Falling for A Lie (The Lords And Ladies Of Ash #1)

28. Drake

Chapter twenty-eight

Drake

M y phone sits beside me as I scroll through the live camera feed that shows over twenty different locations where I have placed my cameras to stay one step ahead of everything else.

Scarlett called to say that we won't be physically attending classes at AHU and all of our courses will be digital because another dismembered body of a girl that was set to fight today was sent to The Lords and Ladies. She had one name and one word carved into her rotting flesh, “Coming; Soren.”

So Scar has shut down the thought of us risking ourselves to some crazed psycho that seems to be getting closer with each breath we are taking and put us in lockdown. We are to complete our task for the lords, where we will be in public for most of the time, but we will not be attending college like normal people.

The only bright side was being a genius - and a digital god. I currently have every one of our classes taken care of. We won't have to lift a finger to earn our degree so we can focus more on the important matters at hand.

How does this sick fuck keep getting closer to members of our organization without being caught?

How do the bodies arrive at headquarters without triggering security protocols?

How does all of this connect with Soren?

My mind spirals with endless questions to which I cannot seem to find any answers.

What connection did this new body have to Soren?

She was scheduled to fight the Nightingale tonight.

Does Soren know the Nightingale?

If that's the case, is that what she needs to speak with us about? She seemed to be well-guarded at the races. I don't see anyone getting close to harming that woman without having to deal with her lap dogs and those two other masked figures that stayed close beside them.

A loud knock at my door has me practically falling my ass out of my chair. I turned around to see who it could be.

Standing in my doorway, with a towel slung around his hips, is Reed, water dripping from his chiseled chest and cascading down his barely covered V-line.

My mouth waters slightly as I gaze at him with a peculiar fascination as if he were a puzzle waiting to be solved.

“What do you want, trouble? Are you scared that the little kiss you gave the Nightingale will come back to bite you tonight?”

He looks at me, rolling his eyes and dropping his towel as he continues walking deeper into my room towards my dresser. He pulls out a pair of my boxers and slides them onto his bare ass.

“Why are you doing that?” I gesture toward him, who is wearing my boxers. He doesn't respond; instead, he turns to face me, a Cheshire smile gracing his beautiful lips.

“Because, Little Firedrake, I forgot to wash my clothes and need something to cover my balls so I’m not freeballing during tonight’s fight. The other two have bigger asses than you and I combined.” He chuckles. “As for the kiss, I’m not worried. She wanted it just as much as I did.”

“Oh, and how do you know that? You and the Nightingale are close friends without the rest of us knowing?”

“We have a history; she just needs a reminder. But don’t worry your pretty little head. I’ll be fine; her little lapdogs are all bark and no bite.”

“I don't know; the Hispanic one looked like he wanted to shoot you before she calmed him down,” I mumble, glancing back at my computers for anything suspicious crossing the cameras. The only thing I see is Josie leaving Scarlett’s office in a rush, which is odd considering Scar is home right now.

“Hey, what do we know about Josephine? Is she still in contact with her ‘dear little brother,’ Jace?” I switch the camera view, keeping her in my sight as she makes her way to the east side parking garage, away from where the employees usually park. I catch a glimpse of a blacked-out Cadillac with tinted windows so dark that I can't discern who is in the driver's seat.

“Mm, little Josie, what are you up to?” I mumble quietly to myself as my eyes trace the screen

“We could ask Scarlett. Isn't that her girlfriend-slash-assistant?” Reed rolls his eyes and steps up behind me, placing his hands on my shoulders and mindlessly massaging them as we sit in silence, watching the cameras to see what happens next.

"Until we know more, is it easy to trust that we will not be told the truth?" I retort tiredly from chasing my tail it seems constantly .

Josie hands something through a small crack in the driver's window. She glances around frantically as if she fears someone might catch her doing something she shouldn't. But why is she worried?

And then it hits me, “ This bitch is a traitor."

But with whom is she working with?

Before I can say anything else, Reed bolts from my room as if his ass is on fire. What the fuck was that about?

I lose sight of Josephine as she slips out of my camera's view, leaving me with more questions and fears for Soren's life if Josephine is indeed the traitor I suspect her to be. My girl's safety is at risk.

I pick up my phone to call her, but my brother rushes through the door, sweaty and reeking of sex. A hickey peeks out from beneath his tight sports shirt, which clings to his muscles, leaving little to the imagination. The motherfucker is built like a tank, ready to dominate anyone he faces in the ring.

“Why aren't you ready yet? We need to be at the arena in thirty minutes, and it takes us twenty minutes to get there.” Panic laces his words, wrapping them in a neat ribbon as my brother stands before me, his emotions fully exposed.

He is apprehensive about meeting with the Nightingale, but after what I just learned about dear old Josie, I am not. We need the Valkyrie. We must eliminate Josie before she endangers my Little Terror and the twins .

“I'm getting dressed now; please step out and give me five minutes,” I reply hastily, hoping to get him to leave my room so I can call Soren. I haven't shared the conversation with anyone else because I don't want to involve them just yet.

He looks at me with annoyance as I remain still instead of running around like a headless chicken, as he is. He throws one last glance in my direction before turning and stomping down the hallway to Caden’s room.

I wait until I hear the door close before I pick up my phone and press the call button next to Soren's name. The dial tone reverberates until a sweet voice answers in a tired, groggy manner.

“Hi, Drake.” She greets me with such sweetness that my heart melts for a brief moment. I'm caught off guard.

“Hey, Little Terror. ” My voice emerges surprisingly steady, even as the sound of skin hitting skin in the background makes me wonder where she is at this moment.

But I pushed the thought to the back of my mind so I could talk to her about what I needed to do. I go to open my mouth when a familiar voice sounds out in the background and my heart shatters as I recognize the male from yesterday, but what is he doing with my little terror? Is she in danger?

“Drake?” Her gentle voice echoes through the phone but I'm so lost at what's going on to even answer the girl on the other line. Minutes pass and I'm surprised she's waiting this long before hanging up on me .

“I'm here little terror, where are you?” The curiosity, eating away at me.

“A job for The Ladies, why is something wrong?” She whispers, like she's scared someone will hear our conversation.

“Nothing. I'll call you later, okay? Rad's rushing me out the door now. We have to head out for a job as well” The half-truth rolls from my lips without a moment of hesitation

“Okay, be safe tonight. Goodbye for now Drake.” Her voice comes out soft, as we go to end the conversation.

Before she has a chance to hang up, I add the last bit, wanting her to stay safe even if I'm not sure that's a worry I should have anymore if she's around that guy and the Nightingale. She should be fine.

“ And Soren just do me a favor and stay away from Josie and Scar for right now, okay? ” I rush out so the conversation can end quickly, and I can hopefully see the girl who has found her way back to me.

“Oh, um okay. I will.” Her voice comes out unsteady, as my words seem to register with her slowly. I hope she listens.

With that, the call goes dead and I'm left rushing to get dressed and downstairs in less than two minutes.