Matt’s POV

My head was spiraling as I followed Jimmy out of the room. What could Larry possibly want to talk to them about without us in the room? In my opinion, whatever he said in front of the girls he could say in front of us. Hell, Maya knew about my image and what I was like before she came alone so what did it matter. I just hoped that he didn’t plant the seed of leaving in her head. Maya told me that she wanted to stay but could Larry say something to change her mind? Would she change her mind?

I crossed my arms in front of my chest, watching Gates pace back and forth in front of the door. His movement alone was making me feel on edge and that wasn’t even counting my own anxieties. What was Larry doing in there? Was he trying to rip apart our reputations? Well, that’s what it sounded like based on what Zack heard. So what if I had a bad reputation before I met Maya? I hadn’t even looked at another girls since I met her. I mean I wasn’t going to screw up again—not that way I had with Val.

Fuck! What if Larry told the girls about the whole Val and Michelle thing? Brian and I hadn’t even talked about bringing up that situation, not that he was actually dating Michelle, but that was beside the point. Shit, maybe I should have told Maya about that whole debacle before all this went down. The last thing I needed was for Maya to hear about how my last relationship ended from Larry. That wouldn’t end well for anyone, not Brian or I, even though I was the guilty party. Brian and Michelle were just having fun. I wasn’t proud of my playboy image or for hurting Val the way I did, but I was also positive that what Maya and I had was nothing like what Val and I had. I wasn’t going to make the same mistake twice, that was for damn sure.

I was only brought back to reality when Zack was tugging on my t-shirt to head to the bar with them. Maybe the guys were right, maybe getting away from the situation would be good for both Brian and I. But what was taking so fucking long? I couldn’t stand not knowing what was going on, even though my girlfriend promised that she would stay with me. Would she still feel the same way when Larry was done with them?

“Coffee?” I asked, laying my arm around his shoulders. I knew the possibility of losing his girlfriend was killing him inside. I could see it etched in his features and his pissed off locked jaw was undeniable.

“Real quick, then I’m going back.” I nodded curtly and just was we turned to walk towards the breakfast area, the conference room door opened.

Brian I quickly turned around to see a very pissed off looking Larry glaring at us. “Get in here, both of you,” he growled through clenched teeth. He looked like he was ready to kill both of us and I didn’t like that thought.

Just as I took a step towards the door, Maya and Avery came into view. They both had sullen looks on there faces and I couldn’t figure out why Maya wouldn’t meet my eye. Had she changed her mind? Fuck, this was going downhill fast and I could barely stand it.

My heart started to race as I made my way into the room, hearing Larry scold Brian. I couldn’t hide the frown on my face or the rising anger inside of me. What did he say to them to make the girls not even acknowledge us? Fuck this wasn’t fucking right and I refused to say goodbye.

Once we were both inside, Larry slammed the door and motioned towards the couch. The hell if he thought we were going to sit down and have a leisurely chat about the girls leaving. Over my fucking dead body!

“I’d rather stand,” I said in my calmest voice possible. I didn’t want to start this meeting the wrong way—or rather make it any worse than it already was—but I was struggling with control my rising anger.

Larry lifted and eyebrow and crossed his arms in front his chest, taking a step towards me. He was only slightly taller than me, but I wasn’t afraid of him. I could beat his ass any day of the week, not that I wanted to. But if the need arose, I wouldn’t hesitate. “I recommend you sit down before I tell you this,” he said in a civil tone, though I could see the restraint it took for him say that so calmly.

As I sunk down into the couch, I looked at Gates. His jaw was tense and could see him trying to hold himself together for Avery’s sake. The man looked like he wanted to crawl out of his own skin and I couldn’t blame him. This situation sucked enough and my girlfriend was staying, or at least I hope she held to her word. Gates’ eyes were fixed on Larry who had now taken up the role of pacing. The tension and the silence in the room were enough to kill someone and I couldn’t fucking taking it anymore, my reserve gone.

“Listen Larry, if you would just let us—“ I started, breaking the silence.

“Enough!” Larry yelled over top of me, turning and pointing a warning finger. “Just sit there and shut up!” He groaned and ran his hands over his face in frustration. “I don’t know what kind of game you two are trying to pull with my girls but I don’t like. I don’t fucking like it all—“

“We’re not pulling any fucking games!” Gates interrupted, his hands moving in front of him in frustration.

“I swear to god, Haner just shut up and let me speak!” I had never heard Larry speak in such a way before. “I promise you wont like the way this goes if you don’t.” Wait, what did he mean by that? Brian and I exchanged a quick glance before looking back at Larry. He sighed heavily and pinched the bridge of his nose, stopping in front of us.

“Like I said, I don’t like the idea of you guys messing around with my girls…but they seem convinced that this is’nt some little game like last time.” Larry shot a pointed look at me and I swallowed thickly. Did that mean he mentioned the Val situation to Maya? Fucking hell, I hoped he didn’t. I would tell her but not like this. “They are not your personal fucking play things and if I hear one word that you hurt them, I swear to fucking god you will feel my wrath.”

I gapped at him. Did I just hear him correctly? Did he say that the girls could stay with us but in not so many words? “I don’t fucking like this at all but I will give them the benefit of the doubt. They claim that they are happy with you assholes even though I don’t approve. I love you guys but I don’t think you’re a good fit for my girls...and as much as I hate this idea, I have to let them make their own mistakes.”

Was that a smirk on his lips? I was beyond confused right now and Gates looked the same way. He was somewhere between smiling like and idiot and looking baffled.

“But the girls can stay with us?” Brian asked slowly, trying to make sure we understood this conversation correctly. The smile was quickly coming over Brian’s face and I couldn’t fight mine either.

“Fucking hell…” Larry groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose again. “I don’t have a choice! They wont listen to reason but there will be rules to follow, mark my words. If any of these are broken, I will rip them out of here so fast you wont know who fucked you in the ass. That includes either of you breaking their hearts too.”

I couldn’t believe my ears! Larry was actually letting the girls stay, not that he really had a choice in the matter. Neither Brian nor I would let them go, even if that meant taking the necessary actions to do so. Fuck, I felt like the happiest man alive and the look on Gates’ face told me he felt the same way.

“First, if I catch one wind of either of you fucking around behind their backs like you did with Valary and Michelle, I will make your world a living hell. Don’t get on my bad side because I could tank your careers.”

“Larry, I promise you that wont happen,” Brian said, meeting his eyes. “I cant even tell you how much she means to me. I will do everything in my power to keep her safe and happy with us. You have my word.”

“Same goes for Maya,” I assured him. “We love the girls, Larry. Really, it’s not some fucking farce. What we have is nothing like what went on with Val and Michelle last year. I can guarantee that. Hell, I’ve even heard Gates tell Avery he’s in love with her, and imagine that coming from Synyster Gates’ mouth,” I half chuckled. The look on Larry’s face was priceless right now.

“You better fucking hope so for both your sakes,” Larry finally mused after a moment. He took in another shaky breath before sitting in the chair in front of us. “Secondly, I want absolutely no public images or public announcements of your…fucking hell….relationships. The girls stay private. They don’t need to put up with shit from your fans. Just think of the hell Val went through. Don’t do that to my girls, and especially not Avery. Maya might be able to handle it but Avery would be crushed.”

“I completely agree.” Brian looked so relaxed and you couldn’t pay him to stop smiling right now. Did Larry even notice that look? Did he see how much his daughters had changed the infamous Synyster Gates and M. Shadows? “Keep them private and if asked, tell them they are employees. Got it.”

“That right, to the public you are all still bachelors,” Larry nodded in agreement, his eyes still watching us like a hawk.

I didn’t like the idea of having to hide Maya away or pretend that we weren’t together. Fuck, it was hard enough not to scream to the fucking world that I had the worlds best and hottest girlfriend. Now I had to sensor myself? That thought didn’t sit well with me but I would talk it over with Maya later. It was her decision in the end, not Larry’s.

“And lastly, under no circumstances are the girl not going back to college. They are in their senior year and there is no way in hell I’m letting either of them drop out to follow you around. If that means you need to break up at the end of the summer, so be it but do NOT let me or them see you fucking around with someone else on tour.”

Fuck around with someone else on tour? Was he serious? Did he not get how deep in this we all were? I couldn’t even look at another girl the same way I did Maya, let alone think about one. Though I didn’t particularly like the idea of Maya going back to college while I was on tour, I knew I could never stop her from following her dream of being a fashion designer. I had seen her sketches before, as well as the work she had done and let me just say she was damn good.

“You don’t hurt my girls, you don’t ever look at other women, you are complete gentle man, they stay out of the press, and they go back to UCLA at the end of next month or else you’re going to have a lot of hell to pay. Do I make myself clear?” Larry said in a deadly tone as he glared down at us. He meant business and I believed him when he said he could destroy our career. Hell, he was the one who made us so successful and I didn’t want to be on his bad side.

“Yes sir,” Brian and I said in unison.

“I promise you have nothing to worry about, Larry. I will take good care of Ave and make sure she has everything she needs,” Brian said, standing up and shaking Larry’s hand. “I love your daughter.”

“You better fucking hope so because she is convinced she’s in love with you.” Larry grumbled before turning towards me. “And Maya is my girl too, don’t you forget that.”

I nodded my head and stood up, looking towards the door. Did the girls know that Larry was going to do this? Were they waiting on the other side of the door for us? “Do the girls know your decision?” I asked slightly hesitantly.

“No, I just told them I needed to talk to you two,” Larry sighed, moving over towards his bag and taking a seat at the conference table. “Now go get the other guys, we’ve got some business we need to attend to before I have to catch another flight.”

Brian and I quickly raced out the door in search of Maya and Avery. I couldn’t wait to pick up Maya in my arms and tell her the good news. Though this meeting didn’t go as planned, it sure as hell worked out a lot better than we had initially hoped.

Jimmy’s POV

“So here’s the plan,” I half whispered, half yelled as I pulled Jess into an empty booth at the bar. I didn’t even care that short stack was flipping me off. I had to find away to rescue our damsels in distress from the evil sorcerer Lar-Bear. He had taken them captive again and I knew we needed to breach the gates before it was too late. There were more than just the ladies lives on the line today, I also had to rescue Gates and Shads from pure destruction. I just hoped my queen was ready for this adventure.

“We take this entrance,” I said, taking the salt and pepper shakers and moving them along the sugar packets and coffee mugs that I used to set up our conference room parameter model.

“We sneak along the back hallway—“ I moved the salt and pepper shakers along my map, slowly inching toward that evil ketchup bottle. “And then we get JB and MB to get us a shit load of bees and we let them loose into the room—“

“Wait, then the bees swarm Larry and we smuggle the girls out this side door?” Jess finished for my and my eyes lit up. No one had ever finished my secret mission plans correctly before, let alone at all.

“You really do have a gateway into my brain, don’t you?” I asked her with narrow eyes. As soon as our eyes met, I mesmerized, almost like when I stared at the stars when I was completely high and wasted. I was a good feeling but very unknown and Jimmy Sullivan was all about the unknown. Yes, the knife master strikes again!

“You could say that,” Jess leaned forward onto her elbow, looking at me in the most mysterious way possible. Ohh yes, Jimmy likey! “And don’t try and break it because it get stronger with each look.”

My eyes got wide as I looked at her while she giggled. That musical sound was the most beautiful thing I had ever heard. “What secret information are you trying to store in my brain? Are you working for the Berry’s?” I asked, narrowing my eyes again. Yes I spent the night with her, but whose to say they didn’t sneak in stuff while I was in the shower! I couldn’t trust those assholes!

“I thought I worked for you!” And with that she leaned over the table and pressed a kiss to my lips. I felt my world soar around me with that motion alone, until I remembered where we were and I quickly pulled away.

“Not here…the others will get suspicious!” I hissed, setting my hand on hers. She really was a little sorceress with her powers, making me forget our mission here today. I leaned dangerously close and whispered, “but we will continue that later, knife mistress. Just you wait…I will show you the—KNIFE GIRL! LITTLE ONE!”

I flew off the bench as soon as I saw then and tackled them to the ground in a hug. “You’re safe, you’re safe! We were just planning to save you! Thank fucking god you’re safe!” I screamed, not caring who was looking at us.

Avery and Maya squeezed me back as Zack helped us climb to our feet. “How did you escape? Do you get to stay with me? Please say that you’ll stay I cant go on without my girls!” I begged, now falling down to my knees and taking each of their hands in mine. “Tell me your staying with me! PLEASE!”

The two brunettes looked at each other and then back at me, making my head spin. Why weren’t they saying anything? Why did little one look like someone stole her puppy? Oh no, were they out of waffles at the buffet?

“SOMEBODY SAY SOMETHING!” I yelled in agony collapsing to the floor.

“Relax, love,” Knife girl said, kneeling down next to me and rubbing my back. I quickly pulled her into a rib-crushing hug before adding in Avery too. I hated to see them leave, they were too good of friends to say goodbye too and I hated to say goodbye. “It’s okay…”

It was then that I noticed the girls were sans Gates and Shads. Where had they run off too? Did they go to get the waffles refilled that Ave was crying about? I fucking hoped so and they better have maple syrup…and I mean the good shit. Not that Aun Jemima stuff! Yuck!

I narrowed my eyes, pulling both the girls and myself to my feet. It was quiet, too quiet. Where were those guys? “Where are Shadow Boxer and Gatesy-poo?” I whined, jumping up and down until I felt someone touch my back.

“They are talking to Larry,” Maya said, rubbing the spot where her hand landed. “We don’t know what’s going on but we told him we refused to leave. He just said that he wanted to talk to Gates and Matt.”

“That could be a good thing, right?” Zacky asked, looking between us. It was just then that I noticed my queen standing dangerously close to him with a frown on her perfect face. What was that about? My queen should never frown!

“I don’t know…” the gnome said as short one put his arm around her shoulders.

“Don’t worry, Gates and Shads wont let Larry take you away. Gates is too fucking persistent not to get his own way and turns into a bitch until you give him his way, you’ve seen it before, Ave,” Johnny assured her and I nodded in agreement, trying to get Jess to meet my eye. What was up with her? Or was she playing by our secret rules? Oh…she was good! I knew it!

“I’m just worried what my dad is going to say to them…I-I hope he doesn’t make them change their mine about us…I know we haven’t,” I little gnome said with a frown as Maya hugged her close.

I moved over toward them and put my arms around the two girls. “Don’t worry, you are in the secret knife society, no one will take you or hurt you while I am the knife master!” I vowed.

“Enough with this fucking knife master!” Johnny sighed, running his hand over his face. “What are you planning now!”

I gapped at him, letting out a Teradata like scream. “You will never know now, short shit! Feel my wrath forever because you are no longer a member!” I yelled, putting my hands above my head and chasing him around the bar area. “I will get you and take all the memories and knowledge from your brain! Get back here and face the consequences!”

I chased him around the lobby and breakfast area until I finally caught him and carried him back with my over my shoulder, battle call and all. When I finally returned with my winnings, I saw both Gates and Shads running to my knife girls and pulling them close. What the hell did I miss now? And were was my queen?

Notes

Thank you for all the comments! I am winding down the school year (only 18 days left) so I will have more time to write soon...well I hope so! Comments please! :)