Chapter 27: Chapter 27

Thirteen's POV

I hate clubs.

But of course, it just happens to be the one place Jackson Storm feels the most comfortable meeting.

In my opinion, he only chooses clubs because of how little most of the girls in here are wearing. Plus, drunk people make really easy marks.

I drum my fingers along the counter of the bar I'm currently sitting at and mentally curse Lily for choosing and outfit for me, and then locking me out of my room so I could not change out of said outfit.

Granted, I'll give her credit for choosing the heeled boots that keep my scars hidden, but the black dress she's chosen for me is so tight that there is absolutely no room for me to hide any weapons of any kind, let alone actually fight in if need be.

The only thing that could make this dress any worse, would be if it was shorter in length. Luckily it comes down to about mid-thigh, unlike Lily's dress which is extremely short, extremely tight, and extremely eye-catching.

I'm thankful she didn't pick out one like hers for me to wear. Bright royal blue, hugs all her curves, completely open back, and very deep v-neckline.

And then, her sliver studded-and of course-spiked heels. She's also dyed her hair from the Christmas colors it was, to a much more subtle red than what I'm used to seeing as her hair color.

She said it was because she didn't want to draw too much attention to us while we're here. And then she proceeded to walk into the club in that dress that is everything except subtle.

On the bright side, she's shut Devin up again.

I haven't heard Devin utter a word since she walked in the club. We all agreed that we'd show up separately and set ourselves up apart from each other once inside the club. This way we could better monitor all entrances and exits.

Once Lily walked through the door and Devin spotted her, the only audible sound was of him spitting out and choking on his beer. Zack had to walk over and make sure he was ok when it went on for too long.

Chase had even gone quiet when Lily walked in. Though from what I understand, he's seen her in club clothes before. Zack had muttered "Hot damn," under his breath.

I think they're too used to seeing her as this crazy overgrown child, so when she showed up looking like she did, they really didn't know how to react.

But of course, once she opened her mouth to tell them all to quit gawking and shut their damn mouths because they looked like dead fish, they all seemed to snap out of it and were reminded that she was still Lily.

Well, that was somewhat of her description, though there were a few more colorful words and something about putting Angel in their rooms.

So now, I'm stuck in this bar I don't want to be in, wearing a dress I don't want to be wearing, and meeting up with a guy who I consider to be Satan's spawn if not Satan himself.

"He's here," Lily mutters and we all tense as we hear it through the earpieces.

"You sure it's him?" I ask.

Jackson's been known to change his appearance more often than he changes clothes. He's always dying his hair, putting in color contacts, changing his looks with make-up, and changing his body type with various types of clothing and padding. Seriously, the amount of time he puts into this is alarming.

With all this time he's wasted changing his appearance, he could easily have gotten and succeeded at a real job.

"Yeah," Lily replies after a moment. "It's him. He told me what he'd be wearing."

"Joy oh joy," I mutter and Zack snickers.

"Why don't you like this guy?" Chase questions.

"You mean besides the fact that he operates on the wrong side of the law?" I retort.

"Nicky's not exactly on the straight and narrow either." Devin points out. I turn in my seat to shoot him and glare and he holds up his drink in a salute to me from his booth on the other end of the club.

"That's different," I tell him.

"How?"

"Just meet the guy and you'll understand."

There's a whistle to my left and I let out a groan as I turn to look at a guy with golden blonde hair, light green eyes, and wearing an extremely expensive suit. I don't even have to see the label to know it's some very high-quality and expensive brand, Jackson never buys anything less than the best. And since it's never actually his money he's spending since he steals it all, it doesn't bother him to spend astronomical amounts on clothing.

"You didn't tell me Thirteen was going to be here." He tells Lily, who's just guided the fox to the hen. And I don't even know which one of us is which.

Jackson's as unpredictable as well . . . a storm.

He lets his gaze wander all over me and I glare at him as a seductive smile makes its way across his face.

"Looking good Babe," He says to me and then precedes to invade my personal space. His hand resting in the small of my back and his lips brushing against my ear as he keeps talking. "Though I still think red's more your color."

Devin's laughter fills my ear as he struggles to control himself at the other end of the bar. "Now I see why you don't like the guy," He manages to say between his fits of laughter.

Lily crinkles her nose in a mixture of what looks like confusion and disgust. "Babe?"

"Don't ask," I mutter as I eye the many bottles all up against the back wall of the bar. I've never been more tempted to drink in my life.

Jackson just shrugs as he turns his attention back to her. "I don't know her name, and calling her Thirteen seems as if she's some kind of . . ." He trails off as he searches for a word.

"Agent?" I suggest sarcastically. He ignores me.

"Pet," He says finally. "Or object-"

"Oh yes, because Babe is so much better."

"-Besides, me and her go way back." He continues on, ignoring my interjection.

"Don't go spreading lies." I hiss.

He smiles in a devious way and I know I'm in trouble now. "What lies? We do go way back. Way back to that hotel room-"

I slap my hand over his mouth before he can keep talking. He grips my wrist and pulls me off the stool I'm sitting on and right into him. He wraps his arms around me, pinning me against him.

"Jackson I swear-"

"That's not very nice."

"-if you don't get your hands off me this second I will-" He cuts me off by putting his finger over my lips and if I wasn't so concerned with how many diseases he no doubt has, I'd have bitten it off.

"You'll what?" He asks, his jaw brushing against my cheek and I can feel him smiling. I shoot a look at Lily for help and she just shoots me a thumbs up and continues on watching as if this is some kind of show.

"Jackson," I growl out. I can't get to any of my weapons since they're all in my boots, so I have no way to threaten him and punching him would definitely cause a scene we don't want.

He lets out a mocking laugh before releasing me and shooting me a smug smile. "One day I'll win you over to my side Babe." He says. Though it sounds more like a threat.

"Not in this lifetime Storm," I tell him.

He smiles wider and goes to reach a hand out to me when he suddenly tenses and drops his hand. His face goes blank before it hardens into something I've only seen on him a couple times. He's ready to fight, and he looks deadly.

His gaze is fixated over my shoulder and I turn to look at what's gotten his attention and I nearly laugh out loud.

Sam's leaning against the far wall behind us, arms crossed over his chest, eyes fixated on Jackson and a deadly calm look over his face.

"That one of your guys?" Jackson asks me, his eyes never leaving Sam.

"Yes, he is," I reply.

"Tell him to back off."

"Can't do that," I tell him and finally, Jackson's attention reverts back to me. His face blank.

"What? You think I'd try to hurt you?" He asks, and I'm almost shocked by the amount of hurt hidden behind his words.

I shake my head immediately. "No, I know you wouldn't try to hurt me, and even if you did you'd fail."

He gives me a smile. "Someone's cocky."

"Truthful." I correct. "And I can't tell Sam to back off for two reasons. One, he refused to wear an earpiece, so I actually can't contact him. And two, he's not too happy with your hotel room comment."

A devious and devilish glint lights up in Jackson's eyes. "Ah," He says, a wide smile spreads across his face. "He's one of your guys."

Jackson then proceeds to take a step towards me. I put my hand on his chest and push him back. "It's really in your best interest not to antagonize him further."

"Now where's the fun in that?"

Lily clears her throat. "If you two are done, we're actually supposed to be conducting business." She scrunches up her nose. "I'm the one trying to get the business done . . . what is wrong with me?"

Jackson waves his hand dismissively. "Yes, I am aware. I'm just catching up. It's been so long. How have you been Lillianna?"

Lily crinkles her nose up in disgust. "You know I don't like to be called that." She says pointedly. She tilts her head as she studies him. "Your nose is crooked." She states. "When did that happen?"

I laugh out loud before I can stop myself and Jackson gives me a look that says just how amusing this is to him.

I may have had something to do with his crooked nose. He'd been getting handsy-and this was the first time we'd met-and the broken nose he received from me was the least of his worries at the time.

Suddenly his eyes spark with his devious intentions.

"You know," He starts conversationally and moves in closer to me, his arm going over my shoulder and pulling me into him and shooting a smug glance at Sam as he does so. "I do believe you owe me for that." He trails his fingers lightly down my arm. His eyes locked on mine. "And there are many, many different forms of payment . . ." He trails off seductively.

"If anything," I start, letting my breath fan over his ear as I lean in close and I feel him shiver. I smile smugly to myself. "You owe me for that whole fiasco, and the one you roped me into afterward. I place a hand on his chest and start tracing circles with my finger. "And as you've pointed out, there are many forms of payment," I brush my lips against his ear.

"Such as?" He questions, his voice breathless.

"Such as . . . standing out in a field for target practice." I push back away from him and he stumbles. It takes him a second to snap out the dazed state he seems to be in and he scowls at me.

"I guess you don't want information from me then." He says smugly and turns around to leave.

He lets out a screech of surprise when he turns around and nearly runs right into Sam who's standing less than a foot away from him.

Jackson's head whirls around back to the space Sam was previously standing and then back to Sam, and back again.

Lily laughs. "No so bold now, are you?" She says, amusement coloring her words. Jackson shoots her a glare while backing away from Sam and right back into me.

As if spurred on by her words though, Jackson swings his arm back over my shoulder and pulls me into him. He shoots a smug look at Sam, waiting for a reaction. But Sam does nothing more than take a seat at the bar and order a drink. Jackson looks confused by his behavior.

Sam looks pointedly at Jackson before shifting his gaze briefly to Lily and then to me. "The minute to try to hurt either one of them, that's when you and I have a problem. Though I guarantee you it'll be solved pretty quickly."

"Oh?" Jackson says, and I feel his body tense. "And I won't like the outcome?" He says in a taunting way.

Sam just shrugs lazily, his entire posture relaxed, his face deadly calm. "You'll be dead."

Jackson narrows his eyes threateningly at Sam but Sam keeps his eyes on Jackson in a silent threat.

"Well," Lily's the one to break the silence. "On that cheery note, shall we get down to business?"