Fight For Me by Claudia Burgoa
Chapter Three
Harrison
The beautyof my job is such that what seems like a fucked up day can change within minutes, with the people around me none the wiser. That’s part of what I do. I make sure the world doesn’t know about potential threats. In some cases, ignorance is bliss.
Right now though, I’m just a civilian walking through familiar New York blocks. The streets are humming. Blue skies, no wind, and despite the traffic fumes, it feels like a fine summer day. I swerve to the left to avoid the delivery guy while crossing the street, offering a nod to the street musician as I pass by. I drop some change in his violin case and salute him, enjoying the chords of what sounds like Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons.” That piece was one of Mom’s favorites and the one she’d set on our CD player before she went to bed. My chest loosens with the crescendo coming out of the violin. It reminds me of sunshine and my mother’s sweet voice. The magical chords help me process what just happened. I killed two men. I’ve watched death before—seen the rivers of blood and desperate screams during battle. It doesn’t get easier with time, but I’ve learned to cope and accept that by taking one life, I’m saving hundreds or even thousands more.
The day I enlisted in the Army, I wanted revenge. These days I pull the trigger to avoid another attack like the one that took away my parents and changed my family forever.
“Everhart!” The excited female voice comes from the other side of the street.
Turning to my left, I spot Hazel across the street. She’s waving at me, her chestnut hair pulled back from her face, donned in a dress and Converse sneakers. I cross the street. Once I am right in front of her, I smirk and give her a hug.
“Why don’t you just buy normal shoes, shorty?” I twirl her twice, being careful with the crowd walking around us. “You look ridiculous wearing formal clothing and sneakers.”
“That’s a nice hug,” she says with an unusually nasal voice. She kisses my cheek as I set her down.
“Where are Fitz and Hunter?”
She rolls her eyes. “They decided to hop on a plane and go to Boston.”
I smile at her and tilt my head toward the entrance of the restaurant. “What’s with you and that voice? You sick?”
“A vicious ear infection and strep.” Hazel waves hello to the hostess and continues her way to the end of the room.
Pulling out my phone, I text Fitz.
Harrison: What happened with the contingency plan? I never said to go to Boston.
Fitz: Hunter was too tense to stay at home waiting for your call. He’s doing much better. But shit, you dropped a text saying get the helicopter ready because all hell might break loose. You can’t expect for him to stay cool.
Harrison: Well, it’s safe to come back whenever.
Fitz: We’re working, don’t worry about us. But next time keep your shit away from us, please.
I scowl at my phone as I continue following Hazel through the restaurant to our seats. Does Hunter think I wouldn’t keep him safe? Ungrateful fucker. He has to trust me. We had a contingency plan in case something went wrong with my mission. There’s a helicopter waiting for my family above the building where the offices of Everhart Enterprises are. That’s the reason why Scott had Hazel in his office. She’s more than a family friend; she’s the little sister we never had and love to annoy. We’re also very protective of her.
Hazel dashes through the tables. I follow her at a much slower pace, looking around the restaurant, getting a headcount. The place seems to be at full capacity. Thankfully, Scott sits by the left-hand corner of the room close to the emergency exit. Next to him, there’s a group of businessmen wearing gray suits like his. When he spots me, I tilt my head, arching my brow toward the men.
“Who wears it best?” I ask, squeezing his shoulder and taking the shot of tequila in front of him.
He laughs, standing up to meet me with a hug and a pat on the shoulder. “Shut up, asshole. I’m glad you’re back.”
“To our favorite hero,” Hazel proposes a toast, “and tacos.” She sets the shot glass on the table, close to Scott, without drinking any of it.
My eyes widen. What the fuck? “Who knocked you up?”
“You,” she answers with a straight face.
“Bumblebee?” I cross my arms, drinking two more shots of tequila.
Who am I going to kill?
“I’m serious.”
She smirks, smacking her lips. “No one that I know of.”
“Then why aren’t you celebrating with us?”
“I have to abstain for two reasons. One, I’m taking antibiotics, and two, Grandpa will kill me. He’s a hard-ass boss, unlike him”—she points at Scott—“who loves me so much he’d let me drink at my office.”
“Drinking while working is not allowed.” Scott’s jaw hardens, and he hands her a glass of water. “Or while you’re sick. Once you recover, I’ll take you on vacation, and you can drink your weight in alcohol.”
“She’s still working for you?” I glare at him. “Aren’t you hiring a new person?”
“He thinks he owns me,” Hazel says, laughing at him. “Scotty doesn’t understand that I own his ass.”
Scott lifts his hand, signaling the waiter to come over. “You can say whatever you want. The deal was you’d work for me for as long as I need you, Buttercup. Technically, I own you.” He smirks at her. “Because I’ll always make sure to need you.”
“Ugh.” She rolls her eyes.
Hazel transferred from Duke University to Columbia. Scott helped with the transition and paid for her tuition under the condition that she’d work for our company. He needs help and someone who he can trust when he’s absent.
“Okay, enough about work.” She turns her palm up and wiggles her fingers. “You have to pay your debt.”
My brother pulls out a fifty-dollar bill from his wallet and hands it to her.
“Thank you, kind sir.”
“What did you bet?” I raise an eyebrow.
“That you’d assume I was pregnant.”
“Well, I don’t see another valid reason to avoid alcohol while celebrating.” Hazel always celebrates with me.
She takes a chip out of the basket, dips it in guacamole, and stares at me. “To get knocked up, I need a boyfriend—or to get laid.” She shakes her head. “I’d have to find a man first and fall in love.” She bites her chip, smirking at me as she chews.
She glances at me and says, “You should find yourself someone too.”
“Well, you do that.” I dust my arms pretending I’m repelling something—probably love. “I think you should save the money you won today.”
Hazel and I have our own bet going on—to see which one of us avoids falling in love the longest. “In fact, I’ll find you a man.”
“If I wanted, I’d find myself a man, thank you very much.” Her snarky tone is replaced by annoyance. She rolls her eyes and grabs her purse, but my brother hands her a tissue and then hand sanitizer.
Thank you,she mouths at him.
“Today I’m not in the mood, Harry.” Her voice is dry. The humor disappears.
“Too bad.” I try to lighten up her mood. “I was thinking about starting a manhunt this weekend.”
She glares at me.
“Stop this childish shit, Harrison. No one is falling in love and leave her the fuck alone. She’s not feeling well.” Scott—who behaves like a sixty-year-old man sometimes—uses his “badass” voice to warn me.
I should remind him that he’s only thirty-five and I’m three years older than him.
“Love isn’t childish.” She scowls at me and glares at Scott. “One day you’re going to eat those words, Scotty. You’ll fall so madly in love you won’t be able to breathe unless she’s right next to you. Her touch will be the only thing that will make you feel alive.”
She turns to the waiter, ordering more guacamole and an assorted plate of tacos to share. Once he’s gone, Hazel’s head angles toward Scott and she gives him an I got you smirk. “I’m going to make sure I have front seats to the show. Seeing you fall in love is going to be fun. Watching you bend forward, backward, and everywhere to make her happy will be the cherry on top. I can’t wait, Scotty-boy.”
I can’t help but laugh at her scenario and my brother’s mumbling. If there’s a person who can shut down my brother and make him squirm, it’s Hazel. She doesn’t own him, but she can pretty much do anything she wants with him. They are complete opposites. He’s tall, dark, sullen, and quiet. She’s petite, sunny, and noisy. He hates love. She’s a romantic at heart. And relationship meddling is her hobby.
She’s set on finding love for my brothers and me. Someone to spend the rest of our lives with because we deserve a happily-ever-after. I have no idea if that will work for me—ever, but in all honesty, some days I would like to have what my baby brother has.
Hunter has a woman who he loves, who loves him in return. Even after a rough start, there’s nothing one won’t do for the other. Seeing how happy she makes him—just when she smiles in his direction—makes me want it. As I look at Hazel, I wonder if something between her and I could work. But there’s no spark, no chemistry between us. I love her the same way I love my brothers. There’s no way I could take it to the next level.
“Hazel, leave the heartless tin man alone,” I chide with a laugh, rolling my eyes at his dark frown. He’s planning my death.
“He’s lying, Scott.” Her hand reaches his and she gently squeezes it. She then leans closer to him, and I wish the noise level were lower so I could hear what she’s whispering. The crease on his forehead is gone and the faint smile he only gives her appears for two seconds. “You have the biggest heart of the Everhart brothers.”
“Now, tell me what your next mission is.” She turns around and questions me, a smile stamped on her face and her inquisitive mind ready to interrogate me.
“I’m going to be out of town for the next couple of weeks.” I’m vague about my whereabouts, but I try to update them as much as I can. They worry about me. “Though after that, you’ll see me every day.”
“Why? Are you old and ready to retire, Grandpa?” she smirks.
I think she’s either not as sick as she says or she’s trying hard to keep up with me.
“I’m only twelve years older than you, child. But my next job is in town, nothing dangerous,” I specify when Scott’s jaw begins to clench.
“Babysitting, I’ll be around to make your life a living hell.”
“Ha, it’s the other way around, my friend.”
The lightness of this moment makes everything that happened before dissipate. There’s nothing better than being with the people I love the most. They erase the images of the smoke, the screams, the violence.
