Always Crew

by Tijan

  Zellman looked to me.

  Jordan looked to me.

  Cross was already looking at me.

  It was my dad, his MC, and I nodded. I think I’d already knew my decision before I even hung up with Drake’s call.

  “I can’t get behind handing over a witness’ name to my dad’s MC.”

  “Agreed.”

  “Sounds good to me.” From Jordan.

  Cross only asked, “You’re okay with that?”

  I thought on that, thinking deep, feeling deep.

  Being loyal to my dad was one thing, but turning over a name to an MC that I was not a part of was a whole different matter. This was a fork in the road. If we got that name, handed it over, we’d go down a path that I didn’t want to go down. I wanted to be normal, or as normal as I could be, and I wanted to do a job, have a career, and spend time with family and friends.

  I wanted what I hadn’t had growing up.

  “I am. Yeah.”

  “And if your dad finds out that you could’ve got the name and didn’t?”

  I looked at Jordan. “Then we’ll deal with it then.”

  “Good. I’m more than okay with that.”

  Zellman groaned, standing up. “I’m tired. I’ve dealt with my ex and her baby and I just want to sleep for like the next millennium. And I’m so behind with school. Shit.”

  Jordan grinned, reaching over as he stood and tapping Z on the shoulder. “Everything said, I’m glad you’re back.”

  Zellman half-growled. “We’re going to have to do some study sessions, like a fucking ton of them.”

  Cross asked, “That something you want to start tonight? Bren’s heading out for girls’ night.”

  Both Z and Jordan looked at me, eyebrows slightly raised.

  I flushed, then I cursed because I wasn’t used to flushing. “What? I have friends.”

  Jordan snorted. “Yeah. Us. And the one in the bathroom.”

  I flicked my eyes up but laughed. “Whatever. I’m branching out. And there’s Hawk.”

  “Right. The female warrior who provided backup once to a sorority house?”

  I grinned. “Fuck off, Jordan.”

  He laughed, then looked over.

  Tabatha had materialized around the corner.

  “Hey.” He started for her.

  She shook her head, her face pale, her eyes puffy, but she held a hand up. It had a phone in it. “Jessy called. I–uh–I’m going to head to the house after all.” She put her phone into her pocket, using both hands to tuck strands of hair behind her ears. She included everyone as she said, “I really do appreciate everything you guys have done, but I think I need to be with my sisters right now.”

  I nodded. “We’re here if you need us…”

  Cross added, “You need anything, Tab. You know to call us.”

  “I will.” She turned to Jordan. “Could I get a ride over there?”

  “Yeah. Of course.” He gestured behind her. “Let me hit the bathroom, then we can go now.”

  As he did, Zellman headed upstairs, Tabatha migrated over to the door. She had one bag in hand and she lingered at the door. Almost abruptly, as if she found the courage to say it, she said to me, “I’ll call you tomorrow?”

  “Me?”

  “Yeah. Can I call tomorrow?”

  “Sure. Are you–are you okay? You want to talk now?”

  She shook her head, her eyes darting past me to the hallway as Jordan was coming back. “No. I just–I know you called a bunch, and I have a few things I want to say to you. All good, I promise.”

  “Oh. Okay.” I gave her a smile.

  Jordan came over, taking the bag she was holding and grabbing the other. He said over his shoulder as she moved outside, “Be back, yeah?”

  I nodded, then moved to watch them as they got into Jordan’s truck and headed off.

  Cross came to stand next to me. “You okay?”

  “She’s not the same person.”

  And she wasn’t. Tabatha meant well at times, was spoiled at times, was a bitch at times, prissy at times, was a friend at times, but she always had fight in her. That girl who was just standing there, the fight was gone. She wasn’t the same person, at least not right now.

  He looked, too. “Yeah.”

  I hoped she came back, one day.

  BREN

  I felt like I was heading to a dorm meeting point to plan the world’s insurrection. I didn’t know why, but it lingered with me.

  I showed up. There was rap music blaring from Jade and Aspen’s room, with the door open. No one inside.

  So, I waited.

  Five minutes.

  Ten.

  Two girls came from the exit stairs, saw me and paused. “Hey.”

  I lifted my chin up. “You guys know where these two might be?”

  “Oh.” One hid a grin.

  The other pointed down the hallway. “They hang out a lot with Angeline and V. Room 413.”

  So I went to room 413.

  I knocked.

  No answer, but I heard more music blaring from inside. It sounded like Spanish rap, so I knocked again.

  No answer.

  Trying the knob, it was unlocked. I opened the door, looked inside and nothing.

  So then I stood there and thought, If I was a girl, where would I get ready to go out for a girls’ night?

  Yeah. I felt like smacking myself.

  I headed for the bathroom, which also had music coming from inside. This time it was techno, and I pushed open to see four girls dancing in sync, up and down, and yelling along with the music. I had no clue what song it was or even what words they were saying, but they were all in different stages of getting dressed.

  I’d met these girls earlier, but there’d never been a lot of personal time with them, not like this anyway. So I didn’t know know them, just who they were basically.

  Angeline’s freckles looked flushed, and I wondered when she’d start giggling. I knew that much about her.

  Veronica was next to her, shorter. Her dark eyes looked fierce and her hair looked shiny and ready to rumble. I also knew she was known as someone not to fuck with, which was now making me wonder why Blaise wanted me here? Oh well. I knew Jade a little bit better, but not much.

  Then there was Aspen.

  She saw me in the mirror, her hair being curled and she shrieked. “BREN!”

  The rest looked and, “BREN!”

  “BRENNERS!”

  “It’s the Bren Bren!” Veronica was nodding emphatically, her bottom lip sticking out in approval. “Nice. You’re hot. I’d do you if I went that way.”

  Oh.

  I grinned because who wouldn’t smile at that?

  “Thanks.”

  She winked, going back and stopping her bouncing/dancing so she could finish her eyeliner.

  Aspen was all dressed, looking like she needed to finish her hair.

  Jade looked ready to go, or I thought? I wasn’t sure. She was swaying back and forth in front of the mirror now, using a lip gloss as a microphone.

  And Angeline, she ducked her head, her red hair falling forward to avoid me.

  Note that she wasn’t only an uncontrollable giggler, but also hella shy.

  “Hey, guys.”

  “Oh! Drink?” Jade asked, taking her backpack off and hefting it with a solid thud on the counter. “We’re mostly ready, just waiting for Aspen to finish her hair—”

  “Done!” Aspen announced, yanking the cord out from the wall and then hurrying to put a bunch of her makeup in a plastic container. She spoke as she worked, “Yeah. Give Bren a drink. Tonight is for fun. We’re all going to have fun tonight.”

  We’re all having fun.

  I was down with that also.

  Angeline started gathering the makeup on the counter in front of her and Veronica, while Veronica turned and leaned her hip against the sink. She was eyeing me up and down again. “So, you’re the one with Blaise’s brother, huh?”

  I glanced at Aspen.
/>   She was hiding a smile. She and Jade shared a look. Both were hiding grins.

  “Uh, yeah.”

  Veronica raised her chin up, giving me a side-eye as Angeline finished getting all of their stuff. “You’re friends with Tabatha Sweets?”

  “You know Tabatha?”

  “She’s a Kappa. That house is the best on campus. Plus, Jessinda Hinkley is like sorority-royalty. We heard you had a scrape with Hinkley. I want to know how that went down?”

  What had I gotten myself into here?

  But instead of answering, Aspen went around me and opened the door. Jade followed her, holding out a glass. She pushed it into my hand. “Hope you like a pink vodka? It’s with lemonade and Sprite. I pre-made them because where we’re going, you can’t be too sure.”

  I took the glass, but asked as she slipped around me, following Aspen, “Where are we going?”

  She was through the door.

  I looked back to Angeline and Veronica. Both were watching me. Both weren’t looking happy now. They were more cautious.

  “Where are we going?”

  “You can’t tell the guys.”

  Oh, God. This was why Blaise wanted me here.

  “Why?”

  “Uh.” Angeline was holding their makeup container in front of her with both hands. She moved toward me two steps and nodded to my drink. “Maybe you should drink that whole thing before we go?”

  Where were we going?

  “Tell me. Now.”

  Both ignored me.

  Angeline shrugged and left.

  Veronica followed but winked as she sauntered out. “Drink up, sweetie. Heard you and me are the muscle tonight.”

  I gave her a side-eye now. “How many times have you fought?”

  “I have a black belt, but I’ll be honest, it’s usually only drunk douchebags. And I normally just go for their junk, then try to scratch their eyeballs out. By then, they take off running from me.”

  She left, and I stood there, not knowing how to comprehend anything that just happened.

  I drank. I figured how this night was starting, it’d be my one and only.

  Then I shot Cross a text before I left the bathroom.

  Me: Girls are going somewhere weird. Remember my GPS tracker is on. Call me every thirty minutes.

  He buzzed back as I was in the hallway, seeing the girls at the exit door, waiting for me. I noted as I passed that both rooms were quiet. Seriously. These girls were fast.

  I checked my phone.

  Cross: Want us to stay close, no matter what?

  I was going with my gut, knowing that Blaise had been worried enough to ask me to be here.

  Me: Yes.

  Cross: On it. We’ll leave in twenty. Zellman’s in the bathroom.

  Me: I didn’t need to know that.

  Cross: We’re a crew.

  I had no response, so I put my phone away and drank my drink in front of the girls.

  Jade smiled. “Nice! You want a refill?”

  I glanced at Veronica, and she gave me a slight head shake.

  “I’m good till we get where we’re going.”

  “Okey-dokey.”

  And off we went.

  Yeah. Blaise was going to be pissed.

  I was pissed.

  Cross and Jordan and Zellman would all be pissed.

  We were at a fraternity party, and it wasn’t a typical frat party. Even though it was fully dark by now, I could see where we were, and we were not at their house. We were also the only ones here so far, at least there were no other cars around.

  It was Zeke’s fraternity, and I knew this because Harper was here. I’d been to one or two of his house parties, and the numbers were lower here. We were in the woods, a full forty-minute drive from Cain. The farther we got, the uneasier I got.

  “Why are we here?”

  We’d just left Jade’s SUV, and the girls were starting forward. Jade had reassured me multiple times that she hadn’t drank at all, but wasn’t planning on it, so I could drink all I wanted.

  None of this felt right.

  I looked at Aspen. “What are you doing?”

  She seemed startled, blinking and her head moved back. “What do you mean?”

  Jesus. She truly looked clueless.

  “Do you know that guy?”

  I gestured to Harper, who had now spotted us, and I was not liking the look coming over his face. A gleam was starting, and he stopped talking to his buds, watching us openly. I noted how his hand was nicely encased in a sling.

  But he was still coming, and he still had that gleam in his eyes.

  I kept an eye on him as I reached for my phone.

  His eyes darted, seeing where I was reaching, and he started for me.

  He knew I was going for my phone. I keyed in my code and hit the dial, knowing I already had Cross pulled up, and I hit the speaker. Harper picked up his pace, but I kept my phone in my pocket. Pulling my hand out, he slowed back, but he was still heading our way.

  “Hey.” A hand tugged on my shirt.

  Aspen was trying to get my attention. “What are you talking about?

  “Your boyfriend has had beef with that guy.”

  She looked. “Who?”

  Jade was looking, too, and seeing Harper, she gasped. She moved back a step.

  Veronica looked, her eyes narrowing, and she moved the opposite way, moving so she was almost guarding our entire group.

  Angeline was next to Jade, gripping her hand.

  I did a double take, noting that she was also glaring at Harper, who was closer to our group and had five other guys with him.

  “Who the fuck picked this party?” I growled to the girls.

  Aspen’s mouth fell open, but she hurried out, “We all did. We thought it was a barn dance, that’s all. Who are these guys?”

  I smothered another growl because I was betting they were the only ones who got the invite, and fuck Blaise for not being honest with his girl about his enemies. I glanced down, making sure my phone was still turned on and that Cross was hearing this. I tried to pull it out, so it wasn’t too smothered against my jeans.

  Aspen’s phone started ringing, but Harper was on us.

  “Monroe. I don’t believe you were on the guest list.”

  The girls all went still.

  Veronica was measuring the guys behind Harper, and yeah…it wasn’t looking good.

  They were all built thick, looking like they ate bricks for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Then maybe snacked on little boulders for a late-night snack.

  I stepped around and positioned myself slightly in front of Veronica. “What was the play here? What were you going to do?”

  “Were?” He smirked at me, his head moving to the side so he could look Aspen up and down. “Nothing past tense about that. I still plan on getting to know Mrs. Blaise DeVroe.” He jerked his chin up. “What’s up, kid? You’re Aspen Monson, huh?”

  “My boyfriend doesn’t like you?”

  I was surprised at how chilly her tone was, and looked back. She wasn’t hiding. She looked pissed, livid even. Angeline had a hand on her shirt, and I noted that was to keep Aspen back. That was a nice sort of surprise. An enraged girl could do damage, and Aspen was fast looking enraged.

  Harper’s smirk only deepened. “You know, I had a family function recently and talked to some of my cousins. They’re past brothers, too. One of them knew your brother. Nate Monson.”

  “Yeah?” A nice little snarl from Aspen.

  “Yeah.” Harper was loving it. “He said to show his thanks to you. Said it was because of your brother that we got a brand-new house. Guess the other one was burned down.”

  Whoa.

  I had new respect for Aspen’s brother, and even though I’d met him a few times, we never really interacted. Cross still had a problem remembering meeting him. He tuned out anyone who wasn’t us, so that meant anyone older.

  “Are these your brothers?” I asked, scanning the rest of the guys and moving to the
group behind sitting by a campfire near their two trucks. Coolers were pulled out. They looked like they were grilling. I was counting maybe ten other guys.

  Shit. I was so not getting a good feeling here.

  Then I saw a mattress on the floor, and that whole shit feeling was fast turning into a nuclear feeling.

  “Were you going to rape them?”

  I was seeing red.

  I felt the air sizzling.

  I noted in the distance that someone was moving away from me.

  I swung my gaze back to Harper, and he was gloating now. Not smug. Not smirking. He was gloating.

  I was going to rip his mouth off so he couldn’t gloat anymore.

  Then I was going to break his other hand.

  “You don’t fucking know who I am, do you?”

  I wasn’t being conceited. I was doing this so one, he knew. He couldn’t say he hadn’t been warned, but also because I wanted to get in his head. I was going to fight. I already knew I was, and I was going to stab and I was going to make them bleed, and I was probably going to go down, but I was going to take as many of them down with me.

  Fuck. Fuck! FUCK!

  “Bren?”

  Holy déjà vu flashback from the bad of bad times.

  My head literally swam as I saw one of the guys head over, clutching a cup and frowning. He came at us hesitantly and then moved at a quicker pace once he recognized me.

  “Alex,” I rasped out.

  Alex Ryerson.

  I was in a bad dream. That’s what was happening as I watched the guy who led the charge from the last time I thought I needed to take on an entire group that was coming my way.

  Alex had always been stocky, kinda like these guys, but he was more slimmed down. Not in the muscle way. In the muscle way, his arms were bulging.

  I noted, also taking in his short haircut so he looked almost military, “Jail was good for you.”

  He laughed. “County. That’s all I did.”

  “So…you’re out.”

  He nodded, taking in the others and then Harper. “I’m out.” He gestured to Harper. “Want to tell me how you know Tim here?”

  Harper was taking in this scene with confusion on his face. At Alex’s question, his mouth flattened, and a vein stuck out. “You know Monroe?”