Chapter 10 #3
Ash’s mask is impenetrable and just this once, I wish I could see through it. “I told you that I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you and I meant it. If you need that woman to disappear then she’s going to disappear, Mounty, but for now we’ll leave her to Avery to deal with.”
I blush and look away. I need to get a hold of myself. Ash scoots across Avery’s seat to tuck me into his side again, gently squeezing me until I feel my control slip back into place.
By the time we’re all settled around the table back in our room that night, with takeout and assignments spread out around us, there’s a mark change lodged in my school records and a formal apology waiting for me in my inbox.
It doesn’t read as sincere at all, and when I show it to Avery, she stares at it with ice cold eyes before pulling her phone out and typing furiously.
“Don’t worry about it, Aves. The mark is all I give a shit about,” I mutter around my dumplings, keeping my sullen attitude out of my tone, but she only hums under her breath at me, distracted by the conversation she’s having.
There’s a glint in her eyes that could only be described as maniacal and I start to get a little worried she’s ordering a hit.
Her eyes snap up to mine and I startle, but she breezes past it. “We’re still going to Mounts Bay for the long weekend, right? Are we leaving on Friday after class or Saturday morning? I’m making arrangements to meet up with someone while we’re there.”
Harley and Blaise share a look as Ash sets down his fork with a dark look. “Who?”
Oh, shit.
At least we haven’t replaced the fine china yet because Avery looks at Ash like she’s going to throw a plate at his head. I slip my hand in hers because, well, ride or die. And by the looks Ash and Harley are throwing at us both, there might be bloodshed. Harley’s leg is tense against mine.
“None of your damn business,” she snarls, and I know exactly who it must be.
Atticus Crawford.
Ash’s eyes narrow and I cut in before our dinner is ruined. “Classes finish at lunchtime Friday; we can leave for the city early so you can meet him for dinner. That way if something goes down at the meeting and we have to get out of the city you won’t have to blow him off.”
Blaise smirks, and I shoot him what I hope is a savage look. He doesn’t give a shit. “Maybe blowing him is exactly what she wants to do, Star.”
My quick thinking saves Blaise’s life as I slide my ass into Harley’s lap to stop him from getting up and throttling him.
He grunts and grabs my hips to hold me still.
I don’t think about why because I don’t need to be blushing like a damn fool right now.
Ash is surprisingly more forgiving of Blaise’s smart mouth and just shoots him a look.
I mean, it’s vicious enough to carve someone up, but he doesn’t actually resort to violence.
“Right. Now that’s sorted, let’s discuss the party,” I say, and when I try to slide back to my seat, Harley’s hands stop me. Avery does not look happy. In fact, she looks like she’s going to scratch his eyes out.
“I’m not allowed to go for dinner with an old friend, but you can grind on Lips at the dinner table?
Get fucked, Arbour,” Avery hisses, and all I can do is pray that I can eat my damn dumplings before she flips the table.
I pry Harley’s fingers off of me and settle back into my seat, taking a deep breath, but I’m the only one attempting to clear my head.
Everyone else is too busy throwing savage looks around. Yay.
“I think I should go alone. Harley is being targeted by the Jackal, I don’t want to paint targets on Ash and Blaise, and Avery wouldn’t be safe there. Illi has offered to pick me up so I’m going to take him up on that.”
All of the savage looks pivot simultaneously to focus on me.
For fuck’s sake!
“Over my dead fucking body are you going to a party at the docks with the Butcher without me,” Harley growls.
There’s a very knowing look about him, but I’m not sure if he’s aware of what the parties are like because he’s from the Bay, or if he’s actually been to one before.
I don’t really want to think too hard about that, though, because there are only a few reasons people even go there, and I know it wouldn’t be drugs he was looking for.
Shit, there goes any chance of saving my mood for the night.
My jaw clenches and I have to focus to get my words out coherently. “It’s not like I haven’t been a million times before, and Illi will watch my back. It’s not somewhere I want to take you guys.”
Blaise scowls, flicking his beer bottle cap at Harley. “Why? I mean, the Jackal could come to Hannaford and kill Harley whenever he wants to, the gossip site has announced our relationships to the world, and we always protect Avery. Why not take us so we can protect you too?”
Scrubbing a hand over my face, fatigue hits me like a wall and I’m too tired to deal with any of this. “You want to take Avery somewhere full of drugs, sex, murder, violence, girls being kidnapped, torture, rape, the list goes fucking on? You want that? Because I sure as hell don’t.”
I expect some sort of reaction from Blaise, but he just stares me down. Ash is the one to snarl, “Well, that settles it. We’re all fucking going. End of discussion.”