7. Lea
7
LEA
A soft rain tapped against the window next to my bed.
My eyelids slowly raised, focusing on the morning shower.
My room didn't have its usual golden glow in the morning due to the clouded sky, but there was also something comforting about the rain.
Sometimes, I liked to close my eyes and pretend that the rain had the power to wash away everything. It was a nice thought…to be wiped clean. To start over.
The longer the light pattering of the rain continued, the heavier and heavier my body sank into the mattress.
I can’t remember the last time I felt this relaxed.
My eyelids became weighted down as well.
I hummed with delight as I teetered on the precipice of unconsciousness. That was until I heard a noise from the front of my apartment. I sat up, immediately turning my head to listen more closely.
My sensitive ears pounded with the sound of a heartbeat apart from mine.
My claws elongated, and I could feel myself shifting already.
Dammit, stop! Rowan told me to shift as little as possible. The fewer people know I’m a werewolf, the better.
Rage billowed up into my chest, making it feel like I was about to breathe fire. If I’d been a dragon, I probably would have.
In some ways, I was just as trapped now as I had been in Ryklira. I had the powers of the werewolf, but I was unable to use them.
I looked around frantically for a weapon, but the only thing near me that could possibly serve as one was the liquid that kept my lamp lit. If exposed to oxygen, it would ignite immediately.
Great, I'm going to burn down my house because someone decided to break in!
I hopped out of bed, clutching the glass lamp in my hand as I made my way over to my bedroom door.
My fingers slowly curved around the metal knob, but I hesitated to turn it. My ear twitched as the heartbeat came closer to the other side of my bedroom door.
I summoned all the strength in my body and turned the knob, yanking the door open and raising the lamp above my head.
Luckily I was able to focus on who my intruder was before I flung my lamp. “ Rowan! ”
Relief swept over me as my muscles relaxed and my arms dropped to my side. “You scared me half to death! What are you doing sneaking around this early in the morning?”
“I'm sorry! I came as soon as I got your message. I thought maybe your identity was compromised.” Her eyes searched mine for some kind of solace.
I could tell she was concerned about me. “No, I haven't been discovered, but I did find out something interesting. Diesel has a son. A seventeen-year-old boy.”
Her face fell from concern to annoyance. “And?”
“ And! Why wasn't anyone at the DPR privy to that information? I asked around at the office, and nobody knew that Diesel had a son. These are people who have rubbed elbows with him. Why would someone like Diesel go to such lengths to hide a family member?”
Rowan was at a loss for words. It might not have seemed like a big deal to her at first, but the more she thought about it, the more suspicious it became. “I have no idea.”
“I think it might be worth it to find out. We might be able to use him as leverage against Diesel.” I had so many ideas in my head, most of them diabolical.
I hated getting Kiyan tied up in all of this mess, he was a sweet boy, but if it came down to it—down to things turning out to be the only chance I had to get my revenge—I might not have a choice.
Knowing that it would destroy Diesel made it all the more worth it in my mind.
I’d say it’s only fair. He destroyed my family… I destroy his. Tit for tat.
“Lea!” Rowan shouted my name, and I looked up to realize she had been trying to get my attention. “Don’t lose focus on what’s important. We are looking to take down those that are doing harm. Kiyan might be innocent in all this. Just because he’s Diesel’s son, doesn’t mean he’s got anything to do with what his father does.”
“No Ransom is innocent,” I declared dispassionately, as I stared up at Rowan with my jaw clenched and my brows furrowed.
Rowan was taken aback by the look in my eyes. “Do you think hurting Kiyan would make your family proud? Do you think it would bring them peace in the afterlife?”
“What about justice? What about what those bastards deserve?” I was so blinded by anger that I could barely see straight.
My marking burned as if a fire was being held to it.
After everything they’ve done to me? Jax and Diesel… They deserve to burn!
Rowan grabbed my face, holding my focus with her eyes. “Lea, look at me!”
I relented.
“If you choose to walk down that road…it isn’t one you can come back from. Once you allow that rage to consume you, what will be left of you? What about what you deserve?” Her words were like a bucket of ice water being dumped over a burning fire.
The rage was snuffed out from my chest, and I relaxed into her hands as tears welled up in my eyes. “What does that matter now?”
“It matters! You matter!” She spoke as if she was commanding me. “You deserve peace. You just have to be strong enough to choose it.”
I lowered my head, and she pulled me into her shoulder.
How can someone like me, with this storm of violence inside of me, ever expect peace to find me?
She held me there, refusing to let go until I had calmed down. Her hug was too tight, and more awkward than any hug I’d experienced.
Somehow it was exactly what I needed.
She finally released me, and I wiped my face, taking a deep breath to calm myself. “Alright. Now that we have that settled, I have a plan to help our mission along… But you’re probably not going to like it.”
O kay, I have to keep my wits about me today!
Anxiety had been creeping under my skin since I’d woken up this morning.
I tried to stifle the feelings of anxiety and disgust, but they welled up in my throat in the form of bile.
Rowan had suggested that I seduce him… Jax.
If I played it right, she was convinced that it would get me greater access to anything secretive going on. But the thought of as much as having to touch him, made my insides feel all slimy and repulsive.
I couldn’t…
I knew it would destroy him, and his “perfect” little family, cheating on Chika, but I would rather rip my skin from my body than touch him again!
The idea was beyond repulsive.
A horrible sickening feeling overcame me.
I had to figure out how to destroy him another way. I wasn’t sure how I was going to do it, but I was going to make sure the world knew exactly what kind of men Jax and Diesel were.
My eyes flickered up to what was ahead of me, and the blood drained from my face.
Zane walked in front of me with Mairy on his arm, and a young child on his shoulders.
Mair… My dear friend from school. She is right there…in front of me.
I hadn’t seen her in so long, but seeing her now was torture. I couldn’t even do something as minor as greeting her. Although, it was nice to know that she and Zane had ended up together. Mairy had had a massive crush on him, after all.
Zane looked around, seeming disinterested in what his wife was saying, and caught my eyes. He looked shocked for a moment—probably because I was staring at them all wide-eyed and stalker-like.
I quickly averted my eyes and kept walking as if nothing weird had transpired. I didn't stop until I was safely inside the facility. I looked over my shoulder to make sure no one had followed me.
A mixture of relief and disappointment came over me.
Focus, Lea. We have a task at hand.
I pushed my feelings aside and made my way to Jax’s office, standing before the closed door for a few seconds like always, mentally preparing myself for what awaited me beyond it. Normally, as I stood there, I would hear him inside either yelling or working. I didn't hear anything this time.
How out of character for him.
My knuckles wrapped against the wooden door.
“Come in.” His voice was deep and sullen, telling me he wasn't in a very good mood.
I pushed the door open to find him sitting at his office desk, facing the window and the whole city stretching out before him.
He had what looked like an alcoholic beverage in his hand.
“Good morning, sir.” I made my way up to his desk the way that I always did.
“Miss Mirth… Do you have good news for me today?” The way he asked was calm and yet threatening. He sounded like he was hanging on by a thread.
“Actually, I do.”
He turned around, his drink sloshing about in his glass as he placed it down on the desk. He looked worn out. He had a five-o-clock shadow and deep bags under his eyes.
Even the color in his eyes seemed faded, showing his exhaustion as he looked up at me. “Well, don't keep me in suspense. Tell me, or better yet, show me. How soon can they come in?”
“I guess you would know better than I would,” I mumbled under my breath.
His eyes narrowed at me, his patience wearing thin.
“The thing is… Apparently, he's your brother. Of course, I didn't know that when I recruited him.” As I explained, Jax’s cold, detached expression changed to miserable amusement.
He buried his face in his hands and chuckled in an exasperated way. Then he lifted his shaking head and blinked at me slowly. “You're going to have to keep looking.”
“Why? He's incredibly talented for his age. You'd be crazy not to take advantage of that!” A rush of adrenaline came over me. I didn't mean to raise my voice at him, but regret, like always, came too late.
He sat back, shocked, and tilted his head. “All of that may be true, but I sincerely doubt my uncle is going to allow me to hire his son.”
“You really think Diesel is going to have an issue with his son making a name for himself?”
Hells, I didn't mean to say Diesel's name like I was familiar with him…
“Have you ever met my uncle?” he asked with a curious glint in his eye, and it took every ounce of my being not to panic.
“Of course I haven't, but you have a prominent family.”
He gave me a funny look, and it wasn't until that moment that I realized his question had been rhetorical. He wasn't accusing me of anything.
“In any case,” I said, clearing my throat. “Wouldn't your uncle want Kiyan to experience the same kind of success you have?”
“That's a good question, and one that I don't have the answer to. He's always been oddly possessive over Kiyan. That's the biggest reason why Kiyan and I aren’t close, even though we're half-brothers.”
As he explained this, a devious plan formed in my head.
If Diesel is so protective of Kiyan, and Jax still insists on hiring him, then that would cause problems between them. It might even ruin any illegal business agreements they have with each other. At the very least, it would make Jax's life more difficult, and that thought alone tickled me.
“This is the best decision for the good of your company. You’re not the sort of man to back down from what he wants, are you?” I made my way around the desk, sauntering over to him. “I mean, are you the owner of this company, or is he?”
The image of me as the devil on his shoulder came to mind…
I watched in delight as Jax grew angrier.
“That's easier said than done, Miss Mirth,” he grumbled.
I could tell I was getting to him. I sat on the edge of his desk and watched his attention shift to the way the bottom of my robe fell open slightly, revealing my thigh. “Mr. Ransom, you are a powerful and influential man, aren’t you? Don't be afraid to use that power. And if you play your cards right…” My hand pressed into the surface of his desk as I leaned closer to him, and all but whispered into his ear, “You might find those same people bent at the knee before you.”
I watched his Adam's apple bob as he swallowed harshly.
Then his lips parted.
My other hand slid slowly up my leg, making sure his eyes followed.
I knew it. You’re so ridiculously easy to seduce. You don’t have any care for anyone but yourself.
Then I stood up and made my way out of his office. “Anyway, that’s just my opinion.”
The leather of his chair creaked as he pushed out of it in a flash. “No, you're right. I am a man of immense power. I should be able to take whatever I want.”
I had a feeling he wasn't just talking about hiring Kiyan. A sly smile pulled in the corner of my mouth as I gave him a nod. “Very good, sir.”
His eyes darkened with desire.
I made sure to leave before anything else happened. Though, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t enjoying this more than I had thought.
The man I’d been crazy in love with once, and then the one who had betrayed me, clearly desired me.
I won't make it easy for him.
I'm not going to be satisfied until he is on his knees for me—begging me to ruin his pitiful little life…