle fucking Summers. I don’t know what’s happened but Illi’s there and she’s sobbing,” I croak and Avery collapses on the bed next to me. Her eyes are wide and when she tucks her arm into mine I can feel the tremble running through her.
“Call 911, you dumb fucking slut!” Illi roars, and Harley’s phone makes a scratching noise before the line goes dead.
Holy fucking shit.
Avery’s shoulders shake and Ash yanks her up off the bed as Blaise pulls me to stand. I protest, I don’t want to hang up, but he maneuvers me into a pair of yoga pants. Then he hoists me into his arms and carries me like
I weigh nothing.
“We’re going to him. Tell me once you know where the ambulance is taking him.”
I nod and he sets me back onto my feet in the elevator. Avery is taking deep, shuddering breaths, and Ash is scowling, his hands clenching.
It takes us over an hour to get to the hospital, even though Blaise drives like a fucking maniac the entire way. I can’t think, or breathe, or function. My mind just keeps playing Illi’s voice over and over again, the urgency when he screamed for Annabelle to call 911. The dread in my gut has grown, spread down through my limbs until I walk into the hospital lobby on numb legs. Only Blaise’s strong arm banded around my waist keeps me upright.
Avery snarls at the reception staff until they tell us Harley is in emergency room. My brain sort of shut off after that, like a rage blackout except I can see Avery nodding and taking in all the information for me while I freak the fuck out. Then we’re directed to the waiting room.
Illi is already there, vomit and blood covering his clothes.
I could fucking pass out.
He looks at me with such fucking sorrow for a second I want to punch him. He nods at me. “This way kid. I’ve got what you need in here.”
I stupidly think he’s taking me to see Harley but no. He directs me over to a supply cupboard and jiggles the door until the lock pops. Inside, Annabelle goddamn Summer’s is hogtied. All trussed up like a turkey at Thanksgiving, and what good luck because I’m going to fucking carve her up.
Illi motions me in and then I block everything out, every sound, sight, and smell while I stare down the pathetic whore who’s tried to take Harley from me. If he dies… no. I can’t even think about it. He’s going to live. He has to.
I step forward and yank the gag out of her mouth, watching with grim satisfaction as she tries to swallow and winces.
“What the fuck did you do to him?” There’s nothing human left in my voice.
She whimpers pathetically.