Filed to story: The LORDS Series Free PDF by Shantel Tessier
Taking in a deep breath, I walk over to him. “You do it for the Lords. Why should I accept it, but you not?”
“Because I chose this life, Blake,” he growls.
“And then I chose you when I burned those divorce papers. So I’m in the middle-“
“Not anymore,” he interrupts me. “You will do your last initiation because I’ll be there to make sure it goes smoothly, then you’re done. You’ll be a Lady and my wife. That’s it.”
That’s not the end. Not even close. He’s in it for life, and it scares me to know that they have this much control over it. “But the Lords will still call you to do work for them.”
“That’s what I signed up for,” he agrees.
It just makes me even more nervous for our future. “What about what I want?”
“I’ve told you before, and I’ll tell you again, that doesn’t matter.” This time, his eyes look soft, almost remorseful as if it hurt him to tell me that.
I spin around and look at my father, hoping he can help me out in some way. “Daddy …”
He raises his hand, stopping me, and my shoulders sag. “I’m afraid he’s right, princess. I won’t put you in danger any more than you already have been. This all started because of me, and it will end because of me.”
My breathing picks up. “What does that mean?”
He looks over at Ryat. “May I speak to you privately?”
“No,” I answer for him. “You can’t.”
“Sure.” Ryat ignores me and opens the sliding glass door. “Let’s step outside.”
I go to run after him, but Mr. Archer stops me. “I must say, I had my doubts about you.”
I turn around to look at him relaxing in the recliner. His right ankle propped up on his left knee.
“I never was that big of a fan of Cindy.” He shrugs. “That’s why I didn’t argue when he said he wanted you.”
At the mention of her name, I look around the room to see she’s no longer here. Where is she? Did she wake up and manage to get free while Ryat and I were having sex in the bedroom? That brings me to another thought. Why did Ryat look so surprised to see her here when he got back when he had obviously watched me burn the divorce papers? “Where is she?” I ask, spinning in a circle, looking for her.
“Who?” he asks, tilting his head in thought.
“Cindy.”
“How would I know?” he asks, shrugging.
“Is this another test?” I swallow nervously.
He pushes himself up from the recliner and straightens his suit jacket. “I think you need some rest, Blakely. A lot has happened recently.”
“No.” I shake my head. I’m not losing my mind; I lost a person. She was right here. I had tied her wrists together. Put tape over her mouth that Ryat took off and then slammed her head into the wall, knocking her out. “She was-“
The sound of the sliding glass door opening behind me cuts me off. “Abbot, let’s get out of here. Leave these two lovebirds alone,” my father calls out, entering the house.
Coming up behind me, he places his hands on my shoulders and kisses my hair. “I’ll call you tomorrow. Get some rest.”
Then, without another word, they both leave the house.
I slowly turn around to see Ryat leaning up against the now closed sliding glass door. With his arms crossed over his chest, he glares at me. “I’m not losing my mind,” I state as if he accused me of doing so.
He doesn’t acknowledge me in any way. Doesn’t even blink.
“She was right here.” I go over to the wall where she lay on the floor. “You knocked her out. Then carried me to the bedroom.”
Again, no response.
“Where did she go, Ryat?” I ask him.
“Don’t worry about her,” he finally speaks, pushing off the glass.
“Ryat … she.”
“Blake.” He comes up to me and cups my face. “Don’t worry about it.”
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
RYAT
I HATED THAT I had to force her hand with the divorce papers. I would never tell her this, but a part of me thought she would sign them. She was mad at me, and the Lords knew that. They wanted to test her, and I couldn’t tell them no. She has to prove her loyalty to me just like I had to prove it to them. So, I said the only things that made me think she’d want to fight me. I needed to make her mad. Blakely likes the fight. I needed her to find her backbone and stand up to me.
After storming out of the house, I drove a mile down the road and pulled over, watching her on my cell with the living room cameras. I can’t even explain how proud of her I was when I watched her throw those papers in the fire with determination. It was more of a I’ll make you love me rather than I love you, but I’ll take it.
Honestly, I’m not sure what I would have done if she had signed them. But I was telling her the truth when I said I’d never let her go. I probably would have thrown them in the fire, burning any evidence of her signature.
After I witnessed her set them on fire, I quit watching and headed to Blackout. I had to meet with Ty. That’s a new issue I have to deal with.
“Ryat,” she whispers nervously. “Tell me.” Her hands come up to my shirt, and she grips the material. “You have no problem making me prove myself to the Lords, but you won’t allow me to prove it to you.”
“You already have,” I say, running my hand through her long, dark hair, feeling how soft it is.
Her face falls, and her eyes drop to the floor. Stepping back from her, I turn to go take a shower when her words stop me. “I knew you didn’t sleep with her.”
Turning, I look at her. “How do you know?”
She takes in a shaky breath. “Because you’re nothing like Matt.”
“You’re right.” I growl, “I’m not.”
Walking over to me, she reaches up, wrapping her arms around my neck and pulling me into her. “Now’s your chance, Ryat. To prove to me just how much you trust me.”
I look away from her, my eyes going to the large floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the backyard and woods, knowing it hides my secrets. “What if you can’t handle it?” I ask, my eyes going back to hers. “You can’t decide to walk away if you see something that you don’t like,” I say honestly. I won’t allow it.
“Who said I was going to leave?” she asks, tilting her head to the side. “Wouldn’t you rather have a wife who knows who you really are and chooses to stay than one who pretends you’re someone else?”
Letting out a long breath, I think about her words. She’s right. I’d much rather her know who I am. A Lord is powerful, but he is also alone in a world full of men. Chosen ones only know the sex and parties. Ladies know more, but still very little. Most prefer to be in the dark, though. My father has never hid who he is from my mother, but I’ve seen her leave the room, refusing to listen in on a conversation he was having with someone else. I don’t fault her for it. Some just don’t care to know what kind of evil walks the earth.
Cindy would have been the same way-wanted to be in the dark. All she would have cared about was the power and the lifestyle that my fortune could have provided for us. That’s why I didn’t want her.
But Blake? I like that she wants to be a part of my world. Even though I’ll never allow her to get too close. I can’t risk her life, but I can share mine with her.
Making up my mind, I nod. “Okay.”