Filed to story: The LORDS Series Free PDF by Shantel Tessier
Why would he kill someone who isn’t a Lord? Was he ordered to kill them? I know the guy who was trying to kill me wasn’t a Lord, and he slit his throat. So, that’s at least one that I know of. If that guy was brought back and buried here. “How many of those were women?” I wonder.
“This is the first. Any more questions?” he asks, arching a dark brow, and I shake my head.
I understand he’s tired. I’m fucking exhausted. It’s been a long night, and after what he did to me in that underground bunker, I want to go to bed. But I didn’t want to stay at the cabin alone, not after what Cindy told us. Even now, I feel like someone is watching us. But I won’t tell Ryat that. I don’t want him to worry or, worse, think I can’t handle this life.
Finishing up, he tosses the shovel to the side and rolls the wrapped body into the grave. Then he picks up the shovel again, covering it up.
I stand silently, rocking back and forth, arms crossed over my chest, trying to keep warm. Before we left, I put on a pair of yoga pants, tennis shoes and one of his hoodies.
Once finished, he throws the shovel over his shoulder, and silently, we start to walk back toward the cathedral and to his SUV. But he surprises me when he opens a back door to the building and pulls me inside.
We walk down a hallway to a door that he shoves open. It’s an office of some sort. He tosses the dirty shovel to the floor and turns to face me.
“What are we …?”
The door opening behind me makes me jump, my heart starts pounding in my chest, and I squeal when I see Gunner pop his head in.
“We’re ready,” he says cheerfully.
Ryat nods. “Thanks.”
Gunner steps inside, places a box on the floor, and then just stands there, staring at me. My wide eyes go to Ryat. “What’s going on?” I ask him.
Stepping into me, he cups my face with his dirt-covered hands and licks his lips. “Do you trust me?”
“Yes,” I say without hesitation even though my body shakes with nervousness. Is this another test? What if I fail?
His eyes search mine. “I need you to go with Gunner.”
“What?” I shriek. “No, Ryat …”
“Trust me, Blake.” He nods to me. “I need you to go with Gunner.”
My stomach is in knots, and my mind runs a hundred miles with all these different scenarios of what is about to happen. Why does he want to get rid of me? Have I not proven that I can stomach what he does? What a Lady is required to do?
“Okay,” I whisper, knowing there’s no fighting with him. And I wasn’t lying. I do trust him. If he wants me to go with Gunner, then that’s what I’ll do.
He leans in and tenderly kisses my forehead, then he takes a step back. His hands drop to his sides, and I turn, giving him my back, and follow Gunner out of the room.
I stay silent while I follow him down the hall and to a new door. This cathedral is large, but I’ve walked this hallway before. Last time, I was dripping wet, and my hands were cuffed behind my back.
Coming to a stop, Gunner pushes open a door. “Ladies first.” He gestures for me to go.
As I step into the room, my body goes rigid when I see pews filled with Lords. They’re all dressed in cloaks and masks while they sit silently. They must have arrived while we were out in the cemetery because when we got here, the parking lot was empty. It took Ryat a good hour to bury her. Maybe even longer than that. All I know is I’m glad it’s warmer in here than it was outside.
Gunner takes my hand and forces my heavy legs to walk to the first pew. There’s already an empty seat on the end, closest to the aisle. I fall down into it and look up at him, expecting him to tell me something that will help me out with what’s going on, but instead, he gives me his back and walks back out the side door, leaving me alone.
My legs start to bounce, and I nervously fiddle with my wedding ring when I hear commotion on the second-story balcony. I look up and see two men dressed in cloaks and masks dragging a woman into the center, where I see a chair already sitting right at the edge of the baptism pool.
All she wears is a T-shirt and a pair of black underwear with a hood over her head. She fights the two Lords, and it causes her already short shirt to show her stomach. They shove her into the chair, where they proceed to zip-tie her wrists to the wooden armrests, then quickly do the same with her ankles.
I swallow nervously, looking around at the Lords sitting in the pews to see a reaction as to what the hell is going on. But they could all be sleeping for all I know since I can’t see their faces.
Is this another ceremony? If so, will I be next? What will we vow to?
The two Lords step away from her, and the one on the left rips the hood off. My hands shoot to my face to cover my mouth before the gasp can escape. It’s Ashley-Matt’s girlfriend.
My eyes dart around the stage, watching both men take several more steps back and cross their arms across their chests.
The sound of a creaking door fills the room, and I look to my right. My stomach drops when I see it’s Ryat. He’s not dressed in a cloak or mask. He’s in his jeans, T-shirt, and combat boots. He’s filthy, covered in dirt, and his shirt is wet from sweat while digging out back.
Slowly, he climbs the stairs to the second floor, taking his time like he has all night. Ashley sees him and thrashes in the chair. Ryat comes to a stop next to her, and I tense.
What is he doing?
Why would he hurt her? She should not be held responsible for Matt’s actions.
Turning, he walks over to a table in the corner and picks up a knife. I go to tell him to stop but cover my mouth with both of my hands before I can get the words out. He told me to trust him. Maybe he’s just going to scare her.
“Ashley,” he calls out her name, and she whimpers, pulling on her restraints. The duct tape over her mouth keeps her from talking. “I assume you know why you’re here?”
She shakes her head, tears running down her face.
He comes to stand beside her and rips the tape off.
“You sorry son of a bitch!” she screams. “Matt is going to kill you!” She shakes her head back and forth, making her bleach-blond hair slap her in the face.
“It’s funny that you think he gives a fuck about you,” Ryat says, and all the Lords chuckle at that.
She bares her teeth at him. “He loves me more than he’ll ever love that bitch.”
My hands drop from my mouth. She has to be talking about me.
“That must be why he wants her so much.” He nods his head. “To prove to you that he loves you more.” Reaching out, he places the tip of the knife to her cheek, and she turns her head away from it the best she can. “We’re going to play a game,” Ryat tells her. “It’s called confessional. Fitting, huh? I’m going to ask you a question, and every time you refuse to answer or lie, I’m going to cut you open.”
“I won’t tell you shit!” she screams.
“That’s what they all say.” He runs the tip of the blade down her neck below her ear, and blood instantly pours from the wound while the high vaulted ceilings fill with her screeching cry.
“We’ll start with something easy,” Ryat announces. “Did you know that Matt and Blakely were together when you met her at the house of Lords party?”
“Yes,” she spits out.
I sit up straighter. She knew who I was? He had told her about me?
“Yet you still agreed to be his chosen before that night?” Ryat asks, tilting his head to the side.
“He told me all about her. The bitch was obsessed with him.”
My teeth grind at her words, but I’m not sure why I’m surprised. Men like Matt always make it sound like all women want them. I did because that’s who I was allowed to want. If I would have had options, I sure as fuck would have chosen someone else to date.
“She was desperate. A fucking hungry bitch who couldn’t take a hint,” she shouts at him. “You should know, she married the first guy she’s ever fucked.”
I think she was trying to make that an insult to Ryat, but he just smiles down at her-proud of that fact he took my virginity.
My hands fist. I actually felt sorry for her, thought that maybe she didn’t know what kind of man he was, but she knew we were together. Knew that I was a virgin. How much else did Matt tell her? Sitting back in the pew, I cross my arms over my chest, ready to listen to what he’s going to make her confess.