The only one missing amongst them was Lucius, but all of them stood in a line, waiting for the arrival of their father. None of them spoke, all their eyes swollen from their sleep and most still rubbing them, feeling as if they would collapse any second. Draco had started his mandatory routine, which meant very early training for all of them, even Jules who was yawning every three seconds.
After a lengthy silence, Reno had enough of waiting and complained, ''Why can't we meet a little later during the day?''
''I agree,'' Jules mumbled, no surprise that he let another loud and long yawn expelled. ''I didn't get to sleep much last night.''
Jake sent his fingers through his blond curls. ''I slept plenty and am still exhausted. Can't we decide whether we want to go on this mission or not?''
"You can," Bronsted snickered, "but if you don't go, you're a bitch."
''Besides, training is actually fun,'' Reno added, although his eyes were still droopy from the fatigue. ''This is only a shitty part of it.''
The only one that was awake and ready to begin was Lori, who had his hands bawled into fists at each of his sides. ''I need to get stronger,'' he roared under his breath, his determined eyes sharpened. ''I don't want to feel weak next time people come after me.''
''That's the spirit!''
Whenever the ground began to vibrate, matching the resonating sounds of loud footsteps, they knew their father was near. Soon enough, Draco entered the conference room, a lengthy smile across his lips as he met the gaze of each of his troopers. At first, they felt relieved that he was finally here and they didn't have to wait any longer, until they realized he was not alone.
Behind him, a long line of women entered and they faced the young men. Their eyes didn't widen that they were women, but the fact that they were all completely undressed, from head to toe, was definitely an odd factor that granted raised eyebrows. The eyes of Jake and Lori twinkled though, their mouth starting to water as they stared at the nudity; it had been a while since they had been able to have their nights of this kind of entertainment. However, when they realized that they recognized a few of those faces, that was when a series of gasps echoed across the room.
''I collected women from each of your pasts that you had any sort of romantic intimacy.'' Draco had his hands folded behind his back and he paced in front of them, his grin only growing wider from the contortion on his troopers faces, especially his sons. ''The first training session has nothing to do with fighting, and everything to do with boosting your testosterone, and remembering that you're strong and prideful men. Unleashing all your stress and letting your desires expelled freely onto those women, at your own will.''
Dante's eyes settled on the familiar amethyst gaze that he hadn't seen in years, unable to turn away from them. The last he had heard of her, she had travelled overseas to Italy. It was odd to see her smiling back at him, as if they were back in the past, two young children already dating and causing a raucous across the city. There was a point in time when Eleanor had been his entire past, present and future, but now that she had been a distant memory that was never mentioned, he never expected them to suddenly resurface.
It was Reno who spoke next, inhaling a sharp breath as he stared at the girl that he hated the most in his entire life. Of course, he had loved her, but that was years ago, prior to her continuous betrayal that he fell for over and over again. ''We have to sleep with them.''
''It's your choice,'' Draco grinned, shrugging his shoulders. ''But the women are staying in your bedroom until tomorrow, completely naked.''
Nate's eyes grew even more gloomy as he saw one of the girls wink at him. ''I'm not interested; I'm going back to bed.''
''Heather is staying with you, Nathan.'' Draco shoved one of them forward to him, and it had been a bit forceful that she stumbled forward and would have fallen to the ground if it hadn't been for Nate's arm that landed directly across her breast. ''I chose someone random for you since your old partner tried to kill you."
''And for Dante.'' When Draco's eyebrows raised, Nate repeated again, ''The girl you chose for Dante is also random. He's never mentioned a girl that he loved.'' That made Draco chuckle, which caused Nate's furrow to deepen.
''Don't be ridiculous,'' Bronsted snorted, glancing towards Eleanor who stepped closer to Dante, knowing that he was using all of his might to resist her. ''We thought they were going to get married.''
''It's his first and only girlfriend he ever had. Plus, even dad loved her and he hates everyone,'' Reno commented, shaking his head as he glanced towards her as well.
Dante had been too starstruck that he hadn't heard any of their comments, his gaze focused on the way one end of her lip curled upwards; her crooked smile never resolved itself. He remembered making fun of her whenever it was noticed, but never had he thought he'd witness it again in his lifetime.
''I suppose Jill is staying with me for the night?'' Reno growled with annoyance, shaking his head when he saw her own glare surface. ''Why are you staring at me as if you didn't scam me out of thousands?''
"And I have Becky, even though she's not my type anymore," Bronsted gagged.
"Your type is anything that looks like Nate," Reno chuckled quietly. Thankfully, only Bronsted had heard, which made him send narrowed eyes to Reno.
''Well I love mine,'' Jake beamed, licking his lips as he stepped towards the famliar face that grinned back at him. ''What are you doing here, Emily?''
''This guy came up to me and said he was your boss. He paid me a hefty sum to come help you for one day,'' Emily revealed, wrapping her arms around Jake's shoulders. ''I was going to say no but sleeping with someone that I used to date for this amount of money was a good deal.''
''A very good deal.'' Eleanor always reminded Dante of a serpent when she spoke, but in such an empress queen manner, as if her hissing voice was a hypnosis. That was why when she said that, he felt his heart skip a beat, especially when she winked.
But Nate was definitely not a fan of whatever gaze they were exchanging and instantly stepped in front of Dante, whose attention returned on him. The grin behind Draco's eyes fell when he saw the defensive stance of Nate, glaring at the woman as if she was breaching a line that was never meant to get crossed. As for Dante, the back of Nate's head in front of him, he couldn't help but glance over him, the challenging smirk of Eleanor another aspect that he had adored. She was ferocious, tough and never backed down from a fight, and she had even combatted men hand to hand. The best part was that her physique was slim and curvy, and although these weren't always aspects he endeared, it only made her entire character a bonus.
"No deal," Nate spat harshly. "She's not staying in Dante's room."
Eleanor rolled her eyes, a mocking smile on her lips. She knew exactly what to do to get what she wanted, hence the fake pout and puppy dog eyes towards Dante had already sealed the deal. "I can't stay in your room, baby?"
"Of course you can." The rapidity of Dante's response made Reno snicker, which caused Nate's eye to flicker in his direction with a death glare. However, Dante soon got a glare of his own when Nate turned to face him. "Only to have a chat."
"Right," Eleanor smirked, but it was filled with lust radiating from her plumped glossy lips that all of them read exactly what was playing through her mind. Then, after blowing a kiss in his direction, she moaned, "Only for a little chitchat."
Before Nate could let his jealousy explode, Draco stepped towards them and shoved him out of the way, letting Eleanor have a clear path towards Dante. "Jules, yours is waiting in your bedroom. Where's Lucius?" When all of them shrugged their shoulders, Nate keeping his lips sealed even though he knew Lucius was in his bedroom, Draco rolled his eyes and uttered to one of the women, "Come on Alicia, I'll guide you to Lucius bedroom."