Play the Game: Hannaford Prep Year Three

by J Bree

  I flush and grit my teeth at him. “No, Doc, I’m not here about babies. The shot isn’t helping anymore and I want the rod. That’s the next thing to try, right?”

  He hums and starts rummaging around in his drawers. “Do you want babies? We could just cut it all out. That can be effective in stopping the pain. Not always, but it’s an option.”

  Sweet mother of god.

  Why did I bring Ash here again?

  Fuck.

  While I’m too busy freaking the fuck out about this, Ash snaps at Doc, “You’re not cutting anything out.”

  Doc gives him a stern look. “Not your choice, boy.”

  Ash surveys the room with contempt. “If she wants anything cut out, I’ll take her to a real hospital, with real doctors, so she doesn’t bleed out at the hands of a second-rate hack in the slums.”

  I groan and bury my face in my hands. Is anyone safe from Ash’s sharp tongue?

  Doc looks at him for a moment and then laughs, thank fuck, pulling out the equipment to insert the rod in my arm. It takes under a minute and once he’s finished sticking the band-aid over the wound he gives me a stern look. “Any changes from our last visit? Do you need me to test you? Boys lie about being safe and clean, you know, even rich ones.”

  I shake my head, still flushed, and Ash glares him down like he’s going to stab him.

  “7 days until it’s effective to stop babies.”

  I wish he would stop saying babies to me, fucking lord.

  Ash slips his hand onto my thigh and sneers at Doc, “Are we done?”

  We stop for waffles on the way back at Avery’s request because she has a savage hangover and bad temper with it. Harley texts to say she’s already kicked Blaise out of the room and bitched him out for his antics last night. All I can think is thank fuck she didn’t know what I’d done with the other two.

  Ash orders my coffee without asking what I like and when I raise a brow at him he smirks. One sip of the sweet nectar of the gods tells me the smug asshole has been watching me closer than I think.

  He holds my hand the whole way back to the hotel, up the elevator, and down the hall to our rooms. I’m so happy I even hum a little under my breath, and he pulls me in closer to his body so he can hear it. I should know better than to let myself be happy.

  There’s a box waiting outside the door to our room.

  There, in bold black letters, is my full name across the top. Middle name and all. My stomach drops instantly and Ash’s hand tightens around mine. I wait for a second and then step up to open it.

  “Mounty, you can’t just fucking open it!” Ash hisses, and I ignore him.

  I use my knife to slice it open. Ash snaps at me again and I cut him off, “Avery, Harley, and Blaise are in that room and there’s no other way out. I have to see what it is.”

  I flick the box open and the smell hits me.

  Fuck.

  Fuuuuuuuuck.

  It’s a head.

  There’s a head in the box.

  I flick it shut again and stand up abruptly. Ash steps forward, my body shielding the contents so he still has no idea of what’s just been delivered to us. I know my face must look all sorts of fucked up as I try to figure out what the fuck is going on because his hand slips into mine again. I mean, it’s not the first time I’ve seen a dismembered head, but I’d let my guard down again this morning. I’d let myself slip back into Lips and away from the Wolf.

  “Is it dangerous?” Ash mutters. I shake my head, but when he moves to have a look for himself I tug him back.

  “I need your phone. I left mine behind.” I say calmly, and he hands his over without question.

  “What’s up, kid?” Illi answers, and I don’t bother asking him how he knew it was me.

  “Priority call, Illi. I need you to come to the hotel. We’ve had company this morning and they’ve left us a gift.”

  Illi snorts. “How kind. Gimme ten.”

  I gesture for Ash to get the door and then, grimacing, I pick up the box and carry it into the room.

  Chapter Fifteen

  The head in the box belongs to Lance, my stalker from last year.

  Harley and Ash both refuse to wait for Illi and have a look, jaws clenched. Blaise gags at the smell but has a look too, and he’s the first to figure out who it is. Avery doesn’t look up for her phone and she demands that Ash puts her waffles in the fridge for later, when there’s not stray body parts appearing out of nowhere.

  Illi arrives and snaps on a pair of latex gloves before lifting it out. Avery gets one look at it and barely makes it to the bathroom sink before she vomits, then she refuses to leave until the head is back in the box. I don’t blame her; she’s hungover and it’s not exactly fresh. She’s going to clean every square inch of our room for hours when we get back to Hannaford. She’ll probably have the guys room gutted before the panic subsides.

  Illi moves to empty out the rest of the contents of the box and finds nothing but the head and the plastic sheet lining the cardboard.

  Nothing.

  Fuck.

  Illi stares at the box with a frown over his face. I don’t like the look of that frown one bit because the same one is on my face. Fuck, he sees it too. He meets my eye and nods.

  “I’ll ask around a bit more. You might want to call the Crow, or even the Coyote, see if they know what the fuck this means.”

  I scowl and nod; we’re going to need the extra help. Ash frowns at me and says, “This isn’t the Jackal? It looks like a sick token of affection to me. Like he’s proving his devotion to you. I’d assume after last night he was making a stand.”

  Blaise rolls bloodshot eyes around at us all. “What happened last night? Did Arbour piss him off in the meeting?”

  I flush scarlet and desperately wish Illi wasn’t so fucking perceptive as he grins at Blaise. Fuck, does he know what we’d done? I need some fucking whiskey.

  Illi opens his mouth and I cut him off. “He saw Harley, Ash, and I dancing after the meeting. He was watching the three of us and I have no doubt he was planning out my punishment.”

  At that, the smirk melts off of Illi’s face and he snaps his gloves off. “This isn’t retaliation. This was done at least three days ago, and D’Ardo would leave a calling card. This isn’t his style. Fuck knows whose style this is, but it’s not his.”

  Harley groans and curses at the ceiling. “Mounty, is there any fucking chance you could stop attracting psychos and serial killers for five fucking minutes while we dig our way out of the mountain of shit we’re already in?”

  I shift my scowl over to him, sitting on the couch to rest my leg. “If I knew how I was doing it, clearly I would stop.”

  Illi snickers at us both and tucks the box under his arm without a care in the world of it’s contents. “I’ll deal with this. If the rest of it shows up we might have more of an idea of who’s behind it. Stay safe, kids!”

  He takes two steps towards the door and then swings back to smirk at me, his eyes fucking dancing around like he’s never been happier. Fuck.

  “If you decide to indulge in anymore public frolicking, please warn me. I’ve had a few threats neutralized already this morning, little Wolf.”

  I don’t think it’s possible to blush any freaking harder than I am as he laughs at me and walks out.

  As the door clicks shut behind him, Avery comes out of the bathroom, her face still a little green, and slumps down next to me, eyeing the color on my cheeks critically. I tuck my arm into hers to distract her and she croaks out, “Fuck margaritas.”

  Blaise is still staring between us all like he’s missing something big. I really hope that when he figures it out Avery and I aren’t around.

  “I don’t like him.” Ash snaps, and I glance up to find him staring at the door Illi just exited.

  Harley shrugs nonchalantly. “He grows on you. Give him time to get under your skin.”

  Blaise laughs at them both quietly, like his head is still pounding and his usual raucous laugh
ter wouldn’t be worth the pain. “Well, I don’t have a single fucking issue with the psycho. He doesn’t look at Star’s ass even in those booty shorts, he stabs people without her even having to ask him, and he gets rid of decomposing body parts with a smile. Don’t be a jealous dick and just leave him alone.”

  Ash’s eyes flare and he fixes them on me. Fuck, what next? “Oh, Mounty, how could I forget? Your name was on that box.”

  I tense up and throw him a stern look. His answering smile is a taunt. Fuck, I should’ve gone with a pleading look, but it’s just not my style.

  “Yes, Ash, we’ve just spent the last hour discussing her crazed stalker. Have you suffered some sort of brain damage I’m unaware of?” Avery hisses and he smirks at her.

  “I was referring to Lips’ middle name.”

  Fuck. I glare at him and Blaise bursts out laughing. Harley looks between them and then frowns at me like this is my fucking fault. Nope, I will not feel bad that he’s practically pouting at me. No. Stay strong, Lips. Fuck.

  “Ash, I would appreciate your discretion.” I grit out, overly polite because I don’t want to rage blackout and stab him for digging this hole for me. For the record, it would be justified.

  “How does Blaise know it?” Avery says sweetly, and it’s a total ruse. She might slit my throat while I’m sleeping for not telling her.

  “She loves me the most!” Blaise sings and shakes his ass as he heads towards the balcony for a smoke. I stare at his ass for a second too long but, damn, he can move those hips of his.

  When I look back at the others Harley is staring at Blaise like he’s planning exactly where he’s going to stab the fucker. I hold out my hands as Avery scowls at me. “He found out while I was off my head on those pain pills you gave me. I made him swear not to tell anyone because it’s fucking embarrassing and I’d rather die than ever hear it said out loud.”

  Avery rolls her eyes at my dramatics, but Ash stares at me for a second longer. Something in my eyes makes him shrug. “Fine, I’ll keep it to myself.”

  Avery just shrugs and smiles at Harley. “Mounty will tell me when we get home. She loves me the most.”

  I squeeze my eyes shut so I don’t have to see his reaction to potentially being the only one not knowing the damn name and snap, “It’s Starbright, okay? My name is Eclipse Starbright Anderson. My mom was high and thought the moon was fucking cool and just ran with it. She didn’t give a fuck about how it would affect me for the rest of my life. Fuck, she couldn’t even stay sober long enough to get through her pregnancy or my birth, for fuck’s sake. Okay? Cool. Glad everyone is on the same fucking page. Where’s the fucking whiskey, I’m going to drink myself to death, or until I forget about it. Whichever happens first.”

  The Bear calls me with his job midway through the break and I instantly know it’s going to be fucking messy.

  He wasn’t lying, it will be quick, but the chances of me getting it done without one of the guys or Avery finding out and throwing a fit is pretty slim.

  The outfit requirement alone is going to piss them the fuck off. They’re pretty twitchy about my ass in booty shorts, especially since all of the supervised eating has put a little meat on my bones. Harley in particular can’t seem to keep his hands away from the curve and I find myself fantasizing about what it’ll feel like to have his big hands spread me open.

  I take a lot of cold showers.

  After I get my brief from the Bear, I drag Avery into our shared bedroom at the hotel and give her a very basic and vague rundown of what I’m going to do. Naturally, the evil genius figures it out before I’ve even finished with the watered down sentence.

  “So what you’re trying not to say is you’re going to assassinate the leader of a prominent illegal organization because he pissed the Bear off?”

  Right. Well. I can’t really argue with that assessment. “Yeah. I am. Is this going to be a problem?”

  Avery switches her phone on silent, I trip over my own feet in shock, and then she props her chin up on her hands and watches while I throw together a good Mounty outfit. I need to blend in.

  “No problem. How many times do I have to tell you, I’m on your side. I trust that you wouldn’t be going and killing a decent person. Honestly, I don’t think I would care even if he were decent. If he’s in your way, take him out. Our family first; fuck everyone else.” She says, her eyes taking in the tiny shorts and skintight razor tee.

  Fuck, I really would kill and die for this girl.

  I do a full face of make up, and then cover all my visible skin in the tinted moisturizer I use to cover the tattoos to get through clubs without notice. Avery helps out with the backs of my legs and when I grab my shoes she gets up and starts digging around in my bag. When she pulls out another pair of shorts and a Vanth tee Blaise gave me I raise my eyebrows at her.

  “Don’t be dense, Mounty. I’m coming with you and we’ll tell the boys we’re having some girl time. That way they won’t try to jump in, as if you’re some kind of damsel that needs saving, to mess this up for you, and I’ll get to watch you work. There is nothing quite as satisfying as watching you destroy the male population one by one.” She says and when she pulls my clothes on I nearly choke at her transformation into a Mounty girl. Sweet lord fuck, it’s only a matter of time before some guy hits on her and I’ll have to fucking kill him too.

  Yep, just a regular girls night out in the Bay.

  As predicted the guys all pitch a fit when they get an eyeful of Avery and figure out what we’re doing, and she shoots them all down beautifully. She has an answer for everything and when Blaise tries to hand the keys for the Maserati over she smiles sweetly at him, waving her phone in his face.

  “Mounty’s use Uber. I’m going to live like the locals for a night. I feel desperate already.”

  Ash snorts at her, pissed at the both of us, and I step away from them before I get caught in the crossfire.

  Harley hooks an arm around my waist and pulls me into his body. When he whispers in my ear, I shiver. “Promise me you’re not going somewhere dangerous, babe. Promise me it’s just a girl’s night.”

  Fuck. Avery shoots me a look and I fumble to talk my way around it without lying. “I’m taking Avery on a job with me. I wouldn’t take her if I thought there was a chance it could get dangerous. Her safety is always a priority for me.”

  He nods and ducks down to kiss me, his hand trailing down my back to squeeze my ass in my shorts and I shiver. “Do you have any shorts that cover more of your ass?”

  I pull away, scoffing at him even as I blush. “I have to blend in. Avery’s wearing the longest ones I own, anyway, and on her long ass legs they still look indecent.”

  At this, Ash levels me with a look. I freeze for a second before snapping, “What the fuck have I done? I was going to go alone!”

  He turns on his heel, stalking over to the bar to find the bourbon, and we take the opportunity to leave before he changes his mind and follows us both out.

  Avery sits in the Uber like she’s afraid she’ll catch a venereal disease from the seats. I send a photo of her to the guys and she snarks at me like I’m a traitor to all womankind.

  It only makes me laugh harder.

  The bar we’re heading to is seedy and dark, perfect to murder some asshole in.

  I know the guy at the door, and a curt nod is all it takes before we’re both in. I slip a little clip of cash into his pocket as we pass and then Avery’s hand is tucked carefully into mine as we navigate our way through the room, blending seamlessly into the crowd of drunken locals.

  Well, I blend in. Avery is shuddering a little too much to look local to the discerning eye, but no one here is sober enough to give her revulsion a second glance.

  “That guy back there had cum stains on his shorts, Mounty.” Avery hisses and I laugh at her, pulling her along until finally we reach the bar at the back.

  Stephen is one of the bartenders on tonight.

  Excellent.

  I catch his
eye and he smiles cheerfully at me, finishing up with his customer and making his way over to me before the busty blonde helping him can piss me off. The look she’s giving Avery pisses me the fuck off before I realize she’s glaring at the Vanth shirt. Right. A priceless collector’s item.

  “There’s my favorite little ass shaker! Here to dance the night away or should I be worried? Picking things up or making a mess?” Stephen says and pours me a whiskey without asking. He tilts the bottle in Avery’s direction and she nods, her eyes glued to the glaring blonde the same way you’d stare at a box of snakes.

  “Making a mess, sorry. You’ll have to call your boss.” I murmur and he only smiles wider.

  “Oh, he called and told me to expect you.”

  He hesitates for a second, wiping a glass with a rag I hope Avery isn’t looking at, before gesturing at her. “A friend of yours?”

  I nod and down my shot. “She’s with me. I’m looking out for her.”

  “You know your friends are my friends, kid. I’ll keep the hoards of ravenous cock in the bar away from her while you shake that ass of yours. Have fun!” He says with a wink and I laugh at him. He pours me another shot and walks back over to the crowd of people waiting to be served.

  I survey the room and find the guy I’m looking for sitting in one of the booths with two other guys. They’re talking, or more likely arguing as he shakes his head and sneers at them. I jerk my head at Stephen and he nods, grabbing a bottle of vodka and walking it over to the booth. I need the guy to pee.

  “This is not what I expected. It’s a lot more… open than I thought it would be.” Avery murmurs and I shrug.

  I smile at Stephen as he comes back over to the bar, the dirty rag slung over his shoulder like it’s an everyday occurrence that he helps out with a hit. Belonging to the Bear, it may well be.

  “Stephen belongs to the Bear. He owns this place and is kept safe by that loyalty so he’s safe to talk to. He got the heads up and we drink for free. You’ll always drink for free here now, by the way, not that you need the hand out.”