J Bree

I can live with being hated. I hate myself enough to know just how easy it is to loathe me

For telling 17 year old me I'd need less blankets

on my bed if I found a good man to cover me instead.

Ok, not flush but I’ve got Harley’s tuition paid through to graduation and most of his housing costs covered. Better yet, I have a plan to get him out of my cheque book and paying for his own shit.

“What the hell are you doing here?” he hisses at me and my eyes narrow at him. He’s pissy at me!

“Watch your fucking tone, we are not at school.” His head snaps back at my warning. He glances over his shoulder and sure enough, the entire group of men are watching him. They all know he’s the guy I’ve recruited and they’re sizing him up. I don’t think they’ve heard what he said to me, thank god, and Harley straightens up. He shuts the car door and walks around to me. Avery swears under her breath but I keep my eyes on Harley. If he isn’t smart about this I’m going to have to knock him out before the Jackal catches wind of what’s happening on his turf.

“What are you doing here? Dressed like that?” he whispers and I’m glad we have an audience. I might have kicked him in the balls if there weren’t one. He thinks I’m selling myself. I guess I am, but he thinks I’m selling my body when I’m really just selling my skills

“Do not suggest that I’m a prostitute. I’m here for a job and as soon as I get paid I’m leaving.” Harley nods reluctantly and his eyes never leave the group of guys behind us. I wait for a minute but he doesn’t move or speak. I’m about to snap when the lights of another car hit us and Harley is trying to shove me behind him. I jab him in the kidney with a closed fist, enjoying the little grunt I get out of him.

“Wire my money through and I'll give you the package.”

The Vulture smiles at me and waves a hand. One of his men pops the trunk of the car and lugs two bags out. Motherfuckers. He's paying me in cash.

“Seriously? I told you I only deal in transfers.” I snap at him and Harley is doing his best not to gape. I'm not sure how much experience he has around large quantities of cash but the twitching of his jaw tells me he's doing some quick math. There's a hundred grand in those bags.

It's going to be a nightmare to launder.

“Sorry, puss. I didn't get the chance to pop this into the bank before they closed. You know how it is. How ‘bout you walk that sweet ass of yours over here and get your money.”

“Like fuck.” Harley spits at him and the Vulture looks at him for the first time. His eyes take in the tattoo, the piercing eyes, the build, and I know he's working out how much he could make from selling Harley at one of his hellish auctions. The quirk of his lips tells me the fee would be astronomical.

“How about I double the payment and you give me him, puss.” I roll my eyes at him.

“How about you get one of your little friends to bring me my money and I'll hand him the package so we can all get out of here, hm?”

The Vulture laughs and waves his guys forward. The guy hands Harley the bags and I can smell the body odor wafting from him. Harley sneers at him and I shove the USB into his hands to get him away from us.

“Pleasure doing business with you, puss.”

He straightens and gives me a fiery look back. “I told you. I'm not leaving without you.”

My stomach does a little flip and I have to tell it to calm the hell down.“Fuck. Fine, leave it open. I have the rest of my stuff here too.”

“Luca, it's fine. My feet hurt and I need a bath.” I say sweetly with a little pout. He's one of the decent guys on the Jackals payroll, a rare breed. Luca leans down and brushes a kiss against my cheek without breaking eye contact with Harley. Harley stares down at him like he's going to gut him if given the chance. Finally, I step around them both to grab my bags and then I shove one into Harley's chest to get him moving.

“I’m going to miss that ass while you’re gone, princess.” Luca calls as I load my bag into the car. Harley glares back at him but I laugh his words off.

“You get more ass than the average Mounty street girl on a Saturday night, Luca. I’m sure you'll survive without mine.” He grabs his chest like I've wounded him and grins back at me. Harley opens the door to the backseat and I realize I'm about to be sandwiched in with him and the Beaumont brothers. Fuck. No.

“Who was the guy with your bags?”

“Luca. He's… he works for the same guy your uncle does. We’ve known each other forever.”

“Have you fucked him?” he says. Sweet lord. Here we go.

“How is that any of your business?”

Blaise tips his head back and laughs. He changes gears smoothly but he takes corners way too fast considering I'm sharing a seat with no belt on. “How many of those Mounty guys have you fucked?”

“Why do either of you care?” Avery says sweetly and they both finally shut up.

. Harley watches us both, watches how I react to Blaise, and I think I see a hint of jealousy in his eyes