Freedom (Featherstone Academy Series Book 5)

by KC Kean

  “It doesn’t help that we’re doing the mundane side of things while I imagine they’re overwhelmed in a chaotic situation,” Parker adds, rubbing my arm as we head for the doors.

  Stepping in front of them all, I head outside, the cold chill in the air making me shiver. It looks like it’s about to rain, and it almost sums up how I can already feel the direction today is heading.

  Just as I turn back to the guys, someone grabs me from behind. A scream almost leaves my mouth before a hand clamps down over my lips, and an arm pins my arms to my sides, holding me against their chest.

  I instantly smell booze as we wobble slightly.

  Panicked eyes flit between Kai and Parker, but I don’t see Aiden. Where the fuck is he?

  “Reece, release her now before we fucking make you,” Parker growls, but if anything, Reece’s hold only tightens.

  “Stay the fuck back. She’s mine. I’m taking what’s mine.” He drags his nose up my cheek, inhaling as he goes. “Tell them, wifey. I told you that come Monday you were mine, and now it’s Monday,” he slurs. I struggle to swallow past the lump in my throat.

  He clearly isn’t sober right now, so his erratic behavior is even more unpredictable.

  “Jessica!” Maverick shouts, appearing from the stairwell as Reece’s hold on me suddenly disappears, causing me to stagger slightly as I gain my balance.

  Whirling around, I’m stunned to find Aiden holding Reece in a choke with his arm wrapped tightly around his neck as Reece struggles against him.

  “Jess,” Kai shouts, pulling me behind him as Parker moves to help Aiden.

  I can hear the thunder of Maverick’s feet as he powers through the lobby, storming by me as he charges for Reece. Aiden releases his hold on him just as Maverick comes to a stop in front of them. Wrapping his hand around Reece’s throat, and in one swift movement, launches him towards the lobby of Ace.

  Glass shatters as Reece sails through the air, taking the glass panel with him.

  “You. You little fucker,” Maverick growls, moving towards him.

  Aiden is quickly at my side, checking me over, but I’m okay. One glance over my shoulder, though, and I can see half the academy watching our every move. Loving the drama unfolding before them as some even have their cellphones out.

  Fuckers.

  I hear Maverick growl again, drawing my attention back inside, and I rush to be at his side, Aiden right behind me as Kai and Parker stand guard, trying to block everyone’s view. Or at least hold them back.

  Poor Thomas, the Ace porter, looks wide-eyed as he hovers back in the corner of the room behind his desk. While Maverick picks a groaning Reece up off the floor by the scruff of his neck, turning and smashing him into the wall near Thomas.

  “You are so fucking done. Do you understand me? You are nothing. You’ll never see Jessica again,” Maverick spits out, holding him against the wall as he yells in his face.

  “You can’t fucking tell me what to do,” Reece hisses back, a mixture of pain and laughter in his voice.

  “Your father is dead. Your mother has fled. Members of The Ring just stormed your home. You are done. There is no place for you in Featherstone anymore.”

  Wait. What? How does he know this?

  “Maverick—”

  “My phone, petal. It’s in my pocket.”

  I step towards him, but Aiden holds me back, stepping up to Maverick’s side and reaching into his pocket.

  “You’re lying,” Reece groans as Aiden pulls out the phone, and I see Maverick's screen is lit, as if he pocketed his phone mid-call with someone.

  “You better run, little boy, cos if Featherstone doesn’t kill you, I fucking will,” Maverick growls, smashing his fist into Reece’s face and releasing his hold on him, so he slumps to the floor.

  Taking the phone from Aiden’s hands, I notice the name flashing across the screen instantly.

  “West?” I cry, bringing the phone to my ears as I glance around at the others. I spot Kai on the phone at the same time as I hear West’s voice.

  “Hey, sunshine, you okay?”

  “Am I okay? I haven’t heard from you. I’ve been so worried,” I whisper, mindlessly moving over to the closest sofa and dropping into the seat.

  “Sorry, it was a little chaotic over here, but we’re all good now.” He takes a heavy breath, and the sigh that passes his lips has my heart rate kicking up even higher than it already is.

  “It’s okay, whatever it is, it’s—”

  “We got him, sunshine,” he mutters down the line, and a sob breaks from my soul.

  “Is he— is he there?” I stammer as Maverick crouches down in front of me, taking my free hand in his.

  “He is, but he’s not fully conscious right now. He’s going to go to New York with Juliana, and we think it’s best if you guys head down to Bryce’s beach house, and we’ll meet you there.”

  I’m stunned, silent while I try to process what West is saying.

  “Okay. I don’t understand why you can’t just all come back here, West.”

  “We want the best medical attention for your father, and really, we all need a minute to relax.” He takes another deep breath again as if trying to find the right words. “There was an explosion, sunshine. Juliana and Luna were hit by it the most, but they’re okay,” he rushes to add as my heart beats from my chest with fear.

  “Oh my god, I’m so sorry.” I sob, knowing it wasn’t actually my fault, but they wouldn’t have been there if it wasn’t for me.

  “Don’t be sorry, Jess. They’re both okay, I swear. But your mother… she— uh.”

  “My mother’s name is Juliana Gibbs, as long as you are telling me she is alright, nothing else matters,” I murmur, meaning every word as I feel Aiden run his fingers down my spine in comfort.

  “Well, she was okay, but now you’ve made her cry,” West mumbles, and I feel my cheeks turning red.

  “You did not say I was on speakerphone, West Morgan,” I scold playfully, my heart skipping a beat at all the information we just received in such a short span of time.

  “I’ll make it up to you, sunshine. Now, get everyone together, including Kai and Parker, and I’ll text Maverick the location of where the jet will pick you up. Bring your Kindle, we’re on our way to a cold paradise.”

  I let his words wash over me, my mind confused with how to process the fact that everything is okay and will continue to be that way.

  Take me to paradise.

  Jess

  It’s strange how such a short flight felt like years. I’d never packed a suitcase so quickly to get on a jet as I did after I ended the call with West. My heart in my throat as my brain couldn’t comprehend what he said.

  My father is safe. My mother… is my guardian. Juliana Gibbs. I don’t care for any further details other than that. Lucienda Paul never loved me, and I fear knowing the details of what happened will make me harbor emotions that are unnecessary.

  I’d be mourning the loss of who I hoped she would be, not who she actually was.

  She may have been my biological mother, but she was never my mom. As much as I yearned for her to fill that role, like you see in the movies, she never would, even if she was beside me now.

  I spent the whole flight with my head in Maverick’s lap and my legs dangling over Aiden’s lost in Ruby’s crazy book, which was a perfect way to distract my mind. I don’t think I’ll be emotionally stable until everyone is together, and the only way for me to not obsessively stress over it, is for me to read.

  Pulling up to the beach house mid-afternoon, I have never been so blown away with a property before in all my life.

  Driving through the black iron gates and down the tree-lined gravel driveway, the house comes into view. I can’t lift my jaw up off the ground as I sit and stare. Maverick opens the SUV door, holding his hand out for me to step from the car.

  “What about me, boo,” Aiden whines from the SUV as Maverick stays at my side. I love Aiden’s ability to make me feel light and f
ull of happiness, even by a simple pout at Maverick.

  As Aiden comes to stand at my other side, I pull my coat tighter around my body as the cool sea air whips around us. I can hear the sounds of the waves crashing in the distance, and my feet move towards the entry of the house without thought.

  Maverick enters the code into an electronic safe box by the door, which miraculously produces the keys to enter the house.

  Huge glass doors lead into a wide-open entry, which follows straight through to the lounge, and there are stairs leading up to both sides. The view at the other end of the lounge calls to me as I see the ocean through the floor length patio doors.

  I stand, utterly speechless, as the guys wander into the kitchen with Parker and Kai, obviously hitting the refrigerator for food and drinks instead of cherishing the view. I could stand here for hours.

  I was desperate to sit outside, but I’d need ten blankets, a portable tent, and a heater to go along with it. That all just seems like too much effort.

  So, instead, I find myself following Parker’s lead as he shows us to our room. It’s like harems are an expectation around here when I walk into the room and see a bed bigger than three California kings put together.

  “Our room is on the opposite end of the house so that you can have your privacy.”

  “You mean so we don’t hear you fucking, am I right?” Aiden shouts as he comes to join us, bouncing on the bed casually, and Parker grins.

  “Well, that too.”

  Patting the door frame, he leaves, giving us our space.

  “Hey, beautiful. Do you want to shower with me? Then you can cozy up in the lounge with a book in front of the view,” Aiden offers, pulling me down on the bed beside him.

  “Hmm, that sounds like a dream.”

  “Then I’ll make your dreams come true,” he mutters against my lips before pulling me from the bed. God, his words make me think of all my dreams, bigger than right now. A future. Together.

  As he moves to head for the en-suite, my phone vibrates in my pocket, and I hurry to see who it is.

  “Ju-Ju?” I call out as I bring the phone to my ear, my hands shaking as I wait for her voice.

  “Hey, Jess,” she murmurs back softly, and my eyes close as I let her words wash over me.

  “Are you okay? I’m so sorry. West mentioned the explosion. I—”

  “Not your fault, honey. Not even a little bit. Are you okay?”

  Aiden slowly pulls me into his lap as he takes a seat on the end of the bed.

  “Yeah, I’m alright. I’ll be better when West gets here, and I hear from my father. But speaking to you makes me feel calmer about the whole thing.”

  “My heart is calming the more I know you’re okay too. I just wanted to check-in and let you know your father is sleeping right now. He’s wavering in and out of consciousness, but we have the best doctor waiting for us in New York.”

  “Thank you,” I whisper, forever grateful for how she goes to the end of the world for me.

  “You’re welcome. The second I can get him on a video call to you, I will. It just looks like it’ll be tomorrow at the earliest, okay?”

  “No, that’s perfect. Thank you. Speak soon,” I murmur, resting my head back on Aiden’s shoulder.

  “Speak soon. I love you, honey.”

  “I love you too,” I manage to say around the lump in my throat before the call ends.

  Aiden holds me for what feels like the longest time, silently supporting me through my emotions.

  “When we leave the academy, can you not suddenly have some seriously life-threatening job like the other two?” I ask, turning my gaze to meet his as he smiles back at me.

  “I actually have no idea what I’m going to do after we graduate this shit, but I promise you, whatever it is, it will have me safely at your side as much as possible,” he offers in response, and I bring my lips to his. “Forever and always, remember?”

  “Forever and always,” I repeat, feeling heady with all the love surrounding me.

  Guiding me to the bathroom, he showers with me before I get comfortable on the sofa in my marl grey loungewear set in front of the patio doors. Watching the waves crash in the distance as I snuggled under a blanket with my Kindle, devouring book two in the Ruthless Brothers series.

  The guys all sit closer to the television, watching sports news and leaving me to read in my little bubble. Their conversation is a gentle hum in the background as it gets dark outside.

  “What’s my little smut slut reading now?” Aiden asks, leaning over the back of the sofa to read the screen.

  “It’s not at the sexy part right now, so you likely won’t appreciate it,” I answer with a grin, and he places a kiss on my forehead.

  “Hey, I can do deep and meaningful books too you know. I read Harry Potter.”

  “You did, huh? Maybe I need to introduce you to Ruby and her guys, try you in the world of werewolves and vampires,” I tease, but he doesn’t protest.

  A bang and laughter pulls our attention to the front door.

  “Hey, honey, I’m home,” Oscar sings as the others trail in behind him, exhaustion on all their faces.

  Throwing the blanket off my legs, I run as fast as I can, searching for West, who lingers at the back of the group, and launch myself at him.

  Arms wrapped tight around his neck and legs around his waist, I cling to him. My nose at his neck, inhaling his scent as his hands go under my thighs to hold me in place.

  “Hey, sunshine,” he murmurs. His voice thick with sleep. “I missed you,” he whispers in my ear, and my heart feels ready to burst.

  Leaning back in his arms, I meet his eyes as I cup his cheeks, thankful they have had access to the shower onboard the jet. Seeing the aftermath of the explosion on his face would have hurt my soul.

  “I’m glad you’re okay.”

  His grin melts my inside as he slowly lowers me to the floor, and I search for Luna. Wrapped in between Parker and Kai, I give them a moment before I sneak in, holding her gently in case she’s hurt.

  “I’m sorry you were hurt, Captain. West mentioned the explosion.”

  “Honestly, Red, it was just a little flying lesson. It didn’t even knock me unconscious. No biggie.”

  The way she shrugs so casually blows my mind. Always downplaying the danger she is in. The cuts and scrapes on her face tell a different story.

  Everyone moves into the living room, Aiden and Maverick checking on West as I walk arm in arm with Luna.

  “Thank you all so much. I can’t really explain how much I appreciate what you all did without question, and the way you put your lives at risk like that.”

  “It was nothing, Jess. We’re family, remember?” Roman murmurs nudging my shoulder and making me smile.

  “Well, I won’t say no to some gratitude, Jessikins,” Oscar adds, elbowing Roman out of the way to sling his arm over Luna and me. “You know my ego could always use a stroke.”

  “Shut the fuck up, Oscar,” Roman groans, smacking the back of his head and making him hiss.

  “Carry on with your big mouth, and your ego will be the only thing getting stroked,” Parker says with a raised eyebrow making everyone chuckle, except me. I fake gag, making Oscar pout at me.

  “Let me steal my sunshine back,” West mutters, lacing our fingers together and pulling me from the middle of the group. “Has anyone found where Reece went?”

  “The security feed shows he left campus twenty minutes after Maverick threw him through the glass doors of Ace,” Kai answers, and Oscar reaches out his fist for Maverick to bump.

  “Nice, man.” Maverick stares him down, glancing down at his hand, and just when Oscar looks like he’s about to moan, Maverick quickly touches his knuckles to Oscar’s. As if peace could actually happen between those two, even if for five minutes.

  “Well, we’re probably going to be here until the weekend. We need to enjoy it. There are motorcycles in the garage, along with some SUVs if we want to go anywhere. But we can’t
travel anywhere alone. Not with this, all so fresh,” Luna advises, and everyone murmurs their acknowledgment.

  Feeling Aiden and Maverick at my side, I glance at West properly. His eyes are super heavy, his face a little blotchy, and his hair is ridiculously messy.

  “Do you want to sleep?” I ask, and he nods slightly in response. “Let’s go.”

  “Night,” West murmurs to everyone, and I lead him to the room Parker showed me earlier.

  “Everything’s going to be different now. You know that, right?” West murmurs in my ear, and my heart leaps at his words.

  For the first time, I believe that statement to be true.

  West

  Stretching out in the empty bed, I yawn as my body finally forces me awake. Swiping a hand down my face, my eyes adjust to the natural light shining through the window.

  Grabbing my phone off the bedside table, I check the time, and I’m surprised when I see it’s almost eleven a.m. I’d nearly slept for fifteen hours, but clearly, my body needed it. Now, my morning wood told me I needed Jess, but instead, I’m in bed alone.

  Notifications flash at the top of my screen from the group chat we all have together, and I decide to read them before I go and seek my sunshine out.

  Aiden: Do you think West is going to sleep all day? **eye roll**

  Maverick: Have you shown him yet, Jessica?

  Aiden: Telling me to not message the group chat because you are sitting right beside me won’t stop me. I’m trying to wake him up.

  Aiden: Is his phone even set to vibrate?

  Aiden: Mine is. Do you want to see how intense it gets, beautiful?

  I can picture Jess’s blush as she reads his words, and it only makes me harder.

  Maverick: But have you shown him yet?

  Show who what? He’s asked that twice now.

  Jess: Will you stop. Let him sleep, Aiden. And Maverick, later!

  So, she has something to show me? I swing my legs over the side of the bed, ready to go and track her down as my heart pounds in my chest. But I pause with the texts that continue in the group chat we have without Jess.