Page 7 of Shadows Within

I crouch to feel her neck. There’s no pulse.

“Who did this?” I look back to a couple of the pledges, Josh and Kyle, who stand behind me in the doorway.

No answer.

“Get her the hell out of here. We don’t need a scene. Her body can’t be found.”

Josh and Kyle move into action. One of them brings in a clear tarp, while the other brings tape and bleach.

“Take her to the basement.” I search her for any personal belongings. Then, Kyle wraps her up and Josh throws her over his shoulder, like she doesn’t weigh anything.

The estate used to be a funeral parlour. In other words, it was part of a front and The Society only allow the wealthy and powerful to step foot inside. Now, there’s a crematory in the basement for when things like this happen.

My jaw tightens as they take her downstairs. I head toward the parlour. This wasn’t an accident. It’s a sign that things are slipping and order isn’t being followed. I won’t stand for it.

I barge through the door and see Deluca, still sitting in the chair.

“Who was it?” My tone is flat and cold.

He doesn’t say anything but his eyes flash to Jasper, a second-year pledge.

“It’s just a fucking game, Callum. She knew what she was getting into. No need to do anything stupid.” His words are loud and sloppy.

“Shut. The. Fuck. Up.” The room is dead quiet. All eyes are on me.

Jasper opens his mouth to speak but I beat him to it.

“You don’t talk about women like that, you don’t talk about The Society like that, and you sure as hell never let things get this far.”

Just looking at him fills me with rage. This is why Deluca called me.

I grab Jasper’s collar with my hands and shove him. He stumbles and falls against the floor. Before he can move, I pin myself on top of him. My right fist meets his jaw, and I hit him in the face, again and again. I lift him up off the ground, just enough to slam him back down.

“Get your shit together. You want to play this game, you play it right. You don’t make it personal, and you don’t get sloppy.”

I push myself off him and kick him in the ribs as I stand. I straighten my ironed shirt. No one moves. Jasper coughs and gasps for air. He doesn’t look at me, but I stare straight into his eyes.

I have zero sympathy for him.

“Next time you forget your place, it will be worse. You won’t get a second chance.”

“Everyone out.” Deluca drawls, unimpressed. “Callum, come have a drink.” He motions at me with his glass.

I walk slowly over to the bar and pour myself some scotch. I take a few steps toward the bookshelf and lean against it, facing Deluca.

“He needed that,” Deluca says, lifting his eyebrow.

I don’t need a pat on the back. I chug my drink and put the glass down on the shelf.

“I’ll go deal with the body.”

I look up at him and wonder what made him so controlled, but I already know the answer—legacy, family, and expectations. Matthew Deluca has been in The Society for over ten years. He knows about earning respect and keeping order within The Society. He’s an investment banker by day, and a cold-blooded monster by night.

I nod and hasten down the spiral staircase to the main floor. Thick red curtains fight to block light out as I head toward theback of the house, down another set of stairs. Guilt tries to creep in, but I force myself to block it out.

I turn the lights on and flick a switch to heat the oven. Emily’s still body lies on a cold metal table. The sound of the furnace heating up hums in the background.

I need to do this. I check the temperature.