Hanging Pawns (The Fate Series Book 2) (5 page)

“Law.” I give a bright smile and move from where I was crouching.

“
Oh
…” Molly breathes, “never mind about staying away from them then, you might have the same classes.” She frowns, patting my shoulder.

I am starting to think that would be my luck. 

“Not true… she might luck out. Don’t scare the poor girl, Mol.” Morgan smacks Molly in the shoulder.

Instead of worrying over the boys, I credit myself for remembering the girls’ names now that they aren’t still standing in their originals spots. Thank goodness!

“I have to say, it’s really unusual that you both look alike and are twins, and you live next door to identical triplets.” I try to change the subject.

“Yeah… about that,” Molly says, sitting on the couch.

She takes this opportunity to explain how they have been each other’s “nemeses” since they were kids and that each of them had laid claim to the house before they knew about the other. After signing legal documents that state neither side will attempt to get the other evicted, they all managed to agree to the terms of keeping all extracurricular activities off home base… whatever that all means.

“So because of that, we will help you move your stuff when the sun goes down, that way they don’t see you,” Morgan says, changing the subject as she walks into the living room from the kitchen holding three glasses of wine.

Oh… 

They’re over twenty-one… and I’ve never drank before.

“I guessed by the look on your face when you told the story about the girl in the dorm that you’re twenty one,” Morgan says, holding one of the glasses out to me.

With a hesitant laugh, I nod.

“Good, good! We have a tradition in our family; you must toast the first drink of the night or when inspiration hits you.” Molly claps, taking two glasses from Morgan and hands me one. “So let’s toast! To the three M’s, may we overcome everything that comes our way!” Morgan holds her glass out. I think over that statement for a moment. These two have most likely never had anything hard to overcome, but the sentiment is sweet. Giving my best smile, I raise my glass to clink it against theirs and offer my here, here.

After a tour of the house and two glasses of wine, which I think is more like four since their glasses are big enough to fit half a bottle of wine in them, we check outside to make sure it’s clear. I try to mask the fact that the wine has hit me so hard and stand up straight.

Morgan looks at me for a second, “Ready?” she asks.

I give a slow nod, and Molly laughs. “Oh dear, this is going to be fun.”

“Note to self, Mea drinks after a mission in the future,” Morgan sighs, turning off the porch light to conceal us. We tiptoe our way across the porch and down the steps toward my car.

“This is your car?” Molly stands at the side looking it over.

The light from the street lamp behind her barely shows the expression on her face, but I can imagine it’s just like everyone else’s.

“Yeah, she’s all mine.” I smile big.

I don’t care if others don’t like it, I saved every dime I was ever given for this car.

“I saw it parked out here, I didn’t think it belonged to one of us though,” she gasps.

Here we go.

“Oh, yeah I noticed you all have new cars.” My gaze drops.

“Meh, they’re shit. This is my dream car.” She walks to the front to lay on the hood.

Excuse me?

“It’s all rusty…” I walk around to meet her.

“Rusty, smusty,” she hums. “A sixty-nine Ford Thunderbird is a classic, rusty or not.” She rolls on her back looking at the sky.

The corner of my mouth curls up. She gets it.

“Our dad had one like this when he was young. He always reminisces about that car,” Morgan explains. “Molly gets swept up in the romance of our parents all the time, don’t mind her. She’ll stop soon.”

I completely understand though. When I was small my dad used to talk about the one he had when he met my mom. The way he told the story always made me want one, so I know what she’s feeling.

I walk around to the trunk, twisting the key to pop it open.

“This is it? This is all the stuff you have?” Morgan moves the bags of stuff around. “You should have seen ours! We had to rent a U-Haul to get everything,” she says, lifting the bags out of my trunk.

“I wasn’t furnishing a whole house. I was just bringing what I need.” I give a pout, as I glance over the now insignificant amount of things.

Should I have brought more?

“It’s okay, we can just go shopping for anything else. For right now we have to get this stuff in before they see us,” Molly says joining us with a rushed whispered tone.

Shopping…?

I’ll pass on that.

“I thought they can’t do anything once you’re on home base?” I question them.

“
Well
… That would be true. But this morning when they were moving in… we kind of hopped the porch and locked them out so we could steal the cookies their mother sent with them. So… if they see that our door is open they will be more than happy to come over and steal something of equal value back… if not something worse.” The low light of the streetlight illuminates her face squishing up at the thought of it.

Equal value? They’re cookies… unless cookies is code for something… I stand here silently weighing this battle in my mind and that’s when I start to realize just how childish they all are. My mother’s head would be spinning if she knew these kinds of shenanigans were going on.

“Hey ladies,” I hear Josh say as he walks over to us.

Covering their mouths, the girls muffle their screams.

“You jackass! Who else knows we’re out here?” Morgan asks, punching him in the arm.

He grabs it, faking injury.

“Just me. I knew you wouldn’t let her come over to get me, so I had to keep an eye out. I see those boxing classes are going well, but you’re still a little weak with your left arm,” he laughs at her.

“Would you like to get hit with my right?” Morgan’s voice drops an octave. 

“You take boxing classes?” I look at her with a newfound sense of amazement.

“Yeah, we have to…” Morgan moans.

“Our parents said we are young girls who like nice things and we should always be prepared.” Molly shrugs. “I say that’s what Mace is for… they say no.”

“That… is… awesome!” I smile, even though I’m not sure they can see it.

My mother would never approve of women doing something so inhumane. 

“Yeah, you should join us! It never hurts to know how to kick someone’s ass,” Morgan says, lifting a bag from the trunk.

“Especially when you live next to those three.” Molly turns her body to look up at the porch that is still shrouded in darkness.

“I might just take you up on that,” I mumble, following her gaze.

Actually, I am totally taking her up on that. I said this was a new life… so what my mother doesn’t know won’t hurt her.

“That’s just great, I leave her with you for a few hours and you mold her into another one of you.” Josh shakes his head, taking out the rest of the bags.

I slam the trunk and walk next to him.

“Are we so bad?” Molly giggles.

He stops, looking up at the night sky for a second.

“Why did you only take the container marked ‘Simon’s Cookies’?” He looks down at the girls.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about… maybe his mother hates him like the rest of us do.” Molly turns her nose up and walks up the steps.

“I believe you have your answer,” Josh shouts after her.

I can’t believe I’m willingly going to move in with all these people.

“I can take my own things.” I reach up to the bundles in his arms.

“I’m sure you can, but if your arms are filled, who will hold the door for me?” He jerks his chin up the steps to the door.

I didn’t really think that would work but I figure I’d try. 

Moving around him to get up the steps, I see the door is already open. I cross my arms over my chest as I spin on my heel. 

“Josh Anderson, did you do that so you could watch me walk up steps?” I say in a low tone. The light from inside illuminates his face. His mouth opens to speak but I cut him off. “What kind of woman do you think I am? I’m not just some piece of meat you can eye fuck when I’m not looking.” I throw my hands up, trying to sound mad.

Did I just say fuck out loud?

Oh my gosh, what is happening to me?

“I promise never to do it again… when you’re not looking,” he smirks, and my stomach flutters. “I will make sure you know exactly what I want.” He takes a step up toward me.

I slide my foot back along the ground to find the next step so I can put some distance between us.

My heart beats frantically in my chest, but it’s different from anything I’ve ever felt before. I don’t feel nervous or scared. So why is it pounding like it’s trying to escape from my body?

“You don’t even know me.” I give an uneasy laugh as I take another step backwards. This one landing me face to face with him.

Damn height difference! You never work in my favor!

“I know you better than you think.” He steps up again, and I back up again. “You’re an easy read.”

“This I have to hear.” I shake my head trying to clear him out of my thoughts. 

“What are you two doing?” I hear a woman’s voice from behind Josh. “Eww, you weren’t going to kiss her were you?”

His jaw tightens with irritation.

“You gotta be fucking kidding me,” he mumbles, shaking his head.  “You have a set on you, you know that, Pricilla?” He turns to the girl, and my eyes widen.

No!

I lean to the side to peek around him, and he steps in front of me.

What the hell!

I bend to the other side, and he adjusts the bags in his hand to block me again.

What is he doing?

“Oh relax, I’m not here for
you
.” She struts up next to him, a leather jacket slung over her shoulder with her finger hooked into the collar. She looks all dressed up, and I imagine she was finally asked on her date since this is similar to the outfit I heard her talking about earlier. Minus the jacket… I don’t remember that.

“What is with the trash bags?” She gives him a look. “Are these… oh this is priceless! Are these your clothes?” She looks at me before releasing a loud giggle. “Oh my—oh my—I can’t stop laughing.” Her hands lands on his arm and for some reason I want to rip it away. “Aww, Baggage has no proper luggage,” she says giving me a fake pout.

A feeling like I’ve never felt before overtakes me, and my hands clutch together as rage surges through my veins.

“What do you want, whore?” one of the twins yells from the steps.

“Sorry, Baggage… I have to go.” She pats my cheek then walks up the steps.

Anger rips through me.

“Would it be a terrible thing to say I want to push her down the steps?” My words come out in a voice I don’t recognize.

“She has that effect on people,” he says, taking my hand to walk up the steps.

“I am here for Simon, I have his jacket,” she informs Molly.

Josh’s hand tightens around mine, pulling me closer to him.

“The hell you do, you know exactly where his jacket is. Go away!” Molly shouts, shooing the girl away.

“Hey, prissy bitch, Simon doesn’t want anything to do with you. You were a pawn in a much bigger game. Now your use is gone… it’s time for you to understand that and leave,” Morgan says, walking out of the house with her arms crossed.

“That’s a lie, he said he had a plan,” she growls at Morgan and Molly.

“Molly, go lock the back door so the guys don’t come in,” Morgan orders Molly. When Molly is gone Morgan begins to speak again.

“Yes, he did… and he went through with it.” Morgan steps closer to her. “He did exactly what we had discussed, so I am not the woman you want to mess with,” she says in a low voice.

Josh tries to move me inside, but I’m frozen in my spot. “Come on, love. This doesn’t concern us,” he whispers.

I know I should leave, but I think Morgan might need an alibi for this.

“No, she should know exactly who she lives with.” The girl glares at me.

She steps back slightly, her sight settling back on Morgan.

“If she ever finds out, she will hate you, not me,” Pricilla smirks.

“Then it’s a good thing she’s gone now, isn’t it. I think you should take a page from her book and leave too.” Morgan points to the girl’s car.

Molly’s smile falls when she hears the end of Morgan’s sentence.

The girl eyes Molly, a sadistic look on her face as everyone but Molly sees that Molly is left out of something. “Someday all your dirty secrets will come to light,” she threatens Morgan. “Skeletons don’t stay in closets forever.” She skips back down the steps.

“Always something… right?” Molly lets out an unconvincing giggle. “Let’s finish moving you in.” She claps her hands and walks inside.

I look up at Josh.

“I’ll explain it all another time,” he murmurs.

“I don’t think I care to know,” I admit.

“That would be the second smartest decision you made today,” he says.

“And the first?” I ask.

“Moving in next door to me, of course.” He taps his index finger under my chin.

“I had no choice,” I deadpan. 

“I’ll show you to your room.” Flashing a heart-stopping smile he walks over to the steps with my things still in his arms. “And everyone has a choice,” he says over his shoulder.

How does he know where my room is?

“You’re right we do! And I’m still not going to go out with you!” I yell after him.

There I told him. I feel better now. Consider the cord cut.

“Well, not right now…” he yells after me. “We have to put your things away right now.” He hesitates and turns to look at me. “Well, are you coming?” he asks, then goes back to walking up.

Molly, Morgan, and I stand silent as he disappears.

“Is he crazy?” I ask them.

They both look at each other and then back at me with a shrug.

“He does live with them... It’s possible they’ve finally broken him.” Molly glances back up the steps.

“It’s the quiet ones you have to worry about. I mean just look at Dean,” Morgan muses.

Obviously they are talking about something I don’t know about since Molly gives Morgan a shove.