Chapter Twenty
Jade
“Alright ladies, I have crossed a few wires and set up a really annoying screeching sound on the gate. I think it will take a while before the guys can fix it. Just enough time for our girl night extravaganza!!” Halle says, leading us out the back of the compound as she hands out black boxes. Sunny is helping lead Izzy as Piper and I tear through the bags. There are gloves, goggles, lighters and… ear muffs? I look at the other boxes, and they all have the same as mine except with only one set of earmuffs.
“Hey! Why do I have two?” I ask, holding them up. Halle gives me a duh look before replying.
“The baby.”
It's my turn to roll my eyes. Does she really expect me to put these over my belly?
“What is all this stuff for? It looks like we are going into battle with a bunch of cleaning supplies,” Piper says, scrunching her nose.
“You’ll see! I promise it's gonna be fun! We’re going to blow shit up,” Halle yells.
That gets all of our attention, and we hurriedly follow her. We get to the back part of the compound. It’s only a two-minute walk, but we come to the back shop on a trail through trees and brush. Halle has set up a table full of cherries… cupcakes, gummies, some kind of cocktails and other little treats. They all have one thing in common. Cherries. I’m even more confused at the package of… is that fireworks?
“No way. Hall, you did not get what I think you got,” Piper says, holding her hands over her mouth.
“What? What is it? I can't see clearly, remember!!” Izzy says impatiently.
“Cherry bombs!” Sunny laughs out loud.
“I have cleared the area, made sure no one is around, and if we keep the bombs in the area right in front of us, we should be golden,” Halle tells us, holding a basket full of cherry bombs. All the girls laugh and grab a drink off the table.
“Oh, Jade, I made this one for you! It’s a virgin,” Halle says, handing me a cocktail. “I even made shots for you that have no alcohol. Just cause you’re pregnant doesn't mean you get to miss all the fun.” I laugh with the other ladies as we throw back a shot. I’m pretty sure mine is Hawaiian punch, but I’m good with that; it's my favorite flavor.
We pig out on candy and cupcakes. We drink our specialty drinks and laugh at everything we can think of. The thought of what the men will find when they finally realize we are gone has us nearly in tears.
“Alright, I’m ready for the fun! Who gets the first bomb?” Piper asks Halle.
“Oh me! Me! Please, can I? Y'all know the minute Hitter see’s a lighter in my hand, he is going to flip his shit. I really want to get as many of these off as I can,” Izzy grumbles.
We all laugh because it's so true. He has her in a little bubble most times, but we all see the smile she gives him when he isn't looking. She loves it. I think it has to do with the fact that she went her whole life with no kind of love or affection. Her parents were absolutely shit, and her brother was a nightmare. I also wonder if she even knew what a hug really was until Hitter saved her. Now he refuses to show her anything but utter obsession, and I think it's exactly what she needs.
“Alright, Izzy gets the first go. Once hers go off, we need to have as much fun as possible. I think we are far enough back where the guys won't find us, but you know our men. It won't take them long, and I want to blow up as many of these bad boys as I can,” Halle says, grabbing one and handing it to Izzy.
“Alright, what direction did you say throw it again?” Izzy says as soon as Halle lights hers. We all start screaming for her to throw it. Finally, she lets it go, and we all scream as it pops somewhat close to us.
“See why I included the ear muffs? Hey Jade, you better be protecting my niece!” Halle points at me. I roll my eyes but place the ear muffs over my belly. Halle smiles before turning back. “Alright, ladies, let's do this!”
For the next several minutes, the girls light and throw, light and throw.
“Oh my Lanta! This is so much fucking fun! How have we not thought of this before?” Piper screams as she throws another bomb.
“Ch-Ch-Ch Cherry Bombs!” Izzy yells. She dances around, singing the infamous song by The Runaways. She turns and starts shaking her butt and head, and I bend over, laughing.
“Well, Jade’s idea of Molotov Cocktails might have taken things too far. We want to blow shit up, not set the compound and the woods behind it on fire. I figured this might give us the rush we need,” Halle says, lighting another bomb and throwing it.
“Fire in the Hole!” Izzy yells, throwing her cherry bomb wildly and a little to the left, just as the guys come out of the shed to our right. There is an ATV with a trailer of supplies right by the door, and unfortunately, the Cherry bomb lands on the ATV, blowing shit up…. Badly.
“WHAT THE FUCK IS HAPPENING? That shit almost hit me!” We hear one of the guys yelling. I’m pretty sure I saw Hitter walk out of the door just five seconds before Izzy threw the bomb. He was very close to the blast. Oops.
“Oh shit, they found us sooner than we thought,” Piper says, hiding the cherry bomb she has in her hand behind her back. Yeah, I don't think that's going to work.
Halle quickly throws her makeshift cherry bomb/Molotov cocktails. Unfortunately, she put metal jacks in hers, so when they blow, those puppies go flying. One… right into Loki as he’s walking out.
“Oopsies,” Halle whispers as Loki looks down at his arm, seeing the metal sticking out. He makes his way toward Halle. I can't tell what the look in his eyes means, but Halle seems anything but worried. As he stops in front of her, Halle reaches out and pulls the jack out of his arm. I roll my eyes as she leans down and licks the drop of blood running down his arm. Loki's eyes heat, and he immediately grabs her by her ass and lifts her to him, swallowing her face.
“Dear lord,” Piper says, rolling her eyes as well.
“Ahh, man. Izzy, you just blew up the backsplash for my kitchen,” Sunny whines as we watch the fire overtake the supplies on the trailer.
“Oh, no, girl. I am so sorry. I know you’ve been waiting months for that to come in. I feel horrible,” Izzy says, looking at Sunny in dismay. When Sunny realizes it, she pulls Izzy in for a hug.
“Oh, don't worry about it, girl! Nix picked out that ugly shit anyway. Now I get the chance to talk him into the backsplash I actually want,” Sunny laughs, causing all of us to burst out too.
“What the hell! Seriously, can we have one fucking girls' night that doesn’t end up with blood, weapons, or…. Fire?” Swift stomps toward us, all the men following. I look at Gray, and his face is set in stone. Oh shit. That doesn't bode well for me.
“We were perfectly fine out here, in the middle of the woods, just setting off some very simple, safe fireworks. Then you guys come and ruin it,” Halle pouts.
“SAFE? SAFE? You blew up a fucking ATV! You are blowing the backyard to hell!” Swift yells, throwing his hands up.
“We made sure no one was around first.” Sunny shrugs as Comp turns his head in her direction.
“You made sure the area was clear? What would have happened if the kids heard this shit? If Paisley got curious about what was exploding back here and got curious?” Comp growls.
“We made sure they were safe, Jackass. The kids wanted to go to a movie, so Becky took them,” Sunny says, sticking her tongue out at him and turning her head, sticking her nose in the air in a harrumph.
“You are pregnant, Jade. What the hell were you thinking?” Grim seethes at me.
“I was being safe as shit. I would never do anything to hurt this baby or me, and I know every one of these ladies was making sure I was fine and taken care of. Don't you dare even insinuate I would put my baby at risk,” I warn Gray. I understand his need to protect this baby and me, but I also know you have to grab life by the balls. Grab a front-row seat and not a back one.
“For your information, butthead. Jade didn't even throw one single Cherry bomb,” Piper says, placing her hands on her hips and glaring at Gray.
“And how many, pray tell, did you throw?” Swift asks, stepping up to her and crossing his arms.
“Uhh….” She stammers, looking everywhere but at him. Comp looks over at the trailer and supplies the ATV was carrying and gasps.
“Please tell me those weren't the custom Jasmine blue backsplashes I picked out for the kitchen,” He growls, looking at all of us women murderously.
“Okay, but if we are fair, Izzy was dancing, got dizzy, and threw it in the wrong direction. It was totally a mistake, and I already told her it was fine. Don't you dare make her feel bad about it!” Sunny says, pointing a finger at Comp.
“I really am sorry, Comp,” Izzy whispers, wringing her hand together. I watch as his face softens.
“Okay.. do I have to say this again? Did you give a legally blind woman an explosive? Knives are one thing, but what if that would have taken off her hand?” Hitter seethes. “I swear, girls' night is over. This is the last one. I can't take any more of this shit. I’m going to die from a heart attack before our enemies ever get the chance to take me out.” He babbles on for a while until Izzy walks up and whispers something in his ear. The next second, she is thrown over his shoulder, and they are headed toward their house.
“I think that's our cue as well. We need to have a little talk of our own, don't we, pet?” Loki smiles down at Halle as he grabs her by the ass and pulls her to him. He sniffs up the side of her neck before leaning back and saying, “Grab a lighter and some of those Cherry bombs too.”
“I’ll even add a few cupcakes… just for you. You might not have taken my cherry bomb, but you can lick my…”
“Alright, alright! Just go! We are out too,” Swift says, holding his hand up to stop whatever Halle was going to say. The rest of the group leaves, and I’m left standing here with Gray looking at me with a mixture of amusement and fear.
“The baby could have been hurt,” He whispers.
“I would never let that happen. I really didn't throw one single bomb… But how about we take some of those cupcakes home? Grab some whipped cream from the kitchen and have ourselves our own party,” I say, smirking as his eyes heat. He doesn't say a word, just grabs my hand and drags me back to the compound.