15. Bash
Chapter 15
Bash
I followed Stasia home, hating every second of her being in that Uber, and vowed to fix it so it never happens again. I don’t know what’s changed to make her move around unprotected, but that’s stopping now.
Sweat coats the back of my neck, and my T-shirt sticks to my chest. When Matthias invited me over to his place, I didn’t realize it was to build a giant tree house. God knows he can afford to pay someone, but Scarlet, his wife, one of my favorite sisters, only tied with Misty, said that it wouldn’t mean as much if we didn’t build it ourselves.
I shake my head, my hair spraying everywhere.
“Gross, Bash.” Misty’s beside me, holding out a beer. Condensation coats the bottle as I pop the cap off.
“Okay, you just won the top spot for sisters.” I take a deep swig, using the crisp taste to help cool me down.
She huffs out a laugh. “I’ll be sure to tell Scarlet.”
“You do realize she’s more than capable of kicking my ass, right?”
She gives me an innocent look. “She’ll only do what you deserve.”
I rake my hand through my damp hair, pushing it off my face. “I can only imagine what that means. Where did your husband run off to?”
A warmth fills her gaze. “He’s putting Orion down for a nap.”
Misty and Damon haven’t been able to have biological children, but that hasn’t stopped them from filling their home with smiling faces. At three, Orion is the youngest of three troublemakers.
“Uncle Bwash! Uncle Bwash!” Tucker comes running up to me, his face and hands covered in dirt. He raises his hands high above his head and demands, “Airplane!”
“Don’t look at me.” Misty laughs, providing absolutely no help
I give a dramatic sigh but smile right back. “Only because it’s you.”
Swooping him into the air, I tuck him under one arm and run through the field. Tucker spreads his arms wide like wings and kicks his feet as he giggles. I make a sharp turn, and contagious laughter bubbles from him. The kind that can only come from innocence.
An innocence our family will protect with our lives. None of us have had it easy, but our kids won’t experience anything like we did. No, they’re going to grow up loved and cherished, knowing exactly how much they mean to us and just how special they are.
“Bath time, kiddo.” Misty catches up to us, grabbing her nephew from me.
“No! I don’t wanna.” He pouts and squirms, holding out his arms like I can somehow save him. “Uncle Bwash.”
“I told you not to play in the dirt,” Olivia says.
Damon comes up beside me, following his wife’s every move until she disappears into the house.
Matthias approaches my other side, cornering me between them.
Fuck.
“I heard about your stunt in the Vault. What the hell were you thinking bringing a girl down there?” Damon growls, totally pissed.
I make a mental note to find that Unsainted and kick his ass. It’s not like I can tell my eldest brother what really happened. At least not yet. First, I have to figure out exactly what she’s doing. That way, I can protect her against the Order. My brothers included in that.
The only one I trust completely right now is Xander, and unfortunately, he’s a couple of hundred miles away.
“What can I say? A boy has needs.” I shrug and play it off like it’s just another one of my games. For once, my reputation comes in handy.
From the way Damon’s brows pull low over his eyes, I prep myself for his punch, but Matthias cuts in before any damage can be done.
“Was it Anastasia Volkov?” he asks, and Damon’s head tilts as he watches me, waiting for my answer.
I should have predicted Matthias figuring this out. “Maybe.”
Damon grabs my shoulder, giving it a shake. “Cut your shit and tell us.”
He has reason to be angry. Bringing a girl down there would be the epitome of idiocy. That doesn’t stop me from pulling back my shoulders, chin high, squaring up. “I’m not ready yet. Just drop it.”
“If it’s her, we’ll drop it,” Matthias says, tone emotionless, a temporary promise.
“Like fuck we will,” Damon cuts in.
Matthias holds up his hand. “If he’s so far gone he’s willing to stalk her, I think we give him a chance to sort himself out. God knows we needed it.”
Damon and Matthias turn their attention on me, waiting for my response.
I want to argue, to tell them that they’re wrong and I haven’t been caught in a web, but even I can’t lie that well.
“It’s her. Happy?” I groan, giving up.
“We’ll see. I’ve always wanted another sister.” The grin that takes over Matthias’s face eases something in me. He’d spent years with no sign of happiness. It was his wife, Scarlet, who brought it back. “I knew you’d eventually cave.”
I drop my head back, looking at the sky, and sigh. “Just leave me alone.”
“For now, but we want to formally meet her,” Damon commands, leaving no room for argument.
Luckily, Tucker comes running up to us screaming about his older cousin, Finley, destroying his dirt castle, saving me from any more questions.
Damon groans, and Matthias grips his shoulder. “Come on, let’s take care of it before they murder each other.”
“This isn’t over.” Damon points his finger, digging into my sternum, before following Matthias to where the kids are yelling.
Warmth fills my chest at the sound of the arguing children. Never in a million years did I think we’d get this, and I’ll be grateful for the rest of my life.
I grab another beer and find a spot in the shade. I only last a few minutes before I’m grabbing my phone and pulling up the camera feed I have on Stasia.
She’s fresh from her shower, white towel wrapped around her waist, and my dick’s hard just looking at her.
I need to figure this out before Damon and Matthias step in, and I need her cooperation to do that. I lean back against the chair, running through ideas until an inkling forms. It’s reckless, and she’ll hate it, but it’ll give me everything I want.
To get my brothers off my back.
To protect her.
And the chance to finally figure out what she’s up to.
She needs that tiara, and I’m going to use her desperation to force her into a deal. One where she has to pretend to be my girlfriend, and in return, I’ll help her.
She won’t know until it’s too late that she’ll have walked right into my trap. It’s a little fucked-up, but hey, I never claimed to be a good person.
My brothers would be proud as I follow in their footsteps. She’s ignited my interest, and I’m willing to do anything to make her mine.