Believing in Bad: A Badd Brothers Series Read online

  Believing in Bad (A Badd Brothers Series)

  Published by Amanda Inman

  Copyright © 2018 by Amanda Inman

  All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction, or utilization of this work in whole or in part any from by an electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereinafter invented, including xerography, photocopying, or recording, or in any information storage and retrieval system is forbidden without the written permission of the published. For information email: [email protected]

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are use fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Cover Design: Amanda and Ryan Inman

  FROM THE AUTHOR

  The Badd brothers series will be a total of 5 books, that are set to release at later dates. To find out updates on the rest of these brothers and other books please follow my Facebook page:

  A.L Inman Novels.

  You may also purchase a hard copy of this novel on Amazon.

  I hope you all fall in love with the Badd boys, just like I have. Happy Reading!

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

  Thank you to all of the people who have encouraged me in this journey. You have given me the confidence to bring my thoughts to life.

  A special thanks to my husband, Ryan and our kids, for their continued patience with me.

  To my parents, Jody and Randal, who made me the person I am today and supported me in every walk of life.

  Lastly, my two best friends, Patty and Heather, who beta read for me and offered me insightful feedback.

  Abby- Chapter 1

  I creep down the steps of our two-story farmhouse, hitting the steps just right to avoid any creaks in the wood. I’ve been perfecting this for about 8 years. Eight years-ago was when mine and my little brother Nick’s world fell apart.

  Our mom was a wonderful woman who was vibrant in every sense of the word. When uterine cancer took her from us, I was ten and Nick was eight. We didn’t just lose our mom, we lost dad too.

  My dad lost his job shortly after mom died, he just couldn’t make himself get up out of his chair. He refused to sleep in the bed mom and he shared after she died, which left him restless from lack of good sleep.

  I almost miss that time in our lives considering when he finally saw that he had things to take care of, for example Nick and I; he made every effort to get up and make our lives hell.

  For some reason he blames us for our mother's death. Constantly saying how she must have birthed two devil children to have such a nasty disease take over her insides.

  The day that social services started snooping around was the day his drinking started. The hitting followed suit just weeks after that first drunken night. The day the drinking started is the day when everything seemed to start getting on his nerves, especially us.

  It’s also the day Nick and myself made a pact to make sure that we would never purposefully put ourselves in harm's way again and would always protect each other.

  Dad was finally hired on at Nectar’s auto garage a few months ago and my brother and I have been comfortably avoiding dad, trying not to get in his destructive path. We have figured out how to navigate through our household mostly unscathed.

  Usually after getting off work at 5 from Nectar’s dad heads right next door to add on to his tab at Lucky’s tavern.

  Thank God for mom's life insurance that he received after her death, and the fact the house was paid off prior to her death, otherwise we'd be on the streets.

  Dad drinks through his paycheck before he even has it deposited in his account- thanks to the good old generosity from the owner of Lucky’s tavern, Joe Montgomery.

  Joe has no problem letting my dad open up a tab and pay him later.

  Right now, I’m at the point of the night where dad has come home in a drunken rage, trashed the living room (because he has to deal with us- his words, not mine), curses my mom for dying (and leaving him with the devil kids- also his words), and then trudges upstairs to sleep in the recliner in his man cave, passing out cold.

  I slowly make my way down stairs being careful not to awake Nick, or the beast, with the knowledge that I will spend the night cleaning up the mess he’s made, once again.

  I get to work quickly and quietly because if I wake him up- I’ll get hit in a drunken rage and if it’s not cleaned by the time he wakes up he'll accuse us of being ungrateful and then Nick and I will both get hit.

  It seems after his episodes he doesn’t recall that he is the one who trashes the house. I guess he thinks we have wild parties while he’s gone? As if.

  Nick and I never even let anyone step into our yard because we never know when dad will get home and which demons will be on his shoulders that night.

  Dad doesn’t come home as a drunk, belligerent, violent mess every day- but the times that his crystal blue eyes are clear have become few and far between.

  I may not be able to get us out of this hell we live in right now, but I will surely protect Nick as much as I can in the meantime.

  As soon as I can finish a degree at the community college for nursing I will cash in my policy left to me from mom’s death then file for custody of Nick.

  My insurance policy is set into a trust with the exception that I can only get it upon completing a degree or when I turn 25. I elected on getting the degree.

  Even with me taking dual college high school classes I still have a month before I’m done with high school, followed by another year of clinical classes.

  Nursing wasn’t my first choice, I’d much rather work in law enforcement or something similar, but I have to stay close by for Nick and this is my next best, and fastest option.

  I survey the living room cringing at the sight. Flipped over end tables, one broken lamp, and one picture that needs to be rehung in addition to a beer bottle that is busted against a wall.

  Exhaling the breath I didn’t know I was holding, I start cleaning the room by flipping everything over. Making quick work I grab the broom for the smashed lamp and beer bottle.

  Hanging the picture back up I survey the room again, thanking God that it’s not as bad as usual. Scooting into the kitchen I grab the magic eraser and carpet cleaner for the wall and carpet. I hope the beer doesn’t stain them.

  Thirty minutes later my hands are pruned, my knees are aching and for the most part the living room looks like it did before dad arrives home, sans lamp of course.

  I throw my dirty blonde hair into a messy bun before peeking in at Nick. His blonde hair is covering his eyes and I make note to see if he wants me to give him a haircut this weekend.

  Kissing him on the forehead I close his bedroom door back and head to the back door. Nights like this are becoming more common. Some nights, I just need a minute to breathe.

  We live two blocks from the park so I decide to go that way, hoping I can find a spot of grass that dew hasn’t hit yet so I can lay back to watch the stars.

  While walking past my former friends, Lydia and Lindsay’s houses, I look longingly, because at one time we were the best of friends and I miss having friends.

  After a while of cancelling plans to clean up drunken messes and babysit your brother, even the best of friends bow out.

  It’s not that they are bad people or even mean- we still wave in passing- I just don’t have the urge to reach back out because that would require for me to explain the life Nick and I have been living.

  It’s safer that no one knows what we live in, it’s the only way I can ensure we will stay together.


  It’s probably about 11 at night and I’m so excited for a minute to be myself I’m practically speed walking past the playground and picnic shelters, heading towards the baseball field.

  Maybe my excitement is why when I cut through the small shelter and come face to face with two of the school's hottest boys, Archer and Asher Badd, accompanied by two of the scariest looking men I’ve ever seen, I jump and almost take off running.

  I say almost because the moment my feet connect with my brain to tell me to leave, is the exact moment when Asher put his arm around my shoulder and nonchalantly kisses me on the check. I lose all body function.

  I barely hear him when he nuzzles my ear and tells me to play along but I feel his grip squeeze my shoulder, causing my hands to tighten in his shirt.

  “Hey baby... I told you we'd pick you up after we handled some things”, he chuckles and nuzzles my ear again.

  “Sorry bro, she just couldn’t wait to see me," he says shooting a wink to one of the thugs who returns a knowing smirk back to him.

  “Ah, amigo- is this your gringa?” the other thug grits out to Asher, looking at me with strong distaste.

  My eyes widened as I looked up at Asher with fear. He winks and confirms I am in fact “his”.

  To say I’m shocked is an understatement, not that this doesn't play in to every fantasy I've ever had about Asher Badd but still, am I in a freaking twilight zone or something?

  The one thug who is tall and scrawny is adorning a tattoo on his neck of the numbers “69” and a pair of lips. He steps closer and run a finger down my arm causing me to literally shiver, but not in a good way.

  “You willing to share your puta, amigo?” he says as he appraises my body with his eyes.

  Suddenly, Asher has me jerked behind his back and a pair of arms encompasses my shoulders. I look up into the bright blue eyes of his twin, Archer. I swear both boys growl at the thug’s vile comment.

  “Fuck off, bro. And don’t call my girlfriend a bitch again or we're gunna have more than the problems revolving around Emilio’s issues.” Asher grinds out through gritted teeth.

  Girlfriend!? What the hell, I am in a twilight zone!

  I’ve went to school with all of the Badd boys the whole time I’ve been in high school.

  Asher and Archer are in my grade and their older brothers Jaxon and Brayden were in the two grades above us before they graduated.

  Never in my life have any of them touched me, let alone called me their girlfriend and talked to me so comfortably.

  I’ve had classes with Asher and Archer. I’ve even worked on an English project with Archer my sophomore year but we were by no means close. Archer isn’t the friendliest person I’ve ever met. Plus, I'm not close to anyone really, except Nick.

  The second thug looks back and forth between us with his pierced eyebrow raised. He is a much bigger man then the first thug. Even though they are about the same height, this guy is bulky.

  “Since you are so willing to talk business in front of your put- I mean, lady then you need to bring her to be vetted by Emilio. Can’t have rats in operations, bro. Bring her to Emilio’s Saturday night for the party”

  “Shit", Archer says under his breath. Thank God he’s still holding on to me because I legitimately almost pass out right there. Whatever they were discussing didn’t sound good, and apparently now it involves me.

  The thugs walk off, giving the Badd brother’s a one finger salute and I feel Archer immediately relax at seeing them retreat.

  Before I know it, he is pushing me behind him, turning fiercely towards his brother who looks like he might lose his dinner.

  “What in the frig did you think you were doing Ash? Not only have you involved an innocent bystander but now we have to vet her, pray she's willing to play along and take her to see fucking Emilio! All of this has to be done to ensure we don’t blow a cover we have worked three years on that you so stupidly almost ruined in three minutes!”

  Asher shakes his head and gives me a remorseful look before replying, “I’m sorry! You know as good as I do that if I didn’t claim her they would’ve assumed she was fair game... and you know those guys don’t care if a woman says no," he shakes his head again. I immediately feel sick.

  “At least if they know she's with me they won't fuck with her.” Asher mumbles.

  Archer sighs and looks up at the sky. That’s when I slowly start backing away before taking off in a dead sprint towards home.

  ASHER- Chapter 2

  Just as Archer starts to reply over my royal screw up of talking business in front of Abby and Emilio’s henchmen, Pato and Lil-J, I slide my eyes back to Abby, noticing that she’s turning to bolt.

  “Shit! She's running!” I yell.

  Archer helpfully responds something along the lines of us scaring her and he’d run too if he was her. I take off after her with him closely following behind me.

  Abigail Elizabeth Jacobs is a lot of things: beautiful, smart, kind... but one thing Abby Jacobs is not, is a runner.

  I easily catch up to her plucking her up by her waist, throwing her over my shoulder- caveman style.

  She starts screaming so I quickly drop her back down, sliding my hand over her mouth to muffle the scream. I pull her firmly in to my chest.

  “Shhh, babe- I’m not going to hurt you,” I whisper in my most soothing voice and she instantly relaxes into me. Damn, I could get use to this girl relaxing into me.

  I’ve had a thing for Abby Jacob’s since we moved to this town on assignment four years ago, but I never pursued her since it wasn’t fair to start a relationship with her and possibly be transferred any time.

  But that didn’t stop me from day dreaming about her perfect Cupid’s bow lips brushing mine, or her big green eyes looking into my blue ones, or me running my fingers through her dirty blonde hair.

  She sticks to herself, other than her brother who’s younger than us, and she is painfully quiet. That doesn’t make me not notice the curve of her hips that I want to touch, or her peach shaped ass I want to squeeze.

  She whimpers and I turn her around, seeing that she has tears running down her face. I wipe them with the pad of my thumb and press a kiss to her temple.

  I’m not sure what possesses me to want to take all her tears, I’ve never been that type of person, but for some reason I feel extremely protective over this 5-foot 2 green eyed beauty.

  My brother runs up beside me with a raised eyebrow, no doubt questioning what the hell I’m doing. I just shrug in return because I have no clue what these feelings are all about.

  I don’t know if I could explain them if I tried.

  Archer starts speaking slowly to her like she is a frightened cat, “Abby, were going to need you to come with us… we need to talk to our brothers and figure out where to go from here.”

  She immediately starts shaking her head, “No. No. I have to get home now, I can't be late, and I can't leave Nick there to wake up alone with hi….”

  She zips her lips so suddenly cutting off her sentence that it leaves us utterly confused. Her eyes grow wide, explaining she just shared something that shouldn’t be shared, kind of like I did earlier in front of her and the thug squad.

  Archer try’s again, this time a little firmer, “Abby- this isn’t up for negotiations. Those were bad men and if we leave you alone without knowledge of what my brother has unknowingly brought you into you could wind up seriously hurt.

  Now here is what we're going to do- Ash and I are going to drive you home and drop you off. It’s a little after one in the morning, so you are going to go to bed, or don’t because frankly I don’t care either way. But you don't speak a word of tonight to anyone.

  Then we'll pick you and your brother up for school, drop him off and you have to come with us to headquarters. Do you understand?”

  God he can be a jerk sometimes.

  Archer has what we like to call asshole disease. He's very intelligent and gets frustrated if someone doesn’t comprehend as
quickly as he likes.

  In turn he gets short with them, treating them like an imbecile. He is known as an asset to our team for his direct personality and no bullshit expressions.

  He is the only person I know who can make Emilio seem uncomfortable from giving him his resting bitch face. I think he puts Emilio on edge because you literally can never read his expressions. Mad, sad, happy he's always the same. He's our Groot.

  Abby shake her head up and down, looking white as a ghost, but she allows me to take her hand in mine. I lead her back to the parking lot where our black suburban is parked and open the passenger door.

  When she hesitates to get in, turning those big watery green eyes towards me, I instinctively kiss her temple again before hoisting her up into the seat.

  Reaching over I grab the seat belt, pulling it across her. The movement causes her shirt to rise slightly, showing a patch of creamy skin. A purple bruise that was starting to turn greenish yellow catches me eyes and I run my fingertips over it, causing her to jolt.

  “What happened?”

  She averts her eyes quickly to the floor board, mumbling something about a door knob but I’m not quite convinced that is the case because the bruise is huge- but I let it go for now.

  Archer jumps in the back seat and we pull out heading towards Abby’s house as she points the way.

  My brother is glaring at me through the rearview mirror and I know he is mad that I potentially screwed things up with this case, but I couldn’t let Abby be seen by those jackasses as fresh meat. I’d claim her again in a heartbeat if it meant protecting her.

  I pull in front of Abby’s house but before I could get it in park she is out of the SUV and climbing up the steps to her door.

  She shoots a look over her shoulder before quietly stepping into the darkness.

  Pulling out my cell I hit speed dial number two and listen to the ring.

  “Jax… we got a problem...”

  ABBY- Chapter 3

  My head is spinning as I step into my house, trying to decipher what the hell just happened. I guess that’s why I don’t see him standing there in the living room until it’s too late.