5. Arsen
five
Arsen
I move through the safe house, heading for the room I use when we’re here. The moment I’m behind the closed door, I slump back. Exhaustion is an understatement since the last few days have been a go, go, go situation. Now it doesn’t even feel like we won the Trials. Not with Ali missing, our fathers actively trying to kill us, and Riot on the razor edge of a blade. I’m more worried that he might do something reckless if we don’t get Ali back soon. I never thought anyone would be able to manage my brother’s crazy, but within hours of meeting, the man was basically a kitten ready to curl up on the woman’s lap. No, leaving the trials feels more like we entered the next level of the game. One we have no idea how to really play.
We aren’t little boys taking control of the sandbox anymore. We are now the men that need to take control of our birth-given empire. And I have a feeling Cash plans to overthrow the current kings, violently if need be. We, as his brothers in every way but blood, are ready to have his back. Especially if it means getting our new queen back as well. Because our fathers will be wishing for death if they harm our woman in any way.
Knowing we don’t have a lot of time, I move to the ensuite bathroom, stripping off what fabric I have left called clothes. I don’t bother checking for supplies, knowing we pay people not on our fathers’ payroll to keep this place stocked. Turning the shower on, I step under and instantly feel like a new man as the scorching hot water batters my sore muscles. I almost don’t care that the heat reminds me of the blast we nearly avoided and the fact that was the last time I saw Ali. Not wanting to get lost in the dark thoughts of what Ali could be living through right now, I don’t waste time enjoying the overdue shower. Quickly, I wash my hair and body, watching as the rust-colored water circles the drain before disappearing. The moment the water runs clear, I shut the shower off and step out. Grabbing a towel out of the cupboard, I run it across my now clean hair before wrapping it around my waist and head for my closet. I go with a pair of sweats for the moment, slipping them on before tossing the towel back toward the bathroom. I’ll deal with that later.
I’m the first one in the kitchen, so I decide to whip up a quick meal, since living off of granola bars isn’t exactly nutritious. Glancing around the pantry and fridge, I go with something simple, yet filling. Throwing a pot of water on the stove to boil, I grab the rest of what I need before dicing tomatoes and herbs. Once the water is boiling, I add the noodles while I bring the sauce to a simmer. Within minutes, everything is just about done as I puree the tomato sauce and add the herbs and some seasoning. Just as I’m plating, the other two walk into the kitchen, and without another word to each other, I pass them their bowls of spaghetti and we all dig in.
I don’t even think any of us actually breathe as we inhale our first real meal in days, all of us going back for seconds. But of course, this weird sort of lull can only last so long.
“I’ve made a few calls to people we can trust. Looks like everyone believes we are dead and died in the original explosions,” Cash snorts. “What a grand finale this trial was.” He pauses again, this time giving us both an odd look. “Apparently, our fathers are even grieving our loss. So, this year instead of a celebration of the next head of families’ survival of the trials, they are holding a masquerade party to mourn the lost Sons of Hellfire.” He cocks his brow. “And yes, that is our title, the Sons of Hellfire.”
“Catchy. I like it,” Riot adds before shoveling another forkful of food into his mouth.
Rolling my eyes, I look back towards Cash. “So, what? They are using us to…” I don’t even know how.
“To hide what they’ve done. Our three families may be part of the original Hellfire Society, but the laws state that at any time, another can challenge any one of our thrones. And if word got out that our fathers were actively killing off their heirs simply for the fact to rule longer… That’s like an unspoken law. When your time is up, you pass along the throne,” Cash explains. I already knew all this, but spoken and unspoken laws have been the last thing on my mind lately, just for the fact that we’ve been trying to stay alive for the last three days.
“Why don’t we just go to those among the society? Tell them what our fathers did and get their backing to bring down the old bastards,” Riot asks, placing his now empty bowl in the sink. I set mine on the counter and think about his question. It would make sense, but…
“We don’t know who all knows what our fathers had planned. They could have gotten the support of their men, and if we go to them to gain force and they aren’t loyal to us, they could tell our fathers. Then we wouldn’t have the element of surprise.” I frown at Cash’s last words.
“You have a plan, don’t you?” I ask, and the smug asshole smirks.
“I do, but we need to make a few more calls. Do any of you have anyone you trust completely?” His question has me going through the list of people I could trust. Cash is right that even people we might think we trust could backstab us, and we can’t risk it. But I know of a couple people that owe me enough that reaching out might be worth it. I give Cash a nod, as does Riot. “Good. We need to get details about this party. Figure out our best ways in and out if needed. The layout, if possible. Knowing our fathers, this won’t be a typical “wake” but an actual party celebrating their supposed success. Which means they will have their own private space. We will also need outfits and equipment. We can’t leave anything to chance. Not this time.”
“Okay, but what happens once we’re there?” I ask. I have an idea, but I want us to all be on the same page.
It’s not Cash who answers me; it’s Riot. The crazy fuck is smiling and practically bouncing on his toes with excitement as he says, “All is fair in love and war. So, we kill them.” Cash and I smile back in agreement before we break apart and search for all the information and details that will give us our best chance because Riot is right, an eye for an eye. Or a life for a life.
You tried to kill us, so now we get to try and kill you.
I t’s a couple of hours later, but we finally have a starting point. We all reached out to our various people during that time. Some are from within the society, while others work for our individual families. All the information leads us to the party being held at Cash’s father’s house, no surprise. That man always wants to be the center of attention. The party will be a black-tie event with a masquerade twist. You must wear some type of mask as a reminder of who was lost. Pathetic really, but it worked in our favor since we all still had our trial masks. Cash with his faceless covering, Riot with his muzzle, and me with my gas mask, so, the only thing left were the suits. Which Cash said he took care of.
From one of my contacts, I was able to find out they were using all the house’s servants as servers and staff, so sneaking in would be a bit easier than we thought. We just needed to get close enough to avoid any guards. Which Riot found out they wasted no expense on. So, our best bet would be to go in through the kitchen or back of the house. Which could also be our best escape plan if we kept a vehicle ready to go nearby. Since masks are this year’s theme, that will give us an advantage as well.
Now we’re gathered at the kitchen counter going over our best routes and course of action while we wait for the delivery Cash placed for our suits and additional weapons. Who knew that was even a thing?
“What if we just walk in? Everyone will be wearing masks. We can walk right in with everyone else,” Riot says as we go over the blueprints Cash somehow managed to print from his little office. I swear the man still surprises me to this day.
“We can’t risk them checking everyone under the mask before letting them in. Plus, it’s not like we have an actual invitation. I think Arsen’s plan to go through the back or kitchen is the safest. We just have to figure out how to get back there undetected.”
I stare at the prints again, my eyes tracing the lines and boundaries of the property. Then I see it. “Cash, your father’s place backs right up to mine. What if we come in from mine? It’s a small walk, but if we keep to the shadows, we should be able to get close enough to blend in and pretend to be guests just getting some fresh air.” I look up to see what their thoughts are as Cash studies the blueprints again. Then he starts to nod.
“That could work. Worst case, we kill whoever gets in our way.” This has Riot perking up immediately.
Looking over at Riot with worry, I voice my concern. “Are you going to be able to manage?” I glance down at the bandage he has around his leg. Ever since his shower earlier, the dude was still just wearing boxers. The bandage covers the stab and bullet wound he got only two days ago. One from one of our fathers’ men and the other from our woman. On top of that bandage I can see small burns and raw scrapes that cover his bottom half. The man needs to rest, but I already knew his answer before I even asked my question.
“I’m fine,” he answers before getting up and heading back to his room before slamming his door.
“He’ll be fine, A. You know as well as I do the man is made of steel. Plus, he needs this distraction right now. If he can’t focus on this, then he will focus on Ali, but we need more information. You know your father has hundreds of places she could be. We can’t let him go after her and burn half the city to do it,” Cash tells me, clasping me on the shoulder and squeezing before getting up and heading for the front of the house. I didn’t even think about it that way, not with everything going to shit as of late. Then I try to figure out where my father might have taken Ali in the first place. That’s if we are right and they took her somehow.
Hmmm, maybe once we find her, we might need to place a tracker in her; I doubt Riot or Cash will argue with that.
A few minutes later, Cash emerges again, three boxes and a set of keys in hand. Cocking a brow in question, he answers. “Made a call to a friend. Suits and a new ride. He will be taking the borrowed one to dispose of. Here.” He tosses me two of the boxes, one with my name and the other with Riot’s. “Go get ready. I want to be on the road in thirty.” And then he is walking out.
Taking that as my own cue, I grab the boxes and head for Riot’s room. I don’t knock, just walk in to see Riot stitching up his own leg with a regular sewing needle and thread. “Need any help with that?” I ask but know he will just say no.
“No. My wife will patch me up once I get her back.” His words have me stopping mid-stride, a look of shock. “She’s the reason I have most of these. She can play nurse as punishment.”
I shake my head at how serious he sounds right now before bursting into laughter. “Dude, you just want another blowjob, don’t you?” He shrugs his shoulders, but I see the small smirk tilting his lips as I step closer.
Placing the boxes on the bed next to him, I pat him on the back. “We will get her back, man. I promise.” His head snaps up, his green eyes meeting my gray ones. “There is nowhere in this world that woman could hide from you. Or any of us.” He stares into my eyes a few seconds longer, searching for a lie, but I’m telling him the truth. Finally, he nods before looking down and tying the last knot in his stitch. “Cash ordered us some more appropriate clothes for tonight. He says wheels up in thirty, so you better hurry.” With those final words, I leave to get dressed as well.