Page 42

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

I stood in front of the corpse that was lying in our bed. She now wore a red-lace lingerie set and a white wig had been put on top of her head.

“You’re going to fuck her and me. Then, I’ll have you both.”

A video recorder was set up in front of the bed. “Don’t worry, my love, I only keep these films for my personal collection.”

“Shall we?” He began to direct me to get on top of her.

“Kiss her.” Stomach acid rose in my throat as I straddled the corpse. Closing my eyes, I started to think about Bradley. He’d get to leave, and maybe he’d get to change. Maybe therapy or something could help heal the childhood trauma that led him to this path, or maybe he’d just finally soak in the sun and live a real life.

I pressed my lips against the shriveled ones in front of me. “Open your eyes and use tongue.” I turned and looked at Alister pleadingly as he stroked himself in bed.

“Do it, Demi!” he barked at me and then revealed a knife. “Do it well, or do it while bleeding.” He waved it at me before I did as I was told.

He forced himself on me, brushing his naked body against mine as he kept telling me what to do. I hated myself and I hated him. I hated her for being here, even in death. My mind spiraled as he raped the corpse, and then choked me as he forced himself inside me.

I didn’t see him, I didn’t see her, I just let myself die inside.

I knew once he choked me hard enough, I’d lose consciousness. “Harder, Alister,” I begged.

And just like that, everything went black.

* * *

I opened my eyes, and they immediately grew wider. I was staring straight at the corpse. Her lips were painted red. Did Alister put lipstick on her?

“She’s beautiful, but you are far more gorgeous. I’ll have her lips added to my art. I can’t believe I never did earlier.” His arms tightened around me as he squeezed. “Last night was everything of my fantasy and more, my raven,” he softly said into my ear.

I sat up and wiggled out of his grip full of disgust and remorse. “When is Bradley leaving?”

“Today. Although I didn’t want to, but I think it’ll provide you closure. He’s requested that you come and say goodbye to him. I told you I’d make your wish come true.”

I slid out of the bed from the end and turned to Alister, who was cradling the dead woman next to him. He kissed her lips and smiled back at me. “Don’t be jealous.” Red lipstick was smeared on his mouth.

“I’m going to shower and get dressed.” Everything hurt inside, and I didn’t want to even think about what Alister had done to my body after I fell unconscious.

“I love you, Demi,” Alister called out to me. When I didn’t return it, his voice changed. “Say it back.” He warned.

I knew I had to stay strong. “I love you, Alister.” Looking down, I added, “I’m just feeling very shy after our wild night.”

A look of pleasure painted his face as he sank back under the covers. “Go on, my love. Bradley is leaving in thirty-minutes.”

I scrubbed my body so hard that my skin felt raw. I brushed my teeth and gargled with mouthwash before crying into the sink just to cleanse and purge the death, torture, and pain I could feel seeping into my every crevice.

I quickly tugged on a black dress. I knew Bradley would be down below somewhere before he left.

Racing around, I left the penthouse and picked up my pace in fear I’d miss him, but as soon as I got to the garden, I stopped. It was a peony garden.

This is where all the girls who are brutally raped, beaten, used, and tortured eventually went to rest after their corpses were defiled and abused. And on top of their graves, beautiful peonies grew that guests were given to consume. Alister really did make himself out to be some kind of sick environmentalist with his recycle, reduce, and reuse mantra.

“Demi.” Bradley came around and was dressed in a black suit. “Why, Dem?” His voice broke as his eyes glistened. They weren’t green; he took his contacts out.

“Why didn’t you choose Layla? Alister told me he gave you a choice between us.” He put his hands on my hips and hugged me.

“She’s pregnant. Sage will need the baby in order to keep her quiet about Declan. But now, you can find a way into your baby’s life.” I smiled sadly.

“I need you to promise me you’ll get out, too,” he whispered into my ear. “Please, Demi. This can’t be the end.”

I pulled away and looked at him. “Go find your happily ever after, Bradley Ivory.” Tears streamed down my face as I stood on my tiptoes and planted a kiss on his cheek.

But he turned my face and kissed me on my lips. “No.” I shook my head. “You will always be Layla’s, and until then, just be…” I stepped away as he stared at me.

“This is for you.” He handed me a golden key. “It’s not on the map. It was once used in the resort as Alister’s in-house prison for the men who didn’t follow his rules. But now it’s empty. Declan is there, and however you choose to kill him, well…he’ll never be found. You have to go down to the bottom floor, exit, and then take the secret elevator in the back corner past the janitorial closet. It’s all hidden behind a tunnel, Demi.”

I clutched the key to my chest. I was going to kill Declan Rothschild, protect Bradley and Layla’s baby from having that sick bastard as their father, and get revenge for what he did to me and the others. I was making up for the fact that I once left girls like Sage behind and now she’d finally be free.

It was poetic in a way. “Go.” I pointed to the golf cart.

“Come with me.” Bradley gripped my wrist.

Taking one deep breath in, I wiped the tears from his face. “This time there isn’t enough room for Rose…there’s only enough room for Jack.”

“I hate this sinking ship. It forced us to fight for our lives when all we wanted to do was sail. I’m sorry I was too much of a coward. I knew they’d find us all along, so I thought if you and I went here willingly, then we’d get to be together. I never thought Alister would change the course so much. I’ll always love you, but please let her know I love her and I’m sorry.”

One of the greatest gifts in life is realizing that it is not your job to fix something you didn’t break. I didn’t break any of this, but ultimately, only a few of us get to have the band-aid, and in that moment, we must decide to fix it or choose our own peace. I fixed something I didn’t break, and I set him free from his cage.

“Promise me you’ll leave here and meet me. I don’t think I can leave knowing you’re staying here, dying here…” He began to question everything, and I knew the feeling. Feeling like you should carry guilt for surviving. Feeling like you’re a coward for taking the opportunity no one else has.

“I promise you I’ll escape, too.” Part of me knew I would escape, but the other part knew I would never go find him. When I escaped, I’d never want to be around any of them again. I’d need to just finally be set free from my own gilded cage, and that meant leaving them all behind.

“See you soon, Demi.” And just like that, Bradley Ivory had left my life. This time forever.