Hannaford Prep: The Complete Series

by J Bree

  His hand wraps around my throat and squeezes until my head tips back and our lips meet, rough and desperate. Fuck, the taste of him is addictive and fucking poison.

  He breaks the kiss and whispers to me, his lips brushing against mine, “Illi asked me why I was calling, not you, and I told him that when I said I was all in, I meant it. That means if someone is threatening you or our family, I’ll fucking deal with it.”

  I stare up at him with a whole new level of respect and adoration. Fuck me.

  He leans forward and pins me to the wall, covering me entirely with the hard lines of his body. Sweet merciful lord, I do not need to turn into a puddle here and have the fucking Crow find me looking weak and pathetic.

  “Knowing I can use all of the twisted, fucked up shit my family has taught me to keep you safe… well, I feel a little less fucked up because of it. Knowing that it turns you on is just icing on the fucking cake.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  I wait until Avery is asleep before I decide I need some answers. I’ve never felt so watched as I do inside the Crow’s fortress. I don’t call it that lightly, it’s a fucking stronghold and I know I’m going to go to sleep tonight without the slightest fear of having one of the Jackal’s men climb through my window.

  The room we’re put in has no windows.

  Blaise and Harley steal a mattress from one of the neighboring rooms and Blaise locks himself in the bathroom to get high enough to sleep soundly. Avery bitches him out but she’s asleep before he’s finished. Ash takes up watch by the door, one of his guns resting in his lap while he cleans the other. Harley snickers under his breath in pure delight at the whole thing.

  I find it less amusing.

  At some point, this is going to blow up and I need to make sure Avery isn’t going to be kidnapped or some shit. I manage to convince Ash to stay behind and drag Harley back downstairs to hunt for the Crow. We need to have it out and draw some fucking lines.

  He can’t keep dismissing her ideas, just to ‘keep her safe’.

  The moment we find him in the formal sitting area, Atticus tips his head towards the bar and I nod. Yeah, his fortress has a fucking bar, complete with staff and bowls of nuts.

  Fucking rich people.

  I take a seat at the booth and Harley slides in next to me, keeping himself firmly between the Crow and me. It’s sweet and entirely unnecessary, but I let it go.

  “We need to discuss Avery,” the Crow says, the member of the Twelve slowly slipping away until we’re staring at Atticus Crawford.

  He flicks a hand at the bartender and we’re served our drinks of choice, only I never told them what I wanted. Harley’s beer is even his preferred brand. I raise an eyebrow at Atticus and he flicks a dismissive hand at me.

  “It’s my livelihood to know everything about everyone.”

  I decide that if he’s going to be himself then I’m going to drop all of the formalities as well and tell the fucker some hard truths. “Well, you’re failing. For someone who’s known Aves her whole life you fucking suck at really knowing her. You keep cutting that girl so deep she’s never going to forgive you.”

  He sips his bourbon. He has it the same way Ash does, so it must be the preferred drink for all pompous assholes.

  He sets the glass back down on the table and says, “Everything I’ve done is to keep her alive. I couldn’t always keep her safe, not completely, but I did what I could to keep her breathing long enough that I could get her out.”

  My eyes narrow. “Oh yeah? How have you done that? Built yourself an empire, trade in information, but how has that done anything for her? Because I’ve gotten her out and safe. I’m guarding her, I’ve killed and bled and tortured for her. What have you done?”

  His lip curls into a snarl at me and Harley palms a knife. Illi taught him well and Atticus could be bleeding out in a fucking second if Harley doesn’t keep his cool.

  “Her father has already sold her twice. The buyers are both dead, because I took care of it. Her father was going to split the twins up, he was going to send her to finishing school across the country where he could have her killed without Ash’s protection, I stopped that. I walked into the fucking slums of Mounts Bay and became the Crow for her. If I took her away then I would have had to leave Ash behind. I think you’re underestimating Joseph Beaumont’s reach. Everything you do for Avery only happens because I take care of the officials. I’m running out of information and bribes to keep her safe. I’m doing everything I fucking can to keep her and Ash safe. I know he hates me, I know that he won’t ever trust me, but I’m trying to get him out too.”

  Fuck.

  Dammit. I like him, and from the look on Harley’s face he does too. Jesus, what a mess.

  “Alright. I’ll help. We can work together.”

  Atticus snorts at me. “I know exactly how loyal you are, Wolf. It’s why I didn’t put a bullet between your eyes when I found out you’d become friends with her.”

  Harley’s eyes narrow again and I give Atticus a stern look. “Maybe not the best idea to threaten me while you’re asking for my help.”

  Atticus shakes his head. “I’m not threatening you and I’m not asking for your help. I know you won’t do anything for me without speaking to Avery about it. Like I said, you’re loyal. I’m only telling you what she won’t listen to, which is that I’m trying to get her out of this alive and sometimes that means I have to treat her like she’s made of glass. I ask her not to come to meetings because I can’t keep my fucking eyes off of her and the Jackal will notice. He was looking for my weaknesses to exploit and I’ve aggressively kept her away from me and the Bay for that exact reason. I had to weigh up the benefits of having her inducted to you very carefully. The Jackal knows about her now but she’s a little bit safer from her father. It’s a fucking constant battle, walking through landmines and praying I’m not mis-stepping and losing the only fucking reason I have for living. So don’t underestimate me, I know exactly who Avery Beaumont is. I know how strong she is. I’m willing to have her hate me if it means I can get her out of this mess alive. I’d rather have her alive and happy with someone else, than selfishly keep her only to have her die because of it.”

  I finish my whiskey in two gulps and say, “Right. So, what threats are you dealing with for her and what do you need me to do? I’ll take care of anything.”

  “I told you, I don’t need your help. If I did, I’d ask,” he says in the sulkiest, asshole tone but little does he know I’m fucking immune to it.

  I do spend a fuck-load of time with my guys and they’re the kings of this shit.

  “Explain exactly how you managed to have one of the Jackal’s men get through your security then? I thought you’d vetted everyone you put into the school?”

  His jaw clenches and he gives me the slightest nod, like he’s conceding the point or some shit. “I’ve pulled everyone from Hannaford. There’s a whole new batch of my men, and every last one of them has been personally vetted by me. I’ve called in an old friend; he’s going to stay on top of things. I will find out how the spy got through, then I will deal with it.”

  Atticus finishes his drink and straightens his lapels uselessly. “She’ll forgive me. Someday she will understand the depths I’ve reached to keep her safe.”

  I hum under my breath, as Harley flexes his hands, probably to rein in his temper. “She will. But first you have to stop treating her like a delicate princess and remember she’s been waging her own war for years. She can handle your empire, better even than you can, if you’d just cut your shit out.”

  He shakes his head at me like I’m dense. “It’s not about handling it. It’s about surviving it. What kind of a monster would I be if I asked an eighteen-year-old girl to step into a criminal empire?”

  I give him an ice-cold look. “One that recognizes she was born into a den of monsters and survived it.”

  I stand up to leave before he says something else that makes me want to rip his arrogant face right the fuck
off, and Harley takes my arm to help me out of the booth. A server comes over to refill Atticus’s drink and clear our empty glasses. I run through his story in my head again, and sigh.

  “Atticus?”

  He glances up and, without the mask of the Crow he looks fucking miserable.

  I blow out a long breath. “You have my vote. We don’t work on a hierarchy or whatever, we vote on shit like a family. If it comes down to it, I’ll vote in your favor.”

  His eyes flash and when he looks at Harley they harden. My golden god shrugs with a haughty smirk. “Two votes to three still means you’re fucked, Crawford.”

  Atticus grits his teeth then relaxes, lifting his glass to his lips again. “What will your vote cost me, Arbour? I’ll pay it.”

  Harley tips his head back and roars with laughter. “You’ve already got it, dickhead. Avery never backs down, though, and she’s going to hold out on you until the bitter end just to prove a fucking point. Ash fucking loathes you, and Blaise always votes with Ash. On everything, except Lips, so you’re fucked.”

  I shrug and smile. “Illi and Odie might decide to vote, you’ll have to make a plea to the Butcher. Good luck with that, he’s very fond of our Ice Queen.”

  Atticus gives me a disgusted look but nods. Harley tucks me under his arm and walks us both out of the bar, up the stairs and into our room.

  Avery is tucked into the bed, her cheeks red like she’s been scrubbing at them the whole time we’ve been downstairs. Ash is sitting in the armchair, watching her with a dark look and my gut clenches.

  There’s no way he’s going to let Atticus in.

  There’s nothing quite like getting back to the mundane normality of Hannaford after the break.

  We get in late, shuffling upstairs and passing out wherever the fuck we land. When my alarm sounds in the morning I kind of want to smash it to pieces but mostly I just want to cry.

  Avery gives me a knowing look and declares, “French toast in the dining hall sounds perfect, Mounty.”

  Fuck yes, it does. “Avery Aspen Waverly Beaumont, marry me.”

  She startles and then cackles like a witch, happy in a way she hasn’t been for months. “How the hell did you know my full name? Harley’s going to be heartbroken you chose me over him, you know.”

  I slip my arm into her and ignore the grumbling bullshit around us. “Chicks before dicks, Aves.”

  Blaise gets me the biggest plate of breakfast I’ve ever seen and I’m sure I’ll puke if I eat the whole thing but fuck it, I’m always up for a challenge. Ash is softer with his sister again, carrying her tray and helping her into her chair.

  I ignore the chatter around us like I always do, trusting Avery and the guys to tell me if I need to take more notice, so I don’t notice the excitement until Harley glances up and snarls, “What the fuck?”

  The chair next to mine scrapes back and Luca folds himself into it, swooping in to kiss my cheek. “Morning, princess! Missed me?”

  A grin bursts across my face, I’m sure I look like a psychotic toddler. “I kinda did. How’s things? You enjoying being out of the Jackal’s den of evil?”

  He cackles at me, ignoring the looks of loathing my guys give him. All three of them. Fuck my life. “It’s been quiet, that’s for sure. I’ve been working on a new project for our mutual friend… the non-psychotic one. Apparently, someone is getting gifts from a secret admirer?”

  Ugh. “Have you had any luck in your search?”

  He shrugs and winks at me, tipping his head back to drink his iced coffee and I think a few of the freshman girls around us swoon. Huh, ok maybe that’s why Harley is looking so… snarly.

  “There’s been a few leads. Whoever is sending them is good… like, fucking good at this. I’d be worried except they’re obviously obsessed with you. Thinking about adding to your little harem, princess?” he asks with a little sly smile. Ok, bordering on flirty but that’s just how he is. It doesn’t mean shit.

  “You’re going to stand the fuck up and walk away. Right now, before I drag your ass across this table and beat the life out of you,” Harley snarls, and for once, Blaise doesn’t make a joke. He just nods along like it’s the acceptable thing to do.

  Avery rolls her eyes. “Just leave him. They’re friends, it’s the same as Illi and you don’t go all Neanderthal on him.”

  Harley cuts her a look. “Illi is family. This dick might be a Crow spy but he lived with the Jackal for too long for me to trust him.”

  Luca leans back in his chair, nonchalant but he doesn’t quite pull it off like Illi does. “I saved your girl’s ass last year. Isn’t that enough for you to cut me some slack? The Crow is your ally.”

  Ash snorts and stands, tugging Avery out of her seat and then he grabs my arm to haul me up too. Jesus fucking wept. He gives Luca his most vicious glare and says, “Were you there when the Jackal was torturing the Wolf? Did you stand by and watch it all, collecting your information and telling yourself that absolves you from taking responsibility for that?”

  Luca smiles at him, shaking his head. “You only care because you’re in love with her. Any other girl and you wouldn’t give a fuck. How many girls have you buried for your father?”

  Ash leans forward until he can whisper in Luca’s ear, just loud enough that I hear him. “Enough to know you’re doing a shitty job of protecting the Wolf, and my sister, and you’re not fucking welcome here.”

  And then he drags us to our classes for the day.

  Fuck me.

  After our classes let out for the day, Avery heads straight to her dance class for the evening to put in some extra hours to work on a new routine and I head back to the guys’ room on my own. I’m meeting Blaise for our usual study session and it’s easier to get ready there than run between the rooms. I’m halfway through my shower when Ash stalks in, a broody look on his face as he stops in front of the sink and stares at me.

  He crosses his arms and just stands there for a second until I get self-conscious and snap, “What? You coming in or not?”

  He raises an eyebrow at me. “Not. Hurry up, I’ve got you to myself for the night and I’ve made plans.”

  Plans? I rinse the soap from my body quickly. “Are we going somewhere? Have you decided to kill Atticus because I should warn you I’ve promised Avery I’d try to stop you from doing that.”

  He scoffs at me, grabbing a towel and flinging the shower door open. “Don’t talk about him, he has nothing to do with my plans and I don’t want him ruining my mood.”

  I step into the towel as he holds it open, a little weirded out by how he’s acting. “Are you going to tell me what we’re going to be doing then?”

  When I reach for my pajamas he grabs my hand, tugging me out the door. “My plan is you naked in my bed for the whole night to myself. I don’t want to talk about my sister or that dickhead Crawford.”

  Oh. That sounds… perfect and not at all what I thought was happening. I let him tug the towel away from my now dry body and he leads me over to his bed. I climb up and wait while he strips off to join me. He’s not in any rush, he folds each item and leaves in on the chair by his bed, and I find myself happy enough to just watch him.

  When he lays down I tuck myself in against his chest, my head over his heart and one leg sliding over his. It’s the fucking perfect way to spend the night together.

  We’re both silent and still for a minute, soaking each other in, and then his hands slowly start to move. They’re sinful as they stroke over my body, like he’s got all the time in the world to touch me. He focuses on sweeping up and down my back, a soothing gesture and nothing sexual about it, but then his fingers start slipping and brushing over the slight swell of my boobs from where I’m pressed up against him, or slipping between my thighs when he curves his palm over my ass. Never enough to properly arouse me, just the little light petting that keeps me on edge.

  He’s a fucking tease.

  When he pulls his knee up, splitting my legs open just enough that the tip of his
finger can brush though the lips of my pussy then he moves away again, I snarl at him.

  “Either touch me or don’t, quit teasing.”

  He smirks at me. “It’s never enough, is it Mounty? You always want more.”

  My cheeks heat and I huff at him but he chuckles at me, finally plunging two fingers deep into my pussy and murmuring praises when I instinctively clench around them. “Good girl, you keep that up and I might let you come.”

  The flush on my cheeks deepens, there’s something about him praising me like he owns me that sets my blood on fire. I hum as I lean up, kissing him as I roll my hips against his hand, desperate for a little more friction.

  “I want some truths, Mounty. If you’re good and give them to me without fussing, I’ll play with this wet pussy and make you come so hard we’ll have to change the sheets afterwards. If you give me all of the details, even the ones you would normally hide, I’ll let you ride my cock. You can be on top and take it however you want.”

  Huh.

  Ash is usually the most demanding of my guys in bed, never relinquishing the control or letting me call the shots. It might make it worth whatever the fuck he’s going to ask. He moves so his fingers start to slip out of me and I scowl at him.

  “Yes, ok, fine. Whatever, ask me. I owe you from last year anyway.”

  He makes these little appreciative noises under his breath, that type that have me secretly preening for him, and his fingers press up firmly back inside me again. A little gasp tears out of my throat and he looks at me with hooded eyes, his lip almost curling into a lusty snarl.

  “Tell me where the Jackal lives.”

  I groan at him. If I hadn’t been preparing myself for the worst that would have probably killed the mood but he knows exactly how I like to be touched, where to sweep his fingers and just how far he can push me.

  “The old bank in the slums. It was built in the 1860s and there’s a warren of underground vaults. The walls down there are reinforced steel and concrete so it’s strong enough to hold off an army of bombs and bullets. He sleeps in one of the biggest vaults and he modified it so the door locks from the inside as well as the outside.”