by Autumn Reed
Before I had a chance to respond, Chase raced off into the woods, firing as he ran. Suddenly left alone, I felt slightly bereft. So used to at least one of the guys around me at all times, I was surprised at how keenly I felt their absence in that moment.
When Chase didn’t return after a few minutes, I crouched low and darted from tree to tree, trying to keep out of sight. Then, without warning, I heard a nearby voice call out, “Come out, come out, Haley.” Another voice, “We know you’re all alone; we captured Chase.” Wait, they could capture people?
As their playful taunts continued, I realized that the rival team was now circling me. I remained still, debating what to do. Hearing beeps whiz through the air at some unknown target, it was a shock when Jackson appeared next to me as if by magic. To say that I was impressed that he dodged them without getting hit was an understatement. He must have maneuvered through them with the stealth of a well-trained soldier.
Holding his gun in his right hand, Jackson swept me behind him with his left, creating a shield with his body. Instinctively, I turned my back to his, each of us facing out to meet the enemy. I may be a damsel in distress, but I’m not going down without a fight.
I felt his body shift and turned my head. A look passed between us as we shared a moment of camaraderie. For the first time, I felt like Jackson and I were on the same side.
Finger poised on the trigger, ready to spring at any sound, I waited for the impending ambush. I was able to make out a dark figure between the bushes and fired, my gun emitting the beeping noise I had become accustomed to. We hit two of our rivals before our vests made a funny noise that almost sounded like they were powering down.
I heard groans from the trees around us; Theo’s voice rang out as he, Knox, Chase, and Liam emerged from the bushes. “Seriously? That went by way too fast.”
I shook my head. “It’s already over?” The ending felt almost anticlimactic after Jackson came to my rescue, and together, we fought off most of the opposing team.
Ethan appeared then, laughing as he wrapped an arm around my shoulder. “I guess that means you had fun.”
After removing our gear and returning to the pool house, Jackson stood looking at his phone. “Ready for the run down?”
I wasn’t sure what he was referring to, but all the guys nodded heads almost in unison. Jackson resumed talking. “Player hit the most times was Chase.” One of the guys interjected a “womp womp,” before Jackson said, “Player hit the least times was Knox.”
Jackson scrolled down the screen with his finger. “The player with the most successful hits was me, with . . . ” He paused and I saw his eyebrow raise a hair. “Haley in second.”
Six distinct sets of eyes turned to stare at me.
Liam spoke first, his British accent taking on a slight twang. “Whoa there, Annie Oakley.” I rolled my eyes and headed toward the kitchen while trying to hide my blush from the unexpected attention.
Ethan stood frozen, his hand hovering over a drink in the fridge. “So was that beginner’s luck or . . . ” and trailed off.
Realizing they were still staring at me expectantly, awaiting an explanation, I shrugged. “I know how to shoot a Glock 19; it wasn’t that different.”
I saw Theo’s jaw drop before Knox patted me proudly on the shoulder. “I told you she’s not like other girls.”
I was puzzled by Knox’s statement, but he seemed to intend it as a compliment. The rest of the guys apparently accepted my answer, at least for the moment, and moved around the pool house, grabbing drinks or popcorn.
With the exhilaration of the game wearing off and the chill of evening setting in, I rubbed my arms once to warm them. Before I could even ask for a blanket, Theo anticipated my need. “Here’s a blanket for you.” Theo threw it toward me, and in a funny, high pitched voice exclaimed, “It’s so fluffy I’m gonna die!” The room erupted in laughter.
Watching Despicable Me, it became clear that his “fluffy” comment was a line from the movie. My cheeks were sore from smiling at the delightful movie, especially knowing the guys selected it specifically for me. Snuggled under a soft blanket between Chase and Knox, I was amazed by how at home I felt.
I glanced around the room, my eyes quickly running over Chase, Ethan, Theo, Liam, Jackson, and Knox. Individually, they were each so unique, but together, they were truly remarkable.
I thought back to what Ethan told me the night he shared my bed at the cabin. Sometimes home isn’t a house or even family. Sometimes it’s a group of friends who always have your back or finding a career you’re passionate about.
Being here with them, I could actually see what Ethan meant. There was still a lot I didn’t know about each of them, but it was clear that this group of guys had bonded through their broken backgrounds and had redefined home in their own terms.
I tried to ignore the longing settling over me. Although I currently had a roof over my head, I was still without a home. And as comfortable as I felt in that moment, I knew my time here—with the six of them—was fleeting.
Despite our emerging friendships, I knew I was an obligation, the byproduct of a botched assignment. My heart ached at the thought that a day would come when I would part ways with the guys, but I had to put my dad, and myself, first.
I held out hope that my dad was just biding his time until it was safe to reappear. In the meantime, I was determined to do everything I could to find him. I would continue to enjoy my time in Santa Cruz, but I wouldn’t be able to relax until I knew he was okay.
Thinking back to my birthday, I laughed to myself. So much had changed in a few short weeks, I barely recognized my life. I went from living in almost complete solitude to constantly being surrounded. It was as unfamiliar as it was comforting. I had no idea what the next few months would bring, but for the first time, I was demanding a say in my life and my future.
Zenith: San Jose, California
Jackson answered the incoming call: “Good morning, Uncle. How are you?”
Uncle: “I’m good, Jax. Sorry to call so early, but I’m in D.C., and I have a meeting in half an hour. I just wanted to check in before the week started.”
Jackson: “Thanks again for letting us stay at your house this weekend. I think there was only a few thousand dollars’ worth of damage this time.”
Uncle: Laughing, “Of course. You know you’re welcome any time; it will always be your home.” He paused. “Status?”
Jackson: “The Hamlet project wrapped up successfully. Theo and Liam are making progress on Gandalf, and Finch is close to completion. We are still searching for Phoenix’s dad, Brian Taylor. We connected our client, Gerald Douglas, to his disappearance, but we are still trying to discern Douglas’s motives.”
Uncle: “Good. Any questions or concerns?”
Jackson: “No questions, but I am concerned with how attached several members of the team are getting to Phoenix.”
Uncle: “Well, that’s not that surprising, but you need to make sure she’s not a distraction for your team.”
Jackson: “Trust me, I know. Since one of us has to be with her at all times, I had a talk with the team Friday night. Everyone agreed that none of us will pursue her romantically.”
Uncle: “Do you think that will work?”
Jackson: “I hope so, but I honestly don’t know; several of them seem very invested. I’m just hoping to get her out of the picture before it becomes an issue.”
Uncle: “What’s your game plan?”
Jackson: “Phoenix is starting work today. And fortunately, we received a message that Mr. Douglas wants to hire Zenith as private security for his fundraiser at the end of the month. Hopefully this will be what we need to find Brian Taylor.”
Uncle: “Perfect. Keep me updated.”
Draco (Book Two of The Stardust Series)
Available this winter!
It’s been two weeks since Haley Jones turned eighteen and her life was turned upside down. While searching for her dad, Haley is adjusting to li
fe in Santa Cruz with a new job and friends. Surrounded by six dangerously appealing guys, she’s still trying to figure out just who Liam, Knox, Ethan, Chase, Theo, and Jackson are and what they do. From a twenty-first birthday party to a swanky costume gala, Haley discovers just how difficult it can be to fit in and that maybe it’s okay to stand out.
About the Authors
Autumn and Julia met at work and bonded over their mutual love of historic homes, photography, and good books. While they didn’t plan on co-authoring a novel, what started as daydreaming transformed into brainstorming and then actual writing.
Together, Autumn and Julia make the perfect pair, balancing impulsive with indecisive and attention to detail with an eye for the big picture. Despite their different personalities, Autumn and Julia share a common vision in their writing and love bouncing ideas off each other. They see the creative process as a challenge, a game, and delight in living in a world of their own creation.
Read more at www.autumnandjulia.squarespace.com.
