Chapter 23

TWENTY-THREE

FALLON

I flopped onto my bed, exhausted from today's job. I wasn't technically allowed to venture beyond the confines of the estate, but unlike Salem, I wasn't hiding from my madman of a father. For this reason, Lennox granted me a few more liberties. It didn't hurt that my adeptness at thievery proved advantageous for Lennox's enterprises. So, as long as I avoided high-risk jobs and took someone with me, I could carry on with my usual business without much interference.

My bedroom was dim, the only light filtering in through the half-closed blinds, casting long shadows across the floor. Horror movie posters adorned the walls, their eerie images adding to the perfectly gloomy atmosphere.

As I lay there, my mind drifted to my brothers and Salem. They had a complicated relationship, but it was clear how much they cared for each other. I had seen the way both Lennox and Cole looked at her, the way their eyes softened when she was around. Salem was strong and fiercely independent, but with my brothers, she let down her guard, even if just a little.

I knew Salem had a connection with all four guys—Lennox, Cole, Mateo, and Cohen. I hoped they could work it out. It wasn't the kind of relationship most people would understand, but who was anyone to judge how they found happiness?

They all deserved it, especially after everything they'd been through. Life was too short to let societal norms dictate the way we loved.

I turned onto my side, staring at a particularly gruesome poster of a zombie reaching out of a grave. I found myself rooting for my brothers and Salem. They were forging their own path, defying conventions, and I was here for it, every step of the way.

With a small smile, I reached for the bundle of mail that one of my brother's men had collected from my old apartment earlier in the day. It was a mishmash of junk mail, catalogs, and a few bills that I'd deal with later. At the bottom of the pile, something caught my eye that made me pause—a sealed envelope tucked away among the mundane.

My stomach churned with dread as I carefully tore open the envelope. Inside, there was a handwritten note, just a few simple words that sent a jolt of recognition down my spine. The handwriting was familiar. It was the same handwriting as the other threats I had been receiving, the same menacing tone that had been haunting me for weeks.

You gave up what was mine for that whore. Naughty little bird.

The words seemed to leap off the page, accusing and menacing. I felt a knot of fear tightening in my chest as I stared at the note, my mind racing with a million questions. Who the fuck was sending me these? Were they talking about what I did to spare Salem in New Orleans? And how the fuck would they know about that?

I shook my head, trying to push aside the fear and confusion that threatened to overwhelm me. I needed to stay calm and think rationally about what to do next. But it was hard to focus with the weight of uncertainty pressing down on me, suffocating me with its oppressive presence.

A soft knock on the door pulled me out of my spiraling thoughts. "Fallon? You in there?" Salem's voice, muffled through the wood, broke through the silence like a lifeline.

I quickly shoved the note back into its envelope and tossed it onto my bedside table, hoping I'd be able to hide the turmoil raging inside me. "Yeah," I called back, my voice strained.

The door creaked open, and Salem poked her head inside, her brow furrowed with concern. "You okay?" she asked, her eyes searching mine for any sign of distress.

I forced a smile, hoping it looked convincing enough. "Yeah, just a long day," I replied, pushing myself up into a sitting position on the bed. "What's up?"

Salem hesitated as if debating whether to push further, but then she shook her head, her expression clearing. "Nothing, just wanted to see if you wanted to watch a movie or something. Cohen's making popcorn downstairs."

I nodded, grateful for the distraction. "Sounds good," I said, trying to push aside the nagging worry that still gnawed at me. "I'll be down in a minute."

Salem gave me a small smile before retreating from the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts once again. As I watched her disappear down the hallway, unease settled over me like a shroud. What if whoever sent that note was talking about Salem? And what if they targeted her for it?

I shook my head, trying to dispel the paranoid thoughts that threatened to consume me. I'll deal with this later , I told myself. Right now, I needed to focus on finding some semblance of normalcy, even if it was just for a few hours. With a deep breath, I pushed myself off the bed and headed downstairs to join Salem and Cohen, hoping that the distraction would help ease the knot of anxiety that had settled in my chest.