Make Your Move (A High School Bully Romance): Hannaford Prep Year Two

by J Bree

  I cast a sidelong look at Harley to find him rolling his eyes so hard for a second I think he’s having a stroke.

  The woman sputters and then moves to let us all through. We have to walk through a teeming stock room with boxes of booze precariously stacked floor to ceiling then through a bustling kitchen, a single chef pumping out wings and barking orders at the glassy-eyed waitresses. When we get through to the bar area my eyes have to adjust to the darkness of the room, lit only by fairy lights strung up here and there. During the day it would probably look as charming as the rest of the town but now, in the early morning hours, it was a workplace hazard if I’ve ever seen one.

  There are people everywhere and most of them are already wasted. We have to move in single file. Harley takes the lead, Ash pushes Avery in front of him so she’s caged in by them both. I find Blaise doing the same to me and I give him a quick look over my shoulder as we start moving through the hazy room. I feel Blaise’s breath on my neck as he speaks right into my ear. “Two Hannaford girls were assaulted here last year.”

  Great. Doesn’t matter where the hell you are, there’s always some dickhead predator looking to destroy someones life.

  We search the ground floor and then head upstairs. The music is louder up here and there’s less people but they’re dancing and making it even harder to stick together. Blaise wraps an arm around my waist and hauls me in tight to his body. Thank fuck it’s dark and he can’t see the exact shade my cheeks have turned. He’s a wall of solid muscle. I try not to melt into him.

  We lose Harley for five minutes and I start to panic that Joey’s stabbed him or something. Ash gestures us over to the restrooms and Blaise finally lets me go. Avery grabs my hand and gives it a squeeze, I squeeze back to reassure her. Ash is glaring out at the room of writhing bodies when the door to the disability restroom opens and Harley’s head pops out.

  “Mounty, I need you to look at this.” he snaps out and I rush forward, ducking behind him and he starts to argue with Avery as he blocks the others from following me.

  Joey is unconscious on the dirty floor, surrounded by his own vomit. He’s foaming at the mouth and he’s going to choke to death on his back like that.

  I’m so fucking tempted to leave him.

  “Don’t judge me for asking this but I am supposed to try and save him or are we waiting this out then calling it in for a clean up?”

  Harley grunts as Ash punches him in the gut and shoves his way into the room. He’s wild eyed and pale as he looks down at Joey then back to me.

  “I die if he does.” he croaks and my body starts moving before my mind does.

  I know for sure that he doesn’t mean it like he’d be so torn up or pissy if his brother died. He loathes him. This is the real reason Avery guards Joey’s life with such intensity. Someone is threatening Ash. Christ.

  I roll Joey to his side and wince as I clear out his mouth. His hacking breath starts to even out and I prop his head up to help his breathing stay steady.

  “I can call a doctor. What does he need to reverse this?” says Avery and I hear the door close and lock behind them. Harley kneels down next to me, right in a puddle of puke, and helps to support Joey’s twitching body. Ash starts rummaging through Joey’s pockets and finds the little clear baggies, so damn familiar to me with their grinning Jackal stamps on them, with a little of the white powder residue still visible.

  “There is no drug to reverse a cocaine overdose. They just treat the symptoms.”

  “Fuck. Ok.” Avery is starting to panic and I look up to meet her eyes.

  “He needs an ambulance and 24 hour care until he gets through. Look, it’s not too bad.” I lie. I feel his pulse and it’s not great but Avery’s eyes are like saucers and I can’t bear to stress her out anymore. The bubbling around his mouth and the jerking also make me wonder if he was having a seizure before we arrived. Harley meets my eyes and he reads me better than Avery can in her state.

  “Is there anything we can do while we wait?” His voice is low and calm.

  “Recovery position and we need to make sure he doesn’t choke on his own tongue. That’s it about all we can do in this restroom. We should call an ambulance.”

  Avery and Ash stare at each other and I start to believe they have some mystical twin connection that lets their minds talk. I can feel their conversation hanging in the air around us. If Ash’s life is in danger then we can’t sweep this under the rug, we need a professional.

  “I’m not waiting for an ambulance, we need to move him now.”

  I cut a look at Harley and gesture for him to follow me out of the room. Ash and Blaise kneel to take our places besides Joey to keep him where he needs to be. Harley doesn’t speak as we descend the stairs, his protective arm around me, and it’s not until I point to the black van on the curb out front that he raises an eyebrow at me.

  “Boost it. We’ll drive him in and dump it at the hospital.” I text Avery to get them moving down to us.

  “And why do you think I know how to do that?”

  I grin at him and wag my finger in his face. “I was at your court hearing last year, remember? You’re quite proficient in the ol’ grand theft auto. Come on, impress me, Arbour.”

  My challenge lights a flame in his eyes. His grin is savage and beautiful and he has the van unlocked, motor running and ready to move in less than a minute. It’s like watching a pro and I must be seriously damaged because it excites me more than sweet words would. Avery slides into the front seat with him and I help the other two load Joey into the back. Ash drops him with such disgust that I think he’ll have a concussion but that will be the least of his concerns if he ever wakes up. We arrange his body so he won’t suffocate on his own tongue and then sit around him.

  “So, we’re criminals now? We just take things whenever we want them? I’m not sure I have enough black in my wardrobe for this, someone should have pre-warned me.” drawls Blaise as he wipes his hands on his jeans.

  “We were always a little criminal, Morrison.” says Ash and I try to ignore their banter. I don’t need their input right now.

  “Lips, if we can’t take him to the hospital is there somewhere else we can take him?” says Avery, her voice finally losing the authoritative tone and she sounds like the scared sixteen year old girl she really is.

  “How the fuck would she know?” snaps Ash and we both ignore him.

  I glance down at Joey. His condition hasn’t gotten any worse. I think he’ll make it to Mounts Bay.

  “Yeah. Head to the Bay. I’ll give you directions once we hit the city.”

  Harley nods and then we all fall silent.

  I’m jostled around by the movement of the van since we’re just sitting in the back without proper chairs or seat belts. The guys are both fine, they’re big enough that they’re stable, but I’m a scrawny Mounty girl and every corner, every pothole, has me lurching and slamming into the sharp metal interior. Finally, after ten minutes of collecting new bruises Ash rolls his eyes and grunts at Blaise, digging his elbow into him. Then, I’m dragged over by them both to be wedged between their giant frames, their hands landing all over me and gripping firmly. I panic a little but then at the next corner I’m held steady by the hands on my hips and legs.

  I clear my throat, “Thanks.”

  Ash shrugs and Blaise nods, a little distracted.

  “What, no smart ass comment?”

  Ash stares back at me and then shakes his head slowly. “No. I don’t have anything left to say.”

  I don’t know how to answer that so I don’t. I let my eyes fall shut and I start to plan out the rest of our evening. Get to Doc’s, lose the van, find a hotel to stash the rich kids, keep Harley out of sight as much as possible, get Blaise’s Maserati to the hotel to get us back to Hannaford, find clothing because at least three of us are covered in Joey’s vomit, the list goes on and on, endless and exhausting. I check Joey’s pulse again. Still alive.

  As we get to the city limits Harley breaks the si
lence.

  “How much will this cost?”

  I shrug. “Nothing, I’ll call in a favor.”

  Harley snarls and rips his body around to snap at me, “Fuck no. You’re not using up a favor for this fucking murderer. It’s bad enough you spent one on me. Get a price and we’ll pay it.”

  Fuck. I forgot he knows about the diamonds. “Not one of those favors. The Doc owes me for some work I did for him last year. It’ll be fine.”

  Avery looks between us both and then raises an eyebrow at me. I nod sharply. I’m going to have to sit them both down soon and tell both of them… as close to everything as I’ll ever get. Then Avery won’t have to guess at how much Harley knows and he can protect himself from what being mine entails.

  We pull up in front of a quiet suburban house in a shitty neighborhood. The house is the nicest on the street, the grass green and trimmed to perfection. I tell them to wait as I scramble out the back door and up to the house. The front door opens before I can knock. A short, elderly Vietnamese man frowns at me as he takes me in.

  “Aren’t you off at school, my girl?”

  I grin at him and nod. “I’ve got a patient for you. It’s really important that he lives, Doc.”

  He sighs and waves me in. I motion at the van to get the others to join us. Ash and Blaise carry Joey across the grass and into the medical room Doc has set up. It’s well stocked, sterile, and ready for massacre victims at all times.

  Doc gets straight to work on his patient and I step out to wash my hands. Ash follows me and stands at the kitchen sink scrubbing the bile from his skin with me. I finally take a shaky breath. If anyone can fix Joey it’ll be Doc.

  When we get back to the room Harley is glaring at Doc like he’s planning to stab him and Avery is tucked up in Blaise’s arms. Her shoulders are shaking but her eyes are dry, this is pure panic at the thought of losing Ash.

  “Friend of yours?” murmurs Doc.

  I don’t ever lie to this man, he can smell it. “No.”

  Doc raises an eyebrow at me but his hands don’t falter as he puts an IV line into Joey and starts him on some fluids. “Why bother bringing him in then? Just dig a hole.”

  Ash stares at Doc like he’s a bug he’d like to squash. I try to keep the old man busy instead. “He’s worth saving. How’s Maria and the kids?” Maria is Doc’s granddaughter, his pride and joy. She’s eighteen and has three kids already, a typical Mounty girl. She’s sweet enough and good to the old man so I always check in with her when I’m in town.

  “She’s pregnant.” He says with a sigh. He moves to start taking down Joey’s temperate, heart rate, lord knows what else, to try and assess how bad the repercussions of this episode will be. This is not my first OD rodeo.

  “Fuck.” I reply and he gives me a dry look.

  “I’ve tried to get her on the stick but she insists on taking the pill then forgets to half the time. I’ll be building an extension on the house by the end of the year.”

  “Maybe tell her to stay away from cocks for a while instead.” I say with a grin and he roars with laughter at me. I’ve seen him carve up a guys face with a scalpel for saying less but I guess I’m just special like that. Doc knows I say it with love and experience. I know exactly what life is like around here for poor Mounty girls. The conversation is a good distraction for everyone. I can see Avery is slowly collecting herself, the unaffected, cool mask slowly sliding back into place.

  Doc starts to hook Joey up to all sorts of noisy machines. “You know, if she finally has a girl I’m going to get her to name it after you. You’re a good girl, we need some of that in this house.”

  I blanch and then sputter out, “Fuck no! Don’t traumatize the poor spawn. It’ll be bad enough not knowing who the daddy is.”

  Doc grimaces. “Oh, I know who the daddy is. Maria will be lucky to get to keep the baby.”

  “Why? Who knocked her up?”

  Doc surveys the room before he speaks. “Matteo.”

  My stomach drops.

  Fuck.

  That’s really, really bad.

  “Doc. Doc, do not let her tell him. Fuck, send her away.”

  “I’ve tried, she won’t go. She’s got it in her head that they’re in love.”

  I grab his wrist and give him a shake. “I’ll give you the money. I’ll pay to get her away, Doc.”

  “I’m not stupid. I know she’s going to be forced to abort the baby.”

  She’s going to be killed. It won't matter that's she's Doc’s family. The Jackal will plunge a knife through her heart and then he’ll bury her somewhere she’ll never be found again. Doc will lose her too.

  I can’t argue with him without privacy so I shake my head and try to figure out how to help Maria. Poor, stupid, gullible Maria. Taken in by the Jackal’s handsome face.

  After another tense minute of silence Doc looks up and smiles at me. “He’ll be ready to go by midday. Stop worrying about my problems and go get some sleep, my girl.”

  Avery books us into the same hotel as the last time we were here.

  When Harley pulls into the parking I wait until the others are out and then try to get Harley out too.

  “I’ll help you ditch it.”

  I scowl at him. “I don’t want to get you into any trouble. Just go with the others and I’ll be back in an hour.”

  He stares me down until I give in. I direct him from the passenger seat until we pull up into a chop shop owned by the Bear. Gordon, the guy running it, takes one look at me through the window and waves us through into the garage. “Not a single word.” I whisper in what I hope is an authoritative tone to Harley. He just nods and we get out.

  “Price?” says Gordon.

  I look over the van and glance back to him. “I need it gone and I need a ride back to a hotel. Nothing else.”

  Gordon grunts and flicks a hand out at one of the guys who darts off to get us a ride. Then he gives Harley a good, long stare. “I’ll get the boss to call if there’s anything he’s got questions about.”

  Fucking perfect. I nod and then follow Gordon out to the awaiting car at the curb. Harley goes to get in the back and I discreetly push him to the front. Protocol, that he knows nothing about, says he gets in the front. I’m supposed to be safely stashed in the back. He eyes me and gives me a tiny nod, opening my door and shutting it behind me. I hope it’s enough.

  The car ride is mostly quiet. Harley tells the guy the address and I text Avery to tell her we’re on our way back. The guy seems nervous, he’s practically shaking, and his eyes keep darting to the rearview mirror to watch me. Harley crosses his arms and glowers at him.

  “A lot of interest about you, man.” The guy says and I tense.

  Harley shrugs and plays along. “I’m sure there is.”

  “My boss said he never thought he’d ever see the day she accepted someone. A lot of people want to know what’s so special about you. Can’t just be the pretty face or who your old man was.”

  Nope. Not going to let this go on.

  I lean forward and put a hand on the guys arm. He nearly runs us off the road before looking back at me. “Are you trying to dig for information on me?”

  “Oh, no! Absolutely not! I was just curious, I would never-“

  “Then shut up.”

  He nods and then drives in silence, sweat dripping from his face and his hands are slick on the wheel. When we pull up I wait for Harley to get out and open my door. I don’t say a word to him or the trembling driver. The tires squeal as the car takes off and the guy flees from us.

  “Is there anyone in this city that isn’t afraid of you?” Harley drawls and I shrug at him. “Are you ever going to tell me how it is a little Mounty girl can get grown men to fucking shake in their boots with barely a word?”

  I start walking to our rooms and say, “You’ve gotta be all in to know and you’re not all in.”

  Harley grunts and walks ahead of me. I stop at the door of the suite and pull out my phone to text the Jackal. If
he hears about me being here without checking in with him he’ll get suspicious and start looking into my life at Hannaford. No way I’m letting that happen.

  In the Bay. Had to get Joey patched up.

  I fidget while I wait for his reply. My head is pounding and I’d kill for ten hours of sleep right now. My phone pings.

  Stop off and see me. We can discuss your favor and I can meet the O’Cronin boy.

  Fuck no. My hand trembles as I reply.

  No time, school tomorrow. I’ll bring Harley to a meeting over the summer break.

  I can picture the Jackal’s face so clearly in my mind as he reads the message. I know he’s twitching to punish me, to bend me to him and force me to obey his every command. If I weren’t a member of the Twelve I think he would be finding me tonight. I’m not sure how much longer being the Wolf will keep me safe.

  I will see you both soon.

  I let out my breath and head into the suite.

  The shower is running, Harley must be cleaning the vomit off of his legs, and Avery is in one of the rooms talking in a stern tone down her phone. Clean up for the evil Beaumont child is well underway. The other two are out on the balcony. Blaise is smoking a blunt and Ash has a glass with whisky over ice. I step out and join them. I don’t want to be alone with the swirling panic in my mind. They’re talking shit about some sporting thing I have no idea about and even less interest in learning. I just sit and stare blankly out at the city I’d do anything to get away from.

  I can’t think about anything but all the evil that’s creeping up on us. The Jackal wants Harley dead. He’s knocked up Doc’s little Maria and now she’s going to die. Ash’s head is on the damn chopping block and his life depends on Joey breathing. Fuck.

  Eventually Blaise gets up and walks back into the room, hesitating before squeezing my shoulder as he moves past me.

  “Drink?” Ash says as he holds out the bottle to me. I take it a drink straight out of it, fuck glasses, and he quirks an eyebrow at me.

  “I need a hell of a lot more than a glass can hold right now.”