Page 16 of Falling for A Lie
Ben's voice comes out almost so deadly quiet that I have to strain to hear him.
“That the ‘South Side Whore’ that his son is determined to marry set four big gang members on his son when he came to pick you up at some seedy bar you ended up trashed at. What the actual fuck are you doing at a bar on that side of town when you live in your parent's old house in West Lake? And why would you let someone jump your fiance?”
My jaw practically hits the floor. Why would I sic anyone on the man I love? And why would I go and get shit-faced at the bar on a Thursday when I have work tomorrow? Also, why the fuck is Tom calling me a whore? I haven't been with anyone but his piece of shit son since I lost my virginity to him on prom night. You've got to be fucking kidding me.
“Well, first off I was upset after leaving the bonfire and wanted to get a drink before heading home.” I grind my teeth trying to keep the composure that I’m barely hanging on to by thread as I continue. “I didn't sic anyone on his precious son. The motherfucker snuck up on me after I was leaving the bar and hit me in the fucking head with a goddamn liquor bottle. Nearly killing me, might I add.”
There's a beat of silence again before a deathly growl comes out on the other end.
“He hit you with a fucking bottle? Alec said they were heading home because they had a job to do in the morning that needed them to be in good shape and focused. It doesn't make sense. They don't even live close to you, Soren. Why would they be at that bar and why didn't Alec stop him from hitting you.”
“He said that he was going to teach me a lesson and that common whores should know not to cross him if they value their lives. He's going to come back for me Ben, he might kill me next time.” My voice breaks at the admission, and the new knowledge that someone I thought was my friend was there as well. Watching this happen to me, and he didn't step in to help.
Strong hands grip my leg and my eyes roam up to the man at the other end of that arm. Reed’s face shows the same emotion as those around him.
“I’m making sure he never gets close to you or your sisters again. Everything’s going to be okay, you’re safe..” He growls out through clenched teeth. His assured confidence makes it hard for me to doubt him.
I nod absentmindedly, biting my lip as my mind drifts off. I’m drawn back by the sound of Ben’s continuing voice. He’s talking so fast that his words are running together and making no sense.
“Who was that? Soren, where are you? Can you hear me?” Ben’s voice escalates. “What the actual fuck? You and your sisters have to leave town immediately! You need to fucking live!” His scream, in the last few words, forces me to break eye contact with Reed.
“Slow down Ben, I can't just fucking leave. The girls are still in school. They are close to graduating. Where the fuck would I even go? You know Jace’s father is a dirty cop that could hunt me down with all his bad connections. Not tomention I have a business I run, or did you forget that?” My chest is heaving as I white knuckle grip my phone not even caring as I hear a slight cracking in my ear from the force I’m exuding. What am I going to do? I need to make sure I don’t get killed. What about my sisters? They’re innocent and have nothing to do with this whole mess. This can’t be because I’m not going to Brown with him. Killing someone you claim to love because of college rejections or petty fights makes no sense.
"What good are you to them if you're dead? What good are you to Flintstock Enterprise?"Ben’s voice cracks with urgency."This isn't a game, Soren; it's life or death. Jace's threat is real. If he’s already tried to kill you, then someone is pulling his strings. You have to get your sisters and leave before he strikes again."Ben pauses, inhaling a shaky breath. Like the next words will be even harder to hear than everything else he’s told me tonight."Worse still, I love you, Soren. I've loved you for years. I wish you'd chosen me, but now I beg you: choose yourself. You and your sisters must be gone by morning. You won't survive if you stay."
Without another word from him or waiting for me to reply the line goes dead. All that is left is the uncontrollable sobs wrecking my battered chest.
I have no choice. I have to flee. It's not just my life that's in danger but my sisters too.
I slam my phone against the blankets and cover my eyes ashamed of crying in front of these men who saved my life.What am I going to do?!
Chapter eleven
Drake
Nudging my elbow against my brother's ribs, I use my hands to gesture for us all to step out and let her have a moment of peace.
“What are we going to do? We cannot keep her safe. Not without the power of The Lords of Ash to help. Our empire is not up to par with that dicks Dad.” My eyes roam from one face to another, hoping that they hold the answers that will fillin the parts I'm missing in this mess we have found ourselves in.
A throat clears snapping me out of my downward spiral of panic. The events playing through my mind like an old movie making my stomach roll with nausea.
“We can't let her get hurt or her sisters for that matter.” Reed mumbles to himself.
"The Lords and Ladies of Ash won't tolerate harm to innocents.” Radley's voice interrupts my thoughts, drawing my gaze back to him. “They may engage in shady dealings, but hurting the innocent is unthinkable. The ladies would dismantle the entire operation if necessary, adhering to their sole, non-negotiable rule. This ensures the men's power, secured only by promising to uphold it."
“Do you think we can reach out to the Ladies of Ash to see if they could help? I can call my mom, she holds the high seat on the council.” Caden says softly, spooking me from how close he is to my back. I had hardly known he had moved into my space.
Sneaky fuck.
“I mean we could ask. They don't know that Soren was part of our initiation so if we point them in her direction they could make their own decisions about what happens with her and her sisters.” My voice holds a strong and steady tune, even when my insides and anxiety wreck their way through my bloodstream making me feel sick to my stomach.
“The Lords wouldn't know until an official statement from the Ladies was issued saying that they found their last initiate. By that time, we can have it playing to our advantage. They cannot interfere with a pledge that is named formally.” Caden says firmly.
My mind is so crowded, that I can't seem to answer him, lost in all the questions running rampantly through my head begging to be answered.
Why was this the task for us to complete? Why is the Heiress of a simple, but well-done, company even important to have this information to be collected? Would this be public knowledge? Everything seemed odd and unsettling.
Radley and Reed nod absently at the statement like it makes perfect sense.