Lawful: Gia ~ Hunter ~ Julian ~ Jarrod

by Lexi Buchanan

  I give her a lecherous grin and wiggle my eyebrows. “You certainly did that.”

  “That I most certainly did!” She chuckles and shoves me off her. “Let’s shower and eat so you can go off with Hunter. He’s probably driven Gia nuts by now.”

  After a quick shower and the reheated bacon and egg sandwich wrapped in foil, and a mug of fresh coffee in a thermos, I’m walking out the front door with Hunter and Carrie.

  Hunter has arranged to have someone pick Carrie up and taken into protective custody for now. I was just glad to be getting her away from the girls because I sure as hell don’t trust her. I understand why she lied, but something tells me that isn’t all, which makes me damn nervous.

  I sit in the back with Carrie and on closing the door, spot Parker and Gia standing at the window to the side of the door. Blowing her a kiss, I sit back with a goofy grin on my face that widens when I notice Hunter watching me through the rear view mirror.

  I laugh and with one last glance at Parker, face forward as Hunter drives us away from the house with my heart in my throat. Something is telling me to stay and not go anywhere and with a nervous glance into the front I meet Hunters black eyes.

  “You feel it too…” he trails off, his hands tightening on the steering wheel.

  “Jarrod is there. He won’t let anything happen to them.” My words feel like lead in my stomach.

  “What’s going on with you two?” Carrie looks between us before focusing on me.

  “Nothing,” I mumble and hide the smirk when Carrie huffs, turning toward her window.

  She ignores me for the rest of the trip to the rendezvous point, but when I help her out of the truck her body shakes. Her complexion noticeably pales, and now that I’m really looking at her she looks terrified.

  I gently squeeze her arm. “You’ll be safe with Colin’s men,” I whisper, trying to give her confidence to go forward.

  Carrie winces and with one glance up at me, she searches my eyes for something and obviously finds it when she moves toward where Hunter is standing, talking to Colin. Colin smiles and introduces her to his men who take her to another truck before they disappear from sight.

  I swing my gaze to Colin and watch as he argues with Hunter over something. The man looks tired and eventually resigned. Hunter can be a pain in the ass when he so chooses, especially if he knows that he’s right and can get done what he’s suggesting.

  Before too long, he stomps toward where I’m leaning against the side of his truck, his movement tense with anger. I raise a brow and wait for him to calm down, knowing he’ll tell me what’s going on when he can.

  He indicates the truck, so climbing in, I sit and wait…not long.

  “We’ve been ordered to stay away from what might be going down at the concert. That also includes no heading over there now to get a feel for the place.” He slams his fist into the middle of the steering wheel. “Fuck it!” He meets my gaze from the corner of his. “This is one occasion when I’m not going to follow orders. It’s up to you as to whether you come with me.”

  I smirk and laugh. “You seriously think I’m going to sit on the sidelines while you go out there without back up? No way in hell.”

  He grins. “I knew you’d have my back, bro.”

  Shaking my head, I mumble, “Asshole.”

  He chuckles and turns the truck around as we head for the Centre.

  “Why?”

  Hunter glances at me so I repeat, “Why does he want us in the dark? Did he give an explanation?”

  Hunter shakes his head. “He wouldn’t give me a real reason. It makes me even more eager to go against orders.”

  I grunt in agreement.

  Silence descends and ten minutes later we’re pulling up outside of the Centre. Hunter silences the engine and staring at the huge structure before us, says, “Apparently, he thinks I’m too involved because of what he did to Gia.” He looks to me. “I agree with him, but I disagree with his thoughts of me going off and screwing it all up. He knows me better than that, and that’s what is pissing me the fuck off. He doesn’t want me here. My gut tells me that there’s something else going on because right up until I spoke to him about this place being a target, he was one hundred percent behind me going forward.”

  There is only one reason that I can think of as to Colin’s change in attitude. “Can he be bought?”

  Closing his eyes, Hunter rubs harshly at his brow. “I’ve known him for years, and I’ve always trusted him to have my back…apart from now. God, if they have gotten to him it will hurt Gia. He’s Jarrod’s best friend.”

  “And you,” I add, watching him carefully.

  Shaking off his thoughts, he turns to me. “I’ll be disappointed and angry, but my biggest fear is that I’ll want to kill him for putting Gia in harm’s way.”

  Climbing from the truck, I move around to join him at the front. “Before we do anything, I think we need to check this place out and see what repercussions surface from this visit…and once back at the house we talk to Jarrod. He’s known him the longest and might be able to get a feel for what’s going on. He might just be stressed and getting shit from the higher ups.”

  “I really hope that’s the case.” Hunter sighs heavily.

  We both glance around the back of the Centre, which is a huge modern structure, with a seating capacity of close to three thousand. Small for some standards, but from what Gia told Hunter it has more of a relaxed atmosphere than the larger stadiums.

  “Let’s get this over with.” I push away from the truck, heading toward the back entrance that accepts deliveries. “You have your ID ready?”

  Hunter nods. “I’m going to give Gia a call before we head inside. I’m still feeling unsettled after leaving them.”

  I pause and watch him grab his cell, just as mine starts vibrating in my back pocket.

  Parker.

  My heart sinks. “What’s wrong?”

  “I’m fine,” she quickly reassures. “We need to go and get Ivy. She just called Gia. She was really upset, Julian. We haven’t told Jarrod yet because, well, Gia isn’t sure what he’ll do.”

  “I think Gia’s on to Hunter right now. Don’t do anything and we’ll go and pick her up.”

  “Can you remember where she lives?”

  “Yeah, we have it covered.” I sigh and meet Hunter’s gaze as he frowns.

  “What’s wrong with Gia?” I ask Parker, wondering what the heck Gia is saying to cause that look on her husbands face.

  “Gia is asking Hunter if you both can swing by here to pick us up,” Parker fills me in, and then continues, “and, Julian, I think it’s a good idea.”

  I hear some arguing in the background on Parker’s end, and watch as Hunter moves the phone away from his ear.

  “Crap, Jarrod’s on to us,” Parker mumbles.

  28

  Parker

  While I’m trying to talk to Julian, Jarrod strides into his office with a furious expression on his face. Gia says something and he snaps back before taking a deep breath, his hands on his hips. In the next minute, he asks for the phone and with reluctance it seems, Gia hands it over.

  “Can you hear the conversation?” I ask Julian.

  “Yeah, as long as you’re okay, I’m going to hang up now.”

  “Don’t worry about me… Be careful, okay?” I whisper.

  “I will.” He hangs up the phone.

  I shove my cell into my back pocket and move closer to Gia and her father, having missed most of the conversation. I do hear a loud curse as Jarrod hangs up the phone.

  He closes his eyes before he visibly calms and looks at the both of us.

  “We’re going to go and get Ivy,” he says, looking sick with worry. “I want you both to grab jackets,” he adds glancing over our appearance. “Parker do you have boots or something you can change into?”

  I nod.

  “Good, hurry.”

  Trusting him, I quickly run up to the bedroom that I’m sharing with Julian and c
hange from my shorts and flip-flops to jeans and biker boots. I grab a jacket and within five minutes I’m back downstairs just in time to meet up with Jarrod and Gia.

  “Did the guys agree to us going after Ivy?” I frown because I know Julian didn’t want us going anywhere without them.

  Jarrod sighs and with his hand on the doorknob, turns to look at me. “They’d rather go and get her because that would mean you’re both safe here. I can’t do that.” He glances at Gia. “They need to know you’re both safe.” He closes his eyes and admits, “I need to know that she is. I should have done something before now but…it’s complicated.” Once he’s finished explaining, it’s easy to see how saddened he is by his own actions.

  Gia has tears in her eyes as she wraps her father up in a hug. It takes him by surprise but he quickly releases the doorknob, returning her embrace.

  “I love you, Dad, and I know you have strong feeling for one of my best friends.” She pulls away and holds his gaze. “It’s weird, but I want you happy, and what’s more, you deserve to be happy, and if that ends up being with Ivy then I’m okay with that. I don’t for one minute want to be the one responsible for holding you both back from what you want, okay.” She smiles. “Now let’s go and get her.”

  Jarrod clears his throat. “That means a lot, so thank you.”

  Minutes later we’re in his SUV heading to where Ivy lives with her parents who tend to be away more than they’re home. She lives close in the same neighborhood as Jarrod, in one of the homes with large gates, keeping everyone out, or someone in.

  We used to joke that one of these days she’d be a prisoner in her own home with how obsessive her father is about her safety. Her father is paranoid.

  Hearing a curse, I’m pulled from my thoughts and glancing out of the front window see the gates standing wide open and two strange cars parked out front.

  The call from Ivy had been a cry for help because she’d been scared. It must have taken a lot for her to admit that, and that she needed help in getting rid of the asshole she’d been dating.

  Apparently, the gates had shorted out, which meant her asshole ‘boyfriend’ had free access and now he wouldn’t leave and kept trying for more, getting abusive when she wouldn’t put out. My thoughts on the asshole, Brendan, weren’t for public hearing, and I truly believe that she is only with him because Jarrod had pushed her away. Not that I’d admit that considering how worked up he appears right now.

  Gia senses it to because when her father cuts off the ignition, she grabs his arm. “Don’t get pissed with him, okay? We need you with us not in jail for assault.”

  “I’m not making any promises because if he’s hurt her, I’ll kill the little bastard.”

  This is going to be fun!

  While they have a staring match in the front of the car, I climb from the back. Glancing around, I see a curtain in the front office twitch, so I open Jarrod’s door. “We’ve been spotted. I think we should go in now.”

  My stomach rolls at the thought of what Brendan might have done to Ivy in the time it took to get here with the arguing about who would come for her. I’d met the asshole once before and he’d seemed a genuinely nice guy, not for Ivy, but he sure as hell didn’t come across like he’d been portrayed over the phone not too long ago.

  “Let’s go around the back,” Gia suggests.

  I shake myself and follow their lead, which sees Jarrod charging through the backdoor as though there’s a fire.

  We come to a stop behind him and watch Ivy cooking at the stove, without turning her back, seconds later we hear a car thundering away.

  Jarrod jerks his head. “Wait in the car,” he tells us.

  I get the feeling it was an order rather than an option.

  A sob from Ivy holds us in place as she slowly turns around. Her eyes are so sad but seemed filled with fear, which makes me wonder what that bastard has done to her before we’d arrived, before she’d called for help.

  There are tear tracks on her face as though she’s sobbed her heart out and mine breaks for my friend. I think she’s doing well controlling her tears, until her eyes land on Jarrod, and then they start to fall again.

  Before I can blink, Jarrod has her up and in his arms. She wraps her arms around his wide shoulders, buries her face in the crook of his neck and cries.

  I’ve never in my life seen Jarrod so close to breaking, but that’s what it looks like as he holds Ivy tightly against him. It’s as though she’s his whole world and nothing else matters. I feel like a voyeur as I watch them.

  Clap. Clap. Clap.

  “Well, isn’t this romantic.”

  Gia’s hand clenches around mine as our heads turn toward the large man at the back of the room, sitting at the kitchen table.

  I gasp and feel Gia tremble beside me as another two men with guns make their presence known.

  I whip my head back to Jarrod, and he’s shoved Ivy behind his back, but as I slowly look back toward the men, I realize that the man sitting is Abatangelo—the man, a term I use loosely, considering the things he’s done.

  “It’s surprising what some digging can unearth.” He grins. “Like how obsessed you are over the young lady behind you.”

  Jarrod clenches his jaw and the anger I see would be unnerving if it was directed at me. He looks like he wants to rip the asshole apart, but I also see fear in his eyes.

  The man is into some serious stuff and we appear to be outnumbered, in strength and weapons, at least.

  Gia slowly moves toward her father, but I tug her back to my side. She needs to stay away because if the man wants Jarrod, then Gia is someone who can be used just as effectively as Ivy. Jarrod would protect me just as well because he’s an honorable man just like Julian and Hunter.

  Our men will show up here. That’s a given. I just hope it’s sooner rather that later.

  “Nothing to say to me?” Abatangelo asks, sitting back looking smug while I notice the huge sumo looking guy with him, staring at Gia and I.

  “Keep your eyes off them,” Jarrod spits the words. “It’s me you want… So take me, and let them go.”

  The man laughs. “I’d get good money for the girls.” His eyes harden. “So no. I won’t be taking you and leaving the girls, but I am considering leaving you behind.” He licks his lips. “I could have the girls out of the country within hours.”

  “Like hell you will.” Jarrod holds his position in front of Ivy.

  “I could shoot you,” he calmly says, just like someone else would ask for candy while pointing his gun at Jarrod’s head.

  “No!” Ivy shouts, and before Jarrod can stop her, she’s in front of him, her arms around his waist while he tries to move her away.

  “Dammit, Ivy,” he hisses. “Get behind me.”

  “So this firecracker is willing to die for you, huh?” Abatangelo drawls moving closer.

  Unease clouds Jarrod’s face while he continues to try and pry Ivy from in front of him.

  “But not today,” the asshole continues. “Today I have other plans, and that’s putting a stop to you,” he leers at Gia, “and your husband and his friend, interfering with my operation. All I need is tomorrow night and then I’m done. The last of the girls will be sold and taken out of the country, and then I can leave—never to return.” He grins, turning my stomach.

  “You seriously think you’re going to get away with this?” Gia questions, only to have Jarrod cursing.

  “I already have, and I will. You see you three girls are going to be our assurance that we do, so I’m not worried. Your father will be helping us because if he doesn’t then one-by-one accidents will happen.” He smirks. “I love it when everything goes as planned.”

  “Not today,” Hunter says.

  We turn to his voice and get a surprise. Hunter, Julian, Gia’s Uncle Colin, and other’s wearing battle gear have silently entered the back of the room while we were all distracted in the front of the kitchen.

  My eyes seek out those of Julian, and his momenta
rily flicker to mine. I see his relief and love for me before he turns his attention back to the men who invaded Ivy’s home.

  Abatangelo is bright red in the face and I’m pretty sure he’s close to blowing a gasket. His fists clench at his sides while his eyes search for an escape.

  Jarrod slowly moves toward us with Ivy having finally let go of the death grip that she had around his waist. But as he inches closer to us, Abatangelo turns to him.

  Jarrod pushes Ivy at us, and shouts, “Get outside…Now!”

  We grab Ivy and run outside, only to be urged around the corner by more DEA agents in battle gear. They try to urge us toward the end of the driveway but none of us budge.

  “Please ma’am, we need to get you to safety,” one of the guys says.

  “We’re not going anywhere until our men are out of the house,” I tell him.

  He looks incredulous but then seems to accept the situation. “Just stay behind us, and if we tell you to do something, you do it straightaway, no questions asked.”

  We nod and huddle behind him.

  “This is all my fault,” Ivy whispers. “If I hadn’t called for help when Brendan started threatening me, none of this would be happening.”

  Both Gia and I put our arms around her shoulders.

  “It isn’t your fault. He targeted me first, and somehow the DEA knew this was happening and they’ve managed to get the asshole back into custody,” Gia says. “I’m curious as to how everyone knew this was happening, but please don’t blame yourself.”

  Ivy nods after looking at us both, but nothing further can be said as there is movement from the back of the house.

  We watch as Abatangelo and his men are walked, under guard, toward the trucks and then we have three relieved looking men standing in front of us. The guy, who told us to stay behind him, sniggers and moves away with his partner. Jarrod doesn’t look as relieved as Hunter and Julian do, in fact, he looks as though he’s struggling to get his temper under control.

  Hunter moves forward and kissing Gia on the forehead, tugs her into his arms. I want nothing more than to fling myself into Julian’s arms, but Ivy looks as though her heart is breaking from the look Jarrod gives her. So I slip my hand into hers and with my other, I reach out for Julian.