Page 29 of Falling for A Lie
Before I can catch myself, I'm moving forward. fist bawled at my sides, ready to fuck up whoever was in there with the girl of my dreams. How fucking dare she have another man around her when we have been fucking suffering.
I hear footsteps stomping down the path from the front door to where I am; I realize my error right before Scarlett and Josephine spot me. Their muffled conversation reaches my ears from the bush I've taken to hiding in like a fucking creep.
The flash of Janet on her back on the hood of my car flits through my vision as I realize how much of a hypocrite I'm being. But fuck that, it was a quick, meaningless fuck to get this girl out of my system. The girl that's been here right under our noses for how long?
Josephine's nasally voice reaches my ears as she hisses to Scarlett, “I feel like we made a mistake giving that bitch more power than anyone else in our ranks; how can we control that girl when she refuses to listen?” She huffs, waiting for Scarlett's reply.
I'm left dumbfounded as they pull away, passing my concealed vehicle hidden from view in a perfect break in the treeline.
I hold my breath, waiting another ten minutes. Everything replays like a movie reel, and new questions circle through asI try to grasp them. The only thing I know for sure is that I will keep this to myself. My brothers cannot know about our new neighbors until I have the answers that assure me we aren't in harm's way.
As the front porch light is turned off, shrouding me in the darkness of the night, I wait with baited breath. A dog barking from inside catches my attention, but that's the only thing I can hear over the crickets chirping in the distance. I decided to make my exit and not alert Soren that I knew she was there. I sneak back to my car and slowly make my way home.
Scarlett glances at Josephine and rolls her gray eyes. “That girl is a born leader. She has built something remarkable from the scraps we provided her, and she accomplished it in less time than it took us to conceive the idea of The Valkyrie. We understood the hand we were dealt when we decided to offer her the position. The fact that she transformed it into something that is both feared and out of reach of The Lords is impressive. If you would stop picking fights with her at every opportunity because you’re afraid she could take your place as my second-in-command, you would realize what I’m saying is true. Leave her alone. She’s right; she’s not my soldier; she’s my equal in her own right.” Grabbing the handle of her car, Scarlett flings open the door, causing the hinges to grind in protest from the force.
“Figure your issues out, Josephine, because if you don’t give her the respect she demands, I won’t intervene if shedecides to stab you. I need a united front, and you’re making that impossible with these empty threats you won’t follow through on.” Scarlett sighed as she settled into the driver’s seat, waiting for Josephine to enter the passenger seat.
“We need her, so grow up and get in so we can go home.” The windows rattle as Josephine slams the passenger door after climbing into the car.
The image of Soren. The conversations took place, and the male's voice flashed through my mind, making my heart and stomach ache. I pulled back into the garage at home and went to my room, away from everyone, so I could hide such a big secret from my brothers.
Chapter twenty-one
Soren
One Month After Joining The Valkyrie
Five Months Since My Whole Life Changed…
“Nice to see you home, Little Mama.” Miles' deep voice greets me as soon as I step into my front door.
“What are you guys doing standing in the hallway like creepers?” I tilt my head, taking in the scene before me. A smile making its way to my face at Miles' tall slender figurestanding in my entrance to my new home with my sisters and Finn flanking them, like a knight ready to take arms to defend my honor.
“We heard others with you, and curiosity had us snooping to see what was taking you so long to come inside.” Lena and Carla say in unison like a trained circus act and not the usual twin thing I've come accustomed to since they've gotten older.
“Oh, so you're snooping on your leader. Very naughty.” I laugh, ‘tsking’ with a slight wiggle of my finger at them like scolded children. Causing both males and my sisters to look at me like I've truly lost it.
“Come on, Queenie, you know we worry about you. Especially when that bitch is around.” Finn's Irish accent tickles my brain in all the right ways, sending shivers up my spine as he steps up to me with that wicked smile, like he knows its effect on me, “Let me help with that.” Before I can protest, he has his hands on my shoulders, helping me slide the leather jacket down my arms until I'm released from its warmth.
“Josie is just a pussycat that thinks someone is trying to take her owner away, all bark and no bite,” I say reassuringly as I reach my hand out to Finn so I can take my jacket he now has a hold of. But he doesn't pay me any attention as he hangs it up himself, letting his arm brush my exposed flesh in practiced precision.
“Yes, a pussycat that is currently eating our other bosses' pussy.” Carla mumbles groggily, cutting her dark hazel eyes in my direction.
“Ew, that's disgusting. But you're right she is. So she wouldn't want to fuck that up by fucking with Scar's favorite little puppet.” My voice is broken by a yawn.
“Yes, but she's Jace’s sister, so she's probably not the brightest crayon in the box,” Lena adds nonchalantly, stretching out her long arms as she eyes me with concern.
“Jace isn't going to find us, babe; we aren't the same women we were when we left Hazelton. We have trained killers amongst our ranks, and two of them live in this house with us for added protection.” My eyes swing to the two in question as they watch us go back and forth with amusement written across their handsome faces.
“Yes, we will end the stupid bastard before he even has a chance to touch his dirty boots onto our property. Nothing goes unnoticed with us around, Little Mama. You girls will be safe. That's a promise.” Miles says self-assuredly, not leaving room for argument from any of us.
“We are one, and that's how we will remain. We don't allow errors to be made, and we are The Valkyrie. We have thirty others under our thumb with the same mindset. You are our leader, Queenie. Wherever you go, we will follow. Wherever you need us, we will be there. That's the oath we took when you took the chance to swear us in. Two broken orphans thathave been forced to work and prove their worth to their employer and not have a moment to actually live. You saved us from Scarlett. You saw potential, and for that, we owe you three our lives,” Finn declares, with their hand pressed to his chest like he's pledging each word all over again, with every fiber of his soul being offered at my feet.
“I'd do it all over again,” I say softly with a smile at the two men before me. I'd swear them in as the only two men in my ranks that I'd allow so close to my sisters. I have thirty-four soldiers who look to me to lead them to victory, each with their own reason for a better life and the protection this role offers them. I treat them with respect and dignity, and I never ask them to do something I wouldn't. In return, they give me their undying loyalty and the feeling of safety I've been missing since I left the four guys that sometimes occupy my mind.
“I'm going to see my boys, and I'll be heading to bed shortly. I love you guys, and get some rest. We have a fight we have to attend next week, undercover for The Ladies of Ash. I have to fight someone they suspect that's selling information to The Lords and if that's the case, The Valkyrie will be needed to interrogate and then execute them.” I let the words hang between us before I sidestep the others and make my way deeper into the house.
The excited sound of paws and claws slapping against the floor echoes as I enter the kitchen, where Draco and Sirius are waiting impatiently to be fed. As soon as I step fully into theroom, Draco's head snaps in my direction while I walk to the other side of the kitchen. Their tails wag with quick swishes as they make small circles around the cupboard where their bowls are located.