To the End: Year Four (Hannaford Prep Book 4) Read online

  There’s no warning the guy away from the Jackal, the sadistic fuck would use that against us, but I can’t have him trying to fucking bond with me. Harley would lose his fucking shit over it.

  “I don’t want to be friends. I want to know that you’re not going to climb in my bedroom window and slit my throat while I sleep. I also want to know that my cousin is going to stay the fuck out of the family and leave it all to me. Keeping you alive and happy will get me both of those things.”

  Harley snorts and says, “I don’t want your pathetic excuse of a family or business. Stay the fuck away from us and I’ll do my best to forget you exist.”

  I nod. “That’s a fair trade. Harley has already dropped the name, he isn’t looking to take over… whatever the fuck it is you lot do now.”

  Aodhan smirks at me and nods. “We have a wide skill set, Wolf. And despite your reluctance to be around me, I’m happy to help out if your… situation doesn’t clear itself up soon.”

  Fuck.

  Right.

  I stare him down until he finally nods and leaves, without so much as a glance at his father or grandfather's dead bodies. I wait until the mobsters that are still breathing leave the clearing before we start to move again. I want a shower, ice cream, and several great big orgasms to get over the events of tonight. Maybe even ten of the suckers. I give Ash a sly little look under my lashes, all coy as if I know how the hell to flirt, and he smirks back at me.

  Yay.

  As he opens the car door for me and just as I grab his arm to climb in he stiffens and curses under his breath.

  “Should I expect to see Luca with you at your next meeting? Have you added him to the rotation of men you’re spreading your legs for?” The Jackal says, and I take a deep breath.

  When I turn to face him it’s as if the whole clearing pauses in fear. I don’t recognize any of the guys he has with him tonight. He’s probably killed everyone I’ve ever met in the inner circle of his crew after Luca’s betrayal.

  I’d be dead if the Crow hadn’t planted him within the ranks of the Jackal’s men, and it’s clear the Jackal still hasn’t figured out he was a spy to begin with.

  I raise an eyebrow at the Jackal and say, “Whoever spends time between my legs is none of your concern. I’ll see you at the meeting, Jackal.”

  Then I turn my back on him and slide into the car.

  After a moment, Ash slides in after me and the smug look on his face makes my chest tighten. We will not bow down to any of our demons. Not anymore.

  Chapter Two

  Avery’s ranch is exactly what you would imagine a Beaumont’s ranch to look like. It’s over the top, looks like a fucking palace, and I’m kind of afraid to touch anything. Blaise laughs at the faces I pull every time I bump into the furniture, but I mean, is there anything in the damn place that doesn't cost the same amount as a small country’s tax assessment? Jesus.

  The part that makes it a home, a real one, is the photos that line the walls of the staircase. The freezer full of cherry ice cream and the garage with millions of dollars worth of cars Ash protects like they’re his children. The recording studio in the pool house and the boxing ring in the gym. Yeah, this place has a freaking pool house and a gym.

  It’s set up perfectly for the whole lot of us and the look of pure satisfaction on Avery’s face when she sees us all around her dining table every night makes my chest ache in the best possible way.

  I kind of assumed we’d be playing musical beds every night but Avery hadn’t lied to me when she said she was custom ordering me an orgy sized bed. I blushed like an idiot but after the mess our dinner with Senior had been it’s a relief to go to bed every night knowing they’re all safe, and breathing, with me.

  I still wake up shaking with dreams of Harley dying because of Annabelle’s obsession.

  Doesn’t matter that Illi handed me a jar with one of her hands in it. He’s a sick and twisted man, but I love him like a brother and I’ll take that fucking jar with me everywhere I go until I get over the damage of nearly losing Harley.

  The night before the next meeting, I wake up in a cold sweat and shaking. Ash is curved around me and the second I open my eyes I find Harley still asleep beside me, looking peaceful and unaware of the random bouts of panic his near-death is still fucking causing me. What an asshole.

  I look around and Blaise is nowhere to be found. A quick glance at the clock shows it’s 4am and not a normal hour for him to be awake yet. He’s more of a late afternoon riser.

  I wriggle out of the bed, careful not to wake the other two, and creep around the house until I find him smoking a blunt out by the pool. I watch him for a second and take in the lines between his eyes, the dark circles and the way his mouth is turning down at the corners, and I sigh. There’s only one person left in contact with him that has this effect on him.

  His fucking mother.

  I walk over to take the seat next to him and he murmurs happily at me, the smile he gives me a little forced and a whole lot morose. I can feel the pity party brewing already. Great.

  “What are you doing out here?” I murmur, and he flicks the ash from his blunt. I try not to let the smell bother me but he gives me another sad smile and puts it out on the ashtray.

  “Sorry, Star. I can’t sleep.”

  Fuck.

  We’re a bunch of fucking insomniacs.

  I shift to curl myself into his lap, enjoying the little grunts he lets out as my ass wiggles against his very interested dick. It’s been a while since I’ve had any of them alone and I’m not quite ready to use the orgy sized bed for the exact purpose I’m sure Avery got it for, so this little moment to ourselves is not only perfect but it’s like a drug to me. Yes, fucking please. I give myself a second to clear the hormones out of my brain.

  “Has something happened?” I mumble into his chest.

  He sighs, tangling his hands into my hair, scratching at my scalp in a way that has my toes curling. “My mom wants me to go see her and Blaire. I’m not sure it’s a good idea. I’m not exactly a safe person to be around anymore but... I miss her.”

  I nod and press my forehead against his chest. I still don’t like the woman but fuck, she’s his mum. I guess as long as she’s not trying to kill him I have to deal with whatever he wants to do.

  Blaise tugs at my hair until I look up at him and see the lecherous smirk he’s giving me. “Wanna suck me off to help me get back to sleep?”

  I snort at him but, uh, yeah. That’s exactly what I want.

  “Maybe if you’re good I will. If you’re extra good I might even swallow.”

  The smirk on his face triples in size and he leans down to whisper in my ear, “You love my come, Star. You’re greedy for it, you’d never spit me out.”

  I mumble about arrogant, smug assholes as he stands, still pressing me into his chest, and walks us both back into the house. He doesn’t stop until we get to his room and he kicks the door shut, way too loud and I’m cringing at the thought of it waking Avery. The last thing I need is for her to come looking for blood and finding me blowing Blaise.

  We might both get stabbed.

  Blaise lowers me to the ground and chuckles at me. “Stop looking so fucking scared, Avery is on the other side of the building and if the other two hear us the worst that will happen is they’ll come find us. We’re very good at sharing you, Star.”

  I glare at him but the little shiver that runs through me only has him laughing harder. I shove at his chest a little but that only distracts me more. The ink running up his neck has been added to and now there are little stars curling behind his ears and a few little ones on his temples. It’s fucking hot, and completely unfair because now there’s zero chances of me looking at him without ruining my panties.

  “Fuck, that’s how I want you looking at me. I want you looking at me like you’re fucking desperate, Star.” He drawls, tugging me over to his bed and I straddle his lap again.

  If I were any good at flirting or foreplay I’d
give him a sultry look and use a coy voice to say “I am,” but that’s just not something I have in me, so I kiss him instead.

  It doesn’t matter how long we’ve been doing this, making out and grinding all over each other, Blaise still kisses me with his whole damn body. He curls around me, covers me, and groans into my lips until I forget myself.

  I pull his shirt off and yank my own off so I can press myself against him, rubbing at his chest and arms like a freaking cat in heat. He grins at me and flips me over so I’m underneath him on the bed. The second his dick rubs against my clit through my panties I realize three vital things: we’re alone, we’re horny, and I’m no longer a scared virgin.

  I grab the waistband of his boxers and yank them down, far enough that I can stroke his dick and, fuck yes, this is want I want. Blaise groans into my lips and breaks away, panting and thrusting his hips up into my grip.

  “Do you want a blow job, or do you want to have sex? Both?” I whisper, blushing so fucking hard but whatever. I manage to say the words so it’s a win.

  Blaise freezes, then props himself up to look down at me with a smirk. “I knew it. It was Harley, right? He fucked you first? Ash would’ve broken you.”

  Well, fuck, why is this a conversation he’s insisting on having? And right now, of all fucking times!

  I clear my throat. “Why the hell are we talking about this? You already know it was Harley. He wouldn’t have lied and Avery wasn’t exactly quiet about it.”

  He scoffs at me and moves to kiss down my throat. “Other than gloating about the party at the docks, Harley doesn’t talk about what you guys get up to. He did suddenly become less of a grumpy dick so I guessed.”

  I squirm, more at his words than his tongue, and try once again to get him to shut the hell up. “Does it matter? Can we go back to the orgasms now? I’d really like to cuddle and nap afterwards.”

  He licks a stripe down my belly until he gets to my panties and then blows on my skin. Fucking seductive, evil dick. I bite back a moan.

  He peels my panties off and whispers against my pussy as he begins to lick and suck at me, “It matters, Star. I’ve changed my mind, I don’t want you to swallow my come. I want to see it dripping down your legs.”

  Holy.

  Merciful.

  Lord.

  “I don’t ever want to know where you learned to talk like that.” I gasp out as he sucks at my clit and hums under his breath. I can feel how wet I am, I can feel I’m coating his face, and I groan when he slips two fingers into me.

  “I’m naturally talented, Star. I thought you’d know that by now.” He says, and he pumps his fingers into me mercilessly and I come with a tiny little scream I hope no one else hears.

  I need a second to coax my soul back into my body, but when I can move again Blaise climbs up to sit against the headboard and pulls me back into his lap. I bite his lip while he moves me, lining up and lowering me down slowly until I’m impaled on his dick. It knocks the breath out of me, he’s still too fucking big and even though I’ve had sex with Harley a few times I’m still fairly new at this. His eyes stay focussed on mine until they roll back in my head. Fuck, I love this.

  Blaise doesn’t treat me like glass. He doesn’t wait before he’s grabbing my hips and moving me up and down his cock until both our legs are shaking, a stream of encouragements and filthy words falling out of his mouth faster than I can make sense of. “Fuck, yes. Move your hips, Star, fuck, yes. Just like that. Perfect, a fucking perfect pussy for my cock.”

  I can feel the orgasm building in me again, and my movements grow desperate. Blaise grunts and slams his hips up into me, his head rolling back, and I kiss and lick my way up his throat, sucking on every star he’s itched into his skin for me. I come again, clenching around him and biting his shoulder so I don’t wake the whole fucking house up, and he grunts, slamming his hips up into me as he comes too.

  When I climb off of his lap, his come does run down my legs.

  I fucking love it.

  My brains must be completely fried, because when he snaps a photo I don’t even care, I just preen under the possessive look in his eyes. Once I’ve caught my breath, I clean up in the bathroom and then settle into his arms in the bed.

  “I’m never letting you go, Star. You’re mine.” He whispers against my hair in a sleep soaked voice.

  I yawn and press a kiss to his chest. I don’t want to think about anything that might ruin my sleep. I don’t want to think about how he might not have a choice.

  The demons stalking us might take me out.

  * * *

  The final Twelve meeting for the summer is being held on neutral ground.

  Well, it’s technically neutral because the Vulture is dead but taking Illi back to the place where he watched his future wife get sold to her rapist isn’t going to be pleasant, and I find myself getting wound up over it. I hate the auctions. The entire building stinks of death, despair, and perverted men. Even after months of disuse I’m sure it’ll still fucking reek.

  I must wear my unease like a neon sign because everyone stays three feet away from me all day, the guys all going down to the gym to work out and Avery sitting in front of the TV with her phone for hours.

  When I finally come out of my fog and join her, I cringe at the movie that’s playing.

  Dirty Dancing.

  Fuck.

  “Men are swine.” Avery says around a mouthful of pancakes, more chocolate syrup and whipped cream than anything else. Right. Best friend duty is calling but how the fuck do I fix this?!

  “What’s he done? I can lightly stab him. Nothing permanent but enough to ruin his day.”

  Avery sighs and cocks her head, tucking her arm in mine. “You’re the best. We’re still… communicating daily, but I’m keeping it all strictly business. He’s just told me I’m forbidden to come to the meeting tonight. Forbidden. Like I’m a fucking child, or a puppy, or… something else pathetic.”

  Atticus Crawford, the Crow of Mounts Bay, is a fucking dumbass.

  “So stabbing? Because that sounds like he needs to shed a little blood and gain a little perspective. I could hold him down while you bleed him? Well, Blaise and I could. I wouldn’t trust the other two. They’d make it permanent.”

  She smiles and shakes her head. “I’m not a pathetic girl. I don’t mope and moon over boys.”

  I nod, except I’m also very aware that that's exactly what she’s doing. However, I’m not a dumbass so no amount of torture could get me to utter those words out loud.

  “I’m coming tonight.” She says, her tone firm and I nod again.

  “There was never a doubt in my mind. Someday he’ll figure it out, Aves.”

  She sniffs just a tiny bit and says, “I’ll be gone by then. I’m not waiting for him to figure out I’m not a child. I’m not the little girl in the pretty dresses he used to like.”

  I steal a forkful of pancakes and say, “You should throw a knife at his head, like Illi taught you. That’ll teach him.”

  The lessons Illi had been teaching all of my family were fucking amazing to watch. He’s not exactly a natural teacher, but the guys all respond well to his arrogant ribbing and he treats Avery with the same level of respectful patience as I imagine he had back when he’d first taught me. She was a quick study, and now she’s a danger with a knife. Atticus better watch out.

  She scoffs at me and I see my cold, cruel, perfect Beaumont back in her eyes again. “Why are you so intent on hurting him? Should I be worried about the first argument you get into with those stupid boys?”

  I scoff at her and steal more food. All of my stewing has brewed up an appetite. “I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about, I fight with them all the time.”

  The front door opens and the guys all walk through, bickering and snarking at each other like they always do. I turn back to the TV, intent on ignoring them but Avery’s eyes narrow dangerously.

  “Do the three of you ever do anything productive, or are you jus
t going to spend the summer beating each other up and glaring at crime lords so Lips has to go into damage control to save your miserable asses?”

  Ash scoffs at her and sits on the couch with us, sliding his palm along my thigh in a cruel and calculated move. Cruel to me, because I can’t control my reactions, and calculated towards his sister, because I think he’s done with her moping. It works like a fucking charm.

  Avery’s eyes drop down to glare at his hand and when she looks back up at him I almost cringe at the look of pure disgust.

  Ash smirks at her. “Maybe you should stop moping about that spineless fuck Atticus Crow and find someone worth your time?”

  I move to get up, and away from their war, and they both hold me in place. Well, fuck.

  “And who exactly do you suggest I date then, Ash? Who would meet your impossible standards?”

  Blaise sprawls out on the floor in front of us and winks at me as he says, “Maybe you should date girls instead? Ash probably won’t give a fuck about a girl getting up in your pussy.”

  Avery arches a brow at him and says, “If I were going to fuck a girl, it would be Lips. Don’t tempt me, she would drop you idiots for me in a second.”

  I bite my lip to stop myself from smiling but the girl has a point. Blaise doesn’t seem to agree. “Star loves my dick Aves, she’d never give it up for you.”

  I blush and stand, brushing off Ash’s hand and grabbing the empty plate. “That’s more than enough bullshit for me for one day. How about we get ready for the meeting? I don’t need you guys getting pissy right before we leave. We’ll already have Illi to deal with.”

  I sigh, thinking again about what the fuck to do about the Butcher’s reactions to being back at the auctions. I know the Jackal has picked that building on purpose to torture his old friend because he’s a fucking sadistic dick like that.

  The retaliation I have planned for him will be enough to keep Illi level.

  I hope.