Chapter 6
“Spill it, homeslice. We’ve pieced the story together from various sources, but we need to hear what the fuck is going on from you.
” The APS femmes were together in the Wendy House, where Piper was making it perfectly clear they expected the full story about Brooke’s microbrewery dilemma.
“I’m warning you, though: the next time you pull shit like this with your girls, it ain’t gonna be pretty. Now, what’s up?”
Sighing, Brooke took a sip of her wine, then proceeded to fill them in on the situation.
“At this point, Blake says we should just sit tight until Trill and the rest of them come back with information,” she concluded.
“Honestly, I’ve gotten a wee glimpse at how APS operates up close and personal and I’m floored.
” She shook her dark blonde head. “I mean, it’s not like I haven’t always known how freaking amazing they are, but seeing it with my own eyes has left me speechless. ”
“Even being on the front lines with them, they blow me away constantly.” Kelly took a swallow of her beer as Piper nodded.
“You know as well as I do that they will figure this out, then bury those creeps six feet under where they belong. Just the fact that they are trying to screw over a woman who just beat breast cancer because her husband took his eyes off their business for a minute? Fuck. Those assholes will be lucky if the APS management team doesn’t chop their balls off. ”
Sitting cross-legged on the sofa, a cup of tea in her hands, Rowan observed, “Bryn was so mad when she stopped by the WAC with Teagan after the meeting.” Rowan, along with Kelly, was the owner of the Whimsy Arts Complex and the Dream Creamery ice cream shop.
“She gets this little tic in her jaw when her temper is about to blow, so I knew whatever it was, it was frigging serious. That would explain it.”
Delaney agreed. “Teagan was just as pissed.” She looked soberly at Brooke.
“Sis, there is no way they’re going to let this go.
As far as APS is concerned, it’s bad enough when men try to hurt women in general, but stealing from a woman who could have lost her life to cancer?
Holy crap. Just do what Blake and the rest of them need you to do, and they’ll protect Cask & Canvas, no matter what. ” She took a mouthful of her own tea.
“Speaking of Blake.” Brooke groaned and pinched the bridge of her nose as Nova cut to the chase, the other femmes straightening immediately to attention.
“My bitch, we are fucking done with this coy shit you’ve been pulling.
Hiding your head in the sand isn’t going to fly any longer.
You think we don’t know how you and Blake really feel about each other? ”
Alyssa threw a piece of popcorn at her. “I’ve known both you and Blake since we were little kids.
You may have never admitted it, but you know as well as I do that Blake has loved you her entire life.
Deep down inside, you’ve felt the same for her.
You need her, Brooke. And if you don’t think Blake Seibert won’t cut a fucking swath through those dumb shits because they’re putting the woman she loves at risk? Sheesh.”
Looking into her wine glass for a moment, Brooke finally sighed and took a sip, not saying anything.
“Honey, I haven’t lived in Whimsy for very long, but it’s as plain as the nose on your face that there’s something between the two of you that’s on a par with what Bryn and I feel for each other.
” Rowan’s voice was quiet in the silent room.
“You two fit. Blake may drive the rest of the management team out of their minds because of how she can be,” a small laugh escaped her, “but I also know every single one of them would lay down their life for her and vice versa.”
Kelly jumped in. “Think about what Blake does, homeslice. She runs Utopia, the most killer gaming facility in the world, but one that exists so the associates at APS learn how to provide the most top-level protection services in the world for women. Yes, she’s a goddamn goof, and I’ve been tempted to smack her myself on more than one occasion, but there is no way APS could do what it does without her.
“Just like the rest of them, protecting women is her life. And you are at the top of her list, my bitch. You need to cut the shit and admit you two belong to each other. Because you do.”
Brooke swiped at the tears that had started to fall down her face.
“I haven’t admitted to you that I’ve been scared to be at home alone since The Candyman’s muscle tried to kidnap me,” she said in a low voice, ignoring the rumbles that immediately filled the room.
“I never told anyone because it seemed so stupid. If there is one thing I am not, it’s a pussy, and you know it.
The Candyman and his goons were behind bars, so what did I have to worry about? But Blake?” She hesitated for a moment.
“She saw through the bravado. She sent Jaime and Alyssa to pack me up, told me I was staying with her, and even though I said it was temporary, Blake ignored what I said and told me I belonged to her. As far as she is concerned, my living with her is a permanent thing.”
Snorting, Piper said, “Dude, you have been carried off and stashed in an APS badass lair, so your goose is cooked. Don’t fight it, because you will fucking lose.
” She jumped up to replenish everyone’s drinks.
“What remains is for you to admit, without any bullshit, that you are where you need to be. It’s like Ro already said: the two of you fit. ”
Delaney shuddered as she finished her tea, getting up to help Piper. “Just don’t get caught committing Sin One or Sin Two, Brooke. APS badass spankings are no fun.” Brooke snorted in turn, scrubbing the tears off her face with the heel of her hand.
When everyone had a fresh drink, Brooke then proceeded to tell them what Blake had said about Drew, ending with, “Blake is positive Drew’s femme will be as big of a badass as she is.
While I know at a high level what Purgatory is—and that it’s totally Drew’s domain—Blake told me the criminal element that hangs out there is terrified of Drew.
Which, frankly, I have a hard time seeing because Drew is Drew.
She’s so good to us and so gentle. Quiet and kind. ”
“Yes, but,” Rowan took a deep breath before blowing it out.
“you didn’t see her when I was taken by Dino Coravani.
When she was there right after they found me, I swear to you, there was murder on her face.
I had never in my life seen Drew Hollister like that…
and hope I never do again. She was beyond scary. ”
“Blake says she’s the most lethal one of them all.” Brooke was contemplative.
Kelly took another swallow of her beer. “Don’t forget, I’ve been down in Purgatory.
I’ve seen Drew operate firsthand. Scary doesn’t even begin to describe what she can be, especially if you are on the wrong side of her.
And if her femme is just like she is? Holy fucking shit.
Anything the two of them might tackle together would end up being a fucking bloodbath. ”
“Hoo boy.” The APS femmes collectively shuddered.
Taking another handful of popcorn, Alyssa remarked, “None of us would have a thing to worry about, though. Not only are we femmes, we are APS femmes. If anything, I would worry about anyone who tried to pull any shit with us when they were around.” She grinned as she held up her bowl of popcorn.
“We would need a metric fuckton of popcorn to watch that show. I’m sure it wouldn’t be pretty. ” Kelly snickered.
Sabine, who had been quiet up to this point, mused, “This mythological sister sounds like someone I would very much want to spar with in Hades. Even with as much as I know, I bet we could learn a lot from each other and probably have fun doing it.”
“She has to materialize first.” Nova started to peel the label from her beer bottle.
“And there’s no telling when the hell she’s going to show up.
In the meantime, I think we need to focus our attention on Brooke’s little embezzlers.
There isn’t anything we can do about the situation, not right now anyway, but fingers crossed Trill comes back with some info soon. ”
“Let me ask you something, Brooke.” Rowan was pensive.
“From your perspective, is there anything that would make Reflex Rebranding suspect you of being something more than a clueless graphic artist, if you’ve been pulling the naive act you said you are?
Anything that could tip them off that you were something more than what you seemed to be? ”
“I don’t know what could, Ro. These fuckers are so arrogant, they think I’m just a stupid woman who’s easily manipulated,” sniffed Brooke.
“However, if they discovered I’m friends with the management team of Armstrong Protection Services?
That could raise eyebrows and cause them to think twice, maybe start snooping around. ”
Looking just as contemplative, Piper mused slowly, “You said they’ve only been in the area for about eighteen months or so, right?” Brooke nodded.
“But,” Kelly broke in, “if the Reflex dudes are crooks—which, clearly they are—you know they’ve already slithered into Purgatory.
If those four have any brains, which it sounds like they do, they ran reconnaissance before they started their scams, to get the lay of the land.
And that means the criminal element in the area has for sure told them all about APS and warned them to stay out of their crosshairs. ”
Nova finished peeling the label from her bottle.
“My bitch, you need to be very careful,” she said soberly, looking at Brooke.
“Your friendships with the twins and the Seven aren’t exactly a closely guarded secret around these parts.
God forbid what happens when people start finding out you’re dating Blake Seibert, let alone if Reflex finds out.
Holy hell. That could be all kinds of bad if those dicks put two and two together. ”
Brooke was silent for a moment, then, “I already told Lys I have a huge feeling the APS management team is going to dig out some pretty scary shit with them. Yeah, the embezzlement piece of it already sucks giant balls. But I still can’t help feeling there’s something bigger going on behind that.
Like I’ve already said, I have zero proof of anything and have no idea what that ‘something bigger’ could even be.
You know as well as I do, though, that gut instinct is not something to ignore…
and mine is firing on all eight cylinders. ”
“Fucking lovely,” groused Kelly.
Delaney rose to start collecting tea cups, wine glasses, and bottles, everyone else jumping up to help.
“It doesn’t sound like there’s anything we can do to help until Trill comes back with her information.
We can touch base again afterward to figure out what we can do.
I, for one, can’t wait to find out who these guys really are and what their real game is.
However, until then—” She grinned impishly at Brooke, who rolled her eyes in exasperation, knowing exactly what Delaney and the others were going to say.
“Until then, someone needs to work on putting the moves on her butch and wrapping her up in her web. Get it, girl.” Nova started twerking around the room in glee as the rest of the femmes burst out laughing.
“Jesus. You are fucking nasty, Dacanay.”
“Am not. However, you are well aware I’m married to an APS butch. We all are, or practically are. Which means we know exactly what you’re getting ready to walk into, Marino.” Nova snickered as she stopped to collect popcorn bowls. “Ten bucks says you’re walking funny the next time we see you.”
“I’ll take that bet.” Alyssa and Kelly gave each other a high five as everyone else chimed in, laughing.
Huffing, Brooke glowered. “Seriously…you are some crazy ass bitches. It’s not like I’ve never had sex with a woman before. When I go to bed with Blake, it will hardly be some sacrificial virgin ritual, for Christ’s sake, no matter how spectacular it is. Knock it the fuck off.”
Rowan raised her eyebrows, a smile lingering in her eyes. “You’ve never been to bed with an APS butch, though, Brooke.” As if they were one, the femmes nodded vigorously.
“What Ro said.” Piper and Kelly put the dining room chairs back around the table.
“Every one of us had been with other females before we fell for our significant other,” Piper said.
“And I am here to tell you that how the APS team is with femmes, as opposed to how other butches or lesbians are, is indescribable. I’m not joking with you either, sis. None of us are.”
The look in Delaney’s eyes was soft. “All kidding aside, Brooke, I think you’re going to find out that when you and Blake finally connect in all ways, your very soul will scream that she is who you have been waiting for your entire life.
” The room became quiet. “No matter how many years you have suspected it, even wished for it—and don’t forget, I was in the same place with Teagan—when it finally happens, I can’t even begin to tell you what that feels like. As if you have finally come home.”
Moving in front of Brooke, Alyssa wiped the tears that had started to drip down her best friend’s face at the abrupt change in the conversation from playful to solemn.
“Even though we give you shit, honey, you know how much we love you. Not one of your girls would stand by and watch you make a fool out of yourself if this wasn’t meant to be.
Blake Seibert is your soulmate, my bitch.
We know that, and you know that. Despite the fact that she is aggravating as hell and can be a total pain in the ass,” the femmes snorted through their own damp eyes, “Blake is everything you want and need. She always has been.
“And if there’s anything we can swear to, it’s that she will always protect you with her very life.
Reflex Rebranding had best watch their skanky asses if they even think about hurting Blake Seibert’s woman.
Because Blake and the rest of the APS management team will show them exactly what it means to be wiped off the face of this earth if they dare to put even one foot wrong when it comes to anything that has to do with you…
you, your happiness, or your safety. And that is something we can promise you without any doubt. Bet on that.”