Chapter 27
Chapter Twenty-Seven
“There asphodels are scattered through the night, like ghosts of young beseeching hands.”
-Fez Inkwright, Botanical Curses and Poisons: The Shadow Lives of Plants-
Thea
Logan chuckles under his breath as he watches me nervously fiddle with the dress I had slipped on.
Outside the weather had fully transitioned into the type of fall no one wanted to be outdoors in.
Rain lashed against the side of the house in cold, wet sheets, and the wind howled through the cracks in the doors.
Law had left 30 minutes ago to pick up Ace from his ‘drop point’ post shift on the front lines.
Again I wanted to ask if he had really been fighting fires or if it was just a cover.
But instead I focused on my own nervous energy building up.
No one but Logan had seen the tattoo yet, not for lack of trying on Law’s part that’s for damn sure.
The man couldn’t seem to keep his hands off me and the amount of times Logan had to run interference and distract him was no doubt starting to raise suspicion.
“Tink, why are you so nervous?” He asks.
The smell of his joint floats through the air as he sits on the opposite end of the living room.
Between us the fireplace throws out warm waves of flickering light that dance over his face.
I watch as he inhales another hit and my feet are clearing the distance before I second guess myself.
I press my lips to his, stroking the seam with my tongue before he groans and he’s pushing the smoke into my mouth.
I hold it in as long as I can before my lungs start to burn and on an exhale I’m coughing. He laughs even as I cut him a dirty look. “What? That was fucking hot.” I go to grab the joint from his hand but he shakes his head. “This is strong shit Tink and I want you functioning tonight.”
My lips pull into a pout but my whine is cut off by headlights casting through the front windows. Logan is moving quickly and my heart kicks up for a moment as I watch him pull the gun from the side table, his body tense as he peers out the curtains only to relax.
“Show time.” He says with a grin, side stepping the panic I just watched. He puts the gun away and takes his seat again, dragging more of the drug into his lungs and puffing the cloud above.
Nervous energy rattles my bones as I hear car doors slam and the heavy foot falls of the two men who I hope, and pray, will like the offering I’m about to give them. I move back towards the fireplace just as the door swings open.
“It smells like a fucking dispensary in here.” Law growls. His eyes go straight for Logan. Behind him Ace walks in, bag slung over his shoulder and a tired look in his eyes. And yet, even tired, they find me immediately.
“Why are you in the corner?” He asks as he kicks the door shut behind him. Law’s eyes jerk towards me.
Stepping forward into the fire light I take a deep, cleansing breath before I begin. “Can you all sit down?” Law and Ace tense but both follow my direction, both sitting onto the couch. I bit my lip expecting more nervous energy only to be greeted by a calm washing over me.
A small giggle escapes my lips and from the chair Logan lets out a sigh. “See this is why I didn’t let you have more.” He mutters.
“Shush.” I snap before my hand flies up to my mouth and another giggle comes out.
Law leans forward, arms pressed against his knees. “Are you high darlin'?” His voice is a delicious purr that lends me wings and I find myself closing my eyes swaying to the low music we have playing.
“She took one shot gun hit.” Logan groans. “I didn’t want her high for this.”
“High for what?” Ace asks.
I giggle and my hands find the straps of my dress, slowly pulling at the bows that hold the dress to my body. I hear a collective intake of breath as the fabric hits the ground and exposes the black lace bra and panty set I have on.
“Logan, did our girl let you ink her?” Ace asks, his voice filled with dark, heady lust.
I keep my eyes closed drawing my hands up and down my body, hips still swaying. “I wanted to erase what he did to me. So I gave Logan my blood and pain in another way.” My voice has a strange airy quality to it as I speak.
Hands suddenly appear on my body and I’m jerked into awareness by the scent of smoke. Fluttering my eyes open I see Ace in front of me, eyes looking over the work Logan did on me. The brand woven into rose and thorns expertly, making it seem like there was never a brand there to begin with.
“In the legend of Tristan and Isolde roses bloomed over the graves and joined together so the two lovers would never be apart.” My eyes must have closed again because I have to blink them open, only to find Ace on his knees in front of me.
“Roses have been a symbol of death and mourning but also of bridging the gap between two entities.”
I’m dropping to the floor to join him in one swift movement. Tears filling my eyes. “How… how did you know that?” I try to search my memory for when I told him the story but I come up blank.
The kiss he presses to my lips is soft, tentative, so unlike the usual fire that claims us.
When he pulls back he drops his head to mine, our breath mingling as we stay bathed in the firelight.
“When we lost you, I learned everything I could in order to make that garden for you. But also because I missed hearing you talk about plants.”
A sob breaks through and Logan and Law drop down next to us.
We share soft kisses and healing touches that are beyond sexual and lean closer to sensual healing.
As we each get to know the other’s bodies again.
Outside the rain continues to pour as if it’s cleansing the air around us, washing away the past and ushering in the new.
Logan and Law fall asleep first, leaving Ace and I intertwined in one another on the pile of blankets in front of the fire. His hand is clasped through mine as he holds me from behind. His breath tickles my ear as he leans in closer.
“It’s finished.” He says softly. Turning towards him I frown, confused. “He won’t be coming for you ever again.”
I blink rapidly as the words seem to take root. “What do you mean?”
“Royce was picked up on charges by the Seattle PD. He’s locked away for a very long time.” Ace continues. His eyes track towards Law. . .
Ace
The phone rings and rings, a curse of frustration building on my lips as I wait for Law to answer.
I pace back and forth in the shit motel room in Seattle, one that no doubt was once a pinnacle of comfort for those traveling down highway 99.
Now however it was devoted to those who had deeds to be done that no one should be aware of.
“God damn it, Law answer!” I growl before hanging up and calling again. I had driven all night from Oregon and instead of heading towards home I came here. On a hunt. One that I would need help with.
Just as I’m about to throw my phone across the room and say fuck it Law’s voice comes through the other end. “This better be important Ace, I’m working.”
“I’m in Seattle.” I speak quickly. I hear him walk away from whatever he was doing, the sound of a door sneaking shut and locking the next noise I hear.
“Thought you were in Oregon.”
“I have a way to get rid of our problem,” Again my words fall out in a pressured tumble. “But I’ll need your help.”
“Be there tonight.” He doesn’t ask me to explain, only agrees blindly. Trusting me when he damn well shouldn’t. Not on this.
Five hours later there is a knock at the door. Keeping my gun in one hand and knife in the other I peer through the peep hole breathing a sigh of relief to see Law. Opening the door he raises an eye brow at the two weapons as he walks in.
“What’s going on Ace?”
Shutting and locking the door again I place the weapons on the table. “Royce is resorting to bribery. He’s alerted too many people he’s looking for Thea. It won’t be long before they come for her.”
Law crosses his arms over his chest. “And us.”
“And us.” I confirm. “If we kill him now there'll be no question who did it, even with all my resources it’ll be pinned on us.”
“It was your employer who told you wasn’t it.” His voice is cold and calculating, the kind that indicates he’s moved into cop brain. Which is what I need right now.
I nod. “Chief gave me a heads up.” Law snorts. He’s never trusted anyone I work with, which, fair enough. A guild of killers for hire doesn’t exactly scream trustworthy.
“So what’s the plan here Ace?”
Taking a breath I unload my idea on him. His face grows grim but determined the longer I talk. “If you don’t want to put your career on the line for this I get it.”
Law has me against the door in a heartbeat, anger burning through his irises as he pins me.
“Fuck you Ace. I’ll sacrifice my life for you three.
My job means jack shit in the end.” He pushes back from me, releasing me and running his hands through his hair.
“Its not like Royce is innocent. It’ll be an easy sell.
But the question is, who is planting the evidence because it can’t be us. ”
I wince, Law doesn’t miss it and shakes his head knowing exactly what I’m doing. “How long?” He asks.
“Another couple jobs.”
“Bullshit.” He snaps back. “You know as well as I do they’ll never let you out after this. You think my job is online here?! You went and sold your soul back to the devil.”
This time it’s me crowding into him, pressing him until his knees hit the bed and he falls backwards. Climbing up on him I pin up, hand to throat. “I am the devil.” When he opens his mouth to counter the argument I spit, the fluid landing on his tongue. “And my soul belongs to you three, forever.”
Thea looks at me with questioning eyes as the memory flows around my brain. The one I can’t tell her, can’t implicate her in case it all goes to shit.
“Ace?”
I plant a kiss on her forehead. “Karma caught up to him Cricket. Don’t worry about it, he won’t be coming back here for a very long time.”
She rolls us over, my cock already hard and at attention.
She slips herself down onto me in one fluid movement that has me groaning.
“I love you.” She says as she begins to ride me.
The movements slow and measured as she works herself up.
From out of the corner of my eye I see Logan swallowing down Law’s cock as the two watch us.
“Baby, what do you think about taking us all?” I ask with a groan as she hits just the right spot.
She pauses, eyes wide. “I can’t fit you all.” She says hesitantly.
I smirk. “Yeah you can. I bet Law could slip in here with me and Logan could fit nicely in that tight ass of yours.”
“Fuckkkk yes please.” Logan groans.
“Put your mouth back on my cock boy.” Law growls. “But I second the enthusiastic yes please.”
Thea flushes before giving a small nod of consent.
Law and Logan are moving quickly. I sit up to position myself for Law to slide in behind Thea.
His legs come onto either side of mine and I feel his fingers, coated in lube, rubbing at the spot I’m nestled deep into Thea.
She lets out a squeak of surprise as one finger slips in alongside my cock.
“Oh! Oh my god, that feels…” She throws her head back.
“Tell us how it feels darlin'.” Law commands as he slips another one of his fingers inside.
“Like I’m so full.” She groans.
We let her get accustomed to it for a moment, my thumb rubbing against her clit as she squirms. Eventually Law takes his fingers free and bends her over me slightly.
“We’ll go slow and if you need to stop we will.
” He says as I feel the head of his cock press against my own dick currently buried in her.
She nods frantically as her breathing comes in bursts.
“Breathe Cricket, just breathe.” I resume rubbing her clit in slow circles while Logan comes around and latches onto one of her nipples.
She lets out a cry as Law slips inside deeper and my own groan joins her.
Slowly but surely Law works his cock deeper and deeper until he’s fully seated against my own.
“Oh oh oh! Oh I’m so full!” She sobs out.
“We’ll stay just like this for a minute okay?” Law says through clenched teeth. If he feels even a fraction of what I feel right now he’s desperately trying not to cum already.
Thea’s muscles start to relax as she begins to squirm and rock herself against both our lengths. “You ready for Logan baby girl?” I ask softly.
She nods frantically. “I don’t think I’ll last long.”
Logan snorts, pulling free of her breast. “Oh Tink, trust me when I say if I don’t cum in that sweet ass the second I’m in it I’ll be impressed.”
She chuckles softly. I feel as Law starts to lean back so Logan can straddle him. She groans as he drips lube down her ass before working to open her up with his fingers. Law and I keep her primed, right on the edge of coming.
“Okay Tink, gonna fuck your ass now.” Logan warns.
I feel it the moment he starts to push inward. Law and I let out twin groans. Thea, however, tenses. Pressing my fingers to her clit I stroke her over and over before I rock my hips in small movements to stroke her inner walls. “Cum for us Thea so he can push inside you.” I command.
She nods, tears streaming down her face, as she lets go and cums on our cocks at the same moment Logan fully seats himself inside her.
Law goes next, cursing as he pulses next to me, sending me over.
The two of us filling her pretty cunt as she bounces up and down.
Logan lasts for two minutes longer before he grunts and fills her ass.
She cries out against the waves of pleasure until she finally slumps forward.
Logan slides free first, followed by Law who helps me lift her off my own cock. I roll her over so the three of us can curl up on the blankets we had once slept on.
“Messy.” She groans.
My hand drops down to her pussy slick with our cum and lube and let my fingers slip deep inside her. “There, now nothing will escape.”
She lets out a long sigh before her breathing seems to change and she’s fast asleep. My other hand traces over the tattoo now covering the brand. It must have hurt like a bitch to get tattooed like that.
“It’s over?” Logan asks, eyes finding mine from over Thea’s sleeping form.
“Yeah princess it’s over.”
Law tense behind me, the lie hovering between us all but he doesn’t say anything. Doesn’t correct me or tell Logan that Royce may be gone but eventually I’ll have to pay up for the help I asked for.