Chapter 43
FORTY-THREE
MAVEN
I’m not an anxious person by any means, but the farther we drive, the darker it gets, and the fact that we haven’t seen another vehicle for over an hour makes me wonder if coming with them was the smartest thing to do. Especially when I know I’m not invited.
From my understanding, the Forsaken Society has been around for a long time, and it has a lot of rules. None of which I care for or want to understand. I’m here for one reason only, and that’s to get the fucking truth.
We slow down at the end of a dirt road, and I see several cars hidden among the trees, and men who I’m guessing are members, standing around.
Some of them already have their masks on, while others are still bare-faced.
Boston turns in his seat and locks eyes with me as Victor brings the car to a stop.
“Stay in the car until I tell you to come out,” he instructs. “Please.”
I grind my teeth but nod in agreement.
He nods back, then reluctantly gets out of the car. I hear the locks click, and I don’t think they did that because they think I’m going to escape. They did it for my safety.
I keep my gaze trained on Boston as he makes his way over to the group of men milling about. So far, it seems they’re unaware of my presence. I should’ve come with my guns. It was absolutely stupid of me not to come more prepared. But I wasn’t really thinking clearly.
My main objective is to confront the person who set this whole fucking thing in motion. I want to know why they did it, and if I don’t like the answer, I may very well take my knife and stab their fucking eye out. Which could end one of two ways: I die or they die.
Boston runs a hand through his hair as he starts talking. The others pay attention when he speaks, but one set of eyes keeps flicking to the car.
Soren.
He doesn’t say anything, but I know he can see me.
I don’t try to hide, and I watch him the whole fucking time to see what he’ll do.
But then something pulls my attention, and I see another member dragging someone into the clearing and then pushing them to their knees.
They pull the hood from his head, revealing his face.
It’s Rolland.
Reon, who was behind Rolland, kicks him, and he falls onto all fours in the dirt. Rolland tries to get up, but Reon kicks him back down, not allowing him to stand.
Rolland’s gaze darts everywhere, and when it lands on Boston, it stays locked on him, and I see that he wants to plead with him.
I’m starting to grow impatient as I sit here and watch all of this unfold.
Soren steps closer to Rolland, a knife glinting in his hand.
Before I can stop myself, I’m unlocking the doors before jumping out of the car, and as I close the door, everyone turns at the sound.
“Who the fuck is that?” someone asks.
“Is that a fucking woman?” another says.
“Kill her!” another yells.
“Enough.” A voice booms, Soren. A few answer back.
“Yes, Lord.”
I slowly approach the group, and Boston’s gaze flicks to my red heels. Since I had them sitting by the front door, I snuck them into the car. He takes a deep breath as I get closer, like he’s preparing for what’s to come.
You and me both, husband. You and me both.
Two members start toward me. One has a mask on, and the other doesn’t. I know exactly what their intention is—to kill me. As they go to pass Boston, he punches the maskless man straight in the face, and the guy drops to the ground. The other stops immediately and gapes at Boston.
“You brought your wife?” he asks incredulously, then looks around at the gathered men. “And you’re all allowing this?”
I start moving again until I’m within Boston’s reach.
His arm slips around my waist, and he places me directly next to him.
I glance at Rolland, who is still on the ground, then to Reon, who is looming over him, before turning my attention to my husband.
His eyes, though, are not on me. They’re on the Lord of the Forsaken Society, who has done nothing but observe up to this point.
But then…
“No wives, Boston. You’re well aware of that,” Soren finally says.
“She has information,” Boston tells him.
“So why couldn’t you bring that information instead of your wife?” Soren’s gaze slices to me, and I bite the inside of my cheek as I try to stay calm and collected while they speak.
“Listen to what she has to say, and then she can leave,” Boston says.
“You know that’s not going to happen. Wives aren’t supposed to be here,” another says.
“Kill her! Make her the fucking rabbit in the hunt!” Rolland breaks in from his place on the ground. He tries to get up again, but Reon kicks him back down.
“Don’t you fucking speak of killing a member’s wife,” Reon growls, then bends down to get in Rolland’s face. “You shot and tried to kill a fucking member, you dickhead.” Reon kicks him again, and he falls over, clutching his side.
Men whisper to each other about me being here, and the voices get louder and louder. I’ve heard Reon’s wife was present at a hunt before, but to my knowledge, she was the one being hunted.
I take Reon in as he stands over Rolland, and I can tell he has contempt for him, that he wants to tear him apart. He grips an axe in one of his hands, and I can’t help but admire it.
Boston keeps his arm around me as the member he hit finally backs away, taking a spot in the line that’s formed in front of us.
Victor is the only person who has remained at Boston’s side.
Concerned gazes flick toward Victor and then away, and I know most of them are scared of him.
But I see that same fear in their eyes when they look at Boston.
“He deserves it,” Rolland grunts. His eyes find mine, and they look dead. “So does she,” he adds through gritted teeth.
“Watch your fucking words,” Reon warns him, his hand tightening around the axe.
“Victor,” Soren says, and everyone looks at him. “What do you say about this?”
Victor knows what I do.
He doesn’t glance at me or Boston as he speaks. “I would listen to what she has to say.”
Soren nods, seeming pleased with that answer, which makes Rolland angrier.
Reon is looking our way, and Rolland takes the opportunity to get up as quickly as possible and run toward us.
But before he can reach us, Boston lets go of my waist, unholsters his gun, and shoots him in the leg without a second thought.
Rolland screams out in pain and drops to the ground like the sack of shit he is.
“Fucking hell,” Reon grumbles. “Hope he can still walk. I plan to win this hunt and slice him up.” He picks Rolland up by the back of his shirt, and Rolland groans from having to use his leg.
Boston stalks closer to the man who was once his partner.
“Do not kill him, Boston. The hunt will continue. Don’t make me put your wife in it in his place.”
I tense at Soren’s words, turning my head to see him staring at me.
“If you put her in as prey, I’ll go and pay your fucking wife a visit.
How do you like the sound of that?” Boston shoots back.
The air feels like it’s being sucked from the forest at his threat.
Everyone goes completely silent. I guess no one really talks to Soren that way. Least of all about his wife.
He takes a deep breath and pins Boston with a hard look.
“I have always respected you, Boston, but like Rolland here so clearly displays, you are replaceable.”
Boston barks out a cruel sounding laugh. “I’m not replaceable, but you know who is?” He lifts his gun and points it at Soren. “You! So don’t threaten my wife again.”
“Boston…” Arlo says, stepping forward. He raises his hands as he steps in front of Soren, who looks ready to kill. “Put your gun down. You know he didn’t mean your wife any harm. The same way you don’t mean any to his.”
“If he thinks his wife is the only one protected just because he’s the Lord, he’s a fool.”
“I agree.” We all turn at Reon’s voice. He grips the axe menacingly, and Soren shakes his head at him.
“Of course you do,” Soren says sarcastically.
“Stop fucking threatening wives. If you do, then we’ll leave yours out of it,” Reon adds. Rolland starts laughing and then points to me.
“She killed three of your members. Three,” he announces. “Crazy little bitch, she is. You know the one they call Venom? Well, that’s her.”
At his announcement, every single pair of eyes lock on me.
I can tell they’re not sure whether or not to believe him.
I slowly raise my hands in the air, a sinister smile curving my lips as I stare back at each and every one of them.
Boston has stepped back to stand at my side, and I feel like with him having done that, he just gave away the answer, so I bow and give them a wave.
“And I’d do it again in a heartbeat. Plus, I can’t be that bad if you all wanted to hire me.” I wink.
“Oh fuck!” I hear Victor say.
“Fuck is not the right word, big man,” I say.
I note that Reon’s attention has strayed from Rolland, and I take the opportunity to unsheathe my knife and fling it straight between Rolland’s eyes. It lands perfectly, and he drops straight into the dirt. His eyes are wide with surprise as everyone around us curses.
“What’s the prize for the hunt?” I ask. “Since I won.”
“Lord,” someone says.
“Stay the fuck away from my wife,” Boston says as one masked member brandishing a machete comes at me.
Boston intercepts him before he can reach me, disarming him and then using the guy’s own weapon to slice his fingers off.
The member drops to his knees with a scream, and Boston throws the machete to the ground beside him.
“I do have an announcement,” I say, clapping to get their attention. “Or more like a question. If anyone would like to hear it.” I look around, noting all the angry faces. I smile, meeting Soren’s gaze.
“Dynamite,” Boston warns.
“Little Assassin, you should probably run.” This comes from Victor, but I ignore them both.
“Why did you hire me to kill one of your men, then send that video to Boston, knowing what I would do in return?” I ask.
Boston says something, but it doesn’t register as my attention is focused solely on Soren. The man with the slow, deliberate smile spreading across his face, his eyes glittering with satisfaction.
And in that moment, it’s undeniable…
He orchestrated it all.