“Work, hmm?”
“Just a teeny spot of jewelry shopping,” he says with a lazy grin and a shrug.
“Oh, and are there receipts from this shopping trip?”
He mimes a deep yawn.
“Blimey I’m bloody tired.”
“No, uh-uh,” I grin, poking him in the chest. “You don’t get to sneak out of things like that by being all cute and laying the charming British accent on all thick, mister.”
“Charming?” Asa snorts. “Luv, his accent is not charming.”
Lucy laughs. “Well…”
Rowan laughs, hugging her close. “Easy, lady.”
Asa shakes his head as we laugh. “It really isn’t. Maybe to you, because you’re all American. Trust me, to us, this cunts sounds like a yokel from that movie, Deliverance.”
We all snort a laugh as Oliver starts humming the infamous banjo tune from the old movie, and I grin and turn to kiss him slowly.
He pulls back and frowns at his bother. “How the bloody hell did you know to be there, by the way? Last I heard, you were in England.”
Asa shrugs. “How’d I find you? Easy, just followed the trail of chaos and destruction. Tailing you is like tailing Godzilla.”
The group laughs again, and Asa grins. “Nah, I was in London and at this card game. This fucker across from me kept eyeing me, and I realized he was one of Basher’s guys—an old school geezer, too, from when we were mixed up with him. The cunt went for his piece, I got the drop on him, and beat some answers out of him. That’s how I found out Basher’s hung on to that grudge all these years. The guy spilled that word had gotten out about some hot-shot British racer over here in the States up around these parts with a bunch of bad tattoos—”
Oliver throws his empty bottle, and the rest of us laugh as Asa dodges it and flips him off.
“Figured there was only one arsehole I knew who fit that description, so I got over here. I was tailing that Barnes guy the last few days, and so that’s how I saved your dumb ass.”
“Thanks for that, by the way.” Oliver shrugs. “I mean, I had it handled, but thanks.”
“Oh, right, yeah, you looked solid, mate. What with deep-throating that gun and all.”
He grins when Oliver flips him off, but then walks over and ruffles his hair. “Good to see you, baby bro.”
Oliver rolls his eyes. “By a minute. By a minute.”
“So Asa,” Shepherd nods. “How long are you staying over here?”
Oliver’s twin shrugs. “Hadn’t really thought that far ahead. I know I’m keeping out of England for a bit.” He makes a face and shrugs. “Let the heat die down a bit.”
“What’s her name and how much does her husband want to string you up by the bollocks?” Oliver snickers.
Asa just sighs. “Not that, something… well, it’s fine. It’s fine if I don’t go back for a bit and let it cool off, that is.”
Shepherd nods. “You know you can stay here as long as you need or want.”
“Appreciate it, mate,” Asa growls. “But I don’t—”
“Oh sod off and just say you’ll stay, dick,” Oliver sighs. “Might be nice having you around.”
“You know if you ever wanted to patch in…” Shepherd shrugs. “I mean Oliver obviously vouches for you. I’ve pulled jobs with you before, and I would too.” He holds Asa’s eyes. “Just saying, the offer is there if you want.”
“Thanks,” Asa growls, stroking his chin. “I’ll think about it, mate.”
“This Basher guy,” Rowan grunts. “I assume he’s still on his way here for Oliver?”
Oliver nods. “Could be, yeah.”
“So, how about we meet this prick and show him the fucking door,” Bishop growls. Bastion, sitting next to him, nods and clinks his beer to his friend’s. Hush nods, and so do Rowan and Lucy and Shepherd.
Oliver clears his throat. “I vote not doing that.”
Lucy grins. “Oh please, some thug from England? I mean I’m picturing him sipping tea and asking for more crumpets.”
Everyone laughs, except for Oliver and Asa who just glance at each other with hard looks.
“Oliver’s right,” Asa growls suddenly, cutting off the jokes. “Basher is… he isn’t just some thug. He’s not a Barnes, or anything you all have seen up here, no offense. He’s big time, he’s connected, and he runs with some serious motherfuckers.”
Oliver nods, and his arms tighten around me. “Basher’s the real deal,” he grunts. “I appreciate you all wanting to kick his arse for me, but…” he shakes his head. “If we’re smart, we’ll stay the fuck away from wherever he is when he’s here. I’m serious about that, Shep,” he growls, eying his friend.
Shepherd seems to get the gravity of the look, and he nods.
“Alright, we’ll leave it. When he finds out Barnes is gone, he’ll probably take off anyways.”
“Bloody better hope so,” Asa grunts under his breath.
Shepherd stands and drains his beer before he glances at the rapidly brightening sky.
“I’m calling it. Gonna try and get some sleep.”
“Yeah, same,” Lucy sighs, slipping out of Rowan’s lap and reaching to grab his hands. “C’mon big guy.”
Everyone else stands, too, and we all begin to filter off towards cabins.
Oliver stops and turns to arch a brow at Asa.
“Oy, where exactly are you headed?”
His brother frowns. “Your place?”
“Yeah, not bloody likely. Find a bunk in the clubhouse.”
Asa snorts. “Are you serious?”
“Absolutely.”
“You do remember that time I saved your arse, quite spectacularly I might add, about three hours ago?”
“And I thank you kindly,” Oliver grins, clapping him on the shoulder. “But I did almost die tonight, and I’d like to be alone with the woman I love if that’s okay with you?”
Asa grins. “Well, fuck me, when you put it that way.” He sighs and turns to me. “Got your hands full with this one, I hope you know that.”
I giggle. “I do, but I’ll appreciate any and all warnings you have.”
“Oh, sweetheart, I’ve got loads.”
“Well, that’s enough of that,” Oliver chuckles, punching his brother jokingly in the arm. “Now sod off.”
Asa grins and takes my hands. “Pleasure to meet you, Delphine. You’re gonna be good for this fucker, I can tell.”
He pulls me in for a hug, and then immediately does the same to his brother, hugging him hard.
“Alright, I’m going to find some trouble—uh, a bed. Night.”
He heads off, and Oliver sighs as he wraps his arm around me, and we walk across the clearing to his cabin. He stops on the front porch and turns me in his arms, pulling me into him looking down into my eyes.
“I almost lost you tonight.”
“I almost lost you,” I whisper, and his jaw tightens.
“I’m never going to almost lose you like that again,” he growls. “Not ever. And if that means running off with you, and leaving this whole thing,” he gestures around at the compound. “Then say it, and I’m in. We can go anywhere, and do—”