Don't Need Them - John Laurens x Reader {DISCONTINUED}

- 48 -

Alex's POV

Typing in my office, I stopped when my phone started buzzing. I looked away from my laptop, glancing at the lit up screen.

Incoming call from: Washington

I was usually one to pick it up immediately, but while my mind was telling me to pick it up, my hand wasn't moving. And something in my mind started telling me too, 'don't pick it up.'

So I didn't.

"Hey, Alex; it's George. I wanted to have an important discussion with you, Laf, and Herc, so if you could visit as soon as you can, that'd be appreciated. Thank you," Washington's voice filled the otherwise silent office.

Some part of me dropped. I had a bad feeling, but, it would be worse if I just flat-out ignored him.

So walking out of my office, I found Herc and Laf in the living room. "You guys up for a trip?"

"To..?" Herc questioned.

"Washington's. He said it was important and to come as soon as we could," I answered.

"This is.. a bit of a problem, though," Herc responded after a beat.

"Why?" I asked.

Herc motioned down the hall. "They have no idea what we did. They think we fostered a kid, not stole her. They're gonna know it's Frances."

I groaned. "Sh*t, you're right."

"Maybe we can, 'ow you say.. play it off? Pretend it's just a coincidence," Laf suggested.

"Not a half bad idea," I muttered, looking down the hall.

I turned back to my boyfriends. "Well, we better not keep him waiting. Let's go."

~

I watched as Laf adjusted Frances after I knocked on the door. It opened, revealing Washington.

He looked between Frances and I, simply nodding after a moment and opening the door farther. "Come in."

We walked in, Washington leading us into the living room. He sat in his chair, us taking the couch.

Folding his arms, he looked at us from behind his glasses. "How have you boys been?"

"Good," I answered, Herc nodding and Laf replying with his own, "bien".

Martha walking in made me look up. She smiled, brushing her hands off on her apron. "Hello, dears. What about that little girly right there? I hope the supplies have come in handy."

"She's been good," I responded after a moment.

"Rather quiet," Herc added, looking at her still in Laf's arms.

Frances's eyes were closed, and my guess was she was asleep. She had a binky in her mouth, and it was honestly one of the few times so far she was completely silent.

"It's kinda funny, though," Washington spoke up after a moment.

"How so?" I questioned, looking back at him.

"John and (Y/N) had visited today and left about an hour before you three showed," Washington answered, looking over to Frances.

I tried to ignore the unsettling feeling. "Really..? Why?"

"Frances is gone; she has been for a few days now."

"It's quite sad, really. The poor dears," Martha frowned. "They love her more than life itself."

"Really?" Herc feigned surprise. "That's just sh*t."

Washington nodded slowly, like he was thinking. "Definitely. But it doesn't help much that--"

"Before you say what I think you're going to say, sir," I interrupted quickly, "this is just pure coincidence. We didn't do anything."

That's when Washington leaned forward in his seat, eyes narrowed. I looked around for Martha, but she seemed to be back in the kitchen. "Cut the bullsh*t. I can see right through you three."

I went to reply, but Washington lifted his hand, and I closed my mouth.

"What the f*ck gave you three the idea that kidnapping a one-year-old was acceptable?"

"They've done so much to us!" I protested.

"Done what? Lived their life? I don't see how that's a big problem," Washington responded coldly.

"You haven't seen anything!" I continued. "Half the things they do are because they somehow know we're there!"

"Well then that's your fault for being there, isn't it?" he retorted. "From the sounds of it, you're following them, and that's a poor choice as is."

Frances started stirring, and Washington noticed, leaning back. His arms folded again, and he looked between us and Frances. "I'm giving you three days tops to give her back to them. If you don't, I'm telling John and (Y/N) where you're keeping her, and you, Alexander, are losing your job."

~

"This is bullsh*t!" I groaned, "he just can't do that to me!"

"Well, Washington never makes menaces vides," Laf responded, "so what are we going to do?" (empty threats)

"It's beyond me," I answered, "but I refuse to give her back! That's bull! This is their f*cking punishment for the hell they've put us through!"

I was glad Frances was back in our room; we didn't need another hour of crying.

"Then we keep 'er," Laf spoke, Herc nodding.

"Well, they're gonna find us at some point. We can only hide for so long," I replied.

"Then we confront them head on," Herc responded simply, crossing his arms. "At least John, because I know damn well if he's expecting a fight, he's not gonna want her to be there."

Laf nodded. "Oui. Alex, you can keep Frances away, and 'erc and I can fight John ourselves. 'e might be able to beat one of us, mais, not both of us."