11. Drake
Chapter eleven
Drake
N udging my elbow against my brother's ribs, I use my hands to gesture for us all to step out and let her have a moment of peace.
“What are we going to do? We cannot keep her safe. Not without the power of The Lords of Ash to help. Our empire is not up to par with that dicks Dad.” My eyes roam from one face to another, hoping that they hold the answers that will fill in the parts I'm missing in this mess we have found ourselves in.
A throat clears snapping me out of my downward spiral of panic. The events playing through my mind like an old movie making my stomach roll with nausea.
“We can't let her get hurt or her sisters for that matter.” Reed mumbles to himself.
"The Lords and Ladies of Ash won't tolerate harm to innocents.” Radley's voice interrupts my thoughts, drawing my gaze back to him. “They may engage in shady dealings, but hurting the innocent is unthinkable. The ladies would dismantle the entire operation if necessary, adhering to their sole, non-negotiable rule. This ensures the men's power, secured only by promising to uphold it."
“Do you think we can reach out to the Ladies of Ash to see if they could help? I can call my mom, she holds the high seat on the council.” Caden says softly, spooking me from how close he is to my back. I had hardly known he had moved into my space.
Sneaky fuck.
“I mean we could ask. They don't know that Soren was part of our initiation so if we point them in her direction they could make their own decisions about what happens with her and her sisters.” My voice holds a strong and steady tune, even when my insides and anxiety wreck their way through my bloodstream making me feel sick to my stomach .
“The Lords wouldn't know until an official statement from the Ladies was issued saying that they found their last initiate. By that time, we can have it playing to our advantage. They cannot interfere with a pledge that is named formally.” Caden says firmly.
My mind is so crowded, that I can't seem to answer him, lost in all the questions running rampantly through my head begging to be answered.
Why was this the task for us to complete? Why is the Heiress of a simple, but well-done, company even important to have this information to be collected? Would this be public knowledge? Everything seemed odd and unsettling.
Radley and Reed nod absently at the statement like it makes perfect sense.
News flash mother fucker, it doesn't. Too many unknown variables play around this. Why was she almost murdered by her fiance? Why now? We barely saw him when we were scoping her out these past couple of days. He'd come late and stay for less than an hour and he'd be gone the same way he came.
“I'll go make the call, the sooner it's done the quicker this can be handled and we can go on with our lives,” Caden states. Taking another glance at the door, he turns on his heels and storms to his room slamming the door behind him, cutting off any reply from any of us.
“Well, guess we have to see what Scarlett says before making any more decisions tonight. I'm going to go and make something to eat. Will you guys be joining instead of crowding the poor girl's door? I'll bring her something as well so don't worry about that.” Rad turns with those parting words and makes his way down the hallway to the left that leads down to the kitchen and living room. Leaving Reed and I to stand there with our hands in our pockets awkwardly.
“I'm going to go and grab some clothes for her to wear so she can change from those dirty bloody ones.” Reed turns and walks to his room without another word. My legs stay planted, not able to move from the door.
What am I doing? Why can’t I move away?
Because you don't want her getting hurt again, idiot. You're not fooling anyone with this tough, I hate you act. She's still Soren, and you're still that nerdy teen who thought she hung the moon.
The smaller voice in my head is such a dick.
She is still Soren Flint - the girl who, on a dare, stole my first kiss under the bleachers at homecoming. After I confessed my feelings to her, she broke my heart by choosing to be with someone else. I have always been captivated by her presence. Now, she was almost murdered by the same psycho fucker she chose over me.
Letting a groan scrape past my throat, I force myself to move to the kitchen to eat, dreading each step I take further away from this Tiny Terror of a woman who has bulldozed herself back into my life. Consuming me slowly from the inside out.
We are truly fucked.