Chapter 15 Fallon
Fallon
Screaming sirens make up the violent wake up call that I definitely did not order. Sitting up in the bed with palms against my ears, I glare at the system rigged into the right corner of the room. Flashing lights join in the party. Motherfucker. It’s still pitch black outside.
Hearing the yelling in the hall has me standing and padding to the door on silent feet. Leaning against the doorjamb so that no shadow shows beneath, I strain my ears.
“Shut it off!”
“I’m fucking trying. I can’t figure out what tripped the alarm. None of the perimeters have been breached.”
A door slams nearby. The low growl tells me Declan has joined the festivities. “What the hell?”
The voices move farther down the hall. Damn it.
Back against the wall, I slide down to sit with my knees pulled to my chest. I have no idea whose shirt this is, but it's old, worn, and perfect to sleep in.
My black boy short panties are much more comfortable than the bullshit pants they got me to sleep in those first few days they held me captive. Who the fuck sleeps in pants?
The screaming alarm stops suddenly, and apparently my anxiety finds this just as shocking to the system. Another door slams and footsteps head back toward me.
“How the fuck did she get through?” I perk up at this, loving the irritation in Matteo’s voice. I hold back a chuckle hoping to hear more.
“I have no idea, but I’m going to find out. Fallon wasn’t kidding about this chick.”
“What does this mean for us?”
“The fuck do you think? It’s only a matter of time before she connects Cerberus to Lunar.”
The alarms wail again, drowning out his reply, only this time it is the chorus of Great Escape by Boys Like Girls that is blasting through the speaker.
I burst a laugh. Fucking Quinn. I knew she would find me.
The scream of rage that echoes down the hall gets me all kinds of giddy.
I rise, dancing and swinging my hair around; I throw in a few victory twerks for good measure.
Scratching on the other side of the door brings another grin to my face. I hear the lock click on the door, so I swing it open and come face-to-face with my favorite and least favorite males in the house, in that order.
“Great, now you’re obsessed with her too,” Matteo's exasperated comment comes from behind Hades.
“Hello, my sweet boy!” Hades is wagging and jumping around, and the massive dog knocks me on my ass.
Shirt flying up around my waist, I land with a thud.
After several moments of puppy kisses and snuggles, he calms and sits in front of me.
It is only then that I notice Matteo frozen in the doorway, eyes fixed on my bare legs.
His gaze slowly slides up my body. When his eyes reach mine, he’s met with an arched eyebrow and one shoulder shrug. “See something you like, Funshine?”
Turning on a heel he storms away. “You fucking women are going to be the death of me. And put on some fucking pants.” His muttering has me cackling. Despite the shocking awakening, this is turning into a great morning; especially since Mr. Control didn’t bother to order me to stay in this room.
I hesitate long enough to allow him to get to the stairs and start heading down, just in case he simply forgot to tell me to stay put. The “music” shuts off as I listen for his steps to fade away.
Turning to my new shadow, I grin. “Come on buddy, let’s go find some coffee.
” Head tilted as if he understands me, Hades leads the way to the central floor.
I don't bother with pants, just to piss Matteo off.
I all but skip to the kitchen. The clock reads 5 a.m., so it's early but definitely not too early for coffee and breakfast. Spying an espresso machine gleaming like a prize, I make a beeline.
Cabinets banging, I hunt down the largest mug they have.
Bingo! I find one that could double as a bowl. Brewing the coffee is the easy part. I’m about to steam the milk when hands brush up my arms. I scream loud enough to wake anyone who may have gone back to bed and send milk flying everywhere.
“Fuck, I’m sorry.” Akio’s eyes go wide, his hands up in mock surrender.
Heart slamming against my ribs, I look down to find Hades at my side again, alerted by my ear-shattering scream.
“You need to wear a fucking bell!” I put a hand to my chest, but I’m only really angry about the mess I just made.
“My bad, Siren. I'll get this.” He snatches a towel from a drawer nearby and wipes it up as I go about finishing my latte.
Matteo comes into the kitchen, and I can see the tension as he fights to maintain eye contact and not look down to take in the rock T-shirt (that I clearly got from one of them) and underwear I’m still in.
“Good morning, Funshine. Hear any good songs lately?” Akio’s chuckle behind me only spurs me on.
Stepping into Matteo’s personal space, my hands move toward him and I can see the conflict in his eyes on whether he will let me touch him.
Before my hands make contact, I shoo him to the side.
The shock on his face has me in stitches as I hop up to sit on the granite countertop with my feet dangling while I sip my latte.
His deep sigh echoes in the kitchen. “Since we’re all awake, I might as well make breakfast. Omelets good?”
“Well, actually…”
“I was talking to Akio. You’re still a captive, or did you forget?” A smirk plays around his lips.
Did he just tease me? Did I just like it? “I was going to say I like mushrooms, spinach and cheese in mine; but maybe that is beyond caveman cooking abilities.”
Akio’s eyes shoot open in shock and he takes a step back to get out of Matteo’s line of fire.
Matteo's eyes tighten but the smirk is still there.
“Oh, don't you worry about my abilities in the kitchen, Menace. This will be the best omelet you’ve ever seen, but who knows if you get one.” He turns to get the eggs out of the refrigerator.
“Woah. I take it back. I’m sure cavemen cook just fine.” Eyes wide, I give Hades a run for his money and beg for my food. Matteo shoots a dry look over his shoulder, but I note the mushrooms, spinach and cheese that are now on the counter beside the eggs, and smirk.
It should be a crime to look so good with no shirt and low-slung gray sweatpants.
Extra criminal since he’s cooking for me.
All those tattoos coating his skin, muscles rippling underneath…
. I stifle a giggle that threatens to escape as he ties on a black apron.
Totally at ease in the kitchen, he sautes the mushrooms in butter and garlic.
The smells are making my mouth water; the visual is making my pussy clench. Down, girl.
I hear the back door click shut, and I pull my gaze from the shirtless snack currently making breakfast to see Ms. Trudy strolling into the house.
With her hair pulled back into a low braid, she enters the kitchen.
“Boys. Is there any particular reason I woke to alarms and some interesting music this morning?” She nails them with an arched eyebrow for a moment before turning to me.
“Fallon, good morning dear. I would ask if you slept well but…” She points at the alarm bolted into the corner of the room.
She walks past me, patting my knee along the way to the coffeepot that Matteo apparently had brewing before I even came downstairs.
“Morning, Ms. Trudy.” I give her a sheepish smile, suddenly very aware of the lack of pants. I try to tug my shirt down to appear a bit more decent.
She pours her coffee then adds cream and sugar. “Oh honey, you can call me Ms. T like the boys.”
My cheeks heat with the strangest warmth.
Akio slips forward to snag some of the fruit that Teo is cutting.
“Get your own.” Matteo smacks his hand.
“You never were prone to sharing.” Ms. T shakes her head at Matteo with a fond smile on her lips.
And why is my brain suddenly conjuring up fantasies of all three guys sharing me?
“I don’t have to share things that I own.” Matteo shrugs.
A mental picture of being owned by him sends a thrill through me. The only problem is that I can’t deny the connection I have with Akio. Fuck, Fallon stop. They literally kidnapped you!
“So, what is on the agenda for you kids today?” Ms. T’s voice jars me from my thoughts.
“The usual, work out the kinks in the new design, try to get Menace to behave, and cause a little mayhem.” Matteo gives Ms. T a teasing grin as he continues to cook. Since when is he funny?
“Hey, dickbag, I heard that.” I glare at the back of his head, but Ms. T comes to my defense.
“She’s not a dog, you neanderthal.” She shoots me a wink. “And speaking of dogs, where’s Hades?”
I glance around seeing that he has, in fact, disappeared.
“If he isn’t attached to Siren’s hip, then he probably went out back to run around,” Akio chimes in from the kitchen table.
“Well, I am going to find him and get him some breakfast.” She strolls out of the room to get started with her day.
I hop off the bar and head toward Akio, who is now resting his head in his hands. Pulling out the chair opposite him, I let the legs screech on the floor. He looks up and the bags under his eyes make sense. This must not be the first encounter with Quinn. She’s giving them hell.
Laughter is bubbling in my chest when Declan joins us. He lumbers into the room, silently pours a cup of coffee, and then plops down in a seat at the table. He drinks black coffee? Fucking psychopath.
“So how is my girl Quinn?” My finger circles the rim of the mug as I shoot small glances at Akio. I eat boys like you for breakfast… Lyrics to that Dove Cameron hit plays through my mind.
“At another dead end obviously.” He waves a hand in the air, pointing out the lack of alarms and music.
“I mean, for now. She doesn't lose. You’re so fucked. Say goodbye to your beauty sleep.” Declan watches our banter with a smirk, but when he catches me looking at him, his stony expression slides back into place. Boo, no fun.
“Fallon, there is a reason I’m the best at what I do. She may have slipped past a few weak spots, but there is no way she can find you. Nothing connects us to you. Your friend is out of her league.”
“We’ll see.” I shrug. He bites back a grin as he shakes his head in exasperation.
“She wasn't able to hijack my system for more than twenty minutes at a time. No amount of Trojan horses, or viruses she tries to put in will break through my encryptions, nor will she be able to install the ransomware.” My eyes glazed over after his first sentence, much like when Quinn goes all evil nerd genius.
“Dude, we have no idea what you just said.” Matteo interrupts any further conversation with breakfast. We dig in and I catch the furtive glances from him. Not that I will admit it, but I will be damned if this isn't the best omelet I’ve ever had.
Later on, I’m dressed in leggings and a matching black sports bra, one of several sets that Akio brought to me the other day. I’m heading to the home gym that the guys frequent, which results in them wandering around the house all sweaty and yummy. No, Fallon, not yummy.
I walk into the spacious room and feel at home with the smells and rubber-like flooring beneath my feet.
There is a weight rack off to the left, a large sparring ring in the middle, several boxing bags hanging in the back, and cardio equipment to the right.
The layout reminds me of the gym I started going to after I was attacked.
I was determined to learn to defend myself and they had classes dedicated to exactly that.
I weave between equipment, heading for the treadmill. This is going to feel amazing after weeks of being locked up. Setting a high pace, I’m quickly lost in thought.
They’re starting to let me in, and I feel safer than I have in a long time – because of them.
We’re fighting for the same thing, and they’re aligning more and more with the justice-seeking badasses I thought they were.
And then there are the sparks – the moments – that push me to them.
It’s just because they’re hot. They’re all walking red flags, I reason with myself.
I clearly have a type. Jacy is going to have a field day with this.
.. if I ever get out of here, that is. Do I even want to?
Yes, bitch, shut up. Giving up freedom for hot sex and romance is only fun in books.
I’m jarred from my thoughts when the door to the gym slams shut.
Declan comes in wearing shorts and a tank top with the armholes cut out so big I can see the entire side of his torso.
He’s cut in the most glorious way, and all of that ink has me ready to make a fool of myself.
Black and gray skulls, the reaper, ravens and smoke cover his arms.
Catching me staring, he smirks and I jerk my attention away. Did he just fucking chuckle? I didn’t know he could laugh. Shifting my focus back to my run, I ignore him.
Well, for all of two minutes. Glancing up, I see him throwing combinations at one of the bags. Our eyes meet and the rush is better than any high. We both look away. This happens several times before I shut off my machine and approach him.
“What do you want, Poison?” His bored tone contrasts the tension in his body, the tension growing between us. I wonder what else is growing… Eyes up, Fallon!
“Maybe I want another chance to kick your ass. You didn't play fair last time.”
“There’s no way you could manage that.” He huffs a laugh.
“Maybe not three against one, numbers you apparently needed because you’re scared of the big bad, five foot five, normal fucking human being.”
He stops hitting the bag and comes toward me. His huge frame towers over me. Fuck he smells good, like sandalwood mixed with something earthy... that I could roll around in… focus, Fallon.
“I don't need numbers. I can easily get you right where I want you and there would be nothing you could do about it.”
With an evil grin dancing on my lips, I say nothing. I simply take my thumb and run it across my chest in the same manner that I sliced him that day they took me. Then I seal the deal with a wink and a flick of my tongue across my lower lip. Oops.