In the Crease (Assassins Book 11) Read online

  “I mean, maybe not fire, but I’d walk through some glass for Brie.”

  When a jab came to his back, they all laughed, turning to find Brie standing behind him with a huge plate of nachos in her hand. “I’ll kill you dead.”

  Taking a nacho, Vaughn nodded to her. “I mean, I’d walk through a volcano for my love.”

  “That’s better,” she said, cuddling into his side as she munched on her nachos. “Where is my bestie?”

  Vaughn moaned as Jensen laughed. “She wasn’t feeling well.”

  “I should have said that.”

  “Hey!”

  She beamed up at Vaughn. “Even.”

  “Even.”

  Jensen laughed as he leaned into Wells. “Don’t worry about it, man, it will work out. But if, for some reason, you wanna call off the wedding, please let me know first so Wren and I can leave before your mom finds out.”

  Wells laughed at that as he nodded, holding his fist out. “Deal.”

  Jensen tapped his fist to Wells’s and they shared a smile, but Jensen knew Wells would be okay. Wells loved Alex, Jensen knew that. Though he didn’t care for the guy much, Alex was Wells’s dude, so Jensen would treat him like he did Wells, with nothing but love. But Jensen wouldn’t be naïve to the situation. Wells had loved Matty like Jensen loved Wren, and that kind of thing didn’t quit. He knew that firsthand, and Jensen wasn’t sure what that meant for Wells and Alex.

  Either way, he prayed he and Wren weren’t there for the aftermath of whatever the hell happened.

  “Where is Alex?” Vaughn asked them, and Jensen glared.

  Shrugging, Wells was looking at the ice. “He didn’t want to come.”

  Vaughn made a disgruntled face. “Well, that’s not good. We are family, and you gotta celebrate with us. What, he doesn’t like us?”

  Jensen jabbed him with his elbow when he noticed Wells getting upset. “Let it go.”

  Vaughn glared. “But, really—”

  Before he could finish, though, someone said, “There they are! The Turbulent Three.”

  Holy shit, he hadn’t heard that in years. As he turned around, a grin covered his face when he saw who had said it.

  “Bradley Washington! Man, how are you?” Jensen said, taking his hand and being drawn into a man-slapping hug. He hadn’t seen Bradley in years. Every time Jensen was home, Bradley was usually up in Colorado Springs where his law firm was, so they kept missing each other. “It’s great to see you.”

  “You too, man. I was worried I’d miss everything. I was hauling ass back. How are you?”

  “Great, thanks,” he said as Vaughn hugged him tightly and then Wells.

  “I just saw you, like, last week,” Wells laughed, and Bradley nodded as Vaughn brought Brie out, wrapping his arms around her.

  “This is my girl, Brie, and, yes, I knocked her up.”

  “I wouldn’t expect anything less,” Bradley teased as he shook her hand. “And I have to say, you did good, Jo.”

  “Damn right, I did,” he said, kissing Brie’s cheek as she rolled her eyes.

  “Nice to meet you.”

  “You too,” he said, clapping his hands together. “So you guys are going to have to let me buy you a beer, celebrate this big win!”

  “Yeah, we’d love that. Because I love beer, especially free beer,” Vaughn said, and everyone laughed.

  “Yeah, ’cause I’m sure you’re hurting for money.”

  Vaughn pressed his lips together. “Yes, help me, I’m poor.”

  “Stop! Don’t listen to him,” Brie laughed, smacking Vaughn’s chest. “He’s insane.”

  “Hey, Shanna! Over here!”

  Everyone looked to where Wells was yelling as Shanna grinned, coming over toward them, a baby on her hip and one holding her hand. “Hey, everyone!”

  “Hey,” they all greeted as she handed off one of the kids to Bradley.

  “I was worried I wouldn’t be able to find you guys. This is some crowd. Congratulations, guys!” She leaned over, kissing Jensen’s and then Vaughn’s cheek before she waved Wells off. “I just saw you.”

  “You did, but I think you’re more gorgeous than yesterday.”

  She laughed. “I combed my hair.” Everyone laughed as Jensen looked Shanna over. She hadn’t changed since they were kids. Still with the big, dewy eyes and thin as all get-out. He wasn’t sure he believed what Wren had said about Shanna judging her because it seemed to him she was exactly the same, and still kind. But then, he had only been around her for like five seconds, so what did he know? Her brother, though, was bigger, goofier-looking. Jensen never thought Bradley would do much with his life, but he had been wrong. Big-time lawyer, but still put out a douchey vibe.

  When Shanna met his gaze, Jensen smiled as she beamed before saying, “I hear I need to send you an even bigger congratulations.”

  His grin grew. “Thanks. We’re really excited.”

  “Where is Wren?”

  “She wasn’t feeling well. She’s always so tired, so she’s back at the house.”

  Her shoulders fell. “Well, hell, I wanted to see her. I haven’t spoken to her in forever,” she said sadly, and Jensen nodded, unsure what to say.

  But then Bradley asked, “Wait, what?”

  Shanna looked back at him. “You know, Wren and Jensen got married, are having a baby! Isn’t that awesome? I always knew you guys would end up together. She had such a crush on you when we were growing up. Even after that horrible kiss you two had.”

  Vaughn and Wells sputtered with laughter as Jensen glared. “It wasn’t that bad!”

  “That’s not what I heard,” she laughed, and even Brie was laughing. Everyone was, except for Bradley.

  “Wait, what? You married Wren? Wells’s baby sister?”

  Jensen eyed him as he nodded slowly. “Yeah, about a month ago. I mean, I don’t see her as a baby,” he laughed, waggling his eyebrows at Wells, to which he gagged.

  “Please. Don’t.”

  The laughter surrounded Jensen, and he missed Wren. He wished she were there.

  “You married Wren Lemiere.”

  Looking back at Bradley, Jensen furrowed his brow. “Yeah, why?”

  Bradley protested, shaking his head. “Dude, it’s weird. I never saw that coming.”

  Shanna scoffed. “What? They were totally hot for each other! For, like, ever.”

  That made Jensen smile, but he didn’t know how he felt about Bradley’s confused gaze or the way his mouth was still hanging open. “I didn’t realize.”

  “Yeah, Jenny here has been sticky-sweet for Wrenny-boo his whole life. Now he’s got her, got himself a son coming along, and yeah, we’re proud of the man he is becoming,” Vaughn teased, and Jensen rolled his eyes. “He finally lost his virginity.”

  “Stuff it, asshat,” Jensen shot back as they laughed at his expense. “You’re doing the same thing. Shit, so are you.”

  Wells shrugged. “Hey, I’m happy for you.”

  “So am I, I just like teasing you,” Vaughn said, smacking him on the back.

  “So, it’s a boy?”

  Confused, Jensen looked back at Bradley as Vaughn said, “What?”

  “Wren is having a boy?”

  Jensen’s face scrunched up, and he couldn’t help but notice that Bradley looked as if he was having a coronary. “Yeah, she’s due in September. We haven’t named him yet. We are kind of sucking at that,” he laughed, trying to ignore Bradley, though it wasn’t working. Something didn’t seem right about his reaction to all this.

  “I told you, Vaughn is a solid name.”

  “So is Wells.”

  “No and no,” Jensen said simply as Brie and Shanna beamed up at him.

  “I really wanna see her. Maybe we can all do lunch? I know Jay would love to see you again. He’s at home with my oldest, he’s got strep.”

  “Oh, that’s too bad. Let me talk to her, and she’ll get ahold of you. I’ll make sure of it,” Jensen said sweetly, though Shanna didn’t seem co