Page 13

Poppy - 8 months later

" A re you sure this is a good idea? We should just go to the warehouse alone and check things out." I tilt my head in Corbin's direction for some reassurance because we've been driving for what feels like forever.

"No, we need help, and my initiation brothers are just as invested in taking down The Collection as we are."

"I told you I’d figure out how to handle them." I gruff in annoyance. The idea of trusting other people to assist with something so important makes me uneasy. "Do you really trust them?"

"I do. Not to mention, it's taking too long. We've been trying to get a solid lead with no luck for months. The only reason we got this one is because of Raiden. I want to be free of their hold so we can start our lives together. Don't you want that?"

I take a breath, knowing he's right. We've been inseparable since I showed up at his sandwich shop for the second time eight months ago. We got a new place, and things have been good. The only thing keeping our lives from perfection is this incessant need to destroy The Collection.

I want to be able to relax, settle down, maybe start a family, but I can't allow my mind to even think about that until I make them pay. They can't be allowed to continue ruining people's lives.

Finally, our destination comes into view, and we park next to the porch. It looks like a normal house. There's nothing that really screams "we're hosting a meeting about uncovering a secret society.”

Corbin turns to look at me, bringing his hand up to cup my face, and I lean into it. "We're close. I can feel it. Let's do this so we can start our forever."

I smile as he leans in to press my lips to his, and I let all of my doubts slip away. We deepen the kiss, getting lost in one another before I pull back to catch my breath.

"I love you, cupid."

"I love you too, bagel boy. Let's get this over with. I'm dying to get back home so I can try out that new ball gag."

"If you're using it on yourself, then yes, but I already told you I'm not putting that thing in my mouth."

"I'll wear you down. You know you can't resist being a good boy for me." His nostrils flare, and I smile, knowing he can't deny it.

We walk hand in hand inside the house without bothering to knock or ring the doorbell, which I find a bit odd. Once inside, Corbin leads me to a living room with four people whose eyes all land on us at the same time.

"Poppy, these are my brothers," he says before pointing at each one and rattling off names.

Raiden, the brown-haired guy who oozes your typical alpha energy.

Casper, who apparently goes by Ghost and has the coolest neck tattoo I've ever seen.

Devlin, the blonde who seems a bit shifty.

I'm not introduced to the female who is sandwiched between Raiden and Ghost. They both have a hand on each one of her thighs, which I find interesting. Lucky girl gets two men to play with.

"Corbin." Raiden smirks. "How's retirement treating you?"

"Nice to see you too, asshole," Corbin says, making the other two guys laugh as he escorts me to a small vacant couch on the other side of the room.

As we pass the female, she holds out her hand, prompting me to shake it. "Hi, I'm Faylon."

"Poppy," I say with a smile before going to sit on the couch.

I glance around and notice there's someone missing. Trent. Maybe he's running late. Corbin must have the same thought because he vocalizes it almost immediately.

"Where's Trent?"

"Who the fuck knows. The weasel probably got sidetracked in someone's vagina." Raiden shrugs.

Corbin pulls out his phone to send a quick text while eyeing the time. We're already fifteen minutes behind schedule and can’t wait for him if we want to make it to the warehouse on time to catch the meetup.

"We’ll start without him," I say, taking point in the meeting. I'm not sure what everyone’s vibe is, but I want to make it known from the start that I won't be a bystander.

Raiden nods. "The information I overheard from my father was that they’re meeting at a warehouse ten minutes away from here. I don't think there will be security with them since the meeting is supposed to be a secret, but there's no way to know for sure."

"I doubt they will bring security. That would draw attention. You know they're all about being as discreet as possible," Devlin says, which makes sense.

"Did you bring the guns I asked you to?" Corbin asks Ghost, and he nods, not bothering to verbalize his response.

"There's no reason to make this complicated. We all get guns, and we go in at the same time. If they put up a fight, we shoot them," I state.

"Violent little thing." Raiden raises his brow.

"You have no idea," Corbin chuckles before turning to me. "Calm down, my little bloody valentine. We need them alive."

As bloodthirsty as I am, he's right, but I still roll my eyes. "Fine. I won't kill all of them yet. But once we have what we need, can I kill them?"

Corbin smiles and nods, but when I turn to look at the others, I find them wide-eyed and speechless. I don't know why it's so hard for people to believe women are capable of murder, too.

"Faylon will be staying in the car once we get there," Raiden says, and I see her elbow him in the ribcage. "I'm not waiting in the car. I'm going in with a gun, just like everyone else."

"Do you even know how to use a gun?" he asks her.

"Want to find out?" she challenges, and he holds his hands up in defeat while shaking his head.

"Your funeral," Raiden concedes.

Ghost leans in to whisper something in her ear, and she laughs before leaning into him. Ghost and Raiden are like night and day, but it’s obvious she cares for both of them. The different effects she has on each of them is cute. I can practically feel the tension between her and Raiden from here.

We spend the next 15 minutes going over every possible detail of how our plan will work, ironing out all the factors to prevent anything from going wrong. The grandfather clock in the corner of the room chimes, telling us it's time to leave. There are only thirty minutes until the scheduled meetup, and it's a ten-minute drive. We’re not missing this.

One by one, we filter into our vehicles and drive to the warehouse. This town reminds me a lot of where I grew up. I wonder if Corbin will want to move to a place like this.

The car slows, and I know the time has come. We’ll have our first glimpse at The Collection’s higher-ups. Once we all gather in front of the door, I turn the handle slowly as the men stand beside me with their guns outstretched. We all filter in and are confused when we find the room empty, save the person secured to a chair in the middle with a bag over their head.

I can't help but let curiosity get the best of me, so Corbin and I walk over to the subdued person, and I rip off the bag. Shock courses through us as we glance down to find the last person we expect to see, Trent. That would explain why he didn't meet us at the house earlier.

Trent looks around the room with a sinister smile. "You don't even know the mess you've gotten yourselves into. They're coming for all of you now."

Corbin punches him in the face. "You slimy little fucker. You tipped them off. I thought we were friends."

"I was keeping an eye on you. You’re the reason I haven't been given an assignment yet. They've been waiting for you to fuck up. You just had to bring the rest of our brothers down with you, though, didn't you?"

"I know what this is. Daddy told you to get in line so you wouldn't be a disappointment. You're always trying to find ways compensate for your little dick," Raiden tosses out. He moves to stand next to Corbin and me as he glares down at Trent. "How did that all work out for you? Clearly, they don’t give a fuck about your life either."

Trent opens his mouth, but I decide he's taunted everyone in this room enough. The only way to get him talking about something that actually matters is by force. I've been itching to stab someone, so it's time to let my rage shine bright.

I whip out my knife and plunge it into his arm, smiling as he lets out an agonizing scream.

"Did she just..." Ghost says from the corner, surprising me. I honestly forgot he was even here.

"She did," Delvin reassures him.

The fact that men are amused so easily when a woman chooses violence is entertaining.

"I need you to teach me how to do that without hitting something important," Faylon says in astonishment.

"No. We don't need you running around with knives." Raiden shuts down her suggestion quickly.

I ignore him and smile at her while pulling the knife from Trent's arm. He's screaming something about how he's never going to tell us anything. Blah, blah, blah. We shall see. "Want to try? You can take the next stab."

She comes over in a rush, and I pass the knife along, pointing at where she should stab him. She plunges the blade into the meaty part of his thigh but struggles a bit to pull it out.

"You fucking bitch! I'll make sure they kill all of you," Trent calls out.

"That was pretty good. We should get lunch sometime, and I'll give you more pointers," I toss out to Faylon, and she nods enthusiastically.

"Sounds good to me," she says, making me smile. It might be nice to have another female friend in my life again.

“The last thing she needs is to learn how to stab men,” Raiden mutters. "You're a bad influence."

Trent lets out a manic laugh that pushes me over the edge. He's treating this like it’s just some minor inconvenience that he's going to walk away from, but that couldn't be any further from the truth.

"I suggest you start talking. Corbin and I have plans, and I'll be damned if some little shit like you is going to keep us from them," I state firmly.

Everyone has a weakness. You just have to know enough about them to find out what it is. Trent is about as transparent as they come. This may not be who we were expecting to find here, but I'm willing to bet if he's tied to the chair like this, he has some kind of knowledge that could be useful.

"Do you think he’ll still be able to get laid if he's blind? Which eye should I gouge out first?" I press the tip of my knife into the corner of his eye, making him freeze.

He still doesn't say anything, so I push it in a little further. The edge pierces the skin next to his eye, and a small streak of blood begins to drip down. Trent is about as conceited as they come, so I push harder. I can almost guarantee threatening to disfigure his precious face will do the trick in three... two... one...

"Stop! I'll talk.”

"Good boy." I smile with my eyes meeting Corbin's. He looks annoyed that I called Trent a good boy, but I'll be sure to make it up to him later. "Now, tell us everything you know about The Collection's higher-ups, and then I'll decide whether or not you've earned the right to keep breathing."