by J Bree
Make Your Move
Hannaford Prep Year Two
J Bree
For my Mum -
An endless source of love, support, coffee, and deadline terror.
And, in loving memory of my Gran -
For telling 17 year old me I'd need less blankets
on my bed if I found a good man to cover me instead.
I love you and I miss you.
Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Copyright © 2019 by J Bree
ASIN: B07WF6D8R2
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof
may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Prologue
Alexander
My arm is sore.
My fingers have pins and needles shooting down them and my shoulder aches where the sling digs into my skin. Mommy is packing a bag in my room and I don’t know where we’re going. She’s crying. She does that a lot but this time her face isn’t sad, she looks angry even with tears streaming down her face. My sister is holding a little bag under her arm and she’s already wearing a coat and polished shoes. Her eyes are wide but she isn’t crying.
We don’t cry anymore.
“Listen, Ash, we need to go. Leon is getting the car and bringing it around. Is there anything you need me to pack? I have your blanket.” Mommy says and she’s whispering like it’s a secret. It doesn’t make any sense to me but I shake my head anyway. She never calls me Ash while we’re in the manor. Father hates it, the last time he heard her call me Ash he slapped her. I’m scared he’s heard her say it now and he’s going to hit her again. My good hand shakes.
“We’ve got to leave now. Ash, Floss hold Mommy’s hands.”
Mommy tugs us both out of my room and down the hall. When we get to the stairs she looks around and then quietly opens the hidden door behind the big ugly painting. I bite my lip and look at Floss. She’s so white that she looks sick. Her eyes are round and frightened.
We are never allowed to use the servants stairs.
Once the door is firmly but quietly shut behind us Mommy pulls us both down the stairs, much faster than we were moving before. She’s sobbing, even her lips clamped shut can’t hold them in.
I'm scared. Mommy doesn't cry like that, even when Father hits her or calls her terrible things, she never ever makes noises like that.
We make it to the kitchen. I've never stepped foot in the kitchen before, our meals are all served to us at the table in the formal dining room. I don't even know where in the manor the kitchen is. Mommy pulls us through the room, the staff all avert their eyes and ignore us, and we get to the side door when I hear his voice.
“Where are you going, Mommy?”
I hear those words over and over again, long after my mother has been buried.
Chapter One
Joey is missing.
The air around me throbs as I’m jostled by the mass of bodies writhing to the shitty electronica music. I stare down at my phone for a second and then I look over to the bar where Joseph Beaumont Jr is standing, doing lines of cocaine off of the dirty barrels that are a makeshift bar. He’s here alone. He paid a lower level Club member a whole wad of hundred dollar bills to get in and now he’s in my fucking town, getting high and groping unimpressed Mounty girls. Strobe lights dance along the warehouse walls and there must be five hundred people dancing and sweating and getting high in here right now.
It’s the last day of summer break. Well, it’s 3am so in four short hours I’m getting into an Uber and heading back to Hannaford. I’m just waiting on the Vulture to arrive to make the pickup of the package I’ve got for him and then I’m getting out of here. I picked up eight jobs over the summer break and now I’m flush with cash. Ok, not flush but I’ve got Harley’s tuition paid through to graduation and most of his housing costs covered. Better yet, I have a plan to get him out of my cheque book and paying for his own shit.
I’m so tired and ready for the break to be over. Too tired to be dealing with Joey’s bullshit. I text Avery the address of the warehouse the party is being held.
Here’s here. I’ve got eyes on him. Are you close by?
I flag down two of the Jackal’s bigger henchmen and push through the crowd towards the bar. Joey doesn’t notice me. He’s too far gone to notice anything other than his high. I point him out and then watch as one of them knock him out with a sharp punch to the face. No one around him flinches. Club parties always have someone disappearing with no witnesses. So many eyes refusing to see a damn thing.
Ten minutes ETA. Blaise is driving and the other two are pissed about the location.
I roll my eyes as I move towards the exit. Just what I need, the guys giving me shit even though I’m helping them out. I nod at the doorman and he lets me through, the cold slap of the night air harsh against all of the skin I’m showing. I had to blend into the crowd to get the information the Vulture needed which means I am basically naked. I have a matching two piece set on, shorts that barely cover my ass and a strappy bralette. The fabric it’s made out of is black with metallic thread running through it and I shimmer as I move. I had found a new pair of black calf-length Doc’s at the thrift store last week which completes the look. With glitter across both cheeks and a high ponytail I am just another party girl here to lose control. It’s all so exhausting. I check my phone, again, to see where the hell the Vulture is. Nothing. I let out a frustrated sigh and look out into the darkness of the early morning.
The docks look abandoned.
No one is allowed to leave the party before dawn so the only people outside of the warehouse are the Jackal’s men. I sidle up to Luca and he grins at me, gesturing at the bags at his feet. My bags. “Kept them safe, princess. Are you taking out the trash for the Jackal before you go?”
I glance back at Joey’s unconscious form slung over the other guy’s shoulder. What a funny choice of words Luca had chosen. Joey would be pissed to hear my Hannaford nickname being thrown at him. “I called in for a collection of this one. Can you let DeMarco know to expect a car?”
Luca nods and lifts his radio to his face. He pauses as my phone rings.
“We’re here but the guy at the gate won’t let us through.” Avery sounds pissed and I smile.
“Give him the phone.”
Luca grins at me and tucks the radio back onto his belt. I hear Avery argue with DeMarco and then his asshole voice barks down the phone at me, “Listen here, kid, we don’t let extra in after the open hour. Now you need to tell these little rich fucks to get on
out of here-”
“DeMarco.” I can actually hear the snap of his teeth slamming shut at the sound of my voice. I’m not ashamed to say I enjoy the hell out of the power I have in Mounts Bay. “That car is here for me. Let them through and apologize to the little rich fucks.”
“Sorry. I didn’t know they were with you. If they had’ve just said I would’ve-“ I hang up on his rambling and then I flick a text to the Vulture again.
You’re late. I have places I need to be.
“Who are these friends of yours?” says Luca and he nudges me with his elbow. I tense a little. I know he's asking as a friend, or as close as a friend as I can have under the Jackal’s watchful eye, but I'm hesitant to say much. I don't need to create any issues for myself.
“Kids from school. Too much money and far too much ego. Makes it fun to play with them.” I wiggle my eyebrows at him and he shoots me another grin as the car rolls up to a stop before us.
They pull up in a Maserati.
No wonder DeMarco was such a dick to them, they couldn’t look more out of place down here if they tried. I wave an arm at the guy holding Joey and he walks him over to the car. Harley jumps out and helps shove his cousin in. I saunter over as Avery puts her window down and I lean in to talk to her.
“Having fun?” she smirks at me, her eyes trailing over my outfit. She’s wearing a silk robe over a delicate lacy nightgown, well put together even in her pajamas. Yep, still jealous.
“Don’t get me started, I need a shower and twelve hours of sleep. Try not to lose him again, I’m heading out soon.”
Blaise is watching the group of the Jackal’s men like he thinks they’re going to attack his car. Ash is struggling in the back trying to get Joey’s seatbelt on and Harley is still standing with the car door open. I look up and meet his eyes. He looks angry, clearly he’s not a fan of being dragged out of bed for a pick up.
“What the hell are you doing here?” he hisses at me and my eyes narrow at him. He’s pissy at me!
“Watch your fucking tone, we are not at school.” His head snaps back at my warning. He glances over his shoulder and sure enough, the entire group of men are watching him. They all know he’s the guy I’ve recruited and they’re sizing him up. I don’t think they’ve heard what he said to me, thank god, and Harley straightens up. He shuts the car door and walks around to me. Avery swears under her breath but I keep my eyes on Harley. If he isn’t smart about this I’m going to have to knock him out before the Jackal catches wind of what’s happening on his turf.
“What are you doing here? Dressed like that?” he whispers and I’m glad we have an audience. I might have kicked him in the balls if there weren’t one. He thinks I’m selling myself. I guess I am, but he thinks I’m selling my body when I’m really just selling my skills.
Does anyone ever think about anything other than sex?
“Do not suggest that I’m a prostitute. I’m here for a job and as soon as I get paid I’m leaving.” Harley nods reluctantly and his eyes never leave the group of guys behind us. I wait for a minute but he doesn’t move or speak. I’m about to snap when the lights of another car hit us and Harley is trying to shove me behind him. I jab him in the kidney with a closed fist, enjoying the little grunt I get out of him.
“That would be my payment. You guys need to leave.” Avery is watching the car with anxious eyes and I rub her shoulder. She has no idea just how bad the guy in there really is.
“We’re not leaving without you.” Harley says and he crosses his arms over his chest. I can’t argue with him, I don’t have time as the car parks and three guys dressed like sleazy bodyguards get out, guns in clear view at their hips. They look around the empty car park and then assess us all one by one. I’m not at all happy with the way they look at Avery and I step in front of her again. After a minute of this scrutiny the Vulture steps out of the car.
The very sight of him turns my stomach.
He grins at me and I fight to keep my lips from curling up in disgust at him. He’s wearing a cheap suit and the little hair he has left is slicked back into a shiny cap. I can see the bulge of his gun at his hip and, unfortunately, I can also see the bulge of his erection. I’ve never been in his presence without him being hard.
“Hello, puss.”
The Vultures tone of voice is so utterly sleazy and disgusting. I feel bile creep up the back of my throat. I hate that he calls me that. He's nicknamed me after the body part he loves to sell and the only thing of worth he ever sees in a woman. It's vile. Harley tenses and I just know he's spotted the tent that's happening in the putrid man’s pants. I hear an argument start up in the car and I glance down to see Blaise has his seatbelt off and a hand on his door handle. Avery is chewing him out and Ash is fighting to keep Joey’s airways open. He's so high he’s slumping and choking on his own tongue. Idiot.
“Wire my money through and I'll give you the package.”
The Vulture smiles at me and waves a hand. One of his men pops the trunk of the car and lugs two bags out. Motherfuckers. He's paying me in cash.
“Seriously? I told you I only deal in transfers.” I snap at him and Harley is doing his best not to gape. I'm not sure how much experience he has around large quantities of cash but the twitching of his jaw tells me he's doing some quick math. There's a hundred grand in those bags.
It's going to be a nightmare to launder.
“Sorry, puss. I didn't get the chance to pop this into the bank before they closed. You know how it is. How ‘bout you walk that sweet ass of yours over here and get your money.”
“Like fuck.” Harley spits at him and the Vulture looks at him for the first time. His eyes take in the tattoo, the piercing eyes, the build, and I know he's working out how much he could make from selling Harley at one of his hellish auctions. The quirk of his lips tells me the fee would be astronomical.
“How about I double the payment and you give me him, puss.” I roll my eyes at him.
“How about you get one of your little friends to bring me my money and I'll hand him the package so we can all get out of here, hm?”
The Vulture laughs and waves his guys forward. The guy hands Harley the bags and I can smell the body odor wafting from him. Harley sneers at him and I shove the USB into his hands to get him away from us.
“Pleasure doing business with you, puss.”
I stare him down until he grins and leaves. We don't move until the car is out of the parking lot completely. I turn and hold my hand out for my giant bags of cash but Harley turns on his heel and marches to the trunk. He taps it gently and Blaise pops it open for him to shove them inside.
“What are you doing?”
He straightens and gives me a fiery look back. “I told you. I'm not leaving without you.”
My stomach does a little flip and I have to tell it to calm the hell down.“Fuck. Fine, leave it open. I have the rest of my stuff here too.”
Harley nods and walks over to where Luca is guarding my shit. Luca takes a step forward, over the bags, and crosses his arms. Harley smirks at him, throwing down a silent challenge and I know Luca will accept it in a heartbeat. Luca is the tiniest bit taller than Harley but Harley is easier broader, more muscular. I've seen Luca take out three guys bigger than Harley at the same damn time though so really, all bets are off on who would win. I don't have time to deal with them, I need to get out of here. I need to get Harley out of here.
The Jackal cannot see him.
Not after the warning he issued me at the meeting. I give myself a little shake to try and shift the ghosts.
“Luca, it's fine. My feet hurt and I need a bath.” I say sweetly with a little pout. He's one of the decent guys on the Jackals payroll, a rare breed. Luca leans down and brushes a kiss against my cheek without breaking eye contact with Harley. Harley stares down at him like he's going to gut him if given the chance. Finally, I step around them both to grab my bags and then I shove one into Harley's chest to get him moving.
“I’m going to mis
s that ass while you’re gone, princess.” Luca calls as I load my bag into the car. Harley glares back at him but I laugh his words off.
“You get more ass than the average Mounty street girl on a Saturday night, Luca. I’m sure you'll survive without mine.” He grabs his chest like I've wounded him and grins back at me. Harley opens the door to the backseat and I realize I'm about to be sandwiched in with him and the Beaumont brothers. Fuck. No.
I dart around and climb in with Avery instead. I’ve lost all of the weight I'd managed to gain last year and we easily fit in the sleek seat together. Blaise arches an eyebrow and then takes off, fast enough that my body is pressed back in the seat and the tires squeal.
“So. How much money is in this car right now?” whispers Avery and I giggle at her.
“How should I know, do you guys all carry cash?” I whisper back and she laughs out loud at me.
“Where should I drop you off, Mounty? Feel free to tip me for my services.” drawls Blaise and I shudder. Avery snorts at me. Traitor.
“She’s coming back to the hotel with us.” grumbles Harley.
“Why?” snaps Ash and I’m reminded of his newfound hate for me.
“Thank you Lips for finding my coked up brother and getting him out of danger before he got himself stabbed by an angry Mounty girl for not keeping his hands to himself.” I say in my most sarcastic tone. Avery gives my hand a squeeze and I smile at her.