by James Tate
"Moore," Steele replied, oblivious to my train of thought as he looped a possessive arm around my waist. "How's business?"
Dallas quirked an amused grin. "Same old. You?"
Steele just glared. Talk about awkward.
"Well, if we're done with the dick-measuring competition," I muttered, sliding out of Steele's grip, "I'm going to go see Bree." He let me go, but the way his eyes followed me said he wanted to yank me back under his arm. Not that I blamed him when just two days ago someone had very nearly killed us in a car bomb. It’d made us all a bit paranoid while out in public.
I left the two of them in the corridor and slipped into Bree's room with the baby gift under my arm. Once the door was firmly closed behind me, I grinned at my bestie.
"Hey girl," I said, holding up the enormous plush rabbit with a satin ribbon around its neck. "Brought you a friend to watch trash TV with."
Bree raised one brow at me. "Excuse me? It is not trash. But the bunny is gorgeous. Gimme." She held her hand out for it, so I delivered it into her grip. "Oh my gosh," she groaned, then hugged the stupid thing and rubbed her face against its fur. "It's so soft. Thanks, MK."
I shrugged, and took a seat in the guest chair beside her bed. "Steele chose it, actually."
She gave me a sly grin. "Oh yeah? Max Steele escorted you today, hmm? And how is your little reverse harem going? Tell me everything; leave out nothing. Have you had a four-way yet? Oh man, you'd totally be walking funny after that, right?"
I groaned and covered my face with my hands as a rush of embarrassment flooded my cheeks. Why was everyone so interested in four-ways today?
"Remind me why I'm friends with you again?" I asked, scowling at her playfully.
She just beamed, petting the rabbit. "'Cause I'm awesome and you love me," she replied without even hesitating a second. "But also, spill. Tell me all the juicy details because lord knows it's going to be a long-ass time before I get any D in my V. You know how often the nurses just pop in here? Too often, babe. Too damn often."
I snickered a laugh, picturing her and Dallas trying to get frisky while her arm and leg were still in casts and she was confined to her hospital bed. "You just need to get creative, girl. I have faith in you. Maybe Dallas can help you wash your hair or something." I jerked my head to the private bathroom attached to her room.
Her brows rose, and she gave a considering nod. "I hadn't thought of that. Good work, you sex-positive queen. Now, back to this gang bang of yours."
"Bree!" I shrieked, knowing full fucking well Steele could walk into the room at any minute—if he couldn't already hear us through the paper-thin door. Fucking hell. "Can we change the subject? Please? Tell me more about how you're on team Logan. He just shits all over Dean, right?"
She shot me a look that clearly said I was insane to ever think otherwise. "Or we can discuss Mrs. Jones forever."
I blinked at her in confusion. "Come again?"
Bree rolled her eyes. "Of course, you have no idea what I'm even talking about. Here." She pulled out her phone and scrolled until she found what she wanted, then handed it to me.
It was an Instagram profile with the username MrsJones4eva and a photo reel full of pictures of Kody. Most seemed to come from his own profile, some were reposts from companies he'd modeled for, and some were just objects or locations that the profile owner associated with him.
"Um, Kody has a stalker?" I asked, grinning. But as amusing as it was, my stomach churned with fear for him. We badly didn't need another stalker in our lives.
Bree shrugged one shoulder. "Nah, she doesn't seem like a stalker so much as just a really big fan. Superfan. Anyway, she is not a fan of you." She reached for her phone, then brought up a browser page. She typed in a web address, then handed it back to me. "Case in point."
My eyes widened as I scrolled through the blog, skimming over all the nasty things this girl was saying about me. None of it came anywhere remotely close to the threats my stalker delivered on the regular, but... this was different. This was straight up mean-girl behavior.
"What the hell?" I muttered, clicking into a link that took me to an open forum where MrsJones4eva was encouraging random internet trolls to tear me down in every way imaginable. From my pink hair—totally trashy, okay? To my boobs—which were so clearly implants. They attacked the way I dressed, the classes I took, the shops I visited. There were even photocopies of my report cards from high school. If something about me could be insulted in some way, it'd been done.
"When's the last time you even checked your socials, girl?" Bree asked me with a wrinkled nose. "I knew you'd ghosted them a bit, so I hadn't checked in forever. But this chick tags you all the time and is never nice."
I shook my head. "Not for months. Why would I need to borrow internet drama when I have enough in my real life?"
"Good point. Anyway, I don't think this is something to actually worry about. Not like... well, you know." She gestured to the fact that she was in hospital, and I rubbed at the headache building behind my eyes.
"Yeah. Not like how people are trying to kill me and everyone around me. Still, it's probably something I need to get the guys to look into. My stalker seems to have a bit of a protective thing going on, remember?" I ruffled my fingers through my hair, then cringed as I remembered some of the bitchy comments about my choice of hair color. Women could be so cruel.
Bree nodded. "Right, but Drew was trying to have you date-raped. That sort of deserved something. Maybe not, you know, what happened. But still, fuck that bitch. Who even thinks of something like that?"
"Messed up people, girl. Anyway, thanks for showing me this. I'm sure Kody will have something to say about it." I heaved a sigh, slumping back in the chair and tossing Bree's phone onto the bed. "Girl, I'm so fucking tired. Seeing a whole we-hate-Madison-Kate forum barely even scratched the surface there."
She gave me a sympathetic smile, still petting her giant bunny with her good hand. "I'm not surprised. But it'll all be over soon, right? That's the plan, isn't it?"
I shrugged. "That's the plan. Whether it’ll actually work remains to be seen. Change the subject, though. We ran into Dallas outside your room; he looks like he hasn't been sleeping much."
Bree's smile faded to a sad pout. "Yeah, that's actually something I've been wanting to talk to you about. Or maybe your harem." My brows shot up in surprise, unsure how we could help with Dallas's exhaustion. Bree bit her lip, like she was reluctant to say what she needed to say.
"Well, now I'm curious," I told her with a laugh. "How can we help?"
She let out a long sigh. "Dallas needs to get out of the Wraiths."
"Oh."
She cringed. "Yeah."
I sat forward, leaning my elbows on my knees. "Hun, the Wraiths are a life gang. Once blooded in..."
"I know," she replied, sounding both annoyed and pleading. "I know this. Dallas has told me a million times. But there has to be some way. I just... they're demanding so much of his time, and I'm scared something is going to happen. I can't—" Tears welled in her eyes and her voice broke. "MK, I can't have this baby alone. I can't let her grow up without a daddy. That's not what I want for my life."
Oh fuck. That’d turned real heavy, real fast. I couldn't even imagine what she was going through... It was one thing to fear for yourself or for your lover. But fear for what the future holds for an unborn baby? I couldn't possibly comprehend that.
"Bree, it's not that easy," I said as gently as I could. "I'm sure Dallas has already tried—"
She cut me off. "He has—but got nowhere, obviously. If anything, they've been using him more than before, like a punishment for even suggesting he leave the gang." Tears rolled down her face, but she didn't fall to pieces. "I'm just so scared he's going to get killed, MK. I love Dallas so much it fucking hurts, and I don't know what I'd do if something happened..."
I reached out and squeezed her fingers where they poked out of the cast on her wrist. "For one thing, you're a tough chick, Bree. You'd
make it work, and you'll be an exceptional mom. But I know where you're coming from. If Dallas could get out..." I trailed off with a shrug. "I just don't know how."
"But... your guys got out of the Reapers, right?" she pointed out, hopeful. "So it has to be possible."
I cringed. I hadn't told her about their past with the Reapers or what they’d done to get out. I sure as fuck wasn't going to suggest Dallas attempt something similar.
"I'll talk to Archer, babe. See what he can suggest, okay?" It was the best I could offer. Fuck knew I had no ideas how to handle that situation alone, and I didn't know Ferryman well enough to know how to bribe him. This was a job for Archer... if he could be convinced to help Dallas, that was.
Suddenly I was regretting having told him that Dallas took my virginity.
"Thank you," Bree replied, wiping her tears away with her hand, then taking the tissue that I offered her from the box beside her bed. "Okay, sorry. I didn't mean to go all emotional; I know that weirds you out."
I snorted a laugh. "I'm not that bad."
Bree rolled her eyes, dabbing at her nose. "Okay sure. Whatever you need to tell yourself."
The door clicked open, and Steele slipped inside, his eyes instantly locking with mine as he entered the room.
"Hi Steele," Bree greeted him with a small laugh. "Nice to see you again too."
"Hey Bree," he replied, coming over and kissing my hair before turning his attention to my friend. "You look like you've been crying. Did you get to a sad part in Gilmore Girls?"
I snickered a laugh. The two of them had been hanging out way too much while Steele was still in the hospital.
Bree pouted. "No, but thanks for implying something sad is coming up. Jerk. I fucking hate spoilers."
Steele grinned, then turned his gaze back to me. "I actually came to let you know that Bree's parents are on their way. I spotted them talking to her doctor down the hall. I figured you girls might want a heads up in case you were loudly comparing notes on dick sizes and creative positions." His eyes sparkled with mischief, and I couldn't wipe the fucking smile from my face.
Ugh. I was so in love it was disgusting.
"As if girls talk about smut like that," Bree blatantly lied, "but you should probably go, MK. Carol is really not a fan of yours at the moment and will probably cause a scene if she sees you."
I groaned but pushed out of the chair. I'd had run-ins with Bree's parents before and was definitely not in the mood for another one.
"I love you, girl, but your mom is a total bitch." I leaned down and kissed Bree on the cheek. "Take care of yourself. I'll chat with Arch and see what he can suggest about Dallas, okay?"
"You rock my world, MK," she replied with a warm smile. "Call me later and tell me more wedding details. I'm living vicariously through you."
I just shook my head, then left the hospital room with Steele's hand already wrapped around mine. We hurried down the corridor, dodging behind some orderlies when I spotted Carol and Greg Graves still talking to a doctor.
Just as we stepped into the elevator, though, Carol saw me.
Her face twisted with fury as she locked eyes with me, and a rush of adrenaline flooded through me. More and more, my fight-or-flight reflex was pushing me to fight.
Carol said something, but she was too far away for me to hear her. She started storming towards us, though, and I knew it wasn't a compliment.
Just as she came within a few feet, the elevator doors slid closed and cut off whatever scathing insults were about to fall from her filler-puffed lips.
I let out a long sigh of relief, and Steele tucked me under his arm in a hug. "She looked like a lovely person," he murmured, sarcastic as all fuck. "I see where Bree gets her... uh... spark from."
I snorted a laugh, then shook my head. "Carol hasn't liked me for a while, but it's Greg who really hates me. In this situation, though? I don't blame them. If not for me, their daughter wouldn't be in the hospital right now. She has every right to curse me out."
Steele's arm tightened around me. "You didn't crash that car into her, Hellcat."
I said nothing. My guilt over Bree's injuries wasn't going to move for any amount of logical thinking. Regardless of who crashed that car, they wouldn't have done it if I hadn’t been inside.
My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I pulled it out to find a message from Bree.
Bree Graves: Steele is so in love with you it's insane. You're adorable as hell.
"She's not wrong," he murmured, having read the message as well.
I just smiled, tipping my face back to kiss him before the elevator reached the ground floor. Words couldn't even describe how thankful I was to have him. To have all three of them. I wasn't in it alone, and that was a pretty special feeling.
It was a feeling I'd do anything, kill anyone to protect.
12
Now that my "engagement" to Archer had gone public, we were all fending off calls from every faction of the wedding industry, as well as from journalists wanting the inside scoop on Madison Kate Danvers marrying a rising UFC star and billionaire businessman.
That part made me laugh. Calling Archer a businessman seemed so wrong, even if that's what he was.
"You guys need a new manager," I commented, flopping down onto the sofa beside Kody as he battled Archer in some monster-versus-alien fighting game.
Kody shot me a grin. "More like you need one, babe."
"Uh-huh, maybe I'll see if Mrs. Jones wants the job? She seems to have enough time on her hands." I gave him a pointed look, and he groaned, tossing the Xbox controller aside as Archer won their fight.
"Where are we at on her?" Kody asked Archer. When Steele and I had arrived home the day before—and Anna forced us all to sit down to eat the creamy garlic chicken she'd cooked—I'd filled them all in on MrsJones4eva, and Archer had added it to his guys’ research list.
"Nothing, yet," he replied, tossing his own controller onto the coffee table. "But I also didn't prioritize her, so it might be a few days before they even look into her."
"Fair call," I commented. "She doesn't seem dangerous, in the scale from annoying online troll to psychotic serial killer."
"Hell of a scale, babe," Kody replied with a grimace, "but I'm inclined to agree."
Steele came into the den, wiping his grease-covered hands off on a rag. "Are we talking about Kody's fangirl?"
Kody scowled and threw a cushion at Steele, who caught it easily.
"Hey, don't get grease on the sofa," I scolded. "Steinwick will murder you if he finds out."
Steele dropped the cushion like it was made of magma. "Good point. I better go wash up." He started to leave the room, then shot me a suggestive look. "Unless you want to lend a hand?"
My cheeks heated, and I fought back a smile. Damn him.
"She's busy," Kody declared, dragging me into his lap and locking his arms around me like a straightjacket. "Fuck off and wash your balls yourself."
Steele just cracked up, the sound of his laughter echoing as he left the den and headed upstairs.
"Of course he's laughing," Archer muttered, mostly under his breath. "Don't think I didn't notice his smug, fucking grin after his early morning swim yesterday." He narrowed his eyes at me, but they were glittering with interest. He wasn't actually mad, but he was plotting.
I shivered in anticipation.
"Mmm yeah, that was definitely the most fun I've had in a steam room," Kody commented, innocent as all fuck as he loosened his grip and reached for the Xbox controller again. Archer's eyes widened for a flash, and I groaned. I suspected he hadn't known Kody had been a party to that, uh, party.
His cool blue eyes locked with mine, and I sucked in a sharp breath.
Uh-oh.
"Hell no." He unfolded from the armchair in one smooth motion and plucking me out of Kody's lap before either of us had time to react. When Archer sat back down, I was straddling his lap with my wrists locked behind me in one of his huge hands.
I let out a small sound
of protest—okay, maybe not protest but surprise—but it faded into a sigh as Archer's lips found mine.
"Stay or go, Kody," Archer growled, barely letting my mouth go long enough to speak.
Kody made a thoughtful hum, then a small laugh. "I think I'll stay. Fair's fair, right? How did you like watching us on the kitchen counter that night?"
I groaned as Archer's freshly trimmed stubble scraped over my throat and his teeth nipped at my skin.
"Guys, we can't just..." I trailed off as Archer's grip on my wrists tightened and his hips rolled under me. He was hard already. So damn hard.
Wait, what was I saying?
"We can't just fuck twenty-four seven," I protested.
"Are you sure?" Kody asked, his voice full of amusement. I shot him a narrow eyed glare and found a look of dark hunger painted all over his face.
Fuck. These guys...
Archer's free hand slipped under my shirt, gliding up my rib cage to cup my breast. As much as I thought we probably shouldn't fuck right there in the den in the middle of the day, I was having a seriously hard time thinking of reasons why.
Until the doorbell rang.
"Who the fuck is that?" Archer sounded legitimately murderous.
Kody groaned, standing up and rearranging his dick. "I'll get it, I guess."
He made his way out of the den, and Archer wasted no time. His mouth found mine, his tongue plunging in and making sparks fly. I'd never known I could get so turned on by just a kiss, yet here I was, damp panties from just a little make-out session.
I moaned into his kiss, my hips rolling to crush his hard length against me, but raised voices cut through the lust.
Archer's hand released my wrists, and we both scrambled out of the armchair. Whoever was at the door wasn't fucking welcome.
"...don't let me speak to Miss Danvers immediately," a man was shouting, "then you'll be arrested on obstruction of justice!"
Kody's response was just to laugh. Of course it was.
"Whoa, what's going on?" I demanded as I hurried into the foyer with Archer right on my heels. Kody stood there beside the open door, looking bored as shit, but the uniformed policeman on our tiles was considerably less so.