Page 10 of Casualties

“Sure boss, we can have it ready by the end of the week,” I say.

"Boys, be careful.This man is higher up than you're used to, and influential as hell.”His eyes scrunch in concern as he gives us the warning.I swear, this man treats us as if we were his own blood.

* * *

Back at our townhouse, Morgan and I start working on the new job.We've only got a few hours before we take the girls to the party, and the fact that it's on Greek Row is already pissing me off.I fucking hate frat parties, they're a bunch of steroid-infused jocks that do anything they can—right or wrong—to get a girl upstairs.Just a bunch of preppy little bitches with short dicks and low IQs—not my cup of tea.

Both of us pull up the file on this potential member of Denny's.Jenson Samuels.Holy shit.Jenson Samuels is Idaho’s state senator.We have had clients that made us bat an eye at their level of power, but never to this caliber.Now I know why Denny looked so concerned when giving us the job.

I'm not sure what he intends for us to find, this man is a golden boy.He ran his campaign squeaky clean, and the public loves him, which is why he won.This may be harder than I thought.We need to prove that our beloved state senator is not all he seems to be.

“Fuck, dude, this is big… bigger than what we have normally gotten into.What could Denny possibly need from a state senator?”I ask.Morgan’s brows furrow with the stress that I’m feeling.

“We need to be careful with this one, more careful than we have in past jobs.”He jerks his shoulders in a shrug.

“I know, brother, this is going to take every safety precaution we have.Fuck, the man’s entire campaign is how straight and narrow he is.He obviously isn't the golden boy everyone thought he was, and Denny must know there is more or he wouldn’t have us digging.”I let out the breath I was holding in as I finish speaking.

Morgan breaks my concentration as I stare at the computer screen.

“Fuck it, dude.Tonight we are going to take the girls out and party.Let’s distract our minds with booze and keep an eye on Ainsley and Cass.”His hand grips my shoulders in a friendly gesture to calm my nerves.

He’s right.Tonight I need to focus on keeping Ainsley safe.I don’t like the idea of her at a frat party, but Morgan co-signed, so what the fuck else am I supposed to do?

Watch her like a hawk, that’s what I’ll do.

* * *

We pull up to the girls’ dorm and hop out of my Bronco, both leaning against the hood when my lungs abruptly lose breath.

Oh.My.Fucking.God.

The girls are walking out the main doors, laughing together like one of them told the most hilarious joke.I’m not amused, and from the looks of it, Morgan isn’t happy either.Before I can say anything, Morgan jumps in.

“What the fuck are you two wearing?”He eyes both of them up and down in disapproval.I thought he would be coming for Ainsley, but he is freaking out on both of them.

“Excuse me?We are wearing clothes,” Ainsley announces as both of them do a twirl.

Cassie is wearing a short maroon velvet dress that falls in a flowy way, but stops above mid-thigh.Her blonde hair is perfectly straight and falls a little below her shoulders.She is wearing very high platform sandals that make her legs look longer.Personally, I don’t care what Cass wears, but it seems Morgan does.

He continues to berate them, demanding they go upstairs to change.I stare at Ains as she rolls her eyes, arguing with her brother.Her long hair falls around her shoulders in large loose curls, and her makeup is more than I’ve ever seen her wear before.She looks gorgeous.

My gaze drifts down her body.It’s still warm out, so she has painted on cut-off denim shorts that are shorter than Cassie’s dress.Her band of choice tonight is Coheed and Cambria, a black tee that is knotted right underneath her bra, showing a decent amount of her toned stomach with the collar cut out, so it hangs off her shoulder.Black platform Doc Martens finish her look, and fuck me, her legs look edible.

I’m annoyed thinking of the amount of guys at this party that will be trying to hook up with her.As much as Morgan is trying to let her fly or what-the-fuck-ever, I refuse to let her shack up with some frat boy douche.She is so much better than that.

“Hello…Earth to Ace!Can you jump in to tell your BFF he’s acting crazy?”Cassie pops her right hip out, placing her hand on it with all her normal attitude.

“Um, no Cass, I can’t.I’m not trying to spend my night fighting off a bunch of assholes.Ainsley, listen to your brother and go change,” I say with enough force to get my point across.

She isn’t having any of it.

“Glad to see Mom’s pep talk lasted so long with the two of you.Let me just call her.”Ainsley whips out her phone to press her mom’s contact, when Morgan chimes in.

“Yes, please do call Mom.I’m sure once she sees what you’re wear—” He's cut off abruptly by Ainsley.

“She already saw what I was wearing and said I look good.We FaceTimed her before we walked down here.”Her face forms a cocky smile.She knows that will shut Morgan up.

Morgan and I look at each other and realize we have no more ammo with the seal of approval from Mrs.Copeland.Victory lights up their faces as they smile at each other and brush past us, hopping in the backseat of my car.We follow, because what else are we going to do at this point?

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