Dazzled and Dazed

by Harley McRide

  “Oh, hell no, you aren’t going to turn this shit on us and use it as an excuse to avoid us. Again,” Sean said, his voice rose with each word, and he placed emphasis on the last one. I looked up and down the street to make sure no one was out and watching us, but shit, if a window was open, we knew firsthand how well someone could hear.

  “Well, if you would let me finish, instead of being a big ass bully,” Brit said, and her voice was a helluva lot louder than Sean’s had been. I groaned.

  “Bully? I’ll show you a bully, sweetheart!” Sean yelled, and I shook my head. At least life wasn’t going to be boring with these two.

  “Did I not tell you this wasn’t going to work? You two will never tame me. I am my own person,” Brit yelled and glared at Sean.

  “Oh, we’ll tame you alright,” Sean’s voice lowered, and he leaned down putting his face directly in front of Brit’s. “Just like we did last night and the night before that and so on. Hate to tell ya, sweetheart, but when you are between us whimpering for more—that is taming.” Sean raised his eyebrows, and Brit’s eyes went wide at his words. I covered my face with my hand and wondered how my friend wrote about romance.

  “Why you arrogant, chauvinistic, ego-based—”

  “Stop!” I said and dropped the hand from my face. Two sets of eyes stared at me, and the look in them could have peeled paint off a wall.

  “You let them have it, young lady.” The three of us turned and looked at the little old lady that lived two houses up from ours. She and her dog went by at least four times a day.

  “Hey, Mrs. Cratchet. You’re looking well today. And Puddles seems to be doing good, too. Did Mr. Cratchet get that ingrown toenail cut out?” Sean and I glanced at each other. He didn’t have to speak for me to know what he thought. We’ve lived there the same amount of time as Brit, and we didn’t know the old lady’s name. Hell, did the woman go around and introduce herself to everyone?

  “You’re such a sweet girl to ask. Mr. Cratchet had that done a couple days ago. And other than off his foot for a couple days, he is doing good. I best be on my way, so Puddles can get to his business. And don’t be too hard on your men, honey. Safety is important nowadays. Plus, those sexy physiques need to be taken advantage of because between you and me, they don’t last forever, honey.” Mrs. Cratchet didn’t wait for anyone to answer. She winked, and then waved. We stood and said nothing as we watched her continue down the sidewalk with Puddles trotting beside her.

  When she turned the corner out of sight, I turned to Sean and Brit. I’d had enough. Distractions left you vulnerable. And while I stood and listened to them squabble, Mrs. Cratchet had walked up to the front of the house completely undetected. It could have easily been one of the bad guys.

  “Fuck, can we not continue this outside or better yet, at all? Half the goddamned neighborhood probably heard you two.” Both their lips curled up as they glared at me, but hey, I stopped thinking about what I was set to do today. Well, at least at this moment while I tried to get this situation cooled down. I pointed at Sean, “You need to let Brit finish talking before you jump.”

  “Hah!” Brit said and sneered at Sean.

  “And you,” I pointed to Brit, “need to accept the fact we will do what is necessary to make sure you are safe at all times. You want to get pissed, then go right the fuck ahead, but I agree with Sean, you won’t run. We are over that shit.” I raised my hand when Brit’s mouth opened. “I’m not finished. We are not your father, Brit, and you’re not your mom. We want permanent as in forever, not permanent until something better comes along.”

  Brit stared at me and blinked.

  “Damn, that was good. You should co-author a book with me,” Sean said, and I looked at him.

  “Uh... NO!” I turned my head back to Brit, and she still stood there staring at me. “Brit?”

  “Aww, that is the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me,” Brit said, and then burst out crying.

  “What the hell?” Sean said and watched Brit, but didn’t move. Holy shit, I would rather be naked, rolled in honey, and staked on top of an ant hill than deal with a woman in tears.

  I reached for Brit and pulled her into my arms, and she buried her face into my chest as she clung to me. I looked at Sean over her head, and the dumbfounded expression on his face made me chuckle. “Seriously, dude. How can you even make money writing romance?”

  Sean shrugged. “Just because I can write it, doesn’t mean I’ve experienced it. I wrote the MMF book. And I can say straight out, I have no experience with the MM part of that relationship. Strictly imagination.” I rolled my eyes.

  After a couple minutes, Brit settled and unclenched my shirt. I loosened my arms and moved them to her hips and stepped back.

  “Sorry, baby. I shouldn’t have acted like that. The only excuse I have is that I’ve got a ton of other crap on my mind today, and I wanted you close, so I didn’t have to worry about you,” Sean apologized, and I saw Brit’s face soften more.

  When she grabbed the bottom of my t-shirt and used it to wipe her eyes and nose, I chuckled.

  “Gotta be love if that didn’t gross me out,” I said, and Brit’s eyes went wide while Sean laughed.

  “Are you shocked or scared because of what Jet said, Brit?” Sean asked, and she jerked her head toward him.

  “You... I mean... It’s just...”

  “Aww, sweetheart, did you think when we told you last night it was part of a game? We’re past all of that. I think I fell a little in love with you the day you made the comment ‘the mountain speaks.’ We planned to bring you over to the dark side slowly, but then one drunken night...” Sean said, and I watched Brit’s mouth open and close.

  “First time I saw you walk into the gym, did it for me. Sean and I went out to eat that night, and I asked him if he’d seen you yet. We knew you were Zoey’s friend, but damn, you leave an impression. And by the end of dinner, we decided the only saving grace for you was being Zoey’s friend. We’d take our time with you. But, baby, you didn’t make it easy. Then the day in the tat shop, you asked Sean what piercings he had. The interest in your eyes sealed your fate.” Sean and I waited, but all Brit did was look back and forth between us.

  “Well hell, guess we know how to render her speechless, Jet.”

  I nodded. “Yeah, when we piss her off and she yells at us, we can break out the I love you. Fight over and makeup sex can begin.”

  Sean and I waited and watched as Brit worked through what we said. “How? I’m not sure I can say it. Shit, I’m not even sure if I’m capable of relationship and you both have dropped the ‘L’ word into this.” Brit waved her hand around between us. I would have chuckled at what she’d said if she hadn’t had a distressed look on her face.

  “We’re not asking you to say it back. We can wait until you’re ready. But, baby, I hate to break it to you—you are in a lasting relationship. It’s worked out so far. Well, except the part where you get out of our bed and go next door.”

  “Jet’s right. After the fight is over, I say we celebrate with you moving in here with us. I’ll let Cal and Mace know they need to move in tonight with Angelique,” Sean said, and I agreed.

  “Cal and Mace are moving in with Angelique?” Brit said and waited for one of us to answer.

  “Yes, they were going to wait until Josh got released the day after tomorrow, but they can do it a couple days early. Now, you want to tell us where you’re headed?” I said and looked over at Sean to make sure he wasn’t going to start in on Brit again.

  “The Yankees have a photo op for the team at the stadium. Since this will be Chad’s first one, he wanted me to be there. It’s part of my job anyway because some of the sponsors will be present, which gives agents like me a chance to market our clients. There will be plenty of security roaming the area, and after it is over, I will come straight to the gym,” Brit said.

  “No,” I said and put my hand up to stop Brit when her mouth opened, “We will go next door and wait for Taylor. Ta
ylor can drop you by Yankee Stadium before he and Angelique go to the hospital. When the photo op is finished, one of the security personnel will escort you to a taxi that will bring you to the gym. I will call and have that arranged before you arrive at the stadium. I know a couple of their security people, so it shouldn’t be an issue.”

  “I don’t think all that’s necessary. I’ve not been involved in any of the stuff going on,” Brit said and frowned at us.

  “You are mine and Jet’s. We love you and will keep you safe no matter if you feel it is necessary or not. You are our priority. Got it?” Sean said.

  “Well, you don’t have to be an ass about it,” Brit glared at Sean, and I shook my head.

  “Come on, baby,” I grabbed Brit’s elbow and started leading her next door. “Let’s get this plan worked out, I don’t want to go to the fight and be worried about your safety,” I said as the three of us made our way across to the other house.

  “Oh, God, please don’t worry about me while you are fighting. I promise to do exactly what you said. I will be safe and wait for you at the gym with Sean when you are done. You just concentrate on the fight,” Brit said to me, then turned to Sean, “And you do everything possible to track these bastards,” Brit said, and I only felt a tiny bit shitty about playing that card.

  I looked at Sean over Brit’s head and lifted a brow. Brit might not have said the three words we wanted to hear, but the ones she did say, told us she felt the same way.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Sean

  Everyone was already at the gym when Jet and I walked in. Taylor would cover Angelique and Josh. We weren’t taking any chances with anyone’s life at this point. We’d walked Brit back to the house and waited for Taylor to show. When we had her and Angelique loaded into his SUV, we headed to the gym in Jet’s truck. I drove while Jet made the calls to make sure Brit was taken care of at the stadium and when she was ready to leave, they would escort to a taxi.

  When we entered the meeting room, the TV was on with static playing and Reese and Mace had the laptops up and were monitoring the web.

  “Wow, I know it was planned that the women would be at the folks’ house, but I guess I didn’t believe that would happen?” I said as I looked around and the only woman there was Mel.

  “Brook, Maria, Mia, Mrs. Honeychil, Rucker, and Zoey are with Mom, Sonia, and Ms. Maddie at the house with Dad, Anthony, and Caine. Petal’s finishing a piercing job so she will be up here when done. And Bry is wrapping up the last tat appointment. Michael is waiting for them to finish, then they will lock up and join us. Xavier said he would take Brant to the house when they are done with their workouts and hang around as extra backup. Briggs made it back. He’s checking on the agents he and LaRue were granted use of. They are already at the house pulling guard duty,” Tony said.

  “Christ, this shit is getting out of hand. We need to shut these assholes down. If we had a big enough house, it would almost be worth everyone living under one roof until this was done,” I said, and Fin, Cal, and Falon looked at me.

  “Seriously? Not saying it wouldn’t be easier, but under no circumstance are you to bring that shit up where Dad can hear,” Fin said.

  “No shit. That is never to be mentioned again. Between Reilly and Anthony, we will be moved in and trapped before it hits any of us what they have done. Damn, the bad guys would only have to wait us out because we would kill each other. And now with Maria expecting, she really could murder her mother,” Ranger said with so much seriousness we laughed.

  “Maria kill her? Hell, dude, if I had to move back in with our mom, I would seriously consider shooting myself just so I wouldn’t haven’t to put up with the misery that woman can cause. Fuck, she didn’t say shit at Sunday dinner about us keeping the ultrasound appointment to ourselves. But I have paid dearly through phone calls, which after I stopped answering, turned to texts,” Tony said.

  “Then the woman started in on me. I ended up fielding calls from Sonia and my mother,” Fin said.

  “They aren’t that bad. Well...not always,” Mel chuckled, then looked at me. “Where is Brit?”

  “Yankee Stadium with Macon for some picture crap with the team,” Jet answered as he set his bag on the table.

  “Lucky bitch gets to not only be with Chad but the whole Yankee team?” I nodded as Falon glared at Mel.

  “What is it with you and the Macon dude? All he does is play with balls,” Falon sneered.

  “But he does it so well,” Mel said and laughed.

  “Please, you will forget all about pretty boy when you watch me play,” Falon said and sat down beside Mel. I looked at Jet, and he shook his head.

  “Your brother, man,” Jet laughed.

  “You showboat on the field, Falon, and I will beat your ass with a bat. We were lucky to get in this league. The teams are local firehouses, police precincts, and our team. If it wasn’t for Jet ragging on some of the guys he knows, they wouldn’t have made an exception for us. Which would have us stuck playing in the local businesses league. And by the way, we’ve been slotted to use the field located by the 45th precinct. Our first practice is next week, so can you try not to embarrass us. We are sharing the field with the 45th, the 48th, the 42nd, and two of the firehouses’ teams,” I said.

  “It’s not showboating when you are really that good. You are just jealous,” Falon taunted.

  “Of you? Not hardly,” I said and flipped Falon off and pulled out a chair.

  “True, maybe you should worry if Brit won’t run instead of putting up with both of you. We know I don’t need to have another woman fawning over me. Then again, if Brit comes to her senses and tells the two of you to fuck off, Magenta will have new material for her next book,” Falon said and smirked. Mel rolled her eyes and popped him on the back of the head.

  “Go ahead, keep it up, baby brother. I will be able to write a murder mystery because I will have the experience from killing you and hiding the body.” I was over the shit about me writing romance.

  “And I already have one fight today. Do not make me warm up on your ass,” Jet said and pulled out his own chair.

  “Really? My—” Falon started.

  “Yeah, yeah, your wife can kick all our asses,” Mace said as he pounded on the keys of the computer. “Dude, you need a new threat now that the little woman is knocked up.” We laughed, and Mel turned her head, but I didn’t miss the grin on her face.

  “Babe, they are putting you down and making a joke of your skills. Remember it was their rule that none of the women were allowed to be on the team. I took up for you because I thought it was a dumb rule,” Falon said.

  “I’m thinking it was you they were making a joke about. And I’m not playing, but I am on the team as a coach. The fall league is for men anyway, it’s the spring and summer leagues that are mixed. If I’ve dropped the kidlet by then, I should be able to play in the summer league. But thanks for the support, sweetie,” Mel said and patted Falon’s hand.

  “Anything for you my badass sex kitten,” Falon said and placed his arm around Mel’s shoulder.

  “If our brother is done making a bigger ass out of himself, can we get down to business?” Fin asked and looked at Mace.

  “Did something happen?” Jet asked.

  “Nothing’s wrong. I tried to find some tape on your man Borya Aristov. He goes by Bo,” Mace said and hit a few keys and a video popped up on the TV. “Took a while. I had to um...look in a few places since someone buried everything on Aristov. Couldn’t even tap footage of his MMA fights.”

  “Do we even want to know where you got the video?” I asked, and Mace chuckled.

  “Did you know Russia doesn’t have that many news stations,” Mace said and smiled, then hit a key and the video started. “This is a video someone shot with the camera on their phone. It’s of him and the boxer he tangled with.”

  “Holy shit,” Jet said and got up and moved until he stood in front of the TV.

  “Thought you would want to see some of
the guy’s moves. He’s younger in the video, but fighters don’t change their styles. He will more than likely have the same form and movement, just slower executing his moves. He has ten years on you. He’s got height on you, too, but the weight could be less now or more.”

  “His stats and shit when they listed him as the fighter, had him down at two hundred pounds,” I said and got out of my chair and moved closer, too.

  “Yeah, and we know they wouldn’t lie on their end, right?” Mace said.

  “Touché,” I said and saluted Mace, and he chuckled.

  “Well, start this bitch. Let’s see what I’ve got to look forward to,” Jet said and pointed at the screen.

  Mace hit play and a grainy video started. Two men circled each other in the middle of a street at dusk, which made it even harder to make out the two men’s faces. One was tall and muscled while the other was shorter, but had girth. The video had no sound, but there wasn’t a need for any. From the bobbing of heads there was a lot of shit being said, and by the posturing of the two men, it wasn’t the friendly joking kind.

  “That would be Aristov,” Mace said when the tall guy threw a punch the shorter man blocked.

  “You can tell by his stance and foot movement, he is more than a boxer. The other guy’s feet are moving in the same collation of steps,” Jet said and pointed at the screen where the shorter man moved forward, then back and side to side to dodge Aristov’s advances.

  I worked out, sparred, and could hold my own in a ring, but what we were watching was an unmatched street fight by two pros from different sports. Hell, the underground fighting wasn’t much better in who they stuck in the ring, but when money was at stake, the matches were at least close in pairing. This one was anything but.

  The boxer held his own for the first minute and a half, but as I watched Aristov, it was more like he was playing with the boxer. In one second, the stance of Aristov changed and his leg swung up, out, then in. The boxer wasn’t expecting it and the blow landed on the side of the man’s head.