Page 94

I sit there on a stump and breathe, pulling air deep into my lungs as I try to calm myself down even further. It’s why I’m the head of the fucking Society. I’ve always been able to be calm in a crisis. Honestly, it makes even more sense now. My fears have all but been confirmed.

With Ashleigh, I can’t think rationally. And I bet that’s what they’re banking on. For her sake, I need to get it the fuck together.

Pulling in a deep breath through my nose, I tip my head back and allow the cool breeze to wash over me. Ashleigh needs me right now. I have to stay strong for her.

Once I’m back under control, we inch forward, doing our best to stay silent in this maze of wreckage. As the sun begins to wane, each step becomes far more precarious.

I keep my sights locked on Sergei. Where he walks, I walk. Grigori takes the rear, keeping an eye out for surprises that may come from behind.

Minutes crawl by like hours until an odd clicking noise catches my attention. Sergei pulls up short and holds up his fist, instructing us all to stop. It’s such a weird sound. Like a pop or a sizzle. Maybe both?

Soon, lights pop up one by one, turning the whole space into a hellish nightmare. What bulbs are not completely shattered coax to life and cast shadows everywhere. A grindy bit of music comes from a nearby ride, making everything feel like a horror movie.

Nothing like a flair for the dramatic. Thankfully, it helps us better see where we’re going. As we continue to pick our way forward, my phone buzzes again.

Ashleigh.

Hold on baby, I’m coming. I’m going to get you out of this.

“You’re fucking him. Aren’t you? Don’t you fucking lie to me. Why isn’t he answering his phone?”

The voice is a bit clearer and damn it all if it doesn’t sound so fucking familiar. It’s a voice I’ve heard before. Not often, but often enough.

If I close my eyes, I can almost conjure a memory, but the face eludes me. I know he’s been at the castle before, but that’s now where my closest memory is. God. If only I could figure this out.

“Why are you doing this to us?” a younger male voice cries out.

That must be Caldwell. At least that means he’s not in on this. Or if he is, this stranger double crossed them. Either way, I put him out of my mind and concentrate on the other voice.

“Shut up. You’ve already done your part. Your pitiful protests have been noted. Unless you want your parents to find pieces of you, I’d suggest you keep to yourself so I can fully concentrate on our lovely girl here. So where is he? Why the fuck isn’t he picking up? Did you two have a fight?”

“I- I don’t know,” my girl whimpers. “Please. I don’t know anything.”

Exhaustion and fear line her voice, and it tears at my heart. I don’t know how much she’s endured or for how long, but I’m pretty sure she can’t take that much more.

“Was he supposed to meet you today? Hmmm? Fuck this pretty little pussy.”

“Please, stop,” she sobs out.

Since there’re no sounds of violence, I can only assume he’s doing something far worse, something far more sinister. Again, red tinges my vision until my breathing changes. He’s fucking touching my girl, hurting her in a way that carries no visible scars.

I was already going to kill him. Now he’ll be lucky if I don’t fillet his fucking dick while he’s still alive to feel it. Sergei and Grigori watch me, their gazes wary as they take a step back.Get it together John. You can kill the bastard later, but Ashleigh comes first. Just focus on Ashleigh.

When Sergei nods again, we start our trek until we get to a few more broken-down rides. From there, a small courtyard of sorts opens up, giving me a good view of what’s going on.

There, off to the side, is a cage with the Morgan boy. He looks a little worse for wear, but nothing a hot bath and a good massage might fix. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about Ashleigh.

Her body sways, held aloft by a set of rusty looking chains. They bite into her skin, causing blood to drip down and splatter against her head and shoulders. So far, I can’t see anything else wrong with her, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t injure her anywhere else.

There’s a few cuts and bruises on her face, no doubt where he hit her for not knowing my whereabouts. My lips curl in a silent snarl as I watch him move about her like he owns her. He touches her with a familiarity that has me wanting to rip his flesh from his bones with my bare fucking hands.

With his back to me, I still can’t tell who the fucking guy is. I hate that he feels so familiar, but I can’t place him. Have I slipped that much?

His hand slides down into her pants and disappears beneath the fabric. It doesn’t take a genius to know what he’s doing. Ashleigh screams out and bucks against him, but with her arms trapped overhead, each jerk is just ineffectual.

Rough hands dig into my arms and shoulders. It’s the only reason I know I must be moving forward. They hold me back as he yanks his hand from her pants and shoves them into her face.

“Finally. Knew I’d get you wet eventually. Whores like you always do.”