20. Reed
Chapter twenty
Reed
Five Months Since I Saw Soren
T he black-haired woman from the party spreads across the hood of my car as I slide the condom onto my thickened shaft, the alcohol doing the job that I intended it to. Using my spare hand, I gather her hair into my hand, my inked fingers wrapping tightly, and I yank it forward until the petite girl is at my face. Our breath mingles, and I smirk as she lets a soft gasp escape her parted lips.
“Turn over. I don't fuck girls like this.” Using my hand on her hair still, I pull her more, turning her and then pushing her back into the front of my still-running car, the heat from the engine seeping through the hood. I push her roughly onto her hands and wait until she scraps and crawls onto her knees on the hood with only slight protest escaping her thinned lips. She is not the girl I'd rather be fucking right now, but if I can't see her face, I can imagine that she is.
I grip my cock and notch it at the warm heat of the pussy below me, slowly inching in. The feeling is not exactly what I'd imagine Soren’s cunt to feel like, but beggars can't be choosers, and at this point, I don't give a flying fuck about anyone's needs except mine. With that last thought, I grip her hair rougher and wrench her neck up until she's staring up at the night sky at an uncomfortable angle, using my other hand to grip her hips as I start to slam into her mercilessly. Her cries are drowned out as I continue the relentless punishment for a girl who isn't here to receive it. The girl that got away and tore me in two pieces to be left discarded on the ground like someone that never mattered.
The girl beneath me tightens her grip on my hands, which makes me loosen my hold slightly on her before pushing her head into the hood itself as I quicken my pace to reach for the release within reach. My grunts echo from the parking lot beside us as I roll my hips, my balls slapping a rhythm against her soaking wet pussy. Her moans are muffled as I keep her face buried into the metal below us. Her walls clench around me, and I lean back, looking at the sky as pictures of Soren flash more vividly through my mind, wishing it was her below me and not some ready hole filling her spot. I pull out to the tip before I slam myself into her with a rough and brutal precision; her pleasure is not my priority as I cum into the condom that covers my slowly softening cock.
I step back quickly, releasing her and snatching the condom from my length, tying the end and shoving it into my pocket to get rid of when I get home because I refuse to take risks. Kids are not something I need to worry myself with right now, and some of these females I hook up with to pass the time are just insane enough to use my cum from a discarded condom to link myself to them and make me a father.
They see me with the guys, think we are richer than God, and are a meal ticket to a better life. In reality, we just hit our first ten million as a group with all of the odd jobs and now working for The Lords, earning more money between us.
Shuffling of feet has me looking up at the tear-stained face of the girl I just fucked like a common whore and not someone important when in reality, she's the mayor's daughter. Someone that has been practically begging me to fuck her, and now that I've given into the moment in my inebriated state, I expect this to be the last I see of her.
She looked up at me with hopeful eyes, and as her lips parted for whatever bullshit she was about to say or beg me for more than we agreed upon, I growled, "Go ahead and call an Uber. I've got places to be.” My words cut through her lust-induced state, and her mouth drops open, “Are you fucking serious right now?” She shrieks, and the shrill tone has me clenching my fist I turn sharply, meeting her head on.
I reply slowly so she can get it through her thick skull that I was not fucking around. “Yep. Dead serious. Now get the fuck off my car, call your Uber, and don't expect more than what you deserve.” My tone leaves no room for argument.
Before I have a chance to turn around, she's throwing her knock-off red bottoms at my head, smacking me with the blunt part, and falling to the ground. My eyes meet hers as a feral snarl leaves my throat. Oh, now this slut is going to regret that fucking decision. I suck in a shallow breath counting back from ten in Spanish to calm my nerves so I don't snap this bitches neck for being an absolute dumbass.
I snatch the handle, making the car door groan from the force as I slide into the leather seat, settling back before I slam the door and press the lock button on the side. She's still ranting on the hood of my car, her hands indenting the metal as she bangs on it like a petulant child who hasn't gotten their way. Shifting from park to reverse, I slam my foot down onto the gas pedal, watching as she falls off into a heap on the ground. “Choas Mode by Dezi” cuts through my speakers, making this even more comical
The laugh that leaves my chest could only be described as the laughter of a madman who has finally snapped. I switch to drive but don't press the gas out of curiosity to see what happens next. It takes five minutes before she attempts to lift herself up from the dirty asphalt, which looks slightly worse for wear.
In all honesty, she got lucky that I was the Lord she pissed off and not any of the other members; they would've put a bullet in her head already for being insubordinate and causing harm to a Lord. Even if the shoe didn't necessarily hurt me, it wouldn't have mattered to them, and it was just another excuse to spill blood and get away with it.
I pull up beside her and roll my window down, and she looks up at it with tears streaming down her bruised cheek. Sucking in shaky shallow breaths, she nods at me, mumbling about how I will pay for this…
“If you tell anyone about what happened here. I will fucking slit your boyfriend's throat while you sit and watch, just to slit yours right afterward. Do you understand me?“ I growl the words out, gripping the wheel tightly, making my knuckles turn white.
“I won't. Please leave Kevin alone. I won't say anything. I swear.” She looks at me with teary eyes as she pleads for his life like that would save him. It wouldn't be if she uttered one word of this to anyone. I'd have them both tied up in our basement within the hour, ready to deliver on my promise to her.
“For your sake, I hope you're better at keeping a promise than staying faithful to Kevin,” I smirked, leaving without giving her a second to reply. The warning was issued. If she doesn't follow it, that's on her.
The Drive back home is peaceful, and the moon shines through the cloud breaks, illuminating the road as the wind whistles against the hard metal of my car as I push the gas harder, letting the speed climb higher and higher as I weave through the scarce traffic of Ashford Hollow.
The music blares through the surround system, making my heart feel like it's beating with the screams of “Artificial Suicide” by Bad Omens; my fingers white knuckle the steering wheel as I break the hundreds; I'm twenty minutes away from home, and barely paying attention when a blacked-out sedan is seen pulling into the vacated home beside ours.
Curiosity gets the best of me as I slow my speed drastically, almost causing me to flip the small muscle car on its nose.
A string of curses in Spanish and English leave my lips as I slam my fist into the steering wheel at my stupidity. I cut my lights and the radio, letting it slip me into the utter silence surrounding us.
No one should be out here at this house. The houses are only for the inner circle of The Lords and Ladies Of Ash. Scarlett owns this house and was where she lived when she was forced to stay here when she took me in. It's been vacant ever since she was allowed to move back to Hazelton.
No one should be here since we are the only main ones in the inner circle that would be allowed such privileges but here we are now, and the lights from the three-story glass-covered front shine like a beacon, calling me like a lover in the darkness. The engine purrs as I allow the car to idle as I reach the back, searching for something to help me blend into my surroundings. I grab my hoodie and black mask, which we adorn our faces with when we handle business for The Lords. I slip it on, covering my whole head, leaving only slits that reveal my eyes, and the hoodie covers my tattooed littered body, leaving no way to identify me if, for some reason, I'm spotted by a camera or someone.
The cold air of the night and crickets are the only sounds I can hear as I inch my way forward to see who could be here at this time of night and in this place.
The sound of women talking stops me in my tracks as familiarity niggles at the back of my mind and causes me to freeze in my steps.
The sight before me takes my breath away. In the darkness of the night stands, Soren, Scarlet, and Josephine are talking in hushed tones, scared to wake the wildlife near them. I inch closer, praying to whatever higher being hides me from getting caught so I can hear the hushed conversation with these women and understand why the girl who was supposed to be hidden from us is standing before me now in the middle of the night, barely ten minutes away from where I sleep every night.
“So what am I supposed to do here? How am I supposed to keep my distance from the guys when we attend the same school and live a rock toss away?” Soren grumbles, sounding more exhausted than I've ever heard her before. She looks different. Tattoos litter her body, and her hair is black, blending into her surroundings, only visible when she shifts in front of the light that casts over the ground from inside the house.
Staying as still as the dead not to alert these women that I'm here, I continue spying, waiting to see what they have to reply to that statement.
Why would she need to avoid us? Is she attending AHU now, or do they have her sidelined and waiting like us? Why is she living in Scarlett's house when she is not part of the inner circle? Unless she is part of the inner circle, we are kept in the dark about it when we ask Scarlett, being told bits and pieces to appease our constant asking.
“You know why you must stay away from the guys, and it's not just to keep you off my brother's fucked up radar, Soren. You are here on orders of the council to attend college like the others to gain the knowledge to better your standing for yourself and The Lords and Ladies of Ash. A puppet, a soldier, and a leader.” Josephine snaps out as if the thread of her patience is worn thin, and Soren's tone has sent her over the edge.
“Because, little Nightingale, you are here for business, not pleasure. The mission comes before anything, or have I made a mistake giving you the power that I have? Letting you come here? Should I send you back to Hazelton? Because you can't handle being so close to those boys of mine?” Scarlett's voice sounds like razors slicing through my very soul.
She ordered Soren to stay away from us. But why and what power has she given to her? She can take it away easily and would have Soren listening to her like a puppet pulled by invisible strings.
The urge to step out and demand these questions to be answered and to snatch Soren into my arms and mold my body into hers so we can never be separated was something I fought with my whole body. That we would become one like I always knew we would be before she was forced away from me – from us.
Soren turns around and stares at Josephine, not in Scarlett’s direction. She speaks with such fragile restraint, “Listen, and listen to me very closely; do not threaten me again.” She steps up to Josephine, putting her chest to chest. “If it weren’t for me, the little dream team that the two of you thought of would still be that. A thought and nothing more.” As Soren pushes her chest into Josephine, her breasts are practically one small jump away from falling from the black leather fabric that covers them.
“I am the reason it has grown into something to be feared in such a short time; I am the reason we are making more movement in the cause than you ever have. So, if you ever think you can take that away from me, I’d like to see you try. My girls won’t follow you, my men won’t follow you, and you will have to start all over again. You’ll be up shits creek without a paddle, slowly sinking.” Soren pokes Josephine in the chest, “So before you say another fucking word to me, understand that I’ve proven what I would risk and I do to those who cross me. The only threat I haven’t found and wiped from the face of the Earth is that shriveled-up dick of a brother of yours that always seems to disappear when I get close to finding out where he is.”
Tilting her head to the side, she glared at Josephine as she could see into the woman’s soul. “It’s almost like he has inside information about my movements before I make them. Do I have an inner issue I must deal with, sweet Josie?” Moving her hand to the back of her waistband, like she’s reaching for a weapon, Soren growls, “Is that why you are trying to talk down on me right now in front of Scar?” I practically fall on my face trying to get a better view, not believing the balls on that sexy as fuck woman .
“Enough Nightingale! We just want you to stay focused and not get distracted. This is important. We need this to work for all of us.” Scarlett says, placing a small hand on Soren's shoulder, causing her to tense up at the contact. My brows furrow at the movement and the conversation, as I wish I could record it to show the guys.
She shoulders Josephine as she turns to face Scarlett, who is fully giving her attention to the older woman.
“I understand, but you should know that what or who I take pleasure in wouldn't affect my ability to do what needs to be done. It's not just my life on the line but the ones I love and the ones I've taken under my wing as a leader. I also don't take kindly to threats, so better tell your lap dog behind me, or next time, I will show her how much she isn't in control when it comes to me or mine.” Soren says softly, her hand retreating from whatever she had it on as she ignores Josie's protest behind her. The confidence in this little creature has truly grown since we last saw her. Interesting.
“Soren, be careful how you speak to me. Sounds like you're giving me orders instead of the other way around.” Scarlett levels her with a solid, unflinching look as she watches Soren open the house's front door.
“I'd never do such a thing. I'm not your soldier, Scarlett. I'm your partner in this. I feel like equal respect should be given if it's expected to be returned." Soren steps through the open front door, and I nearly miss seeing four others standing in barely shrouded darkness, waiting. A male's voice greets her in a familiar and friendly tone: “Nice to see you home, Little Mama.”
Before I can catch myself, I'm moving forward. fist bawled at my sides, ready to fuck up whoever was in there with the girl of my dreams. How fucking dare she have another man around her when we have been fucking suffering.
I hear footsteps stomping down the path from the front door to where I am; I realize my error right before Scarlett and Josephine spot me. Their muffled conversation reaches my ears from the bush I've taken to hiding in like a fucking creep.
The flash of Janet on her back on the hood of my car flits through my vision as I realize how much of a hypocrite I'm being. But fuck that, it was a quick, meaningless fuck to get this girl out of my system. The girl that's been here right under our noses for how long?
Josephine's nasally voice reaches my ears as she hisses to Scarlett, “I feel like we made a mistake giving that bitch more power than anyone else in our ranks; how can we control that girl when she refuses to listen?” She huffs, waiting for Scarlett's reply.
I'm left dumbfounded as they pull away, passing my concealed vehicle hidden from view in a perfect break in the treeline.
I hold my breath, waiting another ten minutes. Everything replays like a movie reel, and new questions circle through as I try to grasp them. The only thing I know for sure is that I will keep this to myself. My brothers cannot know about our new neighbors until I have the answers that assure me we aren't in harm's way.
As the front porch light is turned off, shrouding me in the darkness of the night, I wait with baited breath. A dog barking from inside catches my attention, but that's the only thing I can hear over the crickets chirping in the distance. I decided to make my exit and not alert Soren that I knew she was there. I sneak back to my car and slowly make my way home.
Scarlett glances at Josephine and rolls her gray eyes. “That girl is a born leader. She has built something remarkable from the scraps we provided her, and she accomplished it in less time than it took us to conceive the idea of The Valkyrie. We understood the hand we were dealt when we decided to offer her the position. The fact that she transformed it into something that is both feared and out of reach of The Lords is impressive. If you would stop picking fights with her at every opportunity because you’re afraid she could take your place as my second-in-command, you would realize what I’m saying is true. Leave her alone. She’s right; she’s not my soldier; she’s my equal in her own right.” Grabbing the handle of her car, Scarlett flings open the door, causing the hinges to grind in protest from the force.
“Figure your issues out, Josephine, because if you don’t give her the respect she demands, I won’t intervene if she decides to stab you. I need a united front, and you’re making that impossible with these empty threats you won’t follow through on.” Scarlett sighed as she settled into the driver’s seat, waiting for Josephine to enter the passenger seat.
“We need her, so grow up and get in so we can go home.” The windows rattle as Josephine slams the passenger door after climbing into the car.
The image of Soren. The conversations took place, and the male's voice flashed through my mind, making my heart and stomach ache. I pulled back into the garage at home and went to my room, away from everyone, so I could hide such a big secret from my brothers.