by A. L Inman
I give him a smile back before sending one last glance over my shoulder to Asher, who winks at me, before I start heading upstairs.
Climbing up to our room I hear the most amazing sound. Someone is playing the guitar and whoever it is plays freaking good!
Looking through the cracked doors as I pass, trying to find the source of music, I’m utterly shocked to see the master musician is Archer. There is so much soul behind his notes.
I stand in his door way for a few minutes listening as he finishes the song he is strumming. I realize that I recognize it as Cole Swindell’s song, You Should Be Here.
Instinctively I start clapping, which in turn causes Archer to whip around on his bed, falling right onto the floor.
I cover my mouth trying, and failing, to suppress my laughter. Archer shoots me a look of disdain, which causes my laughter to dry up immediately.
Walking in I pick up the guitar off the floor before laying it gently on the bed. Turning my hand over I offer it to Archer, so I can help him up off the floor.
Ignoring my hand, he hoists himself up off the ground. I try not to be offended but seriously, why is this guy so cold to me?
So I just come out and ask, because apparently the new and improved Abby Jacobs isn't okay with being treated like shit. Even though Archer hasn’t directly harmed me, he’s still being an ass.
“Archer. What the hell is your problem with me?”
I can tell he is shocked that I had the nerve to ask, especially so forcefully, but he quickly schools his expression to be blank before responding.
“Abby, I don't like nor dislike you. I stick to my circle and the only reason you are in that circle now is because my dumbass brother put you in danger. But you don't seem to care about that, do you? All you care about is that someone is finally paying you attention.”
I’m stunned. Purely shocked and hurt by his words. I feel the tears welling up in my eyes, but I won’t give him the satisfaction of knowing he hurt me. That was his intention.
“Archer, I've went my whole life being treated as worthless. Your brother, your entire family- minus you of course, has been kind and accepting to me and my brother. I've never had anyone but Nick to love, and now I have a whole new family to love. And that's what I feel Archer, I love your brother. I love all of you guys. I don't know how I've went all this time without you guys. You may think I'm a naive little girl, and maybe I am. But I know what I feel. Don't you ever for a second make what I have with Asher sound cheap. Whether you think so or not, I would die for anyone in this house. I. Have. Your. Back.”
And with that sentiment I turn on my heels walking out of his room.
As soon as I get to the bedroom door that Asher and I share I hear him call my name. Turning around slowly, I’m scared to death, preparing myself for a verbal tongue lashing. But he surprises me.
“Abby, I have your back too.”
Turning back on his heels, he leaves me standing there, smiling to myself like a fool. That's the closest I'll probably ever get to Archer Badd telling me he cares for me.
ASHER- Chapter 27
Its quarter ‘til 6 and I’m steadily pacing the floor, relentlessly. It's crazy that it's only been a few hours since I last saw Abby and I'm already going out of my mind with need to see her again.
I'm ready for everything to be over with tonight. I hope we can get in, get out, and leave Emilio's early so I can get back home to cuddle my girl.
What even am I anymore? A sap. That's what.
Brayden got home about 20 minutes ago making me cover my eyes when Abby walked in so I couldn't see her before she put on her dress.
I'm not really sure what the big deal is. It's not like it's our prom… or our wedding. It's not bad luck to see her before a Cinco de Mayo party…. Is it?
Here’s the kicker though, I could smell her when she walked in the door, and suddenly I was capable of creating my own vision of what she looked like.
She smelt amazing with lingering smells of salon shampoo. Smelling like lavender and vanilla. Yeah, that did wonders for my body that is already amped up with need.
I've been ready for a few hours and all I can think about is what will Abby wear?
This isn't exactly a formal event but we each have portrayed certain styles we need to uphold in front of this specific group of people. When we took on the assignment we intensified our natural personas to make sure there were no slip ups.
Every time we gather with Emilio, Jaxon wear's a black suit. All black everything. Very James Bond with the suit and the slicked hairstyle he sports. I’m surprise he doesn’t introduce himself all the time like Bond does… Badd. Jaxon Badd.
He is the epitome of wealth and power. Looking at him in his suit, he looks like a high-end attorney. You'd never know what he hides under that shirt- all his artwork.
I think that’s a reason Jaxon started getting all his tattoos during this assignment. He didn’t want to lose sight of himself.
Brayden wears name brand everything. Designer jeans, fitted high end shirts, freaking shoes that cost more than a month's worth of salary, and a flat bill cap flipped backwards.
His style screams wealthy frat boy. His clothing choice, wavy brown hair, and soft features, along with his easygoing personality, lands him with more women then I can count.
He’s always had sensible taste in fashion, but never to this extent. Now that he’s made the connections, I’m not sure he would ever go back into an Abercrombie store, even if someone paid him. High end, high fashion, which is the only type of clothing style he entertains now.
Me on the other hand, I'm pretty basic- usually wearing dark jeans and a button up shirt with my sleeves rolled to my elbow. Everyday attire, everyday hairstyle, every day attitude is what I provide.
When we started this assignment, I refused to let myself get lost. I saw what it had already done to Jax and Bray and we were only a year or so in.
That’s why it took so long to infiltrate Arch and myself into Emilio’s operation, we needed to be solid with our information before we got in there. We weren’t playing a part like the other two of our brothers are.
Archer always looks nerdy, but in a severe way. The guy could crack code with the best of them, and that’s why the different government agencies are always pulling him to work for them.
Don’t get me wrong, just like cracking codes, he could crack someone's bones and not think twice about it.
He usually wears a collared polo shirt and khaki or black pants that cover up his canvas shoes. Tonight, is no different.
Basically, dressed, we look nothing alike and our styles definitely present our personalities accurately.
Arch also refused to play a role in this game. He is every bit of fierce asshole there that he is in real life. None of it is an act.
My phone dings in my pocket and right as I pull it out to check the message, I hear her coming down the steps.
Abby literally takes my breath away. I freeze and I know my mouth is probably close to the ground. Brayden laughs, pushing my mouth closed for me to retain any drool from slipping out.
Abby is wringing her hands in a nervous fashion, but I’m so entranced that I’m really unsure of where to look first. What a gorgeous woman I have.
Brayden clears his throat and it snaps me out of my shock. “Little brother, tell your lady she’s beautiful. You are making her self-conscious.” He murmurs loud enough only I can hear him.
“Abby, you are…. wow.”
Shit. I can’t even speak like a normal fucking human being right now. That’s what this girl does to me. She turns me into a blubbering idiot.
Abby’s wearing a strapless emerald green dress that matches her eyes perfectly. It’s hugging all the right places while accenting her ample chest and delicious ass.
Her legs are a mile long, even with her less then par height, and her pretty little feet are encased in a black pair of heels.
Now all I can think about is having sex with Abby, in nothi
ng but those heels. Great. Boner city, all aboard.
Her dirty blonde hair is falling in soft curls surrounding her heart shaped face and falling down her back and shoulders. The natural highlights are shining through, making the color unique.
Her makeup is subtle, but she has a deep purple lipstick on her lips that I literally want to dive in to. It makes her lips look even more luscious and plump then they already do.
I try again to compliment her, and fail miserably because there is seriously no words for her beauty.
If I thought I wanted to ditch Emilio’s early to get home with her before, now I’m reconsidering even going in the first place.
Not only do I want Abby all to myself, but I’m going to be threatening bastards all night for looking at my girl. I’m going to have to be on high alert and for once, it won't be because of a job.
Jaxon comes in with pure aggravation on his face. I realize I never got around to checking that text message that pinged on my phone earlier. Now I know for sure it’s from him.
“Guys, come on. We have got to…” And just like that Jaxon Hunter Badd is speechless. All because my beautiful girl.
“Wow Abby girl, you look amazing.” He compliments her, and I curse him, because I’ve been trying for ten minutes to make my girl know I think she's beautiful. He comes in and is able to just say it.
I kick myself when I notice Abby’s face shade pink, wishing I was the one who caused it, not my brother.
“I have a bad feeling about tonight little brother. Emilio has sent two texts asking when he gets to meet your girlfriend, and now she’s dressed like that. I don't know…” Jaxon addresses me directly.
Now I’m worried because if Jaxon is concerned, I know there's likely a good reason for him to be. Jaxon doesn’t let his emotions cloud his decisions and just because my girl looks hot, wouldn’t change that about him.
Abby clears her throat and crosses her arms. I’m sure she doesn’t realize that doing that is pushing her boobs up higher. I almost zone out of what she’s saying all together until Bray nudges me to gain my attention.
The bastard smirks at me, he knows what had my line of sight.
“I know you guys may not understand this concept. But usually, when someone is standing mere feet away, and if coincidently, that person doesn’t have a hearing issues, they can hear all your words. Meaning me. I can hear all of your words. I’m not backing out of tonight, I’ll be fine. Archer will have me wired, Brayden has me packing, and I’m confident. Quit treating me like a delicate flower!”
Huffing she marches out of the room down to the garage. I can’t help but feel frustrated and turned on all at once.
One, it’s hot that she wants to be involved in my world, but two, I need to be able to keep her safe and away from the monsters.
Tonight, I wasn’t sure how I was going to balance both sides of this, but I would above everything else, keep Abby safe.
“She’s right you know,” Archer chimes in. “She’s ready. She shoots well, actually, she is better than you and Bray combined, Ash.”
“Yeah, but will she shoot without remorse and reserve is the question…” responds Brayden.
And I, too, am worried about how my girl will feel by the end of this night if she is forced to pull her piece and fire it, because it’s a good possibility it will happen.
ABBY- Chapter 28
We all load into the SUV to head to Emilio’s. I’m still fuming with the guys; I’m so sick of them talking about me like I’m not their equal.
I understand I’m not used to this lifestyle, nor prepared as I should be to be in these circumstances, but they’ve put me in this position and initially had faith that I would do fine. So, now they need to trust me to do fine.
Asher slips his hand into mine and gives me a small hopeful smile to which I grin back a small smile, letting him know we’re okay.
No matter how frustrated I am, I can’t stay mad at Asher.
Archer turns around in the front seat to face me with a small headband piece that resembles a tiara.
It’s beautifully encrusted with diamond and emerald accents, delicate intertwined metals designed to look like a braid flow around the bottom piece.
Flipping it over in his hands I see a small black switch that he flips to the “on" position before he gets on his knees to lean over the front seat, facing us in the back.
He motions for me to bring my head closer and when I do he places it in snug against my scalp. If I didn't know better I would think he's pushing it in to be an ass, but I truly think he's just making sure it doesn't come off easy.
In his own way he's making sure I'm going to be safe if I end up getting separated tonight.
“Abby, this headband has a built-in tracker. Keep it on at all times. If you are ever separated from us we can turn on our life360 app and locate you, the same as if we were syncing to your cell phone’s GPS. Should something happen tonight, and your cell phone is compromised, this is a backup for us.”
I nod at Archer adjusting the headband just a little while looking in the rearview mirror to make sure it's on straight. Sitting back into the seat, Asher puts his arm around me pulling me into his side.
“You look beautiful, baby.” He whispers to me.
I’m glad he told me that because he didn’t really comment on if I looked okay back at the house, which left me worried that maybe he didn’t approve of my outfit.
I give him a quick kiss on the cheek and nuzzle further into him. He always tries to make me feel safe and beautiful with his actions, but for once I actually feel like I am.
Pulling up to a huge mansion that's surrounded by 10 foot stone walls I'm amazed, and a little alarmed at the amount of security in place.
If we were in a compromising situation, getting out of here would be hell. The security is surrounding the place completely, sealing it tighter than Fort Knox.
There are four towers, one on each corner, and each has a guard with an AK-47.
Immediately I feel nervous of the potential danger behind those walls. Asher must’ve been able to tell my apprehension, because he squeezes my shoulders in a comforting manner.
“Baby, this is when your acting skills need to be on point. If they think you are scared, they will monopolize on it. Hold your head high like you’re used to being surrounded by a room full of criminals and you don’t give a fuck. You’re going to see some questionable things in here tonight. Things that are against your morals and are 100% illegal. You have to trust me knowing that all of these people will be prosecuted for the things you see, among other things. I need you to keep your opinions and feelings out of it tonight because to these people- my brothers and I are just like them.”
I nod, acknowledging Asher’s words. I know that speech is supposed to prepare me for what I am bound to see, and I appreciate the sentiment, but I’d rather not compare my guys to those nasty men.
I’m glad he warned me though because I would’ve been completely transparent in my shock if my guys start acting like harden criminals, especially because I'm so used to them being the good guys. I just hope they don’t treat me any different.
We pull up to the gate behind a bright yellow Bugatti. When the yellow Bugatti is finally admitted entrance into the compound, we pull up next.
I shiver when I see who is checking the guest list at the gate. Lil-J pastes on a smug smile when he sees that we are all there in the car. I'm sure he has plans to get the boys riled up.
His hand is wrapped with gauze and medical tape from where I stabbed him at the mall. I almost smile back at him in satisfaction, but I don’t because I feel Brayden and Asher’s bodies tense beside me.
Asher wants blood for what Lil-J did to me and because he feels guilty for not being there with me at the mall. Brayden wants blood because what Lil-J did and because of his guilt from being there, and not stopping it soon enough.
Both of their guilt is misplaced. The only person who should feel guilty is Lil-J for trying to force
himself on me.
“¿Qué pasa perras?” (What’s up bitches?) Lil-J greets us smugly. He knows we're on his turf and any anger directed towards him will end badly for us. We are majorly outnumbered.
“Vete a la mierda, perra.” (Fuck you, Bitch) Brayden responds under his breath, but I know Lil-J heard him because his jaw tightens. I notice that he flexes the hand that is bandaged too. He's remembering how things went down at the mall just like Brayden is.
Lil-J looks through the passenger window, leaning in, which puts him slightly over Archer’s lap.
He gives me an appraising look, letting his eyes focus on my cleavage that is partially exposed from the cut of my dress. He makes a show out of licking his lips and winking vulgarly at me.
“¿Gonna me dejas jugar con tu juguete esta noche? ¿O solo Emilio?” (You gonna let me play with your toy tonight? Or just Emilio?). He asks, looking specifically at Asher with a questioning expression.
It's almost like he is genuinely curious. I should probably warn him that he's playing a dangerous game, especially when I feel Asher reaching for his seatbelt buckle so he can release it and climb up front.
But I don't, because for a moment, I'm only thinking about the malls bathroom. For a moment, I want Lil-J to hurt and be scared like I was.
There is no doubt in my mind that if Asher did get the opportunity to get close enough to Lil-J, he would strangle him to death right in the entrance way of the compound.
Not only would that probably cause a little issue for us, considering the men with the AK-47’s is on his side, but it also would blow anything the boys are working on.
So, reluctantly, I clasp my hand over Asher’s thigh, giving him a warning squeeze. I feel him scoot back trying to physically restrain himself.
Lil-J has his hand on the door and when he goes to raise his hand away to let us through, Archer’s cat like reflexes grab the retreating hand. The hand he grabs being the one bandaged from the stab wound I inflicted.