Jackson Frost

“Goddamned motherfucker! You don’t get to touch her like that!” Sure she wasn’t mine to be yelling at the copper to let go, but fuck if I didn’t like seeing his dirty hands all over her. In another life, I would have popped a cap in his ass for touching her like that. The officer slapping the cuffs on me was extra rough and I looked over my shoulder at him. “You wanna get kinky, huh? I’m sure there’ll be plenty of time while you’ve got me locked up. Guarantee you it will be the best night of your life!” He could choke on it for all I felt, but I loved making people feel uncomfortable.

Sighing, I looked down at the floor of the car. “I know. I don’t know how to forgive. You know I don’t forgive easily or let things go easily, but I know I have to, somehow. And I will for you. I promise.” Looking back over at her, I gave her a hopeful smile.

“And that meant hurting my brother, hurting you like she did? I’m sorry, it’s not something I can easily forgive her for. I’m not as good of a person as you are.” That hadn’t meant to be a jibe at her, more so just to say that I couldn’t be that nice. I wasn’t built that way. “You know what family means to me, baby, and she shit all over the two people in this world I love most.”

I quickly wrapped my arm around Abigail’s waist and ran with her the same way Dante had gone. But it was no use. The cops had the place surrounded. That was the problem with bars like this. The bar always had the cops on speed dial and the moment something went down, they were on the horn. I had known the moment the fucker bumped into Dante that this would happen. “Fuck!”

Four against eight wasn’t great odds, and four against two was even worse. We couldn’t just stand there, and A wasn’t intending to. About to kick one of their asses, one of them grabbed me from behind and I did the only thing I could think. Miss Congeniality: SING! I elbowed him in the gut, stompped on his foot, backhanded his nose and then when he was doubled over and eyes watering, I turned and kneed him in the groin. “Next?”

Sighing, I knew I’d fucked up again. I needed to make it up to her. She loved Bianca as much as I loved my brother. Sucking up my shit, I got into the car and pulled my belt on. “Baby, I’m sorry. I fucked up. I know I did. I know you love her. She’s your sister and I know that Dante loves her too, so I know that things should be just as they were before and we should all be friends like we were back then. I’m sorry for saying those horrible things. Please forgive me.” I’d say I didn’t mean them, but I had. I just felt bad for saying them.

"There's nothing we can do, baby! They're grown ass adults just like we are! I'm sure wherever my brother is, Guin is with him and she won't let him fall apart. That's what we have the women we love for." Hell, I knew that he still loved Bianca even if he was with Guin, but I thought it would be better if he stayed with Guin. She was far better for him anyway.

I had told Dante not to go after him when we'd gotten in, but I was willing to fight him now at Dante's side, except Abigail was holding me back. Sighing, I shook my head and looked over at her. "Why don't we just go? Maybe  take you home to meet our fathers," I said just loud enough for the fucker to hear, more for him to stir into his pot.

"Is it flattery when it's the truth, baby?" I asked, following her out the door. I watched her ass as she walked and smiled brightly. "You really do look very beautiful tonight, baby. Most beautiful girl at the party!"

I knew she was right. "You do know," I said as I pulled the keys to my 'Stang out from my pocket holding them up to her, "you are one of the very few people I let drive my other baby. You're lucky she trusts you!"

Yup, just as I thought. She would be the one-man girl. Well, that wasn't going to stop me. "Alright, I promise to keep my hands to myself. A good foot of distance between us as we dance. I promise to  be strictly professional. Deal?"

"Yeah," I nodded, kissing the top of her head again. "Let's go home. This party really kinda sucks. And here I thought we would have gotten some sort of a show out of Dante seeing Bianca again." I winced, worrying that was going to border on being insensitive and she'd change her mind about going home and making a horrible night better.

Letting my teeth scrape over my bottom lip a few times, I considered his question. I knew Toby would tell me to always keep profession and personal separate, but I didn’t live my life by any set of rules. How could I? I was the illigitimate child of an illicit affair between an italian actress and an American politician, the most American politician being the president of the united states. I was the farthest person from being conventional. Placing my drink on the table, I nodded and offered him my hand as I stood.

"Well damn!" I sat back with my beer, shaking my head and looking over at Abigail. "I feel like the biggest idiot for not asking you to dance before my brother opened his mouth to ask your friend. I'd be lying if I said I wanted to remain professional with you. Honestly, my papa probably should have come on his own if he expected this to go completely professionally." Then again, he wasn't above sleeping with acquisitions either.  Maybe it was just the name of the game. "Would you like to dance, Abigail?"

Letting my teeth scrape over my bottom lip a few times, I considered his question. I knew Toby would tell me to always keep profession and personal separate, but I didn't live my life by any set of rules. How could I? I was the illigitimate child of an illicit affair between an italian actress and an American politician, the most American politician being the president of the united states. I was the farthest person from being conventional. Placing my drink on the table, I nodded and offered him my hand as I stood.

Even though I had a family, and I loved every one of them, something about this felt… right? I couldn’t say what it was. Maybe a family as close-knit as what their’s appeared to be was exactly what both A and I needed.  I’d call Toby tonight and let him know what we’d discussed. Looking over at Dante, I gave him a smile, wondering just what the future held in store for me with him in it.

This had been the easiest acquisition I'd ever been a part of or even seen Papa handle with my brother and me learning at his side. Looking at Abigail, I smiled brightly. "I'm really looking forward to getting to know you. To working wit you. You're going to love the life of the circus!" I had to remember to keep this professional even now that we'd secured the deal, but I couldn't help letting her know that I did want to get to know her. 

Kissing the top of her head, I held her tightly to me. "You always fix me. Even when I think I can't be fixed, you're the reason I get put back together so easily. I love you, baby! You don't need to worry about everyone else. It's them who need to fix themselves, not you. But I know I can't tell you not to try. It makes you happy, just like you make me happy."