Lycan's Prey by Jessica Hall

Chapter 265

Chapter 16

Two months later

17 258 Weuchers

Today is the day, the last inspection to say whether or not all our hard work had paid off. Macey, Zoe, and I watch as Valarie talks to the health and safety inspector from the balcony. He had walked around the entire building with his measuring tape and torch, his clipboard tucked under his arm and pen behind his ear as he went over every nook and cranny in the place.

We secretly call him the birdman. His nose looks more like a beak, his beady little eyes too far apart. Macey snorts when a gust of wind has him clutching his toupee. It is chocolate brown and not even close to the graying on the sides of his head. Valarie watches over his shoulder as he makes notes on his clipboard on the front lawn, giving the place one last scrutinizing look before shaking his head in disbelief.

He tears off the piece of paper and hands it to Valarie, who stares at it. He walks over to his red sedan and climbs in while Valarie stares at the form.

“Come on, we should go see what birdman says needs to be done this time,” says Macey. Zoe and I went to retrieve our kids from our room, who played happily in their playpen with their blocks. Scooping up Valarian, I set his feet on the ground, and we carefully walk down the steps to the ground

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floor. He started walking earlier than expected. Last month he just stood up and took his first steps. He was smart for his age. Which is impressive given all the trauma he has been through.

Valarie is still standing in the yard, staring up at the hotel. We approach cautiously, and I can’t quite decipher the look on her face.

“He said four rogue women would never accomplish anything on our own without help, ladies,” Valarie says, and I sigh, wondering what he has told her needs fixing.

We stop beside her and look back at the huge building. No more peeling paint, the exterior is a beautiful white with blue and light gray trims, the hedges cut to perfection, the roof painted a deep gray, flowers hung from the top and along the hand railings. It looks like a brand–new place.

I lost track of the number of times doubts rained down on us, but now standing out the front looking upon the building a year later, I realize all the blood, sweat, tears, frustration and anger when people refused to help, were all worth it. Four rogue women with no future, no help, and just pure determination gave this run–down hotel a new life.

Every callous, every blister, every cut and graze was all worth it, along with every sleepless night. It all paid off and seeing the look on Valarie’s face is priceless. She is a tough woman, with an even tougher exterior, yet not even she can hide her emotion as we stare at what we accomplished.

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“So, what’s the verdict?” I ask, looking our hard work up and down.

is we are now open for

Valarie, her lips tugging up at the

said?” Macey asks

said we are open for business; we did it, girls,” Valarie says, and we all erupt in squeals of joy, jumping up and down excitedly. Macey howls loudly,

did it. We did the impossible. But most of all, we proved to ourselves that

rogue whores with an unrealistic idea. That unrealistic idea was now real

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I ran that ideal past Valarie last month. Now we only need a chef for the restaurant

decide that everyone we hire would be rogue women. A hotel owned and run by rogues, the city’s less desirable. Valarie loves the idea, so Macey, Zoe, and I went to every community

was a head chef. But for now, Valarie and I would have to

a bottle of wine while I hold the glasses. Hearing a cough,

you okay, Val?” I ask

a coughing fit, the worst one I had seen her

is like watching everything in slow motion as I

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steel shelf, her hand covered in blood. Valarie turns to look at me, no doubt to tell me not to worry when she coughs again. Blood sprays from her lips and dribbles down her chin as her eyes glaze over. Before I know it, she is falling, her skin pasty and covered in a cold sweat. I scream as I see her tumble to the floor as I race toward her trying to get to her in time, but she

grabs my arm as I pull

as I turn her head, so she doesn’t

holds both babies, clutching them

hold her hands. Holding the hands of the woman who had the biggest heart in the world. I admired her strength, a woman I saw bigger than life and gave me a home. My heart

minutes. They are flat out,” Macey says, pacing.

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system. Valarie turns her face to look up at

barely audible, and I

at Zoe.

she can see him. Macey stops next to her, kneeling beside

Valarie tells me; I nod, wiping the tears that were dripping off my chin. Valarian pats her arm, not understanding, and Valarie smiles. I move her

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