Her Fatal Fury

Chapter 9: Her Fatal Fury.

Delilah’s POV

The door to my room creaked open, and Gaston stepped inside without knocking. I didn’t bother covering myself. My body had never been something I hid,not from him, not from anyone. I leaned back on the couch in nothing but black lace underwear, swirling the last of my wine lazily in its glass.

“What’s with all the noise?” I asked, my voice low, casual. “The halls sound like a damn stampede.”

Gaston’s eyes flickered across the room before finally resting on me. He had the decency not to linger too long, but I caught it. “Some guys ran off with the drugs that were supposed to arrive,” he said. His tone was clipped, but there was weight beneath it. Trouble.

I set my glass down, lips curving into a sharp smile. “And here I was thinking it was something serious.” I stretched, slow and feline. “You’ve got the intelligence department for a reason. Let them earn their paychecks.”

“That’s just it.” Gaston stepped closer. “Sam already got their location.”

The name pulled a laugh from deep in my chest. I swung my legs off the couch, rising to my feet. The hardwood was cold under my toes, but the thought of Sam warmed me enough. “Sam,” I repeated, rolling the syllable like a sweet piece of fruit between my teeth. “Of course.”

I crossed the room to my dresser, tugging out black jeans and a fitted shirt. My reflection stared back at me from the mirror,hard eyes, sharper smile—as I slid the fabric over my skin. “He’s trying to climb, Gaston. That boy’s hungry. I’ve seen it in his eyes since day one. He’ll smile, play humble, act like he’s just grateful to breathe Teddy’s air…” I pulled my hair into a knot, then strapped my holster to my thigh. “But all the while, he’s reaching. Climbing. He thinks he’s clever enough to rise to the top.”

“You think that’s a problem?” Gaston asked, arms folded.

“It’s more than a problem,” I said, sliding my gun into place with a satisfying click. “It’s dangerous. Men who climb too fast either fall… or make others fall. And I, Gaston, don’t intend to let that happen.”

I turned to him, my smile turning sharp. “He thinks I don’t see through him. He thinks he can charm Teddy with those big innocent eyes, with his quick little brain, and no one will notice.” I chuckled, low and dark. “But I notice. I notice everything.”

Gaston stayed quiet for a beat, his face unreadable. Then he said, “Teddy wants him to come with us.”

For a second, I froze. Then I laughed again, the sound ringing through the room like steel against glass. Of course Teddy wanted him there. Teddy always had a soft spot for shiny new toys. And Sam was shiny enough, I’d give him that.

“Well,” I said at last, slipping into my boots. “Then I’ll have a word with Teddy.”

Gaston tilted his head. “What exactly are you planning, Delilah?”

I met his gaze head-on, my lips curving into a smile that didn’t reach my eyes. “Just a conversation,” I purred. “You know me, Gaston. I never interfere with Teddy’s business… unless it’s absolutely necessary.”

I grabbed my jacket, the leather heavy and familiar on my shoulders, and strode past him. But as I reached the door, I paused and glanced back. “Sam thinks he’s clever,” I murmured. “But clever only gets you so far in this world. Sometimes it gets you killed.”

Gaston watched me leave without a word, but I could feel his eyes on my back, feel the question lingering in the air.

As I walked down the hall, I already knew how I’d play it. Teddy trusted me,more than he should, maybe, but enough that my words carried weight. If Sam thought he could wriggle his way into Teddy’s good graces, he was about to find out just how wrong he was.

Because in this house, there was only room for one queen. And I had no intention of giving up my throne.

___

I didn’t bother knocking,I pushed the door open so hard it hit the wall with a loud crack. Teddy was sitting up on the bed, his shirt half-buttoned, bandages peeking out beneath the fabric. Max was there too, perched on a chair beside him, calm as ever.

“Are you aware of this nonsense?” I snapped, fixing my eyes on Max first. “Do you know Teddy wants Sam out in the field with us?”

Max didn’t flinch. He looked at me with that steady, unreadable gaze of his and said, “I’m aware. Teddy has made up his mind.”

The calmness in his voice made my blood boil. “Made up his mind?” I repeated, laughing bitterly. “You’re both fine with letting that rookie run alongside us when we’re chasing down men desperate enough to steal from us? He’s going to cause chaos. He’s going to slow us down. And if you’ve both forgotten,he’s the reason Teddy got shot in the first place.”

Teddy’s eyes flickered, sharp and cold, but his voice was steady. “Delilah, enough.”

“No, Teddy, not enough!” I shot back, stepping further into the room, arms crossed tight over my chest. “You think bringing him will solve anything? You think throwing him into the fire makes him one of us? He’s reckless, and I won’t let him jeopardize another mission. Not after what happened to you.”

Max sighed quietly, like he had already expected this storm. “Delilah, Sam’s the one who tracked them down. Without him, we wouldn’t even know where to start looking.”

I scoffed, rolling my eyes. “So what? The intelligence team could’ve handled that. Don’t act like he’s some irreplaceable genius. He’s just a kid who got lucky with a tracker.”

Teddy finally spoke again, his tone clipped, final. “I’ve made up my mind, Delilah. He’s coming with us.”

The words landed like a gavel. I stared at him, disbelief flooding through me. “You’re really serious about this,” I whispered, my voice shaking,not with fear, but fury. “You’re willing to risk all of us just to give him a chance?”

Teddy didn’t blink. “I’m willing to see what he’s capable of. He earned it.”

I laughed, harsh and humorless, tilting my head back. “Earned it? By almost getting you killed? By pretending he’s ready when he’s nothing but dead weight?”

Max shifted in his seat but said nothing this time. He just studied me, maybe waiting for me to calm down. But I couldn’t. My fists were clenched so tight my nails dug into my palms.

Teddy leaned forward, wincing slightly but never breaking eye contact. “Delilah, this is not your call. It’s mine. And I’ve decided. There’s nothing you can do about it.”

His words cut deep. For a moment, I just stood there, chest rising and falling rapidly, searching for something else to throw at him. But all I could see was his stubborn resolve, his eyes locked on mine like steel gates.

Finally, I smiled,a cold, dangerous smile. “Fine,” I said softly. “But don’t come crying to me when your precious Sam drags us all down.”

Without another word, I turned on my heel and stormed out, slamming the door behind me.