Chapter 22 – Ava Jade #2
“You haven’t seen it? Are you shitting me?”
“Sorry.”
She shoved all the clothes and horns out of the way and took both my hands, hauling me up from the bed. “We’re fixing that right now.”
She pulled me through the bathroom, to the upstairs hallway of the main house. I pulled back, not wanting to face anyone just yet, but she only pulled harder. “It’s just Grey, and he’s working on something in his room, see?” She waved an arm to his open door. “No one else is here.”
Grey lowered his headphones to his shoulders and spun in his office chair. “Hey, what’s up? You need anything?”
“Just to borrow your TV,” Becca said. “And to be left alone for a minimum of two hours.”
Grey blinked, clearly as confused as I was but waved us on. “Our TV is your TV. Have at it.”
“Come on, girl. Miranda Priestly is my fucking spirit animal, I can’t wait for you to see this!”
“The guys are already out by the car,” Becca said, peering out the small octagonal window at the front of the loft.
“They can wait another sec. My liner is almost out.”
I shook the tube, forcing the last dregs of the black liquid eyeliner to saturate the brush tip. “Fucker,” I cursed as a glob of black splattered on my black Prada dress that I was definitely going to pay Becca back for some day.
“Sorry,” I muttered, trying to brush it off, but only managing to make a mess.
Becca laughed at my growly attitude, coming over to help. “You can’t even see it. Here, give me that before you wind up looking like a raccoon.”
I passed her the liner and reached for a makeup wipe, cleaning the black smudges from my fingers while she eyed up my eyes, getting a lay of the land. “Okay,” she said, mostly to herself as she knelt and leaned in. “Close.”
I closed my eyes, feeling the gentle press of her fingers at the edges of my eyes and then the cool swipe of liquid product over my lash line. She fixed the other side to match and then stepped back.
“Open.”
She smiled. “There. Have a look. Maybe a bit bolder than your usual, but it’s Halloween, so I think you can get away with it.”
I checked my reflection, surprised at how the slight change in my liner could make my eyes look so much brighter than they usually did.
And fuck if those wings weren’t perfect.
Combined with the dark lipstick, horns, and mega contouring, I really did look like a devil risen from the depths of hell. A sexy one.
“You’re hired,” I joked, trying to inject some real excitement into my tone.
She put her hands on my knees, and I found her staring curiously up at me. “You okay, babe?”
I nodded. “Yeah. Of course I am.”
Becca’s face fell a bit, but she recovered quickly, and I was reminded why I loved her too damn much.
She didn’t pry. Never pushed. But I knew she’d be there whenever I needed her to be.
It made me feel guilty for never allowing Dom to get this close to me.
Made me wonder if she and I could’ve had this.
It didn’t matter much now, though. After a quick chat this week, it was clear Dom had moved on with her life in Lennox, and I couldn’t blame her.
You could only hold out for your non- friends for so long.
Kit was still trying though. He’d even gone so far as offering to come all the way here to visit since I’d told him I couldn’t— more like wouldn’t— come to Lennox.
“Well, you know I’m here if you need me,” Becca said, standing with a sigh as she adjusted her boobs, making them appear even fuller over the top of the black bustier.
I smiled at that, a real smile, and stood with her, double checking everything of mine was in place, too. Deciding to whip my mopey ass into a better gear.
Just because all three guys were being moody bastards who’d barely left their bedrooms this week, didn’t mean my fun had to be ruined.
It was obvious, wasn’t it? The fucker who’d been texting me crawled off into a hole somewhere and died like the rodent he was. It was sad—not getting the chance to maim him myself, but I was over it. Why couldn’t they get the fuck over it, too?
I followed Becca down the stairs and out to the front, where the guys waited by the Rover under the moonlight. Corvus, with his arms crossed leaning against the hood. Rook smoking a cigarette like it was his fucking job, and Grey texting something furiously on his phone.
My stomach twinged with discomfort as Grey, seeing me approach, quickly stuffed his phone back into his pocket, the muscles in his jaw clenching.
I couldn’t help wondering who he was texting. If it was Bianca.
My fists clenched.
“Let me guess,” Grey said, painting on a forced grin. “The Devil Wears Prada.”
Becca put a hand to her chest and smiled widely at him. “A man after my own heart.” She tossed a wink my way. “He’s a keeper, Aves.”
“Good flick,” Grey added, gesturing to the bag Becca was carrying. “What the hell are you bringing in that?”
I thought she just had her larger black purse with her, but I realized now that it was more like a mini duffel bag.
“I had a feeling you three would be lame asses and not bother dressing up for your own Halloween party, so I got you these.”
She dropped the duffel down onto the hood of the Rover, earning herself a little glare from Corvus as she unzipped the bag.
“One for you,” she said, handing one to Grey.
“And you, Rook.”
“And you, too, Bone Man .”
“Becca,” Corvus warned.
“I know, I know. Only in private, oh powerful prince of darkness.”
“What the hell are these?” Rook asked, seemingly annoyed as he stomped out the remnants of his cigarette beneath his boot.
But it was obvious, wasn’t it? The shape gave them away, even in the minimal light pouring onto the front drive.
“Crow masks,” I said, not even realizing I’d said the words aloud.
“Come on,” Becca urged them, planting her hands on her hips. “At least try them on. I had them custom made.”
Corvus’ nostrils flared, and Rook lifted a brow at her.
“She said try them on,” I repeated, adding an edge of violence to my tone that was just enough to spur them to listen.
“Aren’t they great?” Becca squealed as the guys finished tying them on with the oiled black laces.
They covered half their faces from forehead to just below the nose and were both a shining and matte black with an iridescent blue in some parts. The beaks extended out, but not so far out that they appeared bulky or looked foolish. They looked badass. Like, straight out of a horror movie.
“What do you say, boys?” I pressed. “Becca went out of her way to have these made for you…”
Grey cleared his throat. “Thanks, Becca. These are great.” He elbowed Rook.
“Yeah. Whatever. They’re cool.”
“And you’re already used to wearing a mask, so I’m going to assume this suits you just fine, Corv.” Becca patted him on the chest. “Though I like you better in skeleton makeup.”
He growled slightly, and I steered Becca toward the back seat. “Okay. That’s enough. Let’s go.”
We barely got outside of the town limits before Becca pulled a joint from the smaller purse she had hidden in the duffel and lit it up, blowing the smoke out the rear window while she hummed along to Boy Epic pouring out of the speakers.
“Here,” she said, passing it. “You need this more than I do. Loosen up a bit. Tonight’s going to be fun, and it’s my last night at the loft.”
I took the joint with a sigh. “I really wish you’d reconsider staying a bit longer.”
“Why? The window’s fixed back at Briar Hall, and besides, you barely sleep at all with me there.”
I opened my mouth to argue, but she held up a hand, and I took another drag instead.
“I’m not taking any offense,” she said. “So I hope you won’t either when I tell you that when you are actually sleeping, you’re a terrible sleeping buddy.”
“What?”
“Seriously, like, I’m pretty sure I have bruises from you kicking me.”
I snorted. “Liar.” I hardly moved in my sleep.
“Okay fine, I just miss my bed. Happy?”
I shook my head, and when I went to pass the joint back to Becca, Rook stole it from my fingers, lifting it to his lips instead.
“You mind?” he asked Becca, and her brows lifted.
“Not at all.”
He smoked it down to the nub and tried passing it back, but Becca just gave him an unimpressed look. “You might as well finish it now.”
I shivered as the cool night air pumped into the backseat from the open windows, and from the pot working its way into my muscles and making them tingle.
It was stronger than her usual stuff, and I hummed contentedly to myself, leaning my head back against the seat as we veered off the main road and down towards the edge of Thorn Valley and the lake.
“Good shit,” I muttered, letting the high sink deep into my bones.
“The best,” she agreed. “I was saving it for?—”
Her words cut off abruptly, and I was almost too slow to brace myself on the front seats as a black sedan peeled out in front of us, forcing Grey off the road.
Becca squealed while we swerved, the Rover’s movements jerky and making my stomach fill with the bad kind of butterflies.
“ Fuck ,” I shouted as we skidded on the gravel at the road’s edge, coming to a stop just a few feet from hitting the ditch.
I clutched my stomach, heart racing as car doors popped open all around and Becca screamed as black gloved hands dragged her from the Rover.
Her eyes went wide and wild as her body fell from the seat faster than I could snatch her back. My doped up fingers fumbled with my seatbelt as I shouted. “Becca! Someone get Becca!”
I got free and jumped from the car in time to hear a crude grunt. Headlights blinded me as I turned to find what made the sound, reaching for a blade.
“Aves!”
I spun, but it was too late. The blade was knocked from my hand and a black sack was pulled over my head, arms sharply hauled back and bound tight.
I kicked back, but my leg was only hooked by whoever had set upon us, sending me sprawling face first into the gravel. The earthy copper taste of my own blood filled my mouth, and I gagged as I swallowed it back, rolling to get back to my feet.
“Becca!”
Someone made a grab for my arm, and I bent my knees, throwing my whole body into the round house kick. I nailed whoever it was real fucking good, but without my arms for counter balance, I only ended up on the ground again, my shoulder aching from the fall.
“Sparrow, stop fighting,” Corvus bellowed, and I hesitated as I rose back to my feet again, trying to see through the black hood over my head, but there was only light and shadows.
“What the fuck is going on?”
The hands came for me again, and I thrashed, but this time I didn’t fight, choosing, maybe very stupidly, to trust Corvus.
“Awe, don’t ruin the game, Son,” Diesel’s distinct voice rose right after a car door opened somewhere far off to my right.
“Just let her go!” Becca cried, and I could hear the struggle in her voice. Someone was holding her back. Was someone holding my guys back, too? Or were they watching this happen and doing nothing?
My chest ached for an instant before I realized what this was.
Another fucking trial.
Of course.
I forced my breathing to even out and straightened my back.
“It’s okay, Becks.”
“What’s going on? What is this?” she demanded, and I wanted nothing more than for her to be far away from this place. Far from Diesel St. Crow and his men.
“Take her away,” I said, in no direction in particular, the order meant for the guys. “Get her out of here.”
“You heard the girl,” Diesel said. “Get her little friend out of here.”
“What are you doing?” Grey demanded, and I could see his expression in my mind’s eye from his tone alone. The tension that would be between his brows. The sour curl of his upper lip.
A pause before Diesel answered. “I didn’t want to ruin the surprise, but anticipation sometimes makes it even sweeter. We’re having a hunt.”
“A hunt?” Rook asked, his voice a lethal rasp.
“Yes. Like we did for Foley a few years back.”
“Foley died in the hunt,” Corvus deadpanned, and my mouth went dry.
“What?” Becca all but screamed, and I could hear the scratch of heels against the pavement as she struggled some more, making my heart twist in my chest.
A shuffle of feet and I saw what I thought was the shadow of Diesel move closer to his boys. Their three shadows were surrounded by many others standing in front of the headlights.
“Yes, well, Foley had questionable intentions, and in the end, he just wasn’t good enough. He would’ve been a liability. A risk.”
The way Diesel said risk told me exactly how he felt about them. Like father, like son. Corvus was just the same.
“We’re taking her with us,” Rook said, and I heard him step forward, saw the shadows close it, and then nothing. No movement.
“If you interfere, she fails,” Diesel told his son. “You know the rules. I’ve already made one exception. I will not make another.”
“You boys have a party to get to,” the man holding me added, tightening his grip on my arm. “You’d best get going. You know how shit is with the Aces right now. If you want to keep your Docks, you have to be ready to defend them.”
“Diesel,” Corvus said, his father’s name on his lips like a plea.
There came no reply for his son, but an order hissed from his lips. “Take her.”
I didn’t struggle as they led me away, already trying to come up with a solution on my own, but my thoughts were slow. Addled by the third of a joint I’d smoked in the fucking Rover.
“Wait!” Becca shouted as we passed her, and her hands grasped my arm, trying to keep me there while the men holding us fought to keep us apart.
I slowed my pulse and swallowed. “I’m going to be fine,” I said, in a voice that sounded so certain I almost believed it myself. “Don’t worry about me, ’kay? I’ll see you later.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
Her nails scratched my arm as she was pulled away, and I heard her gasp as she was passed off.
“I’ve got you,” Grey said. “It’s okay. She’s going to be okay.”
“Are you sure?” she asked, the watery sound of her voice making my eyes burn.
“Positive,” Corvus replied instead of Grey, making me feel stronger.
“But what if she isn’t?”
I was shuffled from warm hands to cold ones and a trunk opened. I ground my teeth as they shoved my head down, folding me into the dark, cool space and closing me in. My phone was taken from my back pocket just before the trunk slammed shut.
Rook’s reply was the last thing I heard before the engine started and the menace in his voice woke the dark parts of me back to life. Stoked my fire back to life, burning me back to a sense of sobriety.
“ She has to be. ”