14. Radley
Chapter fourteen
Radley
I had just finished plating the food when a text from Caden flashes across my phone. My eyes instantly roll wondering if it would be another complaint about a recent house guest who is just down the hall. The situation has left the entire household in a tense state, each of us wanting to hunt the bastard down and exact our revenge for laying his hands on her, for trying to kill her. The fact that he managed to get up and escape makes my stomach churn. He doesn't deserve to walk the earth alongside the same woman who once saved me.
I lean forward and grab my phone. “Mom said to pick up the brats and bring them here for pickup. Only essential items need to be packed; nothing else is necessary. If they forget something, it will be replaced. Either pack for Soren or ask her sisters to help with that as well. You have less than an hour to get this done; you know how much she hates to wait. Also, please leave Soren’s food. I'll come and pick it up for her.”
As I read the text, two things become clear. First, Caden has genuinely moved on from his past with Soren and has reached out to his mother to ensure her safety. Second, this will be the most challenging task I have ever undertaken: gathering teenagers, convincing them to pack only the essentials, and returning here on time to meet Scarlett. Fuck my life.
I leave Soren's food wrapped on the counter for him to grab, turning around one last time to ensure everything is turned off before I leave.
Walking to the front door, I quickly decide to grab Reed’s keys to complete this job. He has spent years transforming this car into the formidable machine it is today, and I have a strong feeling that we will need that extra protection for the girls, especially with Beauty's ex still at large, determined to make her suffer. Hurting the one thing she values most—her sisters—would be his way of achieving that .
But I doubt he is that stupid, because if anything were to happen to the twins, I don't believe the world would survive their older sister. She would set the world ablaze for those girls and do it with a smile on her beautiful face. The thought makes me laugh because, although she doesn't appear to be it now, I can tell she has the potential to succeed
She wasn't built like normal rich bitches, she got where she is today by being the one to shoulder everything and never complain.
She's the same girl who put off going to college to raise two kids and to keep them from going into the foster system. Taking on a business she didn't want, making sure it stayed afloat, and using the income it brought in to give her sisters the lives they deserved, and the future that they were destined to have.
She is selfless, and that's often taken advantage of by men like Jace Compton and that little bitch Alec Flanagan.
I make my way to the garage, slowly lifting up the rolling door to gain access to the inside, the lights automatically coming in due to the motion sensors. Reed's Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 D is fully armored and the darkest shade of black he could get so it looks invisible at night.I step up to the Dark Knight and slip the key into the lock, turning it carefully as the locks click allowing me access. I climb into the seat and shut the door behind me, sighing in a small bit of relief as I slip the key into ignition and start the engine. “Like A Villain” by Bad Omens blares through the surround sound making the inside vibrate like the car itself is alive and breathing through the lyrics.
Deciding to let the song continue, I maneuver the car out of the garage and around our other vehicles that surround it. Pressing the key to lower the garage door, I speed down our winding driveway to the wrought iron gate that opened on my arrival, giving me access to freedom behind this self made fortress. Thirty minutes later I'm taking a left on Old Derry Rd, letting it lead me to the last turn on the right to Flintwood Ave. My finger taps lazily on the steering wheel as “Take Me Back To Eden” by Sleep Token plays in the background as my mind tries to accept the things I knew would happen once Scarlett got here.
We would be once again separated from Soren and we would have to be to keep her demons from catching the scent of her and her sisters. Alec and Jace both knew we saw them attack her and did so unsuccessfully, and Jace was wearing the evidence that we would protect her. I was proud I was able to beat that worthless sack of shit within an inch of his miserable life for what he did to her, for what it looked like he was going to do to her with that shrimp cock of his he was trying to wrangle out of his jeans.
I wish I would've killed the fucking sick bastard, people like him don't deserve to live. Soren wouldn't have to go into hiding if it were not for him.
I finally make it to the gate that has her family crest on the front, punching in the code that Drake had gotten for me into the tiny keypad that makes the big gate swing open slowly. I ease the car forward and make my way up the hill that's surrounded by the forest. She kept the most secluded house she could from the ten personal ones her family owned.
I would say I was impressed, but she was never the flashy type, she had money but she didn't need to show it. Everyone just knew who she was and where she came from.
I finally made it to an old Victorian style home that sits on the edge of Briar Falls Cliff. The sight before me is breathtaking. I pull as close as I can to the front, and I put the car into park.
I don't necessarily have the privilege for sightseeing, time is already wasted and I don't want to be on the receiving end of Scarlet's wrath. The woman can be downright terrifying when she wants to be. My fingers latch into the door handle tugging it until the door creaks open, allowing me to exit the car.
Without giving myself another moment to second guess how to handle the situation at hand, I slip Soren's house key into the door and let myself in. The scent of lavender and mint assault my nostrils as laughter echoes throughout the house.
Making the split decision not to scare the girls more than making them rush to pack will most certainly do, I call out letting them know I'm there .
“Hello. Lena! Carla! Soren sent me.” The laughter stops abruptly as two girls round the corner, their eyes switching from my face to the door behind me.
“If that's true, why hasn't she answered our calls? She could've let us know she was okay after not returning home last night.” The thinner and slightly taller redhead replies, bringing her hand up and slowly pushing her identical twin behind her, making the blonde tilt her head at her in an unspoken challenge to her authority and right to protect her from a strange man showing up.
“Look, it's a long story that we really don't have the time or pleasure to go over.” I say as the girls look at me like I'm truly the dumbest piece of shit to grace their presence, it's scary how much of Soren I see.
Huffing an irritated breath, I hold my hands up to make them feel a little at ease as I continue on with what I was going to say. “Do you really think your sister would send someone she couldn't trust?” My words are stern and hold a slight irritation at the time ticking by.
“Call her right now and prove it. Or get out.“ The shorter one clips out through clenched teeth as she grips her sister's arm, holding her close to her side like a true human shield.
Grumbling to myself I call Reed, and wait for the mother fucker to answer so I can get this shit over with. The ringing goes on for four seconds causing the girls to get antsy at how long it's taking. On the sixth ring, Reed's voice comes out the other end-breathless, “What? Did you get the brats yet?”
A loud slapping of skin, followed by a colorful array of curses pass his lips and a familiar
feminine voice rings through as Reed's protest falls on deaf ears.
“It's my sister's dickhead and as you all have so clearly stated we don't have time to dick around! Put me on speaker love, let me talk to them.” Soren's voice and the unexpected pet name fills my veins with an icy chill that sends shockwaves all the way down my spine. I nod as if the Beauty herself can see me, and turn the phone on speaker for her sisters to hear her.
“Listen girls, please do whatever Rad says. I trust him wholeheartedly when it comes to you both. The quicker you both get to me, the faster I can explain why everything is happening.” She sniffles softly, but coughs to try to mask it as her next words come out raspy and tinged with guilt. “Grab the safe under my bed, and the duffel bag in each of our closets, throw our laptops and whatever else you can into a spare duffel bag. Whatever you can't pack in the next 45 minutes, I will replace it. Go, I love you babes and I will see you both soon.”
The girls look at the phone like they can picture the broken woman on the other end, and don't spare another second before carrying out the orders like trained soldiers.
“Is there anything else you need, Soren?” I keep my voice soft, so the empathy at her situation doesn't come through my words. She doesn't deserve to be pitied when she's trying to show a strong face for her sisters and the predicament she has found herself in.
There's a pregnant pause before her voice comes from the other end, “Go in my stand, and grab the other small lock box … the girls don't need to see that one, so shove it into a bag from the bottom of my closet with some of my band tees from the top drawer of my dresser.”
There's another beat of silence that has me checking to see if she hung up, before she adds, “Also grab a couple pairs of panties please, and my leather jeans. I'd like to be out of Caden's clothes when his mother gets here.”
“Oh, yeah sure I'll get on it. We will see you soon.” I reply.
“Thank you, Rads.” With that the line goes dead.
Shuffling of feet causes me to look up to see her sisters move quite fast, and they have most of what they were tasked with gathering together already.
Forcing my legs to move, I head in the direction that Lena pointed me to and open the door to a sight that catches me a little off guard.
Soren's room is done in light pinks and dried flowers hanging from various parts of her wall on tiny strings. The only lighting coming from the rainbow led lights that are currently flashing casting tiny shadows on the ground. It's so feminine, that I'm honestly stunned. I didn't expect to see Soren as a normal woman, but here she is with a normal feminine room. The only odd thing that catches my attention is the car manuals lining a small pink vanity and the guitar that's propped up against the wall.
Shaking my head, I come to the realization that she truly is something that cannot be understood so easily. I make my way to the drawer where the small lock box lays. I do a double take as I see it’s buried under a 12 inch vibrating alien dildo. What a little freak. A slow smirk crosses my lips as I decide to pack that as well.
Placing both items on her comforter, I make my way to grab the bag from her closet, snatching a black leather jacket from the hanger on the inside. After putting the lock box and dildo into the bag, I begin to stuff every band shirt from the top drawer into the bag, not knowing which is her favorite. Moving to the second drawer where her underwear is thrown in a pile, I start grabbing and shoving them into the bag, not wanting to spend more time in this particular drawer than needed. The lacy and see through fabrics make my mouth water at the thought of what they look like on that biteable ass of hers. I shove two pairs into my pocket for later use and snatch the now full bag off the bed, shutting the light off behind me as I slam the door a little harder than intended.
When I reach the front door, the girls have everything they would need strapped to some part of their tiny bodies and the safe being held in the middle between them. The straining look as they try to stay upright with all the weight has me stepping forward and taking the medium safe from them.
“Let's go.“ I grumble under my breath at both girls. “Whoever is the last out, lock the door and let's get this show on the road before your sister has my balls.“The twins chuckle quietly, before Lena steps up and opens the door. With that, we make our great escape back to the house and to whatever future these girls will have to face once they leave today.
We pile everything in the trunk and in the back seat. Carla takes the back seat, and hums “Californication” by Red Hot Chili Peppers softly to herself. Lena sits quietly in the front for the whole ride back to the house, and right before I pull into the six car garage she abruptly turns to me with a look that can only be learned from an older sister she has watched over the years.
“What the fuck is going on? Why are we having to pack like we are fugitives? Why is my sister here with you when she was supposed to come home last night?” She snarls at me. I’m guessing her patience has finally snapped.
“I cannot tell you anything, it's not my place but your sisters.“ I reply simply, trying to placate the little demon beside me. “Just know that this is happening to keep you all safe. I can at least offer that to you.” As I say the last bit the front door bursts open and out comes Soren dressed in Caden's baggy clothes, rushing the car like her ass is on fire. She impatiently waits for me to shut the engine off before she's opening the car doors and the girls are rushing her, wrapping her in a protective cocoon of sisterly love.
Tears are flowing freely beyond the three of them and words are whispered. The girls pull back holding their older sister at arms length and slowly trail her bruised face and the marks lining her pale frame. Shock and anger register on their faces. And without a second's warning Carla and Lena have a blade pressed against both sides of my throat, matching looks of pure rage line their adorable faces. “WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU DO TO HER!” The lethal tone of their child-like voices cause me to let a laugh escape my lips, which only enrages them more. Before they have a chance to slit my throat, Soren has them both by the wrist and a stern motherly look graces her beautiful face.
“He didn't do anything! Jace did, he tried to kill me last night after we got into a fight, and if the guys didn't come out when they did he would have succeeded. Well, he still plans to carry it out, that's why we are having to leave, it's not safe in Hazelton for us anymore. “ Her eyes trace her sister's faces as they slowly lower their blades back to where they came from, their breathing rough and ragged as they take in their sister's words.
“Where are we going to go, Sor?” Carla's voice shakes as she looks at her sister with watery eyes .
“I'm not sure yet, we are getting help from someone named Scarlett. We will be safe, he won't get us. He won't get you.” She says the last part like a prayer to whoever will listen, to pray he will never find them.
Before I have a chance to say anything, the guys are coming out in various stages of emotions that have me slightly confused. I don't get a chance to ask why they seem so out of sorts before a blood red Cadillac is pulling in front of us and out steps Caden's mother, Scarlett O’Hare. Her beige heels click on the paved driveway with each step as she heads in the girls direction, making my heart plummet to my feet.
This is it. I don't even get the chance to say goodbye to Soren as guards come and gather up the girls like livestock and usher them into the waiting car. Soren shoots a sad look in our direction, and rushes out a quick goodbye and thank you, before she's shoved inside the back seat along with her sisters, the door slamming behind them.
Scarlett's no bullshit tone sets her words in stone as she speaks slowly to us. “No more contact from here on out boys. I love you, but if you want her to remain safe and her sisters to remain alive as well, this is it. She no longer exists in the outside world until she's a full fledged member of the order.“ With that she kisses our cheeks and climbs into the front seat of the same car the girls are in and we are left looking at them dumbfounded and broken in various stages. We sit there as we watch the girl we have always found ourselves coming back to drive away, never to be seen by us again.
My soul shatters in that moment, and the man that I become is no longer the same man I've always been. The man I am now, is a broken constellation of every emotion coursing through my barely beating heart.