Page 38 of Rule
"Your marksmanship has improved beyond measure," Miles adds, admiration clear in his voice.
"Let's not forget your strategic mind," Hugo interjects, his eyes never leaving hers. "You quickly grasped the art of planning and executing complex operations, always considering every possible outcome."
"Exactly," Adam agrees, nodding fervently. "You're not just a fighter, but a leader as well.”
The uncertainty in her eyes starts to recede, replaced by a flicker of determination. She takes a deep breath, clearly processing everything we've said. At this moment, I know she needs to feel our unwavering support.
"Scarlet," I say, my voice low and full of conviction. "You are stronger than you think. We've trained side-by-side, honed our skills together. We're ready for this, and we believe in you."
“Cut the bull,” Robbie chimes in from the doorway. “Scar,” he adds, going to her and gripping her shoulders. “You are a badass motherfucker, and you’ve got this. Nothing else needs to be said.”
“Spoken like a true friend,” she murmurs, but her eyes are shining.
“These dicks will give you flowery words and pep talks, but it’s not what you need to pull your big girl knickers up, is it? No, you need hard facts. Are the Inner Circle trained warriors? Yes. Are you? Ehh.” He shrugs, and I could kill him where he stands. “But you have totally got this, short stuff. You think your sister is so hard? Fuck that. Prove to yourself and everyone else, including her, that you can kick some serious arse and take that fucking Inner Circle and make them your bitches. Well, okay, you gotta kill them, yeah? But make them your bitchesbeforeyou kill ‘em.”
Scarlet bursts out laughing as Robbie lets her go and gives me a smug smile. “You gotta know how to handle her.”
“Fuck right off out of my sight before I kickyourarse to kingdom come and back.”
“See ya,” he calls out, leaving with a laugh. “Wouldn’t wanna be ya.”
Turning to Scarlet with a scowl, I can see that despite my irritation at him, Robbie has done the job.
She looks back at me for a long moment, then nods slowly, her jaw set. "Fine," she states, filled with resolve. "You want me to throw down the gauntlet, I’m here for it. But know that if I die, I will be haunting your asses for the rest of eternity, and not in some sexy ghost way, but a scary-ass, motherfucking poltergeist that will hound you night and fucking day. Are we fucking clear?”
Snickering, I cross over to her and take her in my arms. “Perfectly, baby girl,” I murmur, brushing my lips over hers. “Daddy is proud of you.”
Her breath catches, and her eyes heat up. “No fucking nookie for you,Daddy,” she growls. “In fact, none of you can touch me until I survive this. You know, just to give you the motivation to keep my ass alive.”
“Deal,” I say instantly with a slow smile. She is fire, and I adore her.
"Damn right," Tristan murmurs, a fierce smile playing on his lips. "We've got your back every step of the way."
As one, we close the distance between us, forming a tight circle around Scarlet. Our hands clasp together, a physical manifestation of the unbreakable bond we share. We are united, ready to face whatever lies ahead. And come what may, we will fight for the future of Origin – and for each other.
ChapterTwenty-Two
Scarlet
As we huddle together, I feel the heat radiating from Max, Miles, Hugo, Adam, and Tristan, their unwavering support igniting a fire within me. My determination solidifies; I will face the Inner Circle and prove my worth as a leader and warrior. Sure, Robbie was the one to kick my ass into gear with his pure Scouse bluntness, but these five men are the ones whom I’m doing this for. Them and me and all the dolls before me that were abused and mistreated by Origin and its members.
“We need a plan.”
“The only plan is that you challenge them and confront them in a neutral place,” Max says. “There is no preparing for this. It’s in, kill, and out.”
“Great,” I mutter. “In that case, I suppose someone had better help me with offensive weapons training.”
“Done,” Adam says with a smile. “Love a good throwing star or two.”
“Or ten,” I mutter, hoping I get more than just a couple of weapons. Something tells me I’m gonna need a whole arsenal.
Adam takes my hand and leads me to the training room, handing me two throwing stars. "Let's start with the basics," he says, standing beside me. "Focus on your aim, your stance, and your breath."
I nod, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly as I adjust my grip on the throwing stars. With a flick of my wrist, I launch one toward the target on the far wall, hitting it dead center. A small smile forms on my lips at the beginner's luck as I repeat the motion, the sound of metal striking wood echoing through the room.
"Perfect," Adam nods approvingly. "Now try incorporating movement into your throws."
He steps back as I take a few steps forward, darting to the side and launching a throwing star with precision. It hits the target soundly, but I know that's only the beginning. If I'm going to face the Inner Circle, I need to be flawless.
