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CHAPTER SIX

Alister Ivory was pouring himself a glass of whiskey as I awkwardly stood in his bedroom. His bed was massive, covered in silk and black sheets. My breathing slowed as I eyed the mirrored ceiling, staring back at my reflection. “Would you like anything to drink?” Alister asked me, his voice low.

I turned to him and walked to the built-in bar he was at. Taking the glass from his hand, my fingers brushed against his thick gold rings. I took a sip of the strong liquor and shuddered. Alister scoffed.

“I had heard of you from my brother, Ian. He told me they’d finally found you. He was thrilled you’d be marrying Conrad.” Alister poured another glass and joined me on the balcony. The sky was bright blue and melted into the stunning ocean.

“Ian and I had a tumultuous relationship, to say the least.” Alister winced, then tossed the whiskey back. “But you killed them all. My heroine.”

“Bradley. Clearly, I didn’t kill him.” I hated how I still had positive emotions for Bradley. How memories of him gifting me a pair of Nikes or of him giving me a reason to fight, flooded over the fact that he had lied to me. He was just as evil as all of them. He wanted to come here and take over this…empire.

“It’s not Bradley. The man you saw is Warren, who is Bradley’s twin brother. Ian and I had an agreement to separate them. It was Ian’s way of voiding Bradley of any emotion and Warren has become my well, just as Bradley was to Ian. A man who is willing to do anything for this family and business because he has nothing outside of these walls.”

I looked at Alister, shaking my head. “You are all liars. I know it’s him.”

Alister filled the space between us and brushed his thumb against my bottom lip once more. “Bradley had a small birthmark on his lower cheek, did you know that?”

Swallowing, I knew exactly what he was talking about. “Warren does not have that.” Alister moved away and opened a drawer, pulling out a photo album. “Here.” He tapped his finger against a black-and-white image of two young boys.

They were identical beyond the birthmark.

How could Bradley have never mentioned a twin brother, and why was he not in any of the photos he had shown me on the boat?

“Demi, take your clothes off.” Alister took the album and flung it to a corner of the room.

My hand tightened around the glass as the ice melted from the warmth of my palm. “Alister…”

“You’re the first and only woman who has dared to call me by my name.” He drew his finger against my collarbone.

I rolled my shoulders back. “I’m not taking my clothes off.”

Gripping my wrist aggressively, he pulled me toward the fireplace. “Look up there. Do you see it?”

I followed his finger to the strangely crafted painting. It was textured and red. Squinting, I couldn’t understand what I was looking at.

“The lips of women who spoke back to me. Luckily, our in-house florist knew just how to preserve and dry them after I sliced them off their pretty little faces.” Alister sighed and crossed his arms.

I felt my throat close as he dropped his eyes back to mine. “I’d like to start work today.”

Taking my hand, he placed it on his crotch, and I could feel him becoming aroused. “Then who will tend to this and my other needs?”

I tugged my hand away and knew that I had to tread carefully with defiance.

The lips on the wall had my stomach tumble, even though my former boss had decorated with bones. Something about the way Alister had probably raped and kissed those same lips before ripping them off those innocent girls’ faces had my eyes watering. I knew those lips trembled in fear as he stole their lives away from them.

“Mr. Ivory, I kindly request that you allow me to do the job I was assigned to do here. As you know, I’ve always just wanted a place to live and a job. I know there are new guests checking in today, and I’d hate to upset the other…girls by disappearing and having fun.” I smiled.

Alister’s eyebrow lifted as he cupped my face. “My brother and nephews were right about you. You are worthy enough to be the favorite girl.” He tucked a straggling piece of hair behind my ear before snapping his fingers.

“Yes, sir?” I was startled by the woman in a flowy white gown.

“Take Demi to meet with the couple she’s been assigned to.” Alister waved me away.

Turning over my shoulder, I mustered the confidence to ask. “What are the black dresses for?” Referring to the cart he had a woman roll in, filled with various dresses.

Alister grinned. “You’ll see soon, my raven. So very soon. Off you go with my dear Sarah.” All these women looked so similar, I couldn’t tell if they were different girls or the same, and Alister was simply changing their name.

The woman beside me guided me out. She didn’t blink, her lips were thin with nude lipstick streaked across. Her hair was slicked back in a perfect blonde ballerina bun.

I silently followed her into the elevator.

“He’s not a bad man,” Sarah whispered with her fingers laced together.

I looked at her reflection through the glass in the elevator.

Letting out a small laugh, I grabbed her arm and took her by surprise. “You silly little girl… Don’t you know all men are bad.”

The elevator doors slid open, and we both stepped out. The resort was truly beautiful. It was pristine in every way. “Come quickly.” Sarah picked up her pace, but as I tried to do the same, I tripped over something. Not something…rather, someone.

“Oh my god.” It was Taylor from the orientation. She was on her hands and knees, sweeping with a hand-sized broom and tiny dustpan.

Tiny specks of sand were in it. Was she seriously being told to sweep sand?

“Sorry,” I mumbled and patted her shoulder.

Her eyes shot opened as she looked at me. “No, you’re not. You don’t even recognize me. You left us behind to die.” Her voice was raspy as she stared at me.

“Wh—” Memories of the caged girls from the Ivory estate flooded me. No, there was no way. She wasn’t there. Those girls… Those girls were meant to become brides.

“You left us all behind.” Multiple voices echoed around me as I was surrounded by a sea of white and green eyes.

“No, please no!” I screamed and slapped my hands against my ears.

A moment later, I felt a sharp sting against my cheek. “Shut your mouth.” It was my roommate, Marcie. She was standing there, staring at me with agitation.

“Kandi, fix her face. Mr. and Mrs. Rothschild have been checked into their rooms and then taken to the separate pools. You need to meet with Mrs. Rothschild first before going down to…” Marcie flicked her eyes to Kandi, who was brushing my face with makeup.

“Demi, don’t screw this up. If you do, you won’t be the only one dying. Alister kills all the girls who are assigned to the new girl. That’s me, Kandi, Taylor, Sarah…basically anyone you’ve interacted with here.”

This was it. This was how they had their iron chokehold around our necks.

“I promise, I won’t.” I had to pull it together. I needed to focus on the bigger picture. Why was I here?