Valor

Chapter 19

When my eyes crack open next, it takes me no time at all to realize that the warm body that was there when I fell asleep is no longer present. Normally, something so trivial wouldn't upset me, but for some reason I feel more alone now.

I've always been alone–it shouldn't be a bad feeling or one that I dislike, but this time it is. I didn't realize how nice it was to have someone who was just there, until they were gone.

I vaguely remember Dame unwrapping his arms from me and slipping out of the room, but I guess I was more tired than I thought.

As I sit up and stretch my arms above my head, I hiss as a sharp pain shoots from my side up to my armpit. I lift my shirt, inspecting the cut from the gala, noticing it is stitched way better than one of the brother's could have done. Did they take me to a doctor? That sends a fresh wave of panic through my bones.

Marco has half the city on his payroll there is no chance in hell that if it was a doctor who stitched me up, they didn't see the branding. To anyone else, the collection of scars doesn't look like much, but to those who know Marco, those scars are a tag denoting his possession.

No matter how far I run I will always be his possession.

Could he know where I am right now?

That thought sends me into a spiral. If Marco knows where I am that means he knows who the Valor brothers are and that they helped me. I know Maverick already has a bounty on his head, but the others have been safe up until this point. If Marco knows of their association with me, they are all as good as dead.

I might not have a 'good' relationship with them, but I don't want them dead. Regardless to what I've heard, they are good men–or at least as good as one can be in this line of work.

I get out of bed, throwing on the white t shirt that I was wearing before. It doesn't smell wild like Kai or homey like Dame which makes me wonder if it's Maverick or Onyx's. Why would one of them give me their shirt?

I shake my head, knowing that it means nothing. I tug on a pair of boxers from the closet and make my way down the hall towards a string of voices.

It definitely sounds like more than four people, which worries me a little. It doesn't sound confrontational, but it doesn't stop the worry from racking my body. The Valor brothers forced my trust out of me when they got involved in my home life. I never wanted people being involved in both Lilah and Ghost's life, but now that they are, it has only convinced me more that I can't let anyone else get close.

I slowly lower myself down onto one of the top stairs, listening to the voices from right below as they go back and forth.

"Enough! This isn't a democracy!"

I recognize the voice as Maverick's and I shouldn't be surprised by his commanding tone. I also sure as hell shouldn't be turned on, but here I am.

"The plan stands for taking Brands out at his warehouse this Saturday." Maverick's voice rings out.

Before I have a chance to connect my brain to my feet, I am jumping down the stairs until all eyes in the room turn towards me, all with a confused look in their eyes.

I definitely was not expecting to see 20 men sitting around the Valor brother's living room, and if I wasn't so shocked by this revelation, I would probably be embarrassed by the fact that I'm wearing their clothes, and smelling like Dame's cum.

It's a weird look for sure.

"You can't go after Brands this Saturday." I say matter of factly, my eyes finding their way to Maverick's. His glare is intense; more intense than any other stareoff we have ever had.