Chapter 36

JULY 18 – TUESDAY 6:50 AM

N ash

My hands tightened on the steering wheel, and all I could picture was wrapping them around my father's throat. Not only did he have me doing soldier's work all night, but he sent me all the way to fucking Seattle to pick up a load of guns under the guise that it was important paperwork. Such a fucking dick. I didn't get back until a half hour ago and didn't get any sleep as I was greeted by the sight of Vicky wandering around my home naked like a pathetic ghost. She said she was trying to find the kitchen, but I didn't believe that when she sauntered my way. I immediately got the fuck back out of there. Apparently, she had no modesty since the guards watching the hallway feeds were probably jerking off to her wiggling ass. Bitch was crazy, they deserved one another.

Glancing at the droplets of blood that had dried on my knuckles as I'd punched the wall on my way out, I tried to rein in my anger. Didn't help that I hadn't had sex in…hell, I couldn't even remember the exact date. Fucking Vicky. Fucking Ren. Fuck my life. I needed out. I needed to get out before I went postal and ended up on a front-page headline. The only good thing about the drive was that I had time to contact the travel agent that Ethan recommended. He assured me that my father would never notice my absence or my flight. They were discreet and used to dealing with people who did not want to be traced. My fake passport with my alias had finally arrived, so now I had to get through my birthday and the stupid party my father wanted to have in my honor, and then I was off to Italy.

Pulling into the cabin driveway, it was still murky out and there were no lights on inside. Great.

I shut off the car, took a deep breath, and closed my eyes. Of course, Ren's face was the first thing I saw. The harder I tried not to think about her, the more my mind conjured her. Ren in the shower, my bed, my fucking car, and in the pool. I'd been forced to watch my guys one at a time fall at her feet, but now…I was losing it. Stupid sweet smile and warm heart wrapped up in an ‘I won't take any shit' attitude. Fuck. My brain needed to be on more important things, but focusing was next to impossible when she was always around. Why couldn't she have just stayed in Canada and never come here?

Getting out, I stomped up the steps but had to stop to unlock the door. There was no sound, so no one was up, and that just pissed me off more. How dare they fucking sleep soundly . Walking through the kitchen, I looked down the hall toward the bedroom. I was just about to turn in that direction when I spotted the blue blanket on the couch. More accurately, I spotted a bare leg, and it wasn't one of my guys.

I stepped into the living room, my body drawn to the sight of that leg stretching up to a half-covered naked ass. My eyes darted up to Ren's sleeping face. She was lying on top of Blake. Her arm was wrapped around his chest, and her head was over his heart, leaving half of her body exposed to my wandering eyes. Princess looked like she'd been carved and placed on Blake like a delicate sculpture. My cock took notice, but all the anger I'd been pushing down was breaking free. It wasn't even seven-thirty in the morning, and I'd been confronted with two naked women, neither of whom I was fucking.

I refused to pant after her like a dog. She might have all the other guys falling in line, but there was only one thing I wanted from her, and if she wouldn't hand it over, then I'd get it from somewhere else. Then, I saw the three empty condom wrappers on the table.

"You have got to be fucking kidding me," I snarled. Lifting my boot, I kicked the couch as hard as I could.

"What the fuck?" Blake jumped up. Ren sat up, and the blanket fell away before she grabbed it and held it like a shield to her chest.

"Want to move the blanket, Princess? I only got a glimpse of your tits. I'd like a longer-lasting impression."

"I'll pass. Ever heard of knocking," Ren asked as Blake pulled on his boxers.

"Knock on what? This is my fucking cabin, or have you all forgotten that?" I took a step toward the couch, but Blake stepped in my way, and I glared at him.

"Back off, Nash."

"Back off? Who the hell do you think you're talking to? What is this? Ren lets you get your dick wet, and you're suddenly the big man gonna put me in my place."

Of all my guys, the one I least expected to sucker punch me was Blake. His fist caught me across the jaw, and I was forced to step back.

"Blake, no," Ren said, jumping up and putting herself between us.

"Don't fucking talk to her or about her like that, Nash," Blake said. I'd never seen him so ready to fight before. First, he almost came to blows with Myles. Then he and Theo fought. Now, here he was, getting all up in my face. This was all because of Ren…what the hell was happening to my guys? Did she have magic fairy dust in her pussy?

I wiped at my lip to check for blood as we glared at one another. "You're walking a very fine fucking line, Blake."

"I don't care. Don't talk to her like that." He pointed at me, and my jaw cracked as I clenched my teeth.

"Blake, please go and let me deal with Nash." Blake glanced down at Ren and then back up at me.

"If you hurt her…."

"I'm not going to fucking hurt her. Get the fuck out of my sight before you really give me a reason to drag you outside."

"You could try," Blake snarled.

"Enough, both of you." Ren shoved Blake toward the hallway. Grumbling, he grabbed his shirt and stomped off. As soon as he was out of sight, Ren spun on me. I couldn't deny that I had a thing for when she was angry. The urge to bend her over the arm of the couch was so visceral that I had to shake my head to get rid of the image.

"Nash, you want to tell me what that was about?"

Stupidly, I stepped into her personal space and loved how she clutched the blanket wrapped around her body a little tighter. The urge to rip it out of her hands was strong, and I clenched my hands to keep myself from following through.

"What it's always about…you. Have you noticed that since you came along, all my guys have lost their minds? Do you even care that you're a distraction?"

She narrowed her eyes at me. The fire burning in them made my cock throb. I needed to get away from her and this insanity.

"How about you try the truth," she said, her voice softer. "You're deflecting your anger onto me. Why?"

Bending over, I suppressed the shudder as the scent of her shampoo and skin filled my nose. I blamed my body's reaction on the fact that I hadn't had a good fuck in what felt like forever. I did not do dry spells, and this…this was a goddamn drought.

"You think you know me that well, Princess?"

Shocking me, she stepped in closer, and it felt like she scorched my skin as everything heated and my heart pounded harder. She wasn't supposed to have this effect on me. I was supposed to have this effect on her.

"Yeah, I do," she said, her voice sultry, and I stepped back before I grabbed her. If I touched her, it was over. We wouldn't leave here until I fucked her or she was dead. Either one solved my problem.

"No, you don't," I said. Ren opened her mouth to reply when the cabin door opened, and we both looked over to see Theo limp inside. He looked like he'd been dragged behind a car all night long. His hair was standing on end, his glasses were cracked, every piece of clothing was rumpled, and he walked like everything hurt. "What the fuck happened to you?"

Theo didn't stop moving as he shuffled toward the bathroom. "Liam," was all he said before the door closed.

"Great, everyone is getting laid but me," I swore under my breath, hating myself for admitting that out loud as Ren hit me with a shocked expression. "Don't look at me like that, and get some fucking clothes on. We have training. I already missed my morning swim," I said, marching past her, but Ren reached out and grabbed my arm.

I glared at her hand, firmly holding my bicep. "Did something happen? Please tell me."

"Nothing more than the usual bullshit that I have to find a way to fix." I jerked my arm away. "Get dressed, Princess. Unless you want me to give you a different kind of training session." Her lips pressed together.

Turning, I marched outside to get some fresh air and jerk off in a bush before I lost every damn marble.

JULY 22 – SATURDAY 2:59 PM

Ren

Ivy screeched as she ran at me, the two of us colliding as we hugged. "I was so scared you two weren't going to make it."

"Didn't Myles tell you we made it across the border?"

"Yes, but I've been scared this whole time that they would find you. Do you have nightmares about it? The sound of the guns, the chase, and…well, everything? I do."

Oddly, I didn't. It was probably a bad sign that I didn't, just like when I pushed the images of my aunt away and clamped down on my tears. It wasn't healthy, but it was working for me.

"A little," I said, not wanting to make Ivy feel weird. "Are you excited to get back to Wayward?" She nodded, her face lighting up with the change of topic.

I glanced over as Morrison stepped into the doorway. I'd never seen him out of uniform before, and the plaid shirt and jeans made him look less like the ass I knew he could be.

"How are things going with your dad," I asked as Lip ran around the truck like his hair was on fire, waving his hands in the air. Myles looked stressed and exhausted, but he flat out refused to accept any help. I'd even offered to stay at his house with him for a few days, but he said it was too easy for his father to show up without any warning. I hated that he had to be on high alert like that and knew he was looking forward to Lip being safely back at his prep school.

"Better than I could've expected. He says that once I'm settled in school again, he may go stay at the recovery place. Nash arranged for a few more weeks." She stuffed her hands into her shorts pockets. "He seems determined not to slip off the wagon, so that's good."

"Does that mean the two of you are getting along better," I asked as Myles and Blake joined whatever game Lip was playing and began chasing him around the large yard. The sight of them made my heart smile. I wanted to capture these memories and lock them away in my mind, just in case. I wasn't an idiot. No matter how hard the guys tried to keep me safe, there was a good chance they would fail, and if that happened, then these smiling, happy glimpses in time were what I wanted my last thoughts to be.

"It's going to take some time," Ivy said, and I jerked as her voice pulled me out of my deep thoughts. I realized that I didn't know half of what she'd said.

"So, no screaming or violence," I whispered.

"None. No throwing things or punching holes in walls or calling me names or anything else like that. He even apologized for slapping me." I pulled Ivy in for another hug and prayed it stayed that way.

"Have you heard from Zigzag?" Her smile fell as she shook her head.

"No, but I kinda stalked his socials. His status is In a relationship ," Ivy said, and I felt terrible for her. I could see how much she liked him, but I had no advice to give.

"You were too good for him, and it's totally his loss. You're amazing," I said, linking arms with Ivy as we walked to the front door. She nodded, but there was a lingering sadness in her eyes. Morrison stepped back to let us in. "Sheriff," I said.

"It's just Walter now," Morrison said. Some people didn't look like their names, and he was one of them. I would've pegged him for a Robert or David, maybe a Steve or Mike, but Walter…I couldn't imagine calling him Walt. "Can I talk to you alone for a minute, Ren?"

"Sure," I said hesitantly, even though Myles and Blake were in the front yard. Ivy gave me a small smile as she grabbed a box by the front door and took it outside. This was the first time I'd seen her home. It would've been cozy if it had been kept up, but it needed a lot of work, and not all of it was cosmetic. As soon as Ivy was out of earshot, Morrison walked over to the chairs at the two-person kitchen table and sat down. I followed, gingerly perching on the edge of the chair, ready to run if this conversation went sideways. Apparently, Nash was teaching me something in between the sexual innuendos.

"Look…first of all, I want you to know I'm sorry for anything that I said that came across as…asshole-ish."

"That would be pretty much everything you've ever said to me. Not to mention practically kidnapping me from a party."

He shook his head and rubbed at his face. "I didn't kidnap you. I was trying to warn you and keep you safe."

"I'm sorry, but I have a hard time believing that. What exactly was supposed to happen to me at a party?"

Sighing, he leaned his arms on the table. "Like I told Nash, I don't know everything going on, but Lawrence is…he's not a good man."

"That I do believe," I said.

"He purchased my gambling debt from the bookie that I owed. That was how I ended up under his thumb, and it only got deeper. Well, until I was fired for drinking on the job and was no longer useful."

"What happened?"

Morrison was quiet as he stared at his hands. "This is hard for me to admit, but I…I showed up to a call drunk. The worst part was that it was a collision involving a drunk driver. There were casualties, and I'm sure you can imagine the shitstorm that caused. Pressure came from above to quit, but Lawrence threatened me to stay on. Ultimately, I was fired. I thought Lawrence would kill me, but he acted totally fine about it. Which, I'll be honest, worried me more."

"Again, I completely understand that," I said, wondering who the new lackey was because if it wasn't Morrison, then Lawrence had someone else on his payroll.

"While I was working for him, he called me into his office just before you arrived and introduced me to your father, Neil. I was told that I needed to keep an eye on you and make sure that if you left Wayward property to collect you and bring you back. He also made it clear that he didn't want you hanging around any of the Kings." Morrison leaned a little closer, his voice dropping. "Look, I don't know why Lawrence was acting like he wanted to protect you, but he doesn't do anything without a reason. Maybe he owes your father a favor, or he wants to isolate you to make you more vulnerable. I wish I knew, but whatever it is, it can't be good. Also, just after Nash approached me and got me enrolled in the rehab place, Mr. McCoy came to see me."

"Myles?"

"No, his father."

"Owen came to see you?" He nodded.

"Okay…why?"

"This is where things get weird because I thought Owen was Lawrence's right hand. He was asking questions about your father. More specifically, he wanted to know if I could run his name and if I knew where he could find him. When I asked why he wanted to know, all he did was smirk at me and say it was family business. I trust Owen less than Lawrence."

Sitting back in my chair, I stared at Morrison. It didn't feel like he was lying, and yet it was so hard to know what to believe. This did make me wonder if Lawrence was keeping everyone in the dark about his plans. But if that was the case, why?

"What did you tell him?"

Morrison shrugged. "Not much to tell. It wasn't like Lawrence ever told me specifics like that. I told him that I didn't know where he was. The only other thing was that he wanted to know if I'd ever heard the name Mikhailov before. Does that sound familiar to you?"

A cold shiver raced down my spine as I stared into Morrison's eyes. "Does Lawrence know about Owen coming to see you?"

Morrison shook his head. "No, I figured that it was something best kept to myself. Use it as you will."

"What did I miss? Nothing important, I hope," Nash asked, his hands gripping my chair. I leaped up and spun around. He lifted an eyebrow at me in question as I silently swore at him for sneaking up on me again. It was like a favorite game for Nash.

"You just scared the crap out of me," I said, and he rolled his eyes.

"You scare too easily," Nash said, and I rolled my eyes. He dismissed me by looking at Morrison. "Anything I should know about?"

Morrison shook his head. "I only mentioned what we have already talked about. I've had no new visitors, but I did manage to find this out." He pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket and handed it to Nash. Curiosity got the better of me, and I started reading over his arm.

"Do you mind?" Nash's voice was thick with sarcasm, but I didn't care. I plucked the paper from his fingers and stared at the scribbled note.

Walt

I did what you asked, so we are even now. The new guy requested this detachment, and he took a demotion to come here. Says he has family in the area, but I can't find any on file, and once you go back fifteen years, I can't find him at all.

Be careful he looks like he might be a ghost.

LM

"A ghost?" Looking up at Nash and then Morrison, I glanced between the two men for an explanation.

"Could be a couple of reasons, but most likely, he's an undercover agent," Morrison said. Nash swore.

"I fucking knew something was off about him. He was way too interested in us and didn't care who we were. It was like he was hoping we would threaten him. Fuck, just what we need a Fed sniffing around."

"This could be a good thing," I said. Nash crossed his arms and leaned against the open doorway. "Think about it. You know who he is, but he doesn't know that you know. You can purposely set him up to make him look stupid. Have bags of powdered sugar for a baking fundraiser, and call in an anonymous tip. He seizes it and looks dumb. What better way to get someone thrown off a case?"

"Jesus…and you all call me the asshole," Morrison said but smiled. "Could work. Could end up getting him yanked back to whatever office he's working from, and if nothing else, he'll be less eager to keep pulling you over because you could sue for harassment."

The corner of Nash's mouth turned up, his eyes locking with mine, and like every other time, I had to look away as my body heated.

"Smart Princess, I like it."

One stupid compliment shouldn't have made me giddy inside, but it did, and I'd kick myself later for it.