The Sacrifice: Chapter 39

Three years ago

Ryat and I are sitting in my car in the house of Lords parking lot about to get out when my cell rings. Whitney lights up my screen. “Hello?” I answer.

“Hey,” she responds, sounding breathless.

“What are you doing?” I ask.

“Can you meet me?” she asks. Before I can answer, she goes on, “Someone has been following me all day.”

I sit up straighter. “What do you mean all day?” A look at the clock says it’s after six p.m. “Why are you just now calling me?”

“I didn’t think it was that big of a deal. But…”

“But what?” I demand.

“Well, I got a text last night from an unknown number. I didn’t think anything of it.”

“What did it say?”

“It was a picture of me in my bed. Naked.”

“What the fuck, Whitney?” I bark out.

“I didn’t think anything of it,” she repeats. “Thought it was Lake fucking with me, ya know?” she goes on. “But when I asked her about it, she had no clue what I was talking about. And today, I keep noticing this same car everywhere I go.”

“Where are you?” I put my car in gear.

“I’m on my way, to the house of Lords. I just finished up with my study group at Barrington.”

“I’ll head your way and then once I reach you, I’ll follow you back here, okay?”

“Okay,” she says, letting out a shaky breath. “Thanks, Ty.”

I stand at the end of the bed while I watch Lake sleep. I crawled into bed with her after our bath, and I held her while she cried herself to sleep in a matter of seconds. Her body worn out.

Kneeling, I reach underneath the bed and pick up her wedding ring. I watched it roll under there when she took it off earlier, thinking she was making a point. She wishes it was that easy for her to leave me.

Walking back over to the side of the bed, I take her left hand and slide it onto her finger. “Sweet dreams, little darling.” I lean down and kiss her forehead, letting my lips linger before reluctantly pulling away.

As I stand next to our bed, watching my wife sleep, I think about Collin. His hands on her soft skin. Pulling her into him. The fact that he thinks he can do it in the first place is a problem.

The second problem is that he’s telling her about my past with Whitney. I was too busy being the Lords’ bitch to protect her. That won’t happen with Lake. Ryat thinks her father will come after Lake, and he might. This time I’ll be ready.

She’ll never understand why I married her, and I honestly don’t give a shit. I’ll do whatever I need to do to prove my point. Laikyn Grace Crawford is mine. And I’ll prove it to the fucking world. If I have to carve my name all over her flawless skin, I will.

I enter my office with my hand in Lake’s. She hasn’t spoken one word to me since last night. I didn’t expect her to, though. She was already mad, and I just pissed her off more. Then she broke down and was embarrassed. She woke up this morning, fixed breakfast, and then crawled back into bed, avoiding me. I won’t be ashamed or remorseful for what I did to her last night. It’s the first of many. I know she liked it and got off on it.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, Collin,” I say and look at Lake. “Have a seat, little darling.”

She falls down onto the couch and winces. I refrain from smiling at her discomfort. That’s why I did it the way I did. To remind her that I was there last night, balls deep in her untouched ass.

The door opens again, and Colton enters, followed by Alex, Finn, and Jenks. Letting the door close behind them, they each stay against the far back wall.

“What the fuck is this?” Collin notices and jumps to his feet.

“I have to admit,” I say, falling into my seat, and he turns to face me. “I lied to you.”

His eyes narrow on me. “What the fuck do you want?”

“Please forgive me, but I was a little busy last night when I called you.” Lake gasps, knowing what I’m referring to, but I ignore her. “You ever had that kind of sex that just makes you do irrational shit?” I wonder.

Colton and Alex both grunt in understanding.

“I’m leaving.” He goes to head for the door, but Finn jumps in front of it, blocking his only exit.

“I want to show you something,” I say, picking up the envelope Ryat had brought me. “I was at the house of Lords the other night when Colton informed me you were here to see the surveillance footage.”

“I’m a cop, that’s my job,” he snaps.

“Yes, but as you see, her body had already been found, days prior to that.” My eyes slide to Lake, and she doesn’t look surprised at what I just said. Interesting.

He squares his shoulders, readjusting himself in his seat. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“No?” I arch a brow and toss the manila envelope onto his lap. “Have a look.”

He opens it up, and his body stiffens.

“But she’s not the first woman this has happened to, is she?” I dig, wondering just how much he knows.

He ignores my question, or he just didn’t hear it all. “Where did you get this?”

“Doesn’t matter.” I shrug. “What matters is I do have a video to show you.” I pick up the remote and turn on the seventy-inch TV on the back wall and hit play. It’s last night inside the club. “That’s you, with your hands on my wife.”

He jumps to his feet once again, the folder and pictures falling to the floor. He runs to the door but Alex steps out, grabs his hair and pulls him back to the center of the room while Finn grabs a chair. Alex shoves him into it and Colton takes the handcuffs from his back pocket, quickly cuffing his hands behind his back, threading the cuffs between the vertical wooden bars to secure him to it.

“You’re finished!” he screams, thrashing in the chair. “You can kiss the club and your wife goodbye.”

I walk around my desk, stepping into him, and lean back against the edge, letting him run his mouth.

“The Lords will kill you if you touch me,” he warns.

“You think they give a fuck about you?” I ask, and the guys laugh. “You know how many people I’ve killed? Most were Lords.” I snort. “They don’t care about you anymore than they care about me. For every ten that are killed, there are fifty more about to take their place.” If I was killed right now, they’d bring someone else in to run Blackout. I guarantee they’ve already got a list. And they’d just continue to go down the line. That part doesn’t bother me. It’s the fact that my wife will be handed to another Lord. That another man would get to touch what’s mine, fuck what’s mine, hurt what’s mine. That is something that I will not allow to happen.

“Remove his clothes,” I order.

His screams fill the room as Finn and Jenks undo his pants and yank them down his legs while he tries to kick them unsuccessfully. Alex and Colton rip his shirt open, exposing his chest to the room.

I nod to Colton, and he starts digging through Collin’s jeans pocket before tossing me his badge. Of course, he carries it around with him. I grab the lighter off my desk and begin to heat it up “How many are missing?” I ask.

His lips thin at his refusal to answer.

“See, I don’t think she’s the first one missing from my club.” It was not a coincidence that she went missing from here and that Collin shows up the next day, right after I marry my wife. The question is why Blackout? And why now? “So … last time. How many are currently missing?” He looks away from me and I smile. “Open his mouth,” I order to no one in particular.

Colton steps up to the back of the chair, placing his fingers into his mouth from behind and pries them open. I step into him, heated badge in hand and go to stick it inside of his mouth. His eyes go wide, and he tries to shake his head, mumbling unintelligible words. I nod to Colton, and he removes them. “You’ve got two seconds before you eat this badge,” I inform him. It won’t fit but I can jam it in there enough that it’ll burn the shit out of him.

“Four.” He gasps. “Four have gone missing. Last seen here at Blackout.” Hanging his head, he adds, “Over the last six months.”

Six months? Well, there goes my theory about it involving my wife. No one knew of my plans to marry her other than Ryat and my father. Even the Lords weren’t aware until the day of the wedding. When I made the deal, they never asked who I wanted. Hell, as far as they know, I didn’t even know who I was giving my life up for.

“Why haven’t I been informed of this?” I wonder. “Why was one girl more important than the others?”

“The others weren’t reported,” he growls through gritted teeth, trying to yank on the cuffs.

I frown. “What do you mean?”

He sucks in a deep breath. “After Andrea was reported missing and last seen here, we found the others via social media posts. Friends and parents looking for them. But no official police reports were filed.”

“You mean they weren’t daughters of a Lord.” I nod my head in understanding. Now those have the same MO as the previous murders from years ago. “How many have been found?”

“Two.” He swallows, looking up at me.

“The other was the same as Andrea?” I ask tightly, hating that he’s not offering this information to me.

He nods and I allow the silent answer. I mean, men and women go missing all the time, but for two to be found the same way as all the ones were years ago—that’s not a coincidence.

“Hmm.” I flick the lighter once again, placing the flame under the badge.

“I told you everything I know!” he screams and looks over at my wife.

“Oh, this?” I motion to the badge. “This is for touching my wife.” I told her, If I even think you’re going to fuck another man, I’ll kill him. In front of you. It’ll be slow and painful. You will see his bloody corpse in your dreams for years to come. She might not have slept with him, but he would if given the chance. I’m about to prove to her that I’m a lot of things but a liar isn’t one of them.

“Stop him. Stop him, Lake.” Collin pleads with her to save his pathetic life. “Please. You’re not like him.”

She hangs her head because she knows that she can’t help him.

“Fucking pathetic bitch,” he shouts at her, spit flying from his mouth. “Your father will make sure you pay for this. For becoming his fucking puppet.” She looks up at him through her lashes at that. “Just like your sister.”

I just found out something that I didn’t think was possible. He knows the truth about Whitney. Which means he’s working for her father. That changes things.

“What do you mean like my sister?” she rushes out.

“He’ll make you pay—”

I shove the heated-up badge into his mouth, and he thrashes in the chair as it burns him, not caring that it’s burning my hand in the process.

Colton takes the roll of duct tape he had and starts placing it around Collin’s mouth, securing it so he can’t spit it out.

“No, wait.” My wife jumps to her feet. “What do you mean like my sister?” Lake goes to move toward his chair, but Alex grabs her, and she kicks her feet out, trying to get free from his grip. He falls down onto the couch, shoving her down onto her stomach and pins her arms behind her back to keep her from hitting him.

I look over at Lake and she’s got her watery eyes on me. “Let her go,” I order, and Alex lets go of her arms pinned to her back. She sits up, rubbing them as she drops her head. Fuck, this isn’t going how I had planned, but I can’t stop it now.

My fingers start to heat up, reminding me I’m holding his badge and a lighter. I get it nice and hot and then walk up to him. I push the badge into his skin over his Lords crest on his chest and smile as his muffled cry rings out into the room. I watch Lake place her hands over her ears as she pulls her knees up into her chest, shifting on the couch.

Once I remove it, he hangs his head, his breathing filling the space.

“Get rid of him,” I order, and quickly pick up the scattered papers so she can’t see them. That’s the last thing I want to do.

I sit down and look over at her. Her eyes are on mine and a single tear runs down her cheek. I open my mouth to speak, but she gets up and walks out, slamming the door behind her.

LAIKYN

I went back to the apartment and took a nap before I started getting ready for work. I thought the nap would help my mood; it didn’t. Once again, I’m pissed that he didn’t allow me to hear what Collin had to say. And now I never will. The guys are probably burying his body somewhere in the middle of the woods, where it’ll never be found.

Making my way downstairs, I enter the locker room and open mine. I never use it because I live upstairs. So I didn’t need to leave anything here. I bend down and pick up the cell my father gave me and see it’s dead. Fuck! Of course, it is. It’s been weeks since he gave it to me.

I haven’t checked it once for my initiations. God, I’ve been so stupid. I don’t have a charger for it. What if they already sent them to me, and I’ve failed.

Looking around the room, I see Starla’s makeup and phone on the counter in front of the mirror. I open her bag and find an iPhone charger. Plugging it in, I thank God that it fits. I set it down and watch the battery light up.

My eyes constantly going over to the door. The club has already opened. My shift doesn’t start until eleven tonight. When it’s during the week, the club opens with four waitresses and then brings in more later during peak hours, breaking it up into more sections.

My knees bounce and I reach out and hold down the button, praying it’s at least enough to just power on.

I clap my hands when the screen lights up, but my eyes slam to the door as my heart races. If anyone catches me, I’m going to be fucked. That thought makes my thighs tighten. I enjoyed the last punishment fuck I got.

Picking up the phone, it starts to vibrate in my hand with incoming messages. “Shit.” I’m going to be so screwed.

I open one from an unknown number and my breath catches as fear settles over me. It’s a picture of me. I’m getting into the Uber here outside of the club the day I left to go meet up with Blakely.

I back out to go to the next text. It’s also unknown and another picture. It’s of me at the dealership. This time it has Blakely in it.

My hands shake as I go to another incoming text. My heart is racing, and my stomach drops when there’s another of me at lunch.

The phone continues to vibrate in my hands as more and more messages come through. None of which are of any initiations. Nothing but pictures of me. There is even some with me and Tyson the night of the house of Lords party. Walking out of our house, getting out of the limo at the party, and inside.

I push the button, turning it off. Unplugging it, I throw it into my locker and slam it shut. My heart is hammering in my chest and tears sting my eyes.

“Lake?”

I jump hearing the sound of my name. “Yeah?” I push my hair off my face, taking in a deep breath when I see Bethany now standing in the locker room. “What?” I breathe looking around, trying to calm my racing heart.

She frowns when she sees my shaking hands. “I have a large table that wants bottle service. Everyone else is busy. I know you’ve got five more minutes until your shift starts, but can you help me?”

“I, uh,” I pause, trying to decide what to do. I need to show these to Tyson, right? Tell him someone took pictures of me, but he’ll ask where I got the phone. And I don’t know how to explain that right now.

“Laikyn—”

“Sure,” I interrupt her, needing some time to think about how to tell him.

“Beau is getting everything ready for us,” she says, and then shuts the door.

I take one last breath and smooth my hands down my shorts, exiting the room. I meet her at the wait station, grabbing what we need and walking over to the table, setting the bottle of champagne in the center while Bethany sets down the glasses.

“Fuck you, man.” One of the guys shouts over the music and jumps to his feet.

Bethany reaches out, placing her arm across my chest, and pulls me backward with her as the second guy jumps up across from him. “Guys, calm down. You don’t want to get kicked out,” she tells them.

The guy to my right picks up his glass of mixed drink and tosses it into the other guy’s face. It gets on the other guy who sits next to him, and he stands too.

“Come on, babe, we’re leaving.” The one who tossed his drink grabs the girl’s hand who was sitting next to him and turns to walk away with her.

The lights are flashing, and the music is so loud that I don’t realize the guy now covered in alcohol has jumped over the table until I watch him take the other man down. They both go to the floor, and I jump back as I watch Bethany turn around. She’s yelling at Beau, but he won’t be able to hear her over the music. We’re too far from the bar.

I go to step back out of the way but am pushed forward at the same time from a guy who enters the fight. Before I know it, I’m smashed between multiple men. My tray has fallen from my hands, and I slip on the liquid that’s been spilled on the floor.

I scream as someone steps on my hand. I roll into a ball, trying to shield my body but my arm is grabbed, and I’m yanked to my feet. “Get her out of here!” I recognize Colton shoving me toward Alex who wraps his arms around me, picking my feet up off the floor. He cradles me like a baby in his arms and I turn into his chest, holding my throbbing hand in the other.

“Fuck.” His chest vibrates before I’m knocked out of his arms and back on the floor.

I look up to see nothing but fists and people flying. A guy drops in front of me, eyes closed and bleeding from his mouth. I realize Alex knocked him out. I manage to get to my hands and knees and try to crawl under the table when my ankle is grabbed, and I’m yanked across the floor.

I reach my hands out in front of me to grab at anything I can get a hold of but am unsuccessful. So I flip over onto my back and start kicking my legs out. Hell, for all I know it’s Alex trying to get me out of the way, but I can’t see with my hair covering half my face so I’m not taking the chance.

Someone needs to turn on the fucking lights.

Weight falls on top of me and I can’t breathe. Pain shoots up my side and I scream so loud my throat burns.

“Laikyn.” I hear a familiar voice yell out my name, but I can’t make out who it is. A second later, the weight is gone, and I manage to get to my feet.

I stumble over to the bar that now looks to be deserted. They’ve either joined the fight, or they were forced to leave. Beau looks up at me. “Lake, you, okay?”

“Yeah…” My eyes flutter shut; my hands fumble to grab a hold of anything to hold myself up.

“Laikyn?” He jumps over the bar, knocking drinks and shot glasses off. Some shatter at my feet. “Fuck … Lake.” His eyes go to my side. “Colton? Alex?” He shouts over my shoulder.

I blink again, trying to stop the room from swaying. Feels like something heavy is sitting on my chest. “I-I can’t. I can’t … breathe.”

Arms grab me from behind and I don’t have the energy to fight them this time. But I realize it’s Colton when he picks me up in his arms. “Call Tyson. Tell him to meet us downstairs.”