Filed to story: The LORDS Series Free PDF by Shantel Tessier
She had told me she checked the stalls. That she thought he had set her up to use the last one, but he entered after her. She was targeted. He was there for her and her only, which means he knows who she is.
It shows me cussing out the damn pump. It was taking forever. I eventually give up and storm over to the restroom. I had every intention to rush in there and fuck her ass. Maybe take my belt to it. Whatever I had to do to prove to her that the attitude wasn’t going to go unnoticed or unpunished. But seeing him on top of her changed everything.
The door opens on screen, and my eyes go to hers. She looks terrified. I can see how much she’s shaking while I order her to get in the car. I was on high alert. It wasn’t about trying to calm her down; it was about getting her the hell out of there as soon as possible.
I watch myself throw the guy in the back and get into her SUV, driving off. My eyes go back to the black bike that sits there in the parking lot, and my blood boils at the sight of it.
“Motherfucker!” I slam my hands on the desk and jump to my feet.
“Haidyn?”
I ignore Saint and rush out of the office, and I don’t even bother with the elevator. Instead, I take the stairs down to the basement. Hearing their footsteps shuffling behind me, I shove the door open and grab the set of keys out of my back pocket. I approach the cell we’ve got the naked guy in and unlock it.
He jumps to his feet and lifts his arms to defend his face, but I grab the back of his neck and shove him out into the hallway before I drag him into the open room. Walking past the pits, I bring him to the center and reach up, pulling on the chain that hangs from the ceiling and wrap it around his neck three times.
The guy yells profanities at me, but I ignore him as I yank on the excess chain, forcing him up to his tiptoes. “Don’t worry, it won’t choke you,” I inform him.
Then I go to the far corner, ignoring Saint’s and Kashton’s concerned looks. If they want to stay for the show, then they’re more than welcome. But it would be best if they shut the fuck up and let me work in peace.
I open the cabinet and pull out the things that I want, placing them all on a rolling cart while I hear him struggle behind me. Once I have enough, I roll the cart over to him and pick one up. I press it to his face, and he tilts his head back, trying to get away while his hands grip the chain wrapped around his neck.
“You lied to me.”
He tries to shake his head. “Nnnnoooo.” Spit flies from his mouth. “I didn’t…”
“Why have you been following Charlotte?” I use her fake name to see if he corrects me.
I have no clue what this guy knows, but she had called me and told me that I had been following her on my bike. It wasn’t me. She wouldn’t see the difference between mine, an R1, and his, an R6. His is blacked out like mine, so to her, it was close enough. The question is was that on purpose or coincidence? Funny thing is…I don’t believe in coincidences.
The moment I saw it on the security footage, I knew it had been him. She wasn’t random. He was hired to follow her. The question is was he supposed to just watch her or hurt her? And if so, why make a move when she was with me? Why not have done it when he knew she was alone? Did they want me to find her dead?
“I don’t…”
I shove a knife into his upper thigh.
He screams, his hands lowering to the handle, and he feels around it but doesn’t pull it out.
“These won’t kill you.” I hold one up and examine it. “The two-inch blade has inverted cuts, so once inserted, it locks into your skin. I mean, they can be removed, but…” I put my hand on the handle and give it a little tug, making him cry out. “Yeah, it hurts.” I let it go.
Picking up another one, I speak. “Why were you following Charlotte?”
“I was hired to watch her,” he rushes out.
I stab the second knife into the opposite thigh, and his body jerks as he sobs. “The more information you give willingly, the better your odds,” I inform him, not in the mood for this shit.
“A man,” he rushes out. “I don’t know his name. He came to me…” He pauses. “Told me to watch her. Keep an eye on her…”
“Rape her,” I add, slamming another one into his stomach.
“FUUUCCCKKK!” he screams. His shaking hands go to it, and he tries to pull it out on his own but stops himself with a sob.
“How long?” I growl, getting impatient.
“I…I don’t know…” he rushes out. “Maybe a few months.”
I step back from him as if I was just hit by a man twice my size. They’ve had someone on her for a few months? That’s how long she’s been seeing me? It’s the Lords. They want to make sure she gets the job done.
“Leave him,” I snap to Kash and Saint, who are still being nosy bitches and watching the show. I storm out of the room and take the stairs once again to the first level. Shoving the door open, I’m walking toward the front double doors when a hand grabs my arm and brings me to a stop. I whirl around to see it’s Saint. I rip my arm from his hold. “Don’t…”
“What the fuck is going on, Haidyn?” he demands.
“It doesn’t concern you,” I growl, giving him my back once again.
“Yeah, well, my wife didn’t concern you,” he shouts, and I come to a stop and turn back to face him and Kash. “But you didn’t care about that, did you?”
My teeth grind, and I want to put my fist through his face. We’ve still got unresolved issues regarding Ashtyn. But his words just remind me that this is about him right now and how I betrayed him. And I don’t have time for that. Charlotte is my main concern.
“Haidyn?”
My head snaps up to see Ashtyn standing at the top of the grand staircase. “Oh my God, Haidyn.” She rushes down the stairs, and my eyes remain on Saint’s as she jumps up and wraps her legs around my waist and her arms around my neck. “I’m so glad you’re back.”
“Hey, baby girl,” I say softly, hugging her back. Gently, I push her away, and she gets the hint, lowering herself to her feet.
Silence fills the large foyer, and I finally look away from Saint and down at Ashtyn. I give her a soft smile, and she licks her lips, her eyes filling with tears. She understands I’m not staying. She thought I was officially living back here at Carnage, but that’s just not the case.
With that, I turn and walk out of Carnage, knowing what I need to do.
SIXTY
CHARLOTTE
Ispent the day shopping with the girls. The ones who know who I really am. I’m struggling to know the real me. I like who I am with Haidyn-Charlotte-but I like the life that Annabelle gets to live. She’s not a fake. She’s part of a secret society, but she knows where she belongs.
Charlotte is the lie. She has a fake life and fake friends, but she has Haidyn. He’s the realest thing I’ve ever had in my life.
It’s getting complicated and harder to differentiate between the two people I’m supposed to be. Why can’t I have both?
Then the text. I’ve been trying to decide who I want to be for the rest of my life because I have to choose at ten o’clock tonight.
Give him up or myself.
I needed to clear my head and buy myself some time, so I went shopping. I spent all day blowing money, thinking it would help me. It’s by far the dumbest thing I’ve ever done, but I needed to try something.
Pulling my SUV into the garage, I get out and pop the hatch. It takes both hands to grab all the bags, and even then, it’s a struggle. I even leave the back open and garage up as I get them into the house. I place them all on the kitchen island and turn on the light.
I pull a bottle of wine from the fridge and open it before pouring it into a glass. Checking my cell, I see that I have two hours before Haidyn will be here. He was the only thing on my mind while shopping today. I bought outfits for him, which sounds so stupid in the long run. Not because he doesn’t care what I wear, but because I’ll never see him again after ten o’clock.
I’m trying to convince myself that they just want to talk to him. But even I laugh at that thought. But what if it’s just a test for me? I show up, and they say they just wanted to see if I’d do it?
I take my previous statement back. That was the dumbest idea I’ve ever had.
Tossing back the wine, I swallow the cold liquid, hoping it will drown me and make the decision for me. I feel like turning Haidyn in is betraying me now. But can I live with myself, not knowing what will happen to him? I’ve seen the videos and how he stood up for Ashtyn. What he’s been through. What if he’s just misunderstood?
I can be that woman for him, right? I’ve handled him so far. I want him to see me differently. Again, so fucking stupid.
Making my way to my bedroom, I pass the living room and come to a stop when I see someone sitting on my couch. The lights are off, but I can see the shadowy figure. I want to be afraid, but instead, I smile that he’s here. I flip the switch on the wall. “You’re early…”