Page 48 of Family (Academy of Misfits 3)

“Come on, Asia, lie down. You look beat,” Sonny says, patting the empty space beside him. Like before, when Ford and Sonny slept with me in this room, there are several duvet covers laid across the floor, pillows piled high. Frankly, I’m not sure how we’re all going to fit but I don’t have the brain cells or the energy to figure it out right now. Everything is fuzzy. Off kilter.

“Thanks,” I mutter, flicking my gaze to Camden who’s watching me closely from my bed. He too is bare-chested, wearing a pair of low-slung joggers, and whilst I appreciate his physique, my mojo has well and truly left the building.

“Hey, I didn’t say you looked ugly, because that’s not possible with you. You’re fucking gorgeous.”

“I wasn’t fishing for a compliment, Sonny,” I retort, lying down beside him.

“I know that, but can’t a man tell his girl that’s she beautiful?”

“Sure he can, and thanks, I appreciate it.” I lean over and kiss him gently on his lips. He lets out a sigh, his eyelids fluttering shut as I press my mouth against his, but he doesn’t try to deepen the kiss. He understands that tonight, what I need most is the oblivion of sleep.

I need to be still. I need to rest whilst the whole world falls into chaos around me so that I’m ready to fight another day.

“What you did was reckless, Asia,” Camden suddenly blurts out. I turn my head to look at him, his eyes flash with danger like a tsunami in the Caribbean Sea. “Taking a knife with you… What the fuck were you thinking?”

I sigh, sitting up. Drawing my legs to my chest, I wrap my arms around them. “I thought I could end this…”

“It was fucking stupid,” he admonishes, angry now.

“The only stupid thing I did was hesitating,” I argue back. Our gazes lock, both of us unwilling to back down. I’m fully aware that by not killing the King I’ve made our whole situation a lot worse. Who knows what he’ll do now?

“It’s done. There’s no point in arguing over it now,” Eastern points out.

“We all agreed Asia doesn’t need his blood on her hands,” Camden retorts.

“I never agreed to anything,” I interject.

Ford narrows his eyes at me, before addressing Camden once more. “I hate the fact that Asia risked her life tonight, but I understand why she did. Point is, can you honestly say if you had the opportunity to kill the bastard that you wouldn’t have taken it?”

Camden grunts in response, not willing to acknowledge that he would’ve taken the risk too.

“We can all agree it was reckless and stupid, but right now Asia doesn’t need us dissecting her bad decisions. What she needs is sleep,” Eastern says, laying down beside me. He reaches for me, urging me to lie back down. Part of me feels annoyed at them for calling me out on what I’d attempted to do, the other part appreciates their concern. But most of me just feels stupid.

I should’ve killed the fucking bastard.

I didn’t and now I’m going to have to live with the consequences.

“Come on, Asia. You need to sleep,” Eastern urges me, his fingers caressing my back in warm circles.

“Okay,” I sigh, laying back down whilst Ford hovers by the door.

“Are you going to stand there all night?” I ask him, sleep pulling at my last reserves of energy.

“As much as I want to stay, there isn’t much room left,” he says, smiling a little to soften the blow.

“Shut up, Ford. You might be some big arse fighter in the ring, but there’s room enough for you.” Sonny shifts over and pats the space he’s made between us. He’s so thoughtful, generous with his compassion and it makes my heart ache at how lucky I am and how much I have to lose. Ford raises an eyebrow surprised, I guess, at Sonny’s generosity.

“Don’t give me that look. We’re all friends here.”

Sonny’s right, we are. Never more so than now. Tonight has proven that.

Thing is, these boys are more than my friends. They’re my family, my anchor, and my home. Still Ford hesitates.

“Stop being a martyr, Ford, and lie the fuck down,” Camden snaps, watching us all from the bed. “If you don’t like the floor, you could always bunk up with me?” he adds after a beat. There’s the slight glimmer of humour in his eyes and that in and of itself is something to be grateful for, given everything Camden’s going through.

“Who said you get the bed anyway?” Ford asks.

“Hey, someone had to. Besides, I tend to get a little territorial when it comes to Asia, and if I’m lying next to her, none of you jackarses will be able to get close enough to get a look in,” he says, making direct eye contact with me. “Especially after tonight, when I both want to punish Asia for taking such a huge risk and fuck her until she can’t see straight.”

My face heats at his tone and his words. Any other night I might’ve taken Camden up on the challenge and thoroughly enjoyed it, but tonight sex is the last thing on my mind. I just want peace and that can only happen in the form of sleep.

“Fuck her until she can’t see straight. Arrogant much?” Sonny snorts, then clamps his mouth shut when Camden glares at him.

“Shut the fuck up, Sonny, or I’ll change my mind and take your damn place.”

“Guys, no arguing,” I mutter, avoiding the absolute conviction in Camden’s eyes and allowing my body to relax as sleep beckons.

“Hey, we’re just joking around. Go to sleep, Asia,” Sonny whispers.

Only when Ford settles beside me, his fingers sliding across my hips, and Eastern wraps an arm about my waist do I finally let out a long, contented sigh and fall into a deep, dreamless sleep.

---