Always Crew
Chapter 58

BREN

It was twelve minutes after Derrick left when I heard the first screech of brakes.

Car doors slammed.

Feet were pounding on the sidewalk.

There was shouting.

The doorbell was ringing. Someone was punching it over and over again.

Pounding on it, fists were hitting it and I heard from the back of the house, “BREN! ARE YOU OKAY?!”

Then, not a moment of silence where I could respond, I heard, “Dude! Check the back of the house. Maybe that’s unlocked.”

Zeke came barreling around the back side of the house, and seeing me sitting there, he braked to a sudden halt. His eyes were wide, alarmed, and his jaw tense, but then he cupped a hand by his mouth and hollered, “SHE’S BACK HERE!” He frowned at me. “You okay?” His head tilted to the side. “You look weird, Monroe.”

Huh.

That was it.

That was all I had in me, because hella shock syndrome here. Maxwell Raith left with a threat to my loved ones and I’m pretty sure I might never see my father again, so yeah… There weren’t words to summarize that, not that I would because this was Zeke.

And speaking of Zeke—I frowned and asked at the same time Blaise came running around the house, “What the hell are you doing here?”

He scoffed, but Blaise stopped next to him, raking me over, and he’s the one who answered. “Cross called, said he got a message from your brother that you were in trouble.” He looked around, scanning the backyard. “What the f**k? What happened?”

Yeah.

There was that whole situation where I couldn’t tell any of them about.

I shrugged. “I’m fine. I mean, there were people here, but they’re not and I’m good.”

I waited.

They didn’t leave.

“I mean, thanks for coming, but I’m good.”

They still didn’t leave.

They shared a look.

Zeke raised an eyebrow.

Blaise grunted. “Me too.”

Both looked at me—eerie.

Blaise said, “Sorry, but no f*****g way. My brother called me for help. I’m not moving till his a*s gets back and he can grovel in thanks at my feet.”

Zeke grinned, but he had the graciousness to glance at the ground. His shoulders were shaking.

“Knock it off,” I snapped at him. He didn’t, and I had to add, “Why aren’t you in a counselor’s office or something? Shouldn’t you be permanently scarred? Your frat frenemy was kidnapped last night.”

His shoulder stopped and his head snapped back up. “Thanks for the reminder, and you’re welcome. We came to help your a*s.”

Like they could’ve done anything. I shook my head. “Whatever. I’m fine. I’ll send Cross to ‘grovel’ at your feet later.”

Except as soon as I finished speaking, another set of car tires were heard, pulling up on the driveway and slamming to a stop. More car doors.

More running.

This time female voices.

“That’s Blaise’s Wagon—BLAISE!”

“It’s locked.”

More doorbell ringing.

A dull-sounding knock on the door. My guess, someone was hitting it with the bottom of their palm.

“What are you doing?”

“I just got my nails done. I like Bren, but no way am I ruining my manicure.”

Someone snorted. “Priorities, man.”

Zeke snorted/laughed, and elbowed Blaise in the ribs.

Blaise g*****d, his head falling back. “What the f**k?” He started walking around to the front of the house. “WE’RE BACK HERE! And what the hell are you doing here?”

They came from the other side of the house, and Blaise turned around, looking past me.

Frustration evident on his face as he started walking toward me. “Aspen, I told you—”

The body hit me first before thin arms wrapped around my stomach. A head buried into my shoulder blades. Another body hit me from the side. More arms around me.

“Scootch over. I want in here, too.” And I got a hug from the other side.

A fourth person walked around, and I eyed Jade with nearing alarm.

She grinned, shaking her head. “No worries. I’m glad you’re obviously okay, but I’m not a huggy person.”

The person behind me gave me an extra squeeze before letting go, and walked around, too. “Not true. She hugs me.” Aspen shot me a grin before turning to her boyfriend. “And if you think I hear you say, ‘Oh shit, something’s wrong with Bren. Gotta go,’ and I’m not coming to be here for her, you’re a moron. I’m not dating a moron, so I know you’re not going to question me again about why I came to make sure my friend is okay.”

Blaise glowered at her, but after a moment of both sharing a look, he sighed and held open his arms. Aspen walked right into them, tipping her head back and smiling at him.

The two girls let go, stepping back.

Angeline was blushing. I’m not sure why.

Veronica was half-glaring at Zeke, half-looking like she was eye-f*****g him.

He was doing the same, except a lot less of the ‘eye-f*****g’ and his hostility level was amped way higher. “What do you want, Nut Kicker?”

She smiled, and it looked like pure evil for a moment. “Look at you. All foreplay, Allen.”

Jade snorted, laughing. “Oh my God, you two. I don’t understand. I don’t understand at all.” She asked me, “But you’re okay, right? You look fine.”

“I—”

A third vehicle roared up, slamming to a stop. This one was louder and bigger, and I knew that engine.

Good Lord, I could only guess who had called them?

These guys were quiet, and I knew that so I was still watching for them. The others had stilled, but didn’t look back. They were waiting for the sounds of running, doorbell, and pounding. Nope. Not these guys. It took only a second before Brock turned the corner, his Taser gun raised and ready.

He wasn’t alone, and they were all in their bounty hunting gear, all black, vests, everything.

Hawk was right behind him, sweeping out beside him.

They saw me, saw the others, but they didn’t stop running.

The weapons were checked and then Brock ran past everyone and picked me up. His arms wound around me tight. I watched over his shoulder as Hawk waited, a faint grin showing. She looked especially Vikings badass today. Her hair was pulled up on both sides of her face and wound into a high French braid that had volume to it. She had a couple feathers clipped into it, too, and her makeup looked even warrior-esque.

“Holy cripes.”

That was Veronica. She got a look at Hawk.

“Whoa.” Then, a smarmy, “What’s your name?” That was Zeke. He noticed Hawk, too.

But Brock was putting me back down, and I heard the rest of the cavalry arrive behind him.

He stepped back, his hands on my shoulders. “You’re okay?”

I nodded. “My brother?” That was the only guess I had.

He nodded back, grim. “He called. Said you were on the phone and heard you. He said the Reds might be here.” His eyes glanced around, ignoring how now Veronica, Jade, and Angeline were all checking him out and gawking. He settled back on me, taking a step backwards and letting go of my shoulders. “I’m seeing they’re gone.”

Shetland stepped up next to him.

I glanced down, still making sure I noticed his hands, but they were hitched to the sides of his vest. He tipped his chin up to me. “See you’re still in one piece, Ball Buster.”

I frowned. That was a new name from him. I spoke to him and Brock, and for Hawk because I knew she was listening, “I’m fine. Yes, they were here, but I’m okay. Everything’s okay.” I held my hands up. “I promise.”

Big and Burly ambled up, and Veronica’s eyes got huge. “Whoa! Who are these gigantic Magic Mikes?” She went back to looking at Brock. “You look like that guy from Outlander. Bren, where have you been hiding all the delicious people? And who else do you know?”

“What’s up, Little Monroe? Nice to see you’re still standing.”

I hid a grin. “I’m good, and… I can’t say anything else.”

Brock nodded. “Got it.” His face shuttered closed, though. He wasn’t happy.

“Sucks all those warrants went away like that? All disappearing in the wind like ash.” Shetland was eyeing Brock, the end of his mouth curved down.

Brock growled. “Can’t do anything about that.” He found me again. “You’re going to get another slew of arrivals in a couple hours. Your brother was on the way here, and he set the call in to your boyfriend. They shared notes. Neither was happy about how your crew got called away.”

Crap. I had called Cross as soon Derrick left, but only hearing a savage exclamation from him that he was glad I was okay, he hung up and I knew they were heading back right away. They’d been on the road for a full hour by the time I called.

But I hadn’t had time to process the Red Demons trick to get them away either.

“Shit.” From me.

“Yeah.” From Brock.

“It sounds wicked, though.” Hawk was looking at Brock. “Something maybe we could use in the future, if we got our hands on whatever they designed.”

Brock sent her a look saying ‘yeah right.’ And I agreed. “I doubt the Red Demons are going to hand that over.”

I became aware of a body sidling up next to me, then Veronica’s elbow nudged my arm. She said in a hushed voice, openly trying to eye-f**k Brock now, “Um. Introductions? Don’t be rude here.” She winked at me. Twice.

Right. Subtle.

But I did the introductions.

“Hey, there.” Zeke was now sounding like Joey from Friends.

Hawk was eyeing him back, but with disdain. “Don’t. I eat little boys like you for breakfast. I am not the one to hit on.”

“Oh.” He eased back.

Aspen had turned so her back was to Blaise’s chest. His arms were hugging her, locked around the front of her chest and her hands were resting on them. She gave me a small smile, a whole dreamy look in her eyes. “I don’t know what happened before we all got here, but we’re all here and I’m thinking none of us are leaving until we’re all reassured you’re okay. Even though you obviously are. Bear with us and our anxieties here.”

Veronica snorted. “Speak for yourself. I want to know what other hotties are showing up—”

And like clockwork, as if Veronica had summoned them, another screeching sound happened. This time from farther away, so I was guessing they had to park on the street.

We heard the sounds of swift sprinting, but they were quieted.

I was primed. I was ready.

I knew who was coming.

They were coming in from the grass, and I turned around, knowing they weren’t going to come through the driveway’s entrance. And then there they were.

Cross was first. He was always the fastest, and the few who were in the way stepped back. He had a clear path, and then he was in front of me, he was sweeping me up, and he was walking me away from the group. His head was buried in my neck, but he just kept going.

All the way.

I gave up and just wrapped my legs around his waist and I held on.

This boy. This guy. This man. I was going to marry him. I was going to have his babies. I would fight him, with him, and for him forever. He was mine, all mine, and I was going to savor that he came into my life.

His hand pressed against the back of my head and finally he stopped. We were inside the house. How we got there, I had no clue, but we were in total privacy.

“God.” He lifted his head, setting me on the kitchen counter.

My legs remained wrapped around his waist. He didn’t step back, just his head moved so he could see me.

“I was so f*****g scared. That call—” he choked off. The terror was still in him. One of his hands pressed to my leg and he closed his eyes, needing a minute to control himself. “I couldn’t even talk to you on the phone. You called, said you were fine—and I wanted to kill someone. The need to rip their heads off, it was just like when you were arrested.”

I wound my arms around his neck and pulled him back in.

“It was the Red Demons.”

His hand went up my back and he grabbed fistfuls of my shirt. His head buried into my neck. “I know.” His voice was muffled. “I want to kill them. I want to—”

“No.” I eased back again, leaning back on the counter.

His head tipped back to see me. I framed his face with my hands, trying to wipe that fear from him if I could’ve. “It’s done. Everything is done. They know I recognized Heckler—” Oh, yeah. I already told Cross, and Zellman, and Jordan, besides Channing. They all knew. The Red Demons didn’t need to know that part. “I promised not to say a word, and promised not to hunt them as a bounty hunter later, but it’s done. It’s done. They’re out of our lives. I think my Dad, too. He told me he wanted everything from me, but he’d ask for nothing. I know what that means. That means he’s gone unless I reach out. It’s over, Cross.”

He searched me, then drew in a shuddering breath. His gaze fell to my mouth and he cupped the side of my face in his. “If they had done something to you—”

The Red Demons knew what I promised to do to them if they had hurt someone I loved, but they didn’t know Cross. They had no idea. Cross flipped his shit when I was arrested. I shuddered myself at what he’d do if something happened to me.

Drawing in one more harsh breath, he framed my face back and tipped my forehead to his. “I love you.”

I whispered back, my hands falling to his arms, “I love you, too.”

We took a few more minutes before there was a discreet knock.

The patio door slipped open.

Cross tensed, cursing under his breath, but our time was up.

Zellman swept in next, the same fierce hug that I got last night.

Jordan joined.

After a full minute, when it became obvious they weren’t going to let me go, Cross joined us and I lost track of time as my guys held me.

Two hours later, it was a full-on party.

Aspen and her friends went to get food and drinks. The grill was turned on and Zellman and Jordan were in charge of the meats. I’m pretty sure they had plans to grill a pizza, or two of them. If they could grill water, they would’ve.

By this time, Tabatha and Jessinda had joined us, too, but they came in at a slower pace.

Tabatha came over, gave me a tight hug, and she stepped back, flicking away some tears. She couldn’t look at me so she was half-turned away, but her hand was on my arm. She gave me a squeeze. “Just be safe, Bren. Please be safe from now on.”

I grinned. “Right. Because I invited them here.”

She looked then, more tears spilling as she did, and a small laugh slipped out. “You know what I mean.” Then her eyes trailed past my shoulder, to the backyard. “He’s back there?’

Jessinda waited for us to have our moment, then gave me a nod and went to the backyard.

That honesty I could handle. She knew she and I were never going to be friends, but there was a small moment of decency where she gave me the nod, glad I was good. Then, off to the true reason she was here.

“That’s going to be interesting.”

The words came from me as both Tabatha and I watched her go. The doors slid open, and when they closed, we saw that Jordan wasn’t alone. Jade was standing next to him and he was grinning down at her. Oh yeah. Jordan was full-on flirting with Aspen’s roommate.

Tabatha stiffened. “I didn’t know about her.”

“I think it’s a new development.”

I eyed Tab, not knowing what my place was here.

Then she sighed and stepped back from me. “Whoever he ends up with, I just hope he’s happy.”

I nodded. “I think he will be.”

She blinked away some more tears, then gave me another reassuring smile. It was forced, but it was there. She looked at my hands. “You should have something to drink. What do you want? I’ll go and get it for you. Or I can run to the store?” She was now seeing everyone else and her eyes got big. “You’ve got a whole party happening. What about little sandwiches? There’s a deli not far. I’ll run and grab some.”

“No, there’s already—”

Didn’t matter.

She was gone.

And this time, I had no idea if she’d come back.

Then, the arrival I’d been primed and waiting for.

I heard his truck stop on the street.

I had a full view of them, and he stopped smack-dab in the middle of the street, not giving a f**k, and launched himself out of his driver’s seat. He rounded the back and I was standing. I was moving to the door.

He was clearing the front lawn in record time.

I was opening the door.

The door was caught and wrenched open, and then my brother was there and I was once again caught in a tight hold and I was being pulled back outside.

A ripple went through Channing as he just held me.

“I’m ok—”

“Shut up. I need this.” His tone came out strangled and rough.

I let myself be held, and held, and held.

Another ripple went through my brother before he growled, shaking his head. “I’m going to rip his head off. I’m going to—”

I just let him say the threats. He needed to spew them out.

After my moment with Cross, I called my brother and told him everything that happened. I wanted him to know, but it hadn’t mattered. He still wanted to murder our dad. I knew he wouldn’t, but I was letting my brother have his feelings. Super healthy of me, right?

But then Moose was next.

Congo.

Lincoln.

I wasn’t prepared for the full team of his bounty hunting office.

It was thirty minutes later when another truck pulled up, and Channing, who hadn’t been able to make it into the house yet, stiffened. “What the hell—”

A blonde fireball was heading our way.

And a hand shot up in the air as she bypassed him, going right for me. “You f*****g tell me your sister is in trouble, and don’t wait for me?!” But then Heather was in front of me and she took a moment, touching my sides before tears welled up in her eyes. “If they had done anything to you—” But she was done talking, too.

I was hauled in for another hug.

She was rocking me back and forth, her whole body trembling. “I would’ve killed them. All of them. I would’ve taken a hunting knife with me, and ripped them from balls to throat, and then I would’ve hacked off their legs, their arms. I would’ve kept the head for last—”

“God. Woman. I love this graphic side of you.” Channing was smirking next to us. “Please, tell us more.”

She tensed, but her hand moved and I heard a smacking sound.

Channing just laughed before easing in, sliding an arm between us and he stepped back, Heather in his arms. She growled up at him and tried to grab for his head. “You—”

He evaded her hold, still laughing and said to me, “Excuse me. I need to make things up with my woman, or I’m in for a world of hurt that’ll last a year.”

“Damn right, you are.”

He picked her up, heading into the house, and I had a feeling he was taking her to the basement. I just hoped they didn’t go to Jordan’s room because … gross.

Heather wasn’t alone.

Scratch had been standing on the sidelines, waiting for his turn.

He gave me the most endearing and sweetest smile and my heart broke, literally.

My tears started falling, and my cousin stepped in, grabbing me up and wrapping his muscled arms around me. “Aw, cuz. Don’t.” He smoothed a hand down my hair and folded his body around mine. “I’m just so thankful you’re okay.”

I don’t know why it was my cousin.

Maybe he was just the last one I could handle, or how tender he was holding me, but I broke.

I was sobbing in his arms, and I didn’t even know why I was sobbing.

Maybe because of the stress of what I thought I was running into when I first got home? At seeing my dad? At hearing the true threat from the Red Demons? Of my dad saying goodbye in his way? Or everyone else coming when they heard I was in trouble?

I was sobbing. I was a mess.

I was a puddle of emotions, and I didn’t know how to rally myself. This was so un-Bren-like that even that was making me cry until after my cousin held me for a few more minutes, then the door opened and arms I knew so well took me from my cousin.

Cross had me, and that was enough for me.

The dam broke, and I fell all the way.

I’d have it no other way.

From: Tazsters

To: Brenners

Subject: first saying it here that I’m super glad you’re safe

That’s it. I’m done emailing.

We’re FaceTiming from now on.

Also, is this the wrong time to tell you that there’s something sexy about a guy in the white mask. Yes, scary as f**k. Yes, there’s creep vibes too. And most definitely dangerous, but yeah… kinda hot and I’m saying that in a whisper so don’t be mad at me.

SO WISH we’d known about the impromptu party at Casa de Cain.

OH! I know I called before, but I’m repeating again that Race and I are good. Miscommunication. He’s clueless when other girls try to flirt with him. I have since educated him, and he now treats them as if they have a virus.

The Best Twin

Two days later and I took the garbage out, when a shadow moved.

I whirled, not knowing what to expect.

Bonbon was there. There was no wind, nothing, and yet, her hair was moving around like she had her personal fan. I had no clue how she did it.

She raised her eyebrows up, dressed in camouflage, and she smiled, her teeth flashing in the dark. “The van option is there. Always.”

“Jesus Christ, Bon!” Hawk came up behind me and moved toward Bonbon. She took her arm, then turned to me. “Sorry. So sorry. She called me and insisted I drive her over. She was going to leave a casserole. That’s all.”

Brock told me that he was going to have me ride with Hawk on our bail jumps from now on, and I was excited for it, but I still had no clue how I felt about Bonbon.

“Uh. Yeah.”

Bonbon pulled her arm from Hawk’s hold and almost seared me with her gaze. “And you tell your man, chopped liver and garlic. He’ll know what I’m talking about.”

Hawk cursed again. “Okay. We’re done. No more late night scavenger hunts with you.” She began guiding Bonbon past me, giving me a tired and exasperated smile. “Again, so sorry. I’ll see you at the office later.”

“Yeah.” I watched them go. “Later.”

A whole uneasy feeling took root in my chest. I had no clue if I wanted Bonbon as an ally or an enemy. She was terrifying in both cases.