I’d made sure no one touched or approached her over these last three years. Only a few people felt they could ignore my family’s unspoken clause, for their benefit, forcing me to reestablish that our Sect’s word was law.
It was a real shame too because some of those boys had potential. They’d foolishly brought suffering onto themselves.
I’d made it abundantly clear that Adelita Asmo belonged to the Alistair’s. I killed in honor of that vow without remorse. However, I was looking forward to the day none of that would be necessary. Disposing of bodies and keeping a disappearance widely unspoken of took a great deal of effort.
Things were going to be different on the Isle. There’d be a system in place to educate on a more rewarding way of life. Seeds would soon be sown, and Adelita was a crucial element for their growth.
Like a hunter, I’d laid a trap and offered bait, now I just needed to wait for my prey to ensnare herself within my cage.
CHAPTER FOUR
I rotated the business card between my fingers, thoughts swirling around the man who’d given it to me. This was physical proof that I hadn’t gone over the deep end and hallucinated our entire interaction. I rested my chin in one of my hands, continuing to study the card.
It was so…random.
Meeting Draven at the store to get the equivalent of a booty call voucher I was more than a little interested in, I couldn’t have predicted any of it. Naturally, I was curious too, wanting answers to a dozen different questions.
Two solid rasps on the back door had me standing straight and quickly slipping the card into the side pocket of my purse. I swept my eyes over the kitchen counter and dining table as I went to see who was there.
Everything was set up perfectly, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that I’d forgotten something. I peeled back the apple-themed valance that covered the door’s window and peered out at Jessica and Kyle.
Jess waved at me through the cracked glass, a wide smile on her face. I mimicked her expression and opened the door so they could come in.
“I didn’t see Troy’s piece of shit in the driveway, so I take it they aren’t here yet,” Kyle remarked as he slid by me.
“No, but they should be soon.”
“You did a good job setting up,” Jess remarked, her hazel eyes surveying the room.
“Thanks.”
“I don’t think interventions usually have snacks,” Kyle added, going to help himself to the bowl of tortilla chips.
If you were to look at him as a stranger, you’d never guess he came from old money. He’d been hooked on tats since our senior year. He now had so many they all sort of ran together. They meshed well with his rugged man-bun look.
Jess on the other hand was a pure diva on the surface, but beneath all her glam was a fierce woman with a heart of gold. I think that’s what made me gravitate towards their open-armed friendship when we first met. They were all-around good people.
“I don’t care, this is my intervention so I can do what I want. Besides, these are more for me than them. You know I’m a nervous eater.”
Jessica grabbed a handful of chips for herself and leaned against the counter.
Brows the same shade as her gorgeous kinky black curls furrowed in confusion. “What do you have to be nervous about?”
“Yeah, you don’t need to worry when it comes to that little chicken shit, we’re both here for you,” Kyle reassured.
I smiled tightly. That’s precisely what had me partially concerned, a full-blown brawl breaking out. They knew that Troy wasn’t only an idiot, he was also prone to throwing tantrums like a petulant child too used to getting his way. Thus far I’d never been on the receiving end of one, that could very well change today.
I loved my friends dearly, and they loved me too, enough so that I knew they’d have no problems coming to blows in my defense.
Re-checking my phone for the fourth time, I frowned when I saw that only five minutes had passed since my sister text she would be here soon.
Needing a temporary subject change I blurted out the one thing I couldn’t get off my mind since it happened.
“I saw Draven Alistair today when I went to the store.”
Jessica perked up immediately. “Filthy rich my baby-dad, Draven?"
“I thought I was your baby-daddy, Jess.”
“Kyle, you wish.” She waved him off. “Anyways, did he say anything?”
“Kind of,” I replied, leaving out his concern for my wellbeing and the admission he’d made.
“What do you mean kind of? Was he alone?”
“I’m not sure, but he had like a million pounds of meat in his cart. I guess the church is expanding.”
“Expanding? Isn’t it already big as shit?”
“I think more people are opting in to join.”