Chapter 4
CHAPTER 4
FRANCI
F all semester is now in full swing. My GPA didn’t take too big of a hit from the summer term, even though I sucked at keeping my focus the last couple weeks of school. I haven’t seen Gavin in a month and a half. I’ve tried flirting with other guys and moving on, but for some reason, they’ll talk to me for a bit and then suddenly cut off communication. It’s nerve-racking.
I’m still struggling with my sleep. It’s been so bad that I got a prescription for sleeping pills from the campus clinic. I’ve taken them a few nights, and I swear I wake up with the most vivid dreams of Gavin. One morning, I could have sworn he was in my room. I could smell his cologne in the air and even dreamed he was holding me, making the nightmares go away.
I feel like I’m constantly being watched. I’ve always had a security team on me, but for some reason, it’s now bothering me. I’ve decided I need to spend some time with Ley. Maybe I can convince her to pull the detail for a bit. I need some time to myself.
I pull my car into the garage and try not to focus on everything else that’s going on. I take a deep breath and gear up for what’s going to come. She’ll question me. She will know as soon as she sees me that I’m not getting enough sleep, but I won’t tell her about the pills. Ley will make me go back to counseling, and I don’t want to do that.
I fake the extra spring in my step as I bound up the stairs.
“Mom, I’m home,” I holler and chuckle. I don’t normally call her Mom. She is my mom, but then again, she isn’t. She’s taken care of me like a mother, and I love her, but there have been times when she’s felt more like a big sister.
I come to a stop when I see a large man sitting at the breakfast bar. When he turns, I recognize him instantly. His blond hair is cut in one of those Viking styles popular right now—shaved on the sides and long enough for a man bun at the back. I’ve wanted to meet my other new family members for years, but Ley thought it would be safer for me not to. Plus, she and her father don’t even speak. She’s mad at him and doesn’t talk to me about it.
“Franci,” Ley says in an exasperated voice as she drops her head.
“Daughter?” Gray’s head swings between the two of us, and I can tell he’s confused.
She didn’t want the men after us to go after her family. I only met my grandma because she came to take care of Ley after she was attacked in Chicago. Since then, Babushka and I email and talk all the time.
“You’re Gray,” I say softly, finally excited about something. I get to meet him. Maybe I’ll get to meet Andrei next.
“I am.” Gray smiles at me before he turns back to Ley and stares her down.
“Gray, meet my adopted daughter, Franclynn, or Franci for short.” She introduces us. I’m practically bouncing inside. I needed this, a distraction from the phone calls and Gavin.
“Franklin? Like F-r-a-n-k-l-i-n.” He spells it out as he looks at me in shock. Everyone questions my name. I nod at him.
“Benjamin Franklin was awesome, and when Ley gave me a choice in my name, I wanted a guy name like her,” I explain.
I love her name and think it’s beautiful and fitting. Her full name is Ridley, but she goes by Ley. I’ve never told her that’s why I chose Franclynn, but now she will know. Her brows drop as she tries to work it all out in her mind.
“But we spell it F-r-a-n-c-l-y-n-n,” I continue. “I go by Franci, like the guy’s name, but spelled with a C instead.” I laugh as he moves toward me.
“I have a niece,” he says softly with a big smile on his face.
I nod again, so afraid that I’m dreaming this encounter. I had a huge family once, but it was taken from me. Then it was just Ley and me until Babushka came in. She always tells me about Gray, Andrei, and the other guys she helped raise. I’ve always wanted to meet them all. My greatest wish is to have a large family again. I love studying sharks and finding ways to protect them, but I want a family more.
“Welcome to the family,” he says louder and hugs me. I melt into him. I have an uncle.
“ Babushka said you were in town. I was hoping Ley would let me finally meet you,” I say against his broad chest. He’s not as big as Gavin, but he’s still big. Most people are bigger than me since I’m so petite.
“Franci, go get comfy while I talk to Gray,” Ley says, and I release him and move toward her. I hug her, needing some motherly or sisterly tenderness with everything going on. “Love you, kiddo.” She kisses the top of my head. I can’t help the sigh. I needed that. Fighting back tears, I turn away and spot the slow cooker in front of her.
“Yummy. Stuffed peppers. What’s the occasion?” I love stuffed peppers. Ley learned to make them almost as good as my mother used to.
“My kiddo came home for the weekend. Plus, we have the latest episode of Survivor to watch.” She smiles at me. “I love you.” She has a funny look on her face as she brushes her hand down my cheek. I turn away, afraid she can read me too easily, and head for my room.
This bedroom is nothing like my dorm room, which is temporary and set up for school only. Here, the bed has a fluffy jade comforter that I love. Cream accents are on all the furniture, and even the walls are painted a soft cream color. Pictures of Ley and me are displayed everywhere, including one of my family before the attack, which Ley was able to get for me. I still don’t know how she did that.
I sit on the edge of the bed and brush my fingers over the soft, multi-color shawl at the foot of it. It was my mother’s. She wrapped me in it before shoving me into the cupboard when the men broke into our house. I feel the emotions starting to take over, and I can’t let that happen. I have to be careful because Ley is very observant and knows me well. I don’t want her to be mad at Gavin. They have been friends for too long.
I stand up and change into a pair of sweatpants and a long band T-shirt. After slipping on my soft UGG slippers, I check myself in one of the mirrors before leaving the room.
Good to go.
“Gray, I have special training going on tomorrow and won’t be done until at least five. I’m sure Franci has studying to do.” I hear Ley say.
“No, I don’t,” I say, stopping in the entrance to the kitchen. “I’m all caught up. I thought we could hang out.” My voice quivers slightly. I was hoping to forget my troubles, but if I’m left here alone, I’ll just be stuck in my head. I don’t want that.
Ley moves toward me and wraps an arm around my shoulder. “Franci, I’m sorry. I had this set up months in advance. It was the only time I could get all the team together to do this specialized training. I promise you can come next door and hang out while I’m working.”
That doesn’t sound fun. I hate watching all the military-trained men. They make me nervous, reminding me of how the unit Ley was working with broke into our home.
“Or she can come hang out with Erika and me,” Gray offers. “It’s about time I got to know my niece.” He smiles at me, and I can’t help the big smile that I return or the dreamy look in my eyes.
I turn to look up at Ley, who is several inches taller than me. I bat my eyelashes and give her a pleading look. I really want to get to know Gray. Babushka told me about his wife, Erika, and the baby they’re expecting. I’m going to have a little cousin and can’t wait.
“Okay. On one condition.” Ley holds up a finger. “You’ll have a team.”
“Thought you had the guys doing training.” I smirk at her, because she did say that.
“I’ll call in a favor.” She challenges me with a raise of her eyebrow, and my gut twists. I know who she’s going to call. I take a step away from her to hide my reaction. I want to see him again, but at the same time, I don’t. I hate what he said to me. His words hurt so much.
“Fine.” I huff as I turn away from her.
Ley is watching me too closely. I paste a smile on my face, but I know, just like she does, that it’s fake. Thank goodness for Gray, though.
“What do I need to know?” He interrupts our standoff.
“We’ll talk about it tomorrow. Now get out of here so Franci and I can have some dinner and girl talk.” She laughs as she picks up her cell phone, and I know who she’s messaging.
T he next morning, I wake up feeling like shit, but I’m not going to bail on my time with Gray and Erika. After a quick shower in my ensuite bathroom to wake myself up, I head into my closet to dress. I stand there for a bit, unsure what to wear.
“Fuck it.”
I grab a pair of black shorts, black tights, and a cable-knit sweater in bold red, blue, yellow and black stripes with “Nerdy” emblazoned on the front. I slip on a pair of fuzzy-trimmed socks and my Doc Marten boots. Even though we’re having some warmer weather for September, it’s still cool in the evenings. I usually wear my nicer clothes on campus, and I hated that Gavin suggested my clothes were too revealing. I’m not changing for him or anyone.
I head out to the kitchen, where Murtaugh, Ley’s dog, is waiting for me. He brushes up against my leg, and I lean down to pet him. As her PTSD service dog, Murtaugh helps her when she has panic attacks, but last night, he was cuddled up next to me as we watched TV. I had a hard time reassuring Ley I was okay because of how he was behaving with me. She wasn’t wrong, I might need him right now. Maybe I’ll talk her into letting him sleep with me tonight; it might help.
I find a note on the breakfast bar, letting me know that Ley has already gone next door for her training. She’s left me a breakfast sandwich in the microwave and made sure my favorite black tea is ready to steep. I’m touched by how sweet she is. It makes me realize she’s always been like this when I’m around her. I just wish she would stop working so much and talk to me about what’s going on with her. I know she’s dealing with something. I don’t know what. All I can do is wait until she tells me.
“You ready, kiddo?” Gray asks a couple of minutes after my tea is done steeping.
I look up to see him standing at the top of the stairs. I was lost in my head, thinking about Gavin.
“Yep, let’s go,” I say, managing a smile as I turn around to grab my to-go cup and messenger bag.
He chuckles as he takes me in from head to toe, and we head out.
Gray is parked in the garage next to my little car. I wanted to drive, but he and Ley agreed he would pick me up. Ley will be done in time to bring me home later.
I climb into his classic muscle car and admire it. “This is really nice. I like it.”
“Thanks, I had it brought over from Vegas. It’s a 1970 Plymouth Roadrunner.”
“It’s awesome,” I say, really trying today.
We take off, and I see the guys performing repelling exercises at Ley’s office building next door as we drive past. We head into downtown toward the art district, passing the tattoo parlor Babushka said Erika and her brother own.
“That’s Erika’s shop?” I ask just to confirm.
“Yeah, I’m working in there while she’s working,” he says.
“I thought you owned a casino. Do you do tattoos too?”
I glance in the side mirror and notice a couple of motorcycles following us. I don’t turn around because I don’t want Gray to know I saw them. Neither of the riders looks like Gavin from this distance. We turn a corner near the tattoo parlor.
“Oh, I own the casino. I just don’t like to leave Erika alone right now.”
“Why?” I turn to him.
“After she was almost kidnapped last month, I don’t want her out of my sight.”
“She was almost kidnapped?” My breathing increases. “Was it because of me?” I ask.
When he turns to me in shock, I realize I said that out loud. My phone caller threatened to kill those near me as revenge for losing his career.
“No, absolutely not. What’s going on with you and Ley?” he asks.
I shake my head. “Nothing.” I turn forward to focus on where we are going and jump when I feel his hand on my shoulder.
“It’s okay, kiddo, you can tell us anything,” he says, his voice soft yet gruff, and I realize the car has stopped.
“Ley adopted me after my whole family was killed by a corrupt military contractor unit.” I give him the basics. “They are gone now, but I sometimes worry.” It’s a lie, but I don’t know what Ley wants him to know and not know.
“Come on.” He gets out and walks around the car to open my door. I learned a long time ago to let men open my door for me. It’s not a weakness issue but a safety issue.
We’re parked on the street in front of an old warehouse. The blinds over a large window are pulled open, and I can see into a cozy living room. Gray enters a code before opening the door and stepping inside. I follow slowly behind him. A woman about my size steps around a corner with flour on her apron. Her long dark hair is styled in cool space buns, and I want her to teach me how to do that. She’s dressed in a cute micro-miniskirt and a black cropped tank top. She is covered in tattoos and is absolutely beautiful.
“You must be Franci.” She wipes her hands on a towel over her shoulder, and I reach out to shake her hand. She pulls me in as soon as my hand lands in hers. “You are too cute,” she exclaims as she steps back and looks me up and down. “I love those Docs.” She points at my boots that have flowers along the shafts.
“Thank you. You’re beautiful too. Can you show me how you do your hair?”
She laughs and directs me to a chair. “Grayson, get me a couple ponytail holders and pins,” she orders him. He shrugs off his leather jacket, leaving him in a black Henley and black jeans.
I sit on the bar stool as she begins to style my hair, explaining each step as she goes. My gaze drifts to the stovetop, where a loaf of bread is rising.
“Can I help you?” I ask, needing to get my mind off the bikers that I know are just outside. I used to help my mother in the kitchen and love helping Ley when she bakes, which is rarely.
We proceed to work on the bread and spend the day getting to know each other. It’s easy to forget about all the bad shit pushing down on me when I’m with them. They joke and laugh a lot, and the way they interact shows how much they love each other. Gray holds and touches Erika every chance he can. She does the same, just a brush of her hand across his back or leans up for him to kiss her.
I want what they have when I finally find someone. I thought I would get that with Gavin, but as soon as he learned my age and that Ley adopted me, he ran for the hills. I also like that Gray and Erika have Riggs, Murtaugh’s brother. I pet him and spend time cuddled on the sofa with him for a bit before drifting off.
I come awake as the front door opens and see a thin but muscular man step inside. He’s covered in as many tattoos and piercings as Erika. They introduce him as Leif, her brother. He’s built like a swimmer, with long and lean muscles. He’s charming and nice to be around too, but I remain quiet and just watch him.
There’s something about Leif I can’t put my finger on until he stands near me, and I swear I smell Ley’s shampoo on him. Now I’m curious and want to question him, but I don’t. Instead, I move to the window and look outside, where I spot a couple of motorcycles parked down the block at a coffee shop. When two men walk out and move toward the bikes, I recognize one of them. He was there when Gavin hurt me.
I don’t hear Leif as he walks up to me until he speaks, and I startle slightly.
“Don’t worry about them. They’re harmless,” Leif says in his husky voice.
“They are my detail for the day.” I know Ley called them. She doesn’t have many people around here that she trusts, but Gavin is one of them.
“What?” He turns to look at me. His pierced brow raises when I face him.
“Yep. Ley thinks I don’t know she’s gotten anal about the security detail on me. Today she acted like it was nothing new, but it is.” I huff.
She’s not getting better about it; she’s getting worse. She insists the extra precautions are just in case, but I know things have changed. I wonder if my caller is contacting her too. I should talk to her, but he threatened to kill her if I did, so I don’t.
The hair on the back of my neck rises, and I know Gavin is out there too. I hate that my body is so attuned to him. When he came to campus and pulled me into the alcove, I was shocked. But I’ve sensed him other times. Just like I feel like he’s there when I wake up in the morning sometimes.
I look at the alley, confident he’s there, but he’s not revealing himself. Why? What does he think he’s accomplishing other than causing me more pain?
“For years, I’ve had some kind of protection. Be it boarding schools with lots of security to a team.” I shake my head. “When we moved here, I thought it would change. Instead, it’s gotten worse.” I turn back to Leif. “Don’t get me wrong, Ley is the closest thing to family I have, but I wanted a mother, not a protector.”
I’m not sure why I’m sharing this with him, but if he’s who I think he is, he’ll understand. Plus, I like him for her. They make a stunning couple, and I just want her to find love. I feel like I’ve kept her from dating and finding someone, whether it’s because she had to look after me or because the men after me attacked her, changing her completely. Her face had to be reconstructed, and Babushka told me her body will never bear a child. Having me caused all of that.
Leif pulls me in carefully for a hug, and I lean my head on his chest.
“She does love you. It’s how she shows her love.”
“How could you know that?” I lift my head and raise my brow, unable to hide my smirk.
“Never mind.” He steps away from me as Erika interrupts us to discuss dinner, stopping me from questioning him further.
My phone rings, but I don’t want to answer it with all their prying eyes on me, so I step outside for privacy.
Gambit
I sneak in at night and watch her sleep. I even try to get off while watching her as she sleeps. But my cock only wants her, not my hand or another woman.
Here I am now, watching her just as Rogue asked me to. I shouldn’t be, but I am. When Leif hugs her, I’m up off my bike, ready to go after him and paint that glass window with his blood. He’s digging his grave right now by putting his hands on my woman. I know he’s not interested in her, but I’m a jealous bastard when it comes to my girl.
I don’t expect her to step outside, but she takes a call, and I watch as Leif follows her. He’s going to touch her again, and I can’t stop my legs this time. Before I know it, I’m across the street, pulling him away from her.
My jaw is locked, my teeth clenched, as I yank him back and slam him against the brick wall.
“Don’t touch my girl again, or I’ll kill you, Leif. I don’t care who you are,” I growl. I’m not afraid of him.
“Gambit,” someone yells from behind us, and I can’t stop from looking at my girl. There are dark shadows under her eyes, and she’s lost weight too. I take my fill of her until she reaches out and touches me.
“Gavin, what are you doing here?” Everything clicks into place. She moistens her lips with that cute, cotton candy-colored tongue, and I want to suck it deep, but I can’t. Rogue is here now. I turn to look at her and then back at Franci. “You said we couldn’t.” I hear the hurt in Franci’s voice. I turn away from her and look toward Rogue.
“Fuck, Rogue, I can’t do this.” I rush away from them before I take Franci in my arms and ruin everything.
The sound of my bike echoes off the buildings around us, and I know my guys are following me. I race out of there, not slowing down until I come to a sliding stop at the clubhouse and storm to my office.
Opening the drawer, I pull out the bottle of Stagg bourbon and pop the top. Not bothering with the glass sitting on my desk, I take a deep swig straight from the bottle. What the hell am I going to do? I can’t be away from her. I can’t live without her. But I can’t lose Rogue either. I’ve lost so much of my family already.
I don’t know how long I sit there, drinking and contemplating my next move, before my phone buzzes across the desk.
Rogue
Don’t expect to rush off and us not talk. Tonight at 2200, your place.
Me
Who’s watching her?
I purposely don’t use Franci’s name in case one of our phones is compromised. I have to know that she’s safe. I don’t want her around other men, but she has to be safe. I’m waiting for Browser to get back to me on his search of the numbers that are calling her. I know she answered the call she received when she stepped outside on a burner phone. Whoever is calling her, she doesn’t want others to know.
Rogue
She has a team on her and is locked in my penthouse.
Me
Good. My team will make sure she doesn’t leave.
There is no way Rogue doesn’t suspect how I feel about Franci, especially after she said my real name. No one calls me that, and very few people know it.
I text Striker to get a member and a prospect to keep an eye on her. I can’t hack Rogue’s system or break in to watch Franci, so I’ll have to get my fix other ways. I look back in the drawer where the bourbon was and see the silky pink panties in the plastic bag. I stole them from her hamper during one of the times I broke into her dorm. I’m about to reach for them when my door slams open. Only two men would dare walk in with that attitude.
“What the fuck is going on with you?” Striker barks, and I reach for the bottle before I answer him.
“I can’t do this anymore.” I don’t clarify what I mean.
“What?” he asks.
“Franclynn.” Just saying her name hurts. I want her so badly.
“Get your ass up now,” a commanding voice barks from behind Striker. The man I respect above all strides into the room.
I can’t stop my body from obeying, and I stand at attention. He’s the only man I’ll give this to. Striker, feeling the force of the command, straightens up with his shoulders back, his long hair in a man bun at the back of his head.
“Cut this shit,” Commander orders, poking at Striker’s bun.
“No, sir,” Striker says. “I’m not in anymore. The only reason I stand for you is because I respect you, old friend.” They shake hands and partially hug.
I come around my desk and pull a couple of glasses off the bar against the wall. I pour Striker some of my bourbon, but for Commander, I pull the second bottle from the drawer. I close the drawer before they can see my fucked-up prize. I can’t hide the fact that she is mine. I will possess any part of her I can.
“Black label.” I hold up the bottle before I pour it.
“Yes.” He holds out his hand for the two fingers neat of Jameson Black Label. I raise my bottle, and together the three of us say the toast a fallen soldier made up one night.
“Why are you here?” I ask before I resume my seat.
“Rogue.” The name isn’t a shock, but his next words are. “It was all a setup. Thant wanted her, and he got her. But now he’s going to come after her, and I need you to be ready to defend her. You can’t be all up in your head.” He points at my computer. “Figure your shit out with her. She’ll be in danger too.”
He drops a thick folder on my desk, and both Striker and I lean forward. I open it to find a photo of a woman in a bed. She’s been beaten so severely that the only way I can identify her is by her hair color and height. There were no images of her in the file Browser got me of this attack.
Thant, who ran a military contracting company specializing in security, had suddenly started getting black ops jobs. The Black Unit, which Rogue, Striker, and I were a part of, was run by Julian Black, my drinking buddy and the Commander. Thant had been competing with us until Deere, one of our members, was killed. After that, we were deemed ineffective and disbanded. Rogue was farmed out to Thant, while the rest of us were assigned to other groups before Commander got us back. He couldn’t get Rogue because she’d gotten out by then.
“Thant did this to her?” My blood runs cold.
We read the report that stated her throat had been cut in the attack in Chicago, but this is even worse. They almost killed her. It explains why her features are different now. She had to have reconstruction to repair the damage they did. Her bones were broken, including her fingers, cheekbones, and nose. She suffered knife wounds and a couple of bullet wounds. My stomach turns for what my friend went through.
“Yeah. He and his men. One of his men is missing. I think our little Rogue has gone rogue and is killing them to protect your girl.” He drops another folder, and I open it. I see Franci as a little girl. Her face bruised, lip busted, and I’m angry instantly. Again, the file Browser managed to get stated she’d been physically hit, but it did not mention the damage.
“I’ll kill the fucker who did this.”
“Not sure which one, but that phone number alerted me. I think it’s one of Thant’s men, and he’s going after your girl.” Hearing Commander confirm my fears has the soldier in me rising up, wanting to get revenge. I like that he’s calling her my girl too.
I put the bottle of whiskey and bourbon back in the drawer as we discuss what we can do to protect Rogue and Franci. Commander also mentions that Rogue’s real father is keeping an eye on her. The information on Rogue’s new training has me impressed. This time we’ll help protect Rogue, and we won’t be asking for permission. This is what we do, protect our own.
“I have an ace in the hole that will come to help,” Commander says before he leaves, and I wonder what he’s talking about. But I think I have an idea.