Page 15 of The Wildcard
In the middle of the living room that overlooked a backyard and the kitchen was a large staircase that wound up like a snake curling up. She’d seen the magnificent chandelier that hung from the top, jingling at times, had almost lost her mind at its size. The mansion had two more floors, each lined with rooms that overlooked the sea.
Raylene could walk through this place with her eyes shut. Had spent multiple sleepless nights remembering every nook, every corner and every place where the bugs were hidden.
She breathed out now, remembering how careful she had to be while she stayed here with the Ravens for a week.
Martin De Santos and his men and women had already arrived. Their black sheep, however, was nowhere to be seen. Raylene turned to Kyle, who was eyeing her behind his glasses with a light tilt of his head. This close, he looked so innocent, so friendly, that Raylene had to remind herself about her priorities. About her mission.
“Has everyone arrived?” she asked and Kyle’s eyes darkened.
“Everyone’s here.” He said, his voice quieter, “We proceed as decided. The Ravens are all here, they stay for a week, while the others arrive tomorrow for the functions.”
Raylene nodded, bracing her free hand against her hip as she tilted her chin to look up at him. He gazed down at her, eyeing her outfit with a light upturn of his lips.
“You look comfortable.”
Raylene frowned and looked down at her baggy jeans and her tight tank top that she’d covered with a brown cardigan. She looked up at him again and eyed his outfit in disdain. He was wearing a light blue shirt that was loosely tucked into the waistband of his jeans. She could see the glint of his gun tucked in his pocket and scowled at its sight,
“I didn’t ask.” She snapped.
Instead of waiting for his response, she shoved the balloons into Kyle’s hands and walked past him. Heard his light laugh echo in the air behind her as she stepped out of the living room and grazed her fingers on the cool wooden surface of the railing. Forcing herself to breathe through the million voices that crowded her mind, Raylene started climbing the stairs.
It had been a while since she’d had a moment to herself. These past few months had been her in a new place, all alone, trying to figure out how she could prove herself. So many sleepless nights, so many wounds, so many scars, all so she could get tothispoint. All so she could live amongst people she could one day–
Raylene blinked as her fingers closed around the cold knob of her room. It had often been like this now. Since she’d walked out of her hometown, there were times when she would lose herself to her surroundings and would just...walk.
Now, however, as she twisted it and opened the door to her room, she breathed a sigh of relief, back to herself.
It was a breathtaking view no matter how many times she saw it. A room so huge that it put her own house to shame. The walls were colored a royal shade of beige, its pastel hues merging and contrasting against the darker setting of the furniture. As soon as she entered, there was a couch, a seating to her right. And right ahead was the soft, most regal bed she’d ever seen. Beige curtains hung around it from all four corners, bunched at their ends. The bed was supported by wooden stands that were coated with a dark shade of grey black. And on the bed’s left was her closet.
But what made her want todiewas the wonderful window on the bed’s left, coated with beautiful silk curtains that were pulled back. The first thing Raylene did when she stepped into her room was throw open the windows. The wind hustled in, making her hair sway violently as she breathed in the salty air.
It was insane how this mansion stood on the edge of a privately owned beach, so completely in contrast to the beautiful, easy life a beach house would hold.
This place, however, reminded Raylene of a castle. Reminded her of the power the Larsens wielded. And how she was stuck right in the middle of it all.
Inhaling one last time, Raylene shut the windows reluctantly and pulled the curtains close. With no light peeping in, the room would’ve been almost scary if she wasn’t used to the darkness. Knowing her way, she went around and switched on the lights. The bright white light fell upon the room like a halo, making her eyes fall upon the box sitting on her bed.
Raylene sighed and removed her boots, stepping on the carpeted floor as she went closer to her bed. There was a note pasted on its top, making her blink in surprise as she leaned down to pick it up.
As our mediator, you are now a Lion and a Raven.
You will wear both our colors.
Such a direct demand.
Raylene shook with the amount of excitement that rushed in her veins at those simple words. Gulping that fear, that adrenaline, she braced herself before touching the ribbon bow on the cardboard box.
Grabbed hold of the ribbon’s end and pulled it open before opening the box. As the lid of the box fell aside, a faint sort of thrumming began in her blood. For a moment, everything around her stood still. Every sound numbed into silence as she gazed at the fabric in wonder. In amazement.
She knew how formal, how highly the attire was regarded in these meetings. Tonight, she would dress in a suit, obeying the orders and showing herself as the mediator of both gangs. But on the last day here, when the real show would end, she would wearthis.
And tomorrow, she would finally,finally, begin.
**
It was a wonder how houses like these could be built at the very edge of land, right before the waterfront. Angel had always despised the way everyone always bragged about their wealth. These mansions, these cars, these islands, what use did they have in the end?Why show off your money, your power through material things when you could use it to scare the entire world?
Despite his contradictions, despite all his questions, as Angel walked through the hallways of this large house, he couldn’t help but admire the sheer beauty of this place. It was like a beautiful cage designed to make anyone who lived here believe thatyes, they were living in a castle.
