Filed to story: The LORDS Series Free PDF by Shantel Tessier
I take a step back, her hand dropping to her side. “What … what is going on?” My voice is rough, throat scratchy. “How did you know…?” I start to cough and clear my throat. “How did you get in?” How did they even know this is where I was?
My mother smiles at me like she didn’t tell me to kill myself just days ago. “How did I get in?” She pulls a key from her pocket and sets it down. “My key.”
“Where did you get that?” My voice shakes while trying to catch my breath. Why would Sin give her a key to our house?
“I bought this house for you.”
My heart races at her words. “No,” I say, shaking my head. “You didn’t.”
She frowns. “Who do you think owns this place?”
“Me. And Sin.”
“Oh, honey.” She starts laughing and looks over at Lincoln who gives me a pity look. “Why, why would you think that?”
“Because he bought it…” I trail off as they both start to laugh. “We signed paperwork. He added me to it.” I’ve never bought a house before. I don’t know what it requires but he had everything ready. Said it was done and ours.
“I did not raise you to be this na?ve, Elli.” My mother shakes her head. “Me and Lincoln bought you this house while we were away getting married. It was Lincoln’s idea.” She points at him and my stomach drops. Why would he want to buy me a house? He wanted me at home where they are. He even told me, said he’d make those six years with James feel like heaven.
I’m still asleep. This is a nightmare. It has to be.
“He wanted to give you a gift. Since we eloped and knew the wedding announcement would be … hard on you. It’s a gift. From us.” She opens her arms out wide, gesturing to the house.
I shake my head, taking another step back. “No.”
She sighs heavily, looking at Linc, but he shrugs. Obviously not knowing what to do or say to make me believe their lies.
“Yes, Elli. This is from us. Here…” She opens her large Louis and pulls out a set of papers. “These are your copies. I brought them for you to have.” Handing me a manila envelope, my shaking hands take it.
Opening it up, I pull out the deed to the house. It’s got multiple signatures. It looks the same as what me and Sin signed. But my name is nowhere on it. Just my mom’s signature and Linc’s.
“You’ll need these too.” She hands me another set of papers. “This is the trust. It’s all yours. Free and clear.”
“This has to be a joke,” I whisper more to myself. They printed off the fake papers online to fuck with me.
“Seriously.” She huffs and digs out her phone this time. A few seconds later, she’s showing me emails. It’s between her and a real estate agent. The woman sent her pictures of this house. It’s fully furnished, just like it was the day me and Sin arrived. It talks about a cash sale. Closing date. How she wants it ready before she gets back.
My heart is hammering. He lied. He lied about Amelia. About this house. About how he loves me. What else hasn’t been the truth? I fall into the chair at the island and try to keep the tears back.
“Honey.” She places her hand on mine and I look up at her. “The house isn’t the reason we’re here.”
“What is?” What else could it fucking be? And where the hell is Sin? After he was done with me last night in the basement, he gave me a shower and laid me in bed. Did he lie down with me? I can’t remember. What time is it even right now? How long have I been out?
“Me and Lincoln have decided on your future.”
“My future?” The headache I already have intensifies.
She nods. “We’ve found you a husband.”
“No.” I jump to my feet. “I’m not getting married, Mom.” We’ve talked about this. She knows how I feel.
“We-“
“Darling, have a seat,” Linc interrupts her, and she nods, doing as she’s told. “See, Elli, after the incident at the reception. We’ve decided that it’s time you settle down. Become a Lady.”
“I don’t want-“
“This isn’t up for discussion, dear,” my mother states, her tone harder than before. “You will settle down with a respected Lord. And you’ll be initiated into a Lady.” She reaches out and grabs her purse. End of conversation. “The wedding will be in two weeks,” she states and Linc walks over to grab her hand.
Wedding? Two weeks? Initiated? “Wait,” I shout desperately as they go to exit the house. “Can I choose? Who I marry?”
“No. It’s been decided. Lincoln met with him this morning. And he’s agreed.” She lets go of his hand and walks over to me. She cups my face. “You’re lucky anyone will marry you, Elli. With your … past and current situation.” Her eyes roam my tangled hair and swollen face with disgust. “You’ll see this is for the best.”
My chest is so tight it hurts to breathe. I always feared this would happen. She’d dictate what I do, who I can date. The older I got, the less I thought about it. This has to be Lincoln. He’s making an example of me. Getting her to throw me away for good. “What about Sin?” I whisper.
She frowns. “He’s already promised to marry, Elli. Jesus, did he not tell you anything? You know how this works. Honestly, I don’t even know why you dated him in the first place knowing it couldn’t go anywhere.”
Couldn’t go anywhere? I never thought about marriage, but I also never thought about him marrying either. “No.” I shake my head. How long had I been asleep, for Christ’s sake? “He’s not…”
“The families announced their engagement this morning, Elli.” Her eyes soften and she sighs.
My shoulders shake. This morning? After he fucked me in this house. “Who?” I lick my cracked lips. The gag from our time in the basement yesterday was rough on them. “Who is it?”
“Amelia Cleary.” She smiles. “She’s lovely. The whole family. Her mother is a friend of mine.” She reaches up and pats the side of my cheek. “She’s the one who sold us this house.”
He’s marrying his chosen? My legs give out, and I fall into my seat once again. She kisses my cheek. “I’ll see you Thursday. We’ll do lunch.” Then she takes Lincoln’s hand and leaves my house. Their house?
It’s supposed to belong to me and Sin. How … What happened? He told me yesterday that I was his. He’s branded my inner thigh. He tattooed me …
“Look at that,” he whispers in my ear. His arms have to hold me up, my legs too tired.
Opening my eyes, I look over my shoulder to the mirror in the bathroom to see SIN across my lower back, right above my ass. It’s red and a little bloody. I whimper and he brings my face to look up at him while he stands in front of me. “You … tattooed me.” My voice is rough. I had an idea what he was doing. I could hear the buzzing and feel the needle in my skin. I got off on it. The pain, the fact that I knew he was claiming me again in his own way turned me on.
Cupping my cheek, his blue eyes search mine before he lowers his face, so close our lips almost touch. “You’re goddamn right I did.” I whimper. “It’s a reminder that you belong to me. Always have and always will.” Then his lips capture mine in a breathtaking kiss.
I refuse to believe he tattooed his name on me yesterday and then announced an engagement this morning. That’s not something you do on a whim. He would have known they were going to announce it.
“Sin?” I call out, my voice cracking in the now silent house.
Getting to my feet, I run to our bedroom. I open the closet door and my breath catches, all of his stuff is gone. No. This can’t be happening.
I run back to the bed and pick up my cell. I call his. “You’ve reached Sin-” Straight to voicemail.
I do it again. Same. I decide to call Kira. She answers on the second ring. “Where are you?” I rush out, not even waiting for her greeting. Entering the kitchen once again, I grab my car keys.
She yawns. “House of Lords.”
“Is Sin there?” I’m sliding a pair of shoes on that lay by the front doors. Bending over makes the skin across my back pull tight, reminding me of the tattoo that is now there for the rest of my life.
“I haven’t seen him.”
“Is his car there?” I demand.
“Elli-“
“Kira, please. Check for me.” I’m running down the steps and to my car parked in the driveway.