Phoenix: Book One of The Stardust Series

by Autumn Reed

  Liam’s eyes gleamed, and I couldn’t shake the image of a panther on the prowl. “What rubbish. Do you realize how many times my accent has saved your arse?” He grinned and then pursed his lips. “Hmm. Jealousy, perhaps?”

  Jackson wasn’t going to let that slide. “And do you know how many more I’ve saved your arse?”

  I smiled at their antics; it was clear they were joking and enjoying themselves. I wondered how long they had been friends, especially since their bond seemed deeper, almost like brothers.

  Liam reached his long fingers toward Jackson’s neck. Jackson looked down and noticed that part of his collar had flapped up; he gently flipped it even further out of place. “Something wrong?” I saw the hint of a grin play at the corner of Jackson’s lips.

  Jackson reached for Liam’s head, threatening the perfectly styled hair, but Liam quickly ducked out of the way. “Don’t even think about it, Jax,” his tone playful, yet serious. Apart from Liam, I had only ever heard Knox use “Jax.” Interesting.

  As I finished my meal, I enjoyed the overwhelming sense of relaxation and content that spread over me. In need of a refill, I headed inside the pool house to grab more water.

  With the doors open to the backyard, the pool house formed part of a seamless whole with the main house and the backyard. Decorated in the same style, it was more casual and definitely cozier. With one bedroom, one bathroom, and a living room, it was really just a fun space for the guys to hang out. A wet bar and small fridge served as the kitchen, and with a grill just outside next to the table and chairs, it seemed like the ideal location. Good thing there was no “Boys Only” rule to this clubhouse. I wondered how many outsiders were invited to this more intimate and private setting.

  Chase and Ethan sat on the plush, over-sized sofas eating and watching the television; Theo held the remote, absent-mindedly flipping channels. Occasionally he would linger on one, but he was clicking so rapidly, I wondered how he could even tell if the program was something he was interested in.

  Even Chase seemed impatient. “Come on, Theo. You know the game is on channel twenty-two. Can’t we just watch that?”

  Theo laughed. “Don’t be silly; we have to survey all the options first.”

  When he stopped on a telenovela, Ethan groaned and tried to steal the remote. Theo kept the remote out of reach and said, “Wait, wait. I want to see this.”

  On the screen was a beautiful but angry woman and a forlorn-looking man. They were arguing, and I had to concentrate to keep up with their fast-paced Spanish dialogue.

  Theo laughed and said, “This is great.” He focused on the television and then started translating the dialogue in English, his voice taking on a believable accent with added flair to amp up the melodrama.

  “Fernando, I know you slept with Adriana! I will never forgive you!”

  “I’m sorry, Gabriela, just let me explain. It wasn’t my fault.”

  “I don’t want to hear your pathetic excuses. Get away from me! I never want to see you again!”

  “But how could I have known that she was your twin? You never even told me you had a sister!”

  Theo mimicked both of the characters perfectly, and I couldn’t help but laugh. He was undoubtedly fluent in Spanish . . . like Ethan. As the thought crossed my mind, I found myself speaking, not taking the time to consider whether it was a good idea.

  Attempting only a slight Spanish accent, I spoke Gabriela’s next line. “I didn’t tell you because Adriana was supposed to be dead! I wish she was!”

  I felt every eye in the room turn to stare at me. Theo gave me a huge grin, nodding as he continued. “How could you say that about your own twin?”

  Not wanting to give up on the game, I continued Gabriela’s part, translating the best that I could. “Because she is the evil twin. She deserved to die in that hurricane. I can’t believe she survived on a stranded island for the past five years.”

  The show went to commercial and several of the guys started clapping. Theo took a bow and said, “Haley, that was awesome. I didn’t know you speak Spanish.”

  I hesitated for a moment and then looked directly into Ethan’s eyes. “I’m not fluent, but I know enough to understand most of what I hear or read.”

  Ethan stared back and me, his face stoic. I wondered if he could feel the current of anger I was channeling toward him. If he wasn’t suspicious that I was upset with him before, he definitely should be now.

  By this point, Knox, Liam, and Jackson had migrated into the pool house, ready for the feature film. Nothing was said about the seating arrangements, but they all instinctively seemed to know where to sit. Chase patted the space on a sofa between himself and Knox. I wasn’t sure the three of us would fit comfortably, but it seemed preferable to the tile floor, even with the rug.

  And I couldn’t deny that the idea of being snuggled up between Chase and Knox was appealing. I knew I was in over my head, but I just couldn’t resist the temptation. Besides, I thought, was it really such a big deal to sit between them on the couch?

  Jackson grabbed the remote and stood in front of the TV. “Okay, what do you guys . . . ” he paused, “And girl, want to watch tonight?”

  Liam laughed. “Well this is a first. Although considering the quality time the rest of you have spent with her, it seems only fair that Haley should sit with me.”

  Jackson rolled his eyes but continued talking, proposing a few movie options. Theo threw out a few horror films, but Knox shook his head. I couldn’t imagine that Knox would be afraid of anything, let alone a movie; I wondered if he vetoed them for my benefit. Several of the guys spoke up, naming films I had never heard of—Fight Club; Lock, Stock, & Two Smoking Barrels; Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Some of the suggestions were met with groans, but nothing seemed to be a clear winner.

  Finally, Jackson picked a film and put it in the DVD; after the previews, the title The Minority Report flashed on the screen. Nestled in between Knox and Chase, I tried to relax and enjoy the movie, but all I could focus on was their legs and arms brushing against mine. I shook my head in disbelief at the situation. Was I really watching a futuristic, sci-fi movie surrounded by six insanely attractive guys? Any one of them alone was enough to make my heart flutter, but all together . . . I wasn’t even sure how to finish that thought.

  The sun had set and with the doors still open to the pool, I was getting cold in my linen shorts and V-neck T-shirt. At some point, Knox put his arm on the back of the couch and encouraged me to lean into him if I needed more space. I resisted at first but ever so slowly came to rest against him. His body was warm and comforting despite the hard muscles beneath his soft shirt.

  The movie was engaging and the suspense intensified as it progressed. I could feel my anxiety rising as the main character dashed through the city, attempting to evade the police and the eye scans required for everything from entering a mall to making a purchase. Suddenly, a large, warm hand clapped over my eyes, obscuring my view. Surprised by the unexpected contact, I nearly jumped out of my skin.

  With Knox’s broad chest behind me and his arm curved around me, it felt like he was giving me a hug. His voice spoke reassuringly into my ear. “Trust me, Haley. You don’t want to see this.”

  I whispered back. “Why not? I can handle it.”

  I gently nudged him in the ribs with my elbow, prodding him to let me see the screen. He spread his fingers slightly, allowing me a limited view.

  “Ack! You’re right.” I clamped my eyes shut beneath his fingers, wishing I could erase even the brief image from my mind. I felt nauseated at the thought of eye replacement surgery. Knox patted me on the shoulder, and I could feel the light movement of his chest while he laughed gently.

  At the end of Minority Report, I was left with a number of questions and the need for a quick trip to the bathroom. A baseball game played on the TV as I headed down the hall. Finishing up in the bathroom, I dried my hands on the towel before flipping off the light.

  After the bright li
ght of the bathroom, the hall seemed even darker while my eyes adjusted. I turned toward the living room, but a large hand grabbed my own and pulled me in the direction of the bedroom; I was moving so fast my hair whipped through the air.

  Startled, I found myself standing face-to-face with Ethan as he closed the door behind us. Even in the dim light of the room, I could make out his facial expression, and he didn’t look pleased. He held onto my hand a moment longer than necessary, and my heart began to race.

  In the Dark

  Ethan stood in the bedroom, his large frame overwhelming in the small room. “What was that about earlier?” His deep voice rumbled even though he was speaking softly.

  Crossing my arms over my stomach, I took a deep breath and reminded myself to stay strong. I had been avoiding this confrontation for too long. I had imagined and rehearsed the conversation in my head for the past week, but he caught me by surprise. Now that the moment was actually here, I wasn’t sure what to say. And I wasn’t sure this was the time or place to say it, with the rest of the guys just on the other side of the wall.

  I shrugged my shoulders. Did he really not get what this was about?

  His eyes narrowed, assessing me. “Are you upset about what happened in the pool? I didn’t mean to be so rough.”

  I shook my head. “No, it’s not about the pool.” Just get it over with, Haley.

  I took a deep breath. “It’s about trust.” I saw a shift in Ethan’s eyes as I continued speaking. “I opened up to you and shared things about my past, things that were personal. I thought I could trust you.”

  Ethan adjusted his glasses, his brown eyes full of concern. “You can trust me, Haley.”

  My whisper sounded harsh, each syllable staccato and over-pronounced. “You keep saying that, but how am I supposed to believe you when you’re not being honest with me?” Ethan raised an eyebrow. Either he really didn’t know what I was upset about, or he had an even better poker face than Knox.

  “I heard you talking in Spanish on the last day at the cabin.” I paused, hoping I could keep my voice from trembling. “I want you to explain.”

  Ethan did not visibly react to my statement. “You’re going to have to tell me what you heard, because I don’t remember that entire conversation off the top of my head.”

  “Basically, I heard you say that Chase had convinced me to come with you guys to Santa Cruz and that I wouldn’t if I knew about something. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to be make me suspicious.” I crossed my arms over my chest, bracing for the answer.

  “First of all, it was never our intention to keep this from you long-term. But we were worried if you found out, you would run. And we really are trying to protect you. Please hear me out.”

  I gave a belligerent nod before he continued. “After days of investigating, we were able to uncover that our client hired the men who were chasing your dad the day of the fire.” My breath caught in my chest, and I looked toward the door, fighting an overwhelming desire to flee.

  I hadn't realized how close I was to the bedroom wall until Ethan raised his arm, placing his hand on the wall beside my head, effectively blocking my exit. He leaned toward me, the space between our faces mere inches. I tried to listen to what Ethan was saying; I needed to know what was going on, but he was making it challenging to focus.

  “We haven’t revealed that we know this to our client because we are still trying to put the pieces together. Since he hasn’t let us know that his men were on the scene, he’s clearly hiding something. But we aren’t sure of his intentions yet, and we can’t assume that he plans to harm your dad. We need more information.”

  I let his words sink in. They made sense given the part of his conversation that I overheard. It was true that I probably wouldn’t have agreed if I had known. I wouldn’t have trusted that they were more concerned with my interests than their client’s. Ironically, I didn’t agree anyway because I didn’t know the truth. Thus, the kidnapping.

  “I wish you would have told me. It’s already hard enough to trust all of you without knowing that you’re keeping important information from me.” I stared into his eyes, urging him to recognize how frustrated I was. “I’m tired of being kept in the dark. First my dad and now you. I don’t want to live like that anymore.”

  He softened his voice. “I know, and I’m sorry. You have to understand that we work in a business that relies on confidentiality and secrecy. It’s difficult to balance that against what we want to share with you.”

  He searched my face with his piercing gaze. “Forgive me?”

  I hesitated a moment before nodding. His explanation made sense, and the truth was, I had missed Ethan and didn’t want to hold onto a grudge. But more importantly, I knew the guys were looking out for me; I just didn’t always agree with their methods.

  Still leaning against the wall, Ethan used his free hand to brush my hair away from my face before gently trailing it down my cheek. The air between us was charged with electricity, and I felt breathless.

  Embarrassed by how long I had been “in the bathroom,” I figured it was time to rejoin the group. “We should probably get back.” Ethan nodded, but I sensed some hesitation, and I realized that I didn’t want our conversation to end on this note.

  Placing my hand on the door knob, I paused. “You know, there’s still something you haven’t told me.” I kept my tone serious.

  Ethan looked concerned. “What’s that?”

  “Your last name,” I said with a grin.

  His shoulders dropped and one corner of his mouth turned up. “Wright.” His smile grew. “Feel free to call me Mr. Wright.”

  Unsure whether he was teasing, I just shook my head with a laugh and turned to go. I had barely stepped into the short hallway before I was pulled backward, flush against Ethan’s body. Enveloped in his arms, I felt warm and safe. I hesitantly wrapped my arms around his back and inwardly gasped at the feeling of his hard body against mine.

  He dipped his head slightly and whispered into my ear as he held me. “Now that you’re in Santa Cruz, I was really hoping we could go stargazing.” I grinned from ear to ear, nodding into his chest, and he gently squeezed me in response.

  I heard the sound of a throat clearing. “Everything okay?” Knox’s rough voice filled the hall, and I guiltily pulled away from Ethan.

  Why do I feel so uncomfortable? It was just a hug, right? “Yeah, everything is fine.” I gave Ethan a small smile.

  “Good,” Knox said as he wrapped an arm around my shoulder and ushered me back to the living room.

  Despite my desire to slip on the couch unnoticed, Theo exclaimed, “Haley, you’re back!” His grin looked even more mischievous than normal, and I wondered what he was holding behind his back. “Are you ready?”

  I furrowed my brow. “Ready for . . . ?”

  Theo pulled a large plastic gun from behind his back. “Outdoor laser tag!” He said it with such enthusiasm that I couldn’t help but be a little excited at the idea.

  I laughed. “If everyone else is playing, I guess so.”

  “Put this on,” Chase said, handing me a large vest with plastic spots that I assumed were targets for the laser gun. The other guys grabbed vests and guns while Chase talked. “We picked teams; you’re with Jackson, Ethan, and me. Aim for the targets or the gun. Try to hit them as many times as possible and don’t get hit yourself. If you do get hit, you have to wait thirty seconds before you can shoot anyone again. But they can keep shooting you during those thirty seconds, so it’s best to hide.”

  He smiled. “Just stick near Jackson, Ethan, or me. Don’t worry; it will be fun.”

  Heading outdoors, I could feel the nervous excitement building within me. It was cooler now, and the grass smelled fresh as the crickets chirped around us. The back of the house was lit, casting an inviting glow over the lawn.

  Walking past the pool, there was no sign of our adversaries. I hadn’t realized how expansive the estate was, and I found the treed area beyond the formally
landscaped yard bewitching. The moon shone overhead as the cicadas sang their distinctive song, beckoning us to join them.

  Following close behind Ethan, I stayed silent while Jackson led us further into the woods. Chase was behind me, and if I looked back, I could still see the lights of the house. Large lights placed throughout the grounds provided uplighting in the treetops and ambient lighting in their immediate surround. But on the path, it was mostly dark apart from scattered beams of moonlight shining through the trees.

  Jackson held up his hand, motioning us to stop. Based on the plan we had formulated earlier, Ethan and Jackson were to go one direction while Chase and I headed in another. This was the signal to split up, and Ethan looked back and winked at me before walking off with Jackson.

  Out of the corner of my eye, I saw movement and aimed my gun. It beeped, and I had the gratification of hearing a grunt (which I assumed was Knox) confirming my hit. Chase looked at me wide-eyed. He probably assumed it was a lucky hit; I had no doubt the guys would be astonished to discover my shooting prowess. Never underestimate the lengths a paranoid father will go to keep his daughter safe, even if that means teaching her to shoot.

  But before I could get too smug, my chest vibrated and my heart jolted. When my vest lit up, I gritted my teeth. Crap.

  Dashing through the trees in the moonlight, the high-tech game of cat-and-mouse continued. It was exhilarating, and I could feel my skin glistening with sweat despite the cool air. It felt so good to jog and move; I had been aching to run again after my ankle injury.

  Occasional volleys of fire were exchanged, alerting us of distant skirmishes. And each time one of us made a hit, Chase and I high-fived. I liked being on Chase’s team; he made me feel protected while treating me like an equal. It almost felt like he wanted to see what I was capable of.

  After a particularly strenuous pursuit, Chase and I stopped to catch our breath. A moment later, shots were fired, and Chase pulled me behind a tree. Leaning in so close our noses were almost touching, he whispered, “Stay here while I try to distract them; only run if you have to.” At the feel of his warm breath against my skin, I shivered, focused just enough to absorb his instructions. If Chase distracted our enemy as well as he’d just dazed me, we’d win for sure.