by Janie Marie
Maura sucked in a deep breath. “He’s right. Melody always talked about Janie getting pregnant or lying about being pregnant.”
“Well, it’s not true.” Kylie hugged Maura, realizing when she did that the remaining Godson brothers were behind her. “About either of you.”
“Sorry we’re late,” Archer said, still tugging a shirt on. “Savaş had to take a shit.”
A loud laugh slipped out with a sob from Maura, and she took the tissue Tercero handed her before he also walked away.
“I didn’t shit.” Savaş grabbed Maura’s hand and tugged her toward the gym.
Archer stayed with Kylie, though, and they watched them leave.
“He doesn’t like her, if that’s what you’re worried about,” Archer said. “She just reminds him of someone, and he feels protective of her.”
“Who?”
“Just another little brunette with a mom who struggled to be the mom she wanted to be. Just a dream.” He inclined his head in their direction. “Come on. They’re doing flag football today.”
“Why would I hurry to take part in that?” she asked, following him.
“Because Ryder lets us break the rules.” He winked, then flexed. “Don’t act like you’re not dying to see us rough up those pricks.”
She laughed. “Yeah, I think the football team is dreading you guys taking this class.”
“Hell yeah, they are.” He rubbed his hands together as they entered the gym. Everyone was sitting in their assigned spots. Everyone but Ryder and Savaş. They were with Janie and Maura. Thankfully, Savaş didn’t have Maura on his lap like Ryder did with Janie. He was acting normal, sitting next to her and talking.
Kylie took her spot, surprised to have Archer motion for the guy next to her to move.
“Godson,” Coach Wolf yelled. “Get to your own spot.”
Archer flipped him off and sat in the vacated spot.
Coach Wolf opened his mouth to no doubt shout again, but he shut it as soon as he caught sight of Ryder and Savaş. Then he stomped to the front. “Everyone, stand for warm-ups.”
The Godsons did jumping jacks, arm-circles, and body twists, and it was too hilarious. The whole thing had her and Maura smiling. Only, her happiness faltered when Coach Wolf turned his back on them, and Ryder snagged Janie’s waist before pulling her under him for his push-ups. He kissed Janie in the same way Logan had done with her that day she propositioned him to start a fake relationship.
She turned her head, fighting the emotions rising. Logan made her feel so many wonderful things last night, but she had to take Sin’s advice and focus on what was important. How was she going to get over him when everything reminded her of her man-boy?
Maura whined. “I’m still sore from yesterday.”
“That doesn’t mean the war gets put on pause today.” Savaş did a one-handed push-up, grinning at Maura when she shakily did another and another.
Kylie felt her throat closing, but it was worth it to see Maura smile and push through the pain from yesterday’s workout.
“Ryder,” Coach Wolf shouted. “Enough!”
It was impossible not to turn to see Ryder’s reaction, and he didn’t disappoint any Ryder lovers when he lowered himself in a one-handed pushup to kiss Janie while holding up his middle finger to their coach.
“I said enough.” Coach blew his whistle, but he didn’t say more to Ryder. Instead, he took out his frustration on the football team. “Get your lazy butts up and pass out smocks and flags.”
“We’re not doing shirts versus skins?” Archer asked, laughing when the girls begged for that option.
“Shut up, Archer,” The coach was going to blow the vein in his neck if he didn’t calm down.
Archer brushed off the girls clinging to him and held out a hand for Kylie. “Come on, Red.”
She registered the violent glares from every girl he’d dismissed, but she took his hand. “You’re not helping the rumors.”
He winked, throwing an arm over her shoulder. “Aw, you don’t want rumors about us floating around? I’m the funniest of my brothers. Some might say the sexiest.”
“Who is this Some person?” Ryder snickered, passing him. “Clearly, they haven’t seen me or Tercero.”
Janie tugged on Ryder’s arm. “Babe, you totally called Tercero sexy.”
“You say we look alike, so of course he’s sexy.” Ryder smacked her butt, laughing.
Tercero smirked as they got closer. “I’m flattered, brother.”
“I know you are. Now stop making my girl blush, or I’m busting your lip like I did Archer’s.” Ryder hoisted Janie up as he jogged toward the doors.
Archer chuckled and touched his lip. “It was worth it,” he told Tercero who shook his head and muttered something in Italian. “Don’t act like you haven’t slipped in a squeeze.”
Tercero punched Archer in the shoulder and followed the path the others were taking.
Archer grinned at Kylie. “Yeah, he totally felt her ass. I’m jealous. I only got to watch Ryder squeeze it.”
“I can’t believe you watched them!” Kylie started after the group heading outside.
He caught up with her. “You know she and Logan are over, right?”
Kylie whirled around to face him. “What?”
He gave her a soft smile. “Last night, hours after that tasty fuck session, Janie, Logan, and Ryder made peace with their past. They said goodbye to their babies.”
“Last night?” Her eyes widened.
He nodded. “It was after you’d gone up. Janie talked to Logan for a while, and she asked me, Tercero, and Savaş to help honor them. Ryder fights for her—so we fought him as he protected her while she danced, and Logan gave her the gift of drawing the girl he loved dancing for their child, and hers and Ryder’s, and he honored her warrior who tried to save them all—Ryder.”
“Why are you telling me this?” Her heart wept for them.
“Because you’re trying to cut Logan out of your life instead of realizing there’s more than just fucking him.” He tapped her nose. “Just be patient.”
She shook her head. “Sin told me to focus on myself.”
He gave her a tight smile. “You can still build a relationship with him. It doesn’t have to be romantic until you’re ready. Or ever.”
Kylie opened her mouth to say something, but several screams at the field had her freezing.
“Shit.” Archer grabbed her hand and ran forward with her; Savaş was doing the same with Maura.
“Kylie.” Maura reached for her, and the boys let them hold hands as they ran.
“Get everyone inside,” Ryder shouted, holding Janie as she fought to break free.
“No.” Janie’s scream was heartbreaking. “You bastard!”
Kylie stumbled to a stop, covering her mouth as she watched Janie try to get to the bloody wolf hanging on the gate. It had a red hood on with a piece of paper in its mouth.
“Let me go,” Janie shouted as Ryder held her back.
Tercero was the one closest to the wolf, and everyone screamed when it jerked and let out a pitiful howl.
Now Ryder let her go, but he was there with the other boys. Mr. Prince rushed past them, hugging Janie as she tried to touch it.
“Not Hero,” Janie wailed.
Ryder looked torn as he inspected the injuries. Maura was sobbing. So were nearly all the girls.
“Ah, fuck.” Ryder shook his head as the poor wolf kept crying out.
“Babe, please,” Janie cried, still in Mr. Prince’s arms. “Not Hero. Please don’t.”
He stared into the wolf’s eyes, and the animal quieted. He nodded to it, then lifted his sleeve, revealing he had a knife strapped to his bicep. Janie cried for him to stop, but he only cast her a soft look as he said, “You know what I have to do. Close your eyes, angel.”
Kylie breathed faster and clutched Maura’s arm. Archer rushed back to her as Savaş returned to Maura.
“Don’t look.” Archer spun her around.
<
br /> “No,” Kylie cried the same time every girl did.
Archer covered her eyes as the wolf let out a sad howl. Then silence.
Several cars screeched to a stop. Kylie screamed, hysterical, when armed men came running by. Ryder cussed all of them out as Tercero removed the wolf’s body. It had been gutted and its legs looked as though they’d been burned.
“How the fuck does no one see this?” Ryder roared, jabbing a bloody finger in Mr. Prince’s face. “Get everyone up. Now. The mansion needs to be searched. Have them check the other wolves and the stables. I want everyone accounted for.”
“That was Janie’s wolf,” Archer whispered in Kylie’s ear.
Kylie didn’t know how Janie could own a wolf, but it was irrelevant as she watched the girl fall to her knees and Tercero gently lay the wolf in her lap. She cried, petting its head as though it were only asleep.
Ryder kept yelling at Mr. Prince and the men in black—Wolves—until he turned and saw Tercero holding Janie as she threw back her head and screamed. Howls met her screams in the distance, sending up every hair on the back of her neck.
Kylie shoved Archer away as she pulled Maura toward Janie and the wolf. It had amber and white-colored fur. Kylie never had a pet before, but she always wanted a husky. She couldn’t imagine finding a pet tortured this way. “Janie, it’s going to be okay,” she whispered, pushing Janie’s hair from her face. Sorrow shone through her eyes as they changed from gold to dim olive, all of the glow gone. It sent a crushing feeling through Kylie’s chest, and she wanted to fix everything for the girl. “We’ll get them for this.”
Ryder came closer and motioned for Kylie to move. He sat, pulling Janie and the wolf onto his lap. “I’m sorry, my love.”
Kylie hugged Maura, but caught Mr. Prince reading the piece of crumpled paper that had been in the wolf’s mouth.
When he noticed Kylie watching, he folded it and put it in his pocket.
But she’d seen what was written:
Your wolves or the Little Hoods
You choose
-The Big Bad Wolf
✦✦✦
“I’m not giving either of you a gun or a knife,” Ryder said, opening a cabinet that held various items. Some looked like weapons.
Kylie sighed, sitting at the bench next to Maura. They were in the home gym again. After Ryder had put the wolf out of its misery, an army of men dressed in black showed up. Three guards who’d been assigned the school grounds were missing and presumed dead or captured. The entire school went on lockdown and police were assisting with getting students checked out to their parents.
Thankfully, they were told Lorelei was safe with Lance, and the Knights were already at the mansion. It wasn’t long before they returned to the mansion, too. Everything was going to hell. Than had informed Ryder about various calls coming in about dogs being killed—all breeds resembling wolves. None were the actual wolves that belonged to the Wolves, but it was clear Kevin and Trevor were making their move, and the goal was to unhinge Janie. They probably wanted to push her to the point she’d either go to them herself, or offer up Kylie and Maura.
“Don’t take this as an insult,” Ryder said, gaining Kylie’s attention, “but I still don’t trust either of you to be with a deadly weapon with yourselves or others.”
“How are we supposed to protect ourselves?” Kylie asked. “Not to be rude, but your guys are getting bested every time they’re put to the test.”
His dead stare slowly slid over to her. “The only men that are truly mine have been with you two. Everyone else I order around follows because they fear me, as they should. But they’re not mine.” He glanced over his shoulder, sighing.
Kylie’s own breath skittered to a stop at the sight of Logan sitting on the mat in the distance. Janie’s head rested on his lap while he ran his fingers through her hair. They were completely oblivious they were no longer alone in the gym.
“Do you want to go to her?” Maura whispered to Ryder.
“I’ll let him help her for now.” He began pulling items out of the cabinet. “Like I said, you’re not getting a gun or knife, but I’ll give you these. A taser, a pair of brass knuckles, a monkey fist.” He held up something that looked like a dog toy, then a flashlight that looked like a small bat. “And this strike flashlight. Keep it somewhere you can grab it quickly. The others, you can hide on you.”
Maura picked up the taser and held it way too close to her face.
“Be careful.” He showed Maura how to use it before he showed them both the settings on the light. “Oh, pepper spray.” He gave them each one. “On you always, all right?”
“The wolf was called Hero?” Maura asked, staring at Janie again.
“Yeah.” Ryder glanced behind him. He was tense, and he’d been yelling at everyone. It surprised Kylie he was taking this time to talk to them.
“A male?” Maura asked.
“No, it was a female. Her mate went missing months ago.” He huffed as he took in Janie and Logan again. Tercero had been there the whole time, too, guarding them, but now he was sitting there, holding her hand and talking to her. “They’ve been bred with the pack for centuries. Nick gave her Hero shortly after we got together. He told her to lock her up like the others, keep her on a leash, but Janie wouldn’t do it. The mate was wild, so she let her roam. I should’ve tracked her down when this shit started, but I thought she’d be safe on her own.”
Kylie quickly wiped away a tear before anyone saw. Her sadness wasn’t that Logan was comforting Janie, or kissing her. She was sad for the girl. She was afraid for Maura and Lorelei—for the men trying to keep them safe, for the other wolves she’d seen around the property since they’d gotten back.
She knew the note implied Maura and herself as the Little Hoods, but she also knew every girl was in danger. Janie was being asked to choose, and she wouldn’t. More people were going to get hurt, more animals. But if Kylie gave them what they wanted . . .
Ryder turned toward them again. “Tonight you’ll have three guards outside your door. Lance will be in the room with Lorelei, and I’ll probably have Archer or Savaş in with you, if you’re fine with that.”
“Ryder.” Kylie’s throat was dry, and she swallowed hard. “Are you the only one capable of stopping Kevin?”
“I’m the best, if that’s what you’re asking.” He stared at her for a few seconds before shaking his head. “I’m not leaving my baby. Not for any of you.”
“I wasn’t telling you to.”
He chuckled. “You’re thinking it. You’re thinking no one has been able to get them, they’re dying, and Janie is safe.” He breathed hard, closing his eyes as he braced his hands on the table. “It’s hard enough having to tell her I won’t go, that more fucking dogs are being killed, not to mention her men are nowhere to be found.” He opened his eyes. “You all need to think about this shit. They’re doing this to make me go after them. And what will happen then? They get you. All of you.”
Kylie looked down, not sure if he was right. But maybe it was as simple as that—giving them what they wanted. Or, at least, part of what they wanted. If it meant saving Maura, saving Lorelei—the men trying to protect them and all the animals being killed for taunting purposes.
“You can find your way to the door,” Ryder said, packing up things. “Sin will be there. Have him take you to your room. Get some rest, or whatever you do. I’ll make sure you’re informed on any changes. Until I say, though, none of you leave this house.”
Nineteen
SISTERS
Logan lifted his head when the bedroom door shut. He spotted Ryder immediately checking the closet and bathroom, so he sighed and sat up as carefully as he could without waking Janie. His poor baby doll was a wreck, and he was torn between wanting to comfort her and wanting to rush out to kill the bastards doing this to her. To actually put it on her, taunting her to choose who dies . . .
Ryder sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing his face. “I don’t know what to do.”<
br />
“Have the men been located?” Logan glanced at Janie, making sure they didn’t wake her.
“No.” Ryder began untying his shoes. “You know, in the story about Jane, about Darkness—there was more than his daughters who were her enemy. He always had two who could control her—use her power to be their own.”
Logan knew a little more about the tales that Ryder kept sacred. His baby doll’s power in the first world had been great there, but she was at Lucifer’s mercy. “You said it was Lucifer.”
He was nodding. “But there was a second. Should Morning Star fail to wield her as Darkness desired, a challenger would rise.”
“You think Kevin’s soul is the challenger,” Logan guessed.
“It makes sense.” Ryder stared ahead, his gaze hidden in the shadows. “His family followed ours to this town, claiming it because our ancestors didn’t care about such things. Kevin’s obsessed with owning this town, owning fighters—owning you. Whether or not he knew who you were, Janie sends out her light, and it touched you. She draws darkness to her, just the same way she does us. And you’re a prize, just as you were to Luc.”
Logan eased out of his spot beside Janie and turned so he was in the same position as Ryder, staring out the window. “But Luc awoke, and he stopped using her to gain power.”
“Pushing a challenger to step forward.” Ryder let out a bitter sound. “And he has both together now.”
Logan’s eyes widened. “You think he wants Janie and Kylie.”
“He’s had to have figured it out about them. Kevin’s office had documents about the legacies between our families, and he’d only started researching Janie—figuring out who she is. My guess is the universe aligned for these motherfuckers now that they’ve met.”
“Janie and Kylie, you mean?” Logan peeked at Janie, still asleep.
“It has to be why—they’re why woke Luc up. The gym that day—he saw two.” Ryder smiled, though it was a fearful smile. “Their souls were always destined to clash with each other. Now I’ve brought them under the same roof.”