Page 32 of Falling for A Lie
Feminine laughter from the front of the gym catches my attention before the door shuts, and I'm caught off guard by the beautiful woman wearing a mask to conceal her identity. Who is this woman? Her laugh seems familiar, like a childhoodmemory you can almost grasp at but can't quite remember the time it took place.
I go to step from the entrance of the showers when another sight makes me stop in my tracks – two men join her on either side like guard dogs, ready to rip anyone’s throat out at their master’s command. The one to her left looks like a lumberjack dressed in gym shorts and a black tank top that shows off his exquisite physique. While he is doing a sweep of the perimeter of the gym searching for a threat, our eyes meet for a brief second. He leans into the vixen beside him and whispers in her ear, making her body tense and the laughter cease. The one on her right looks around like a hunter, looking for the offending object that caused the swift mood change so he can destroy it swiftly and without remorse.
Before the mysterious man's eyes connect with mine, Henderson steps forward and extends his hand to the group, shaking hands with them and blocking my view of the woman and the man to her left, neither of whom seem to notice my presence. Once our eyes meet, he simply shakes his head 'no' at me, as if he can sense that I am contemplating introducing myself. I let out a frustrated huff, turn on my heels, and make a show of slamming the bathroom door behind me.
Walking into the dimly lit stalls, I opt to use the shower at the end of the room to clean off and I hear the door of the bathroom open just as I step into the cold water stark naked. As I am lathering up my skin, the light sound of heeled bootsclack on the tiled floor heading in my direction. The noise abruptly stops, catching my attention as I wash the suds from my body, watching it swirl with blood down the drain. Lathering up the shampoo into my hair, I wait to see what will happen next with the visitor. Their soft breathing mixing with mine, and the shower running, are the only sounds in the room.
“Who's there?” I holler out but no answer comes, only a slight pause before the stall and then the footsteps retreating. I'm halfway rinsing the shampoo from my hair, trying to avoid it getting into my eyes and my heart is beating like a war drum in my ears.
I nearly stumble over my exposed self as I attempt to catch a glimpse of the stranger who has intruded on my private time, interrupting the intense session I had planned to relieve the frustration built up after training and my confrontation with that fucking infuriating man who seems to have been sent by the same gods that sent me Soren fucking Flint to torment my every waking moment. With a towel haphazardly slung around my hips, I burst into the now nearly empty gym through the bathroom door.
Henderson is packing up the gloves and wiping down the mats in the corner when he looks up, confused by my sudden outburst while I am nearly naked.
“What are you doing in your birthday suit, my boy?” His voice was soft, laced with a hint of amusement.
“Did you see who was in the bathroom with me?” I ask, propping my hand on my hip and looking at him as the cold air tickles my bare chest, causing my nipples to harden from the chill.
“Before the Nightingale left, she asked to use the bathroom. I didn't think you would mind the poor woman needing to relieve herself, and I warned her beforehand that you had headed that way for a shower. She assured me it wasn't an issue and that she'd be quick enough for you not even to notice she was there.” He says with a slight shrug of his shoulders as he continues his meticulous work of cleaning the mats, ensuring they are spotless enough to eat off of.
“Yeah, I just heard footsteps, and they left before I could see who it was. Where is the Nightingale, anyway? She just got here; I would think she’d still be here training for her fight.”I question the unease seeping into my words as I look to Henderson for an answer.
He sighs, exasperated by the conversation, as he rolls his eyes toward me. “The lady wasn't feeling well, so she said she would have to miss our training today, but she’ll be back on Friday before the fight to freshen up before entering the ring.”
“What a shame; I was hoping to catch a glimpse of the famous true-born killer you were ranting about hopefully, this doesn't cause an issue for her.” With that, I turn on my heels and enter the bathroom to get dressed so I can leave this gym and find something to get myself into to relieve this stressthat's ebbing at my nerves. A folded note addressed to ‘Rad’ catches my attention as I reach my clothes. It sits perfectly on top. I slowly slide it open, and my breath catches in my lungs to its content
I fold the letter and quickly dress, keeping it balled in my fist as I grab my belongings and head out of the bathroom. I reach my car, toss my gym bag into the backseat, and climb into the front seat, shutting the door behind me. I press the push-to-start button, and the engine hums to life. Shifting into gear, I put the car in reverse and leave the parking lot, heading back home.The letter and summons replay in my mind as I answer the one question that seems to plague me: What could she want with us? Is this a trap? Should I tell my brothers now or wait until the day arrives? I speed through rush-hour traffic, returning to our home on the other side of town. The engine's hum is the only sound that breaks the silence as I contemplate my options regarding the problem at hand. When I reach the gated entrance, I press the remote that controls its opening and closing mechanism. It slowly creaks open, granting me access to our home. Taking the twists and turns a bit sharper than I should, I race toward the comfort of the safe space we have created. Reed and Caden's vehicles are parked outside, which is a reassuring sign that I won't be alone. I pull into the only available spot, gripping the steering wheel as I attempt to manage the anxiety creeping up my spine like an unwelcome touch. Nausea churns in my stomach, leaving a bitter taste on my tongue. What have we done to attract the attention of The Valkyrie?
I sigh at defeat creeping into my mind and slowly slide out of the front seat. I slam my car door shut and make my way inside;. The smell of steak and chicken with cumin and other seasonings I can't seem to pinpoint has my stomach growling as I follow it to where the guys are sitting all around the kitchen island. Food is already served, and a plate is wrapped, waiting for my arrival.
“Hey Rad, what’s got you looking like you’ve seen a ghost? Caden looks at me, his pupils dilated, draining all color from his face and revealing his current state.
“Um, well.” My words seem to escape me as I slide onto the stool beside Reed, and everyone's attention is now focused on me. “Damn it. We have been summoned to meet the leader of the Valkyrie,” I say hurriedly, my hands clenched in my lap as I absorb their shocked and surprised expressions.
“What the fuck do you mean?” Caden exclaims, slamming his hands onto the counter as he pushes back from where we are seated. A wild look crosses his beautiful yet weary features, reminiscent of an animal cornered at this moment.
“When did you see the leader?” Creed asks me, his curiosity evident.
Followed by my brother, who waves his hand for the others to sit down and relax, his soft voice breaks through the now stunned kitchen. “When?” Drake's one-word reply reveals nothing of what he is truly thinking at this moment; his face is the perfect mask of nonchalance, as if this isn't a fuckingterrifying issue at hand. I've heard stories of The Valkyrie, but I never thought our paths would cross. Yet, within a day, I've seen her and her henchmen from a distance and have now been summoned. Go me!
“After my fight, she will be fighting before me as well. At least we will have a chance to see what we are up against.” I shrug, recalling what else I’ve heard about this mysterious woman. “Henderson says she’s a born killer, that her bloodlust runs deep, beyond the surface.”
“Well, guys, it seems she’s not leaving us with much of a choice. It looks like we’ll be coming face to face with this so-called Nightingale. We better make sure we’re prepared for that night,” Creed says, a slight smirk gracing his lips, as if he’s hiding a secret we are only just beginning to uncover.
“I'll see if I can find anything through my contacts on the dark web." Drake says softly, pushing my food back in front of me.
“On another note, are we going to address the other news we received today?” Caden adds from the corner where he still seems ready to bolt, his eyes darting between Reed and Drake, waiting for permission to share whatever else I might be missing.
“The Lords received parts of a fellow member today. The remains that were sent in were forwarded to our contacts at the FBI for identification. It was later revealed that the victim was Ben. Someone had dismembered him and sent the pieces toThe Lords, with the exception of his penis, which was sent to The Ladies along with a note stapled to its decaying flesh that read, ‘We are coming." My appetite has vanished at the thought of a rotting penis with a staple through it; the stench must have been absolutely horrific.
“Are we going to ignore the elephant in the room? We know who the sick fucks are that got a hold of poor Ben.” My eyes follow Drake's movements as he slides open his laptop and begins typing, completely absorbed in his work and not giving me the time of day.
“It is blissful ignorance, but I must add that if he found Ben under the Lord's protection, it is only a matter of time before he discovers Soren and the girls under the Ladies’ care.” I say bitterly; the thought of that sick bastard doing anything to any of them makes me feel physically ill.
“He will be dead before he even gets a chance,” Caden says through gritted teeth.
“How do you expect to stop him when you're high all the time, Caden? Huh? You're nothing but a worthless fucking junkie these days. You couldn't protect yourself, let alone Soren and her sisters.” Reed rounds the corner of the island, his eyes wild and a sinister snarl on his lips as he confronts Caden.
“Watch your fucking mouth there pretty boy. You don't know a thing.” Caden's anger causes his face to flush an ugly shade of red, like a bomb ready to explode.