by Helene Gadot
She didn't hate it.
Maddox squeezed her arm and released her. "Now, go."
She cast one last glance at them before letting Malia drag her off. They stood among the wreckage, watching her leave.
Ridley choked on regret as she turned away.
47- Ridley
Four angry men stomped through her garage doors the next morning, still covered in blood and dust.
Malia stood and took a step back. "I... I'm going to go uh... put in our orders for lunch." She fled out the side door.
Traitor. It wasn't even ten in the morning yet. They didn't need lunch.
Ridley grabbed a rag and wiped the grease from her hands, trying to act nonchalant and ignore the fluttering of her pulse. She hadn't expected them to come demanding answers quite so soon.
"How'd things go last night?"
"Really? That's what you want to talk about? How the arrest went?" Reese stared at her with angry incredulity.
It was the first time she'd seen him like this. She didn't like it. "Well, yeah. I wanted to make sure they all ended up in jail and are going to stay there."
Maddox rubbed the back of his neck. "Yes. They're in jail. Our lawyer friend is already on it. There's no way they're getting out. And no one mentioned you or Malia."
She cleared her throat, trying to push past the awkwardness. "Good. That's good."
Reese scoffed. "Now is when you explain what the fuck is going on."
She pointed at the bike at her side. "I'm working. Like I do five times a week."
Reese ran a hand through his hair, making it stand up on end. "Don't be fucking coy right now. It's not as adorable as it usually is. Explain why the fuck we get back home after the longest night ever and you and all your stuff is gone. No note. No explanation."
She tossed the rag on top of her toolbox. "We caught the bad guy. The mission's over. Back to real life."
Maddox glared at her. "So that means you disappear without a word?"
Ridley sighed and gestured to the seating area, leading them over. It didn't look like she was getting rid of them any time soon. Leaving behind their backs was a bit of a dick move, but she had been afraid if she didn't do it then, she never would.
If she waited for them to return and tried to say goodbye, they'd talk her out of it.
She waited until everyone was seated. "Coffee?"
Maddox shook his head. "No. Explain."
She wrapped her arms around her middle. "Look. I have responsibilities that I'm not willing to give up by joining your team. Which I couldn't actually do anyway. You know what would happen if I tried to join the Legion. My father would find me. It might take time, but eventually, it would happen."
Beckett frowned. "We aren't asking you to give anything up. And yeah, we know you can't be part of our team through the Legion, but you could still be a part of it. A part of us."
She closed her eyes for a moment to block out their hurt and outraged expressions. "How? Being Legion is a full-time job. I already have two of those and the pay sucks on both."
"You wouldn't have to pay rent. You'd have backup when you go after your targets. You'd save on all that eating out since Beckett always cooks. You'd have workout and training partners. You'd have a family." Maddox listed off the pros of agreeing to this madness.
And she was still so tempted.
"At least you aren't offering to pay me." She'd been terrified they would. She would never agree to that.
Beckett snorted. "We aren't complete idiots. We know you'd turn that offer down."
"Yes. I would."
"But we all have some experience with bikes, we could help out around here as well. And you've seen how our missions go. You'd have plenty of time to still work and have a life. And this mission was more involved than most." Maddox's green eyes begged her to reconsider.
"Maybe. Sometimes. But I'd eventually get caught up in your big missions and not have time for everything else. And the Legion won't let you keep helping me with abused women. That isn't their job. It's not your job either. It's my mission. And word will get out that you have a female illusionist working with you and your superiors will want answers."
"We can make it work," Maddox said. "We don't plan on staying a part of the Legion forever anyway."
She smiled sadly. "I know. You all have your own reasons for being in it. Your own missions that should have every bit of focus you can give them. You don't have time to add mine."
Reese cursed and slammed a hand on the arm of his chair. "So after working so well together, you want to just throw it away?"
She stiffened at his furious tone, hating how pissed off he was, but she wasn't going to stand there and just take it. "It was one job. That you blackmailed me into working with you. And sure, it was a success. This time. But I always said I was returning to my life once it was done. I never made you any fucking promises. And Maddox, I'm still willing to help with your brother. Anytime you need me, just let me know."
Maddox gave her a short nod. "Yeah. Sure."
This was going even worse than she thought. "This isn't goodbye. I just have to get back to my life and you guys need to do the same."
Reese leapt to his feet and left without another word. She watched him go, a lump in her throat, a burning behind her eyes.
The others stood more slowly.
Beckett brushed his hand along her arm. "Call us if you need backup."
"I will." Maybe. One day. She needed time away from them to get her head back on straight.
Beckett scoffed. "No, you won't. You never did."
She sighed. "You can do the same, you know."
Maddox narrowed his eyes on her. "We might actually take you up on it, so don't offer something you aren't going to follow through on."
"Call me if you need my help. I mean it." She did mean it.
Maddox nodded. "All right. Take care, Ridley. It was good working with you."
"You too."
The last three strode through the door, not one of them looking back at her. Cormac never spoke a word.
She was still there, staring at the door when Malia returned.
"You all right?"
Ridley shook herself, trying to snap out of her funk. "Yep. I'm fine."
"Liar."
"I did what I had to do. What was best for all of us." But after seeing their reactions, she wasn't so certain anymore.
"As long as you're sure."
"I am." She would be. Eventually.
Malia patted Ridley's back. "Good. Let's get back to work."
Yes. Work. Once she was elbow deep in an engine, everything would seem much simpler. And the slivers of pain radiating in her chest would disappear.
Everything was fine. Back to normal. Just the way she wanted it.
Thank you for reading, and I hoped you enjoyed this new reverse harem series. If you did, I would really appreciate it if you left an honest review on Amazon. It helps so much.
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About the Author
An expert in parkour, Helene Gadot moonlights as a Nail Polish Namer and occasional ghostwriter. She lives with her husband and trio of rugrats in the South. Helene has a serious coffee mug and throw pillow addiction, and when she isn't reading or writing, she's probably shopping online.
Books by Helene Gadot:
Kindred Souls Series:
HER ASSASSINS
Her Prince
Her Dragon
Her Kindreds - coming soon
ACES AND KNAVES SERIES:
Crash
Boom – coming soon
DREAMS AND MAGIC SERIES:
Wicked Fae - coming August 2018
GADOT ALSO WRITES URBAN Fantasy and Fairy Tale Retellings as Harley Gordon.
The first in a new reverse harem fantasy series coming in August. Preorder now.
Vivid dreams have always
plagued Ginevra, and they always star the same five people. She spent her childhood in and out of therapy until she learned to hide them.
But lately, the dreams begin to bleed into her waking hours - coming upon her with no warning, calling to her, teasing her. They tell her she chose them.
They tell her they're Fae and they need her.
They tell her they're coming for her.