SWNOVELS Fear The Reapers: Chapter 13
When we loaded up into Ezra’s grey G-wagon, they didn’t blindfold me, which was surprising. Ezra sat me in the passenger seat while Cyrus and Tristan stuffed their large bodies into the back. Every few seconds, I’d glance in the rearview mirror and notice one of their eyes on me. I was in a car full of men that looked like and probably were deranged killers, but that wasn’t what scared me.
On the drive into town, I realized The Reapers had to seriously value their privacy. Their home was so deep in the forest that it would be impossible for someone to stumble upon it by accident. We drove for miles at a steep decline down windy roads surrounded by dark, lush forest. It wasn’t until we leveled out that I started to see signs of civilization. I now knew that if I tried to make a run for it, it would take hours for me to make it down the hill on foot.
After another ten minutes of driving through downtown Caspian, the car finally stopped and pulled up behind a large brick building.
Ezra seemed relaxed as we made our way towards the building’s back entrance, but Cyrus and Tristan were on edge. They walked in behind us and though I couldn’t see their expressions under the dark night sky, I could feel the tension radiating off of them. Neither of them seemed to like whatever was about to happen.
Ezra slipped his hand into his pocket for his access card. It was the same card the guys used to enter and exit the house, and as the light turned green on the card reader, I could see that it also worked to access whatever this building housed.
Ezra’s arm reached out to push the heavy wooden door open, allowing me room to enter before him. The pitch black hallway vibrated with the steady hum of house music playing in the distance. I hesitated for a few beats in the darkness until I felt Cyrus’ arm slide across my back. His hand was gentle yet firm as he guided me forward, and his distinct scent of warm citrus and spice put my mind at ease. I had no idea why my body zinged every time I felt his touch, but I lavished in the assurance he gave me.
As we made our way down the hallway, a small beam of light radiated from the end of the hallway. I moved to follow that light and prayed that whatever was about to happen wouldn’t make things worse for me.
After a few feet, my eyes made out a small figure standing in the distance. It was a woman, and she was stunning. She had warm olive skin, a dark wavy bob, and bright emerald eyes that reflected the club’s hypnotic lights. She was wearing a ruby spaghetti strapped, floor length silk dress that hugged every curve and paired it with a dazzling pair strappy and probably designer heels.
“Who do we have here?” She asked with a smile as her eyes carefully assessed me.
“Jessie, meet Stevie. Stevie, this is Jessie, the manager of this fine establishment.” Offered Cyrus.
“Welcome to Hell’s Tavern.” She said, giving me a toothy smile.
“Thank you.” I responded, relieved that there was at least one kind person in their world.
“Hey Jess, can you do something about Stevie’s attire?” Cyrus asked, giving me a once over, “She doesn’t quite fit the dress code.”
I hated the embarrassment that flamed my cheeks. Out of the five of us, I was the only person in the room not dripped head to toe in expensive designer clothes and for the first time in my life; I gave a fuck about what that said about me.
“Of course.” She nodded, slipping her hand into mine. “Come with me, love.”
I glanced at the guys, unsure if I should go. Then immediately cursed myself for looking to those assholes for permission. They may have bartered to have me in their home, but they didn’t own my thoughts or my body.
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“That looks great.” Jessie said encouragingly as she squeezed my shoulders and looked at my reflection in the mirror.
As I stared into the reflective glass, I barely recognized the girl staring back at me. The dress was a short, silky number in all black. It hugged every curve of my body, accentuating my hourglass figure and thick thighs. When the light reflected on the material, it almost looked like a dark pool of water rippling across my body. The outfit was sex incarnate, and it made the Halloween corset I tried to pass off as sexy, look cheap and comical.
The shoes she gave me were just as beautiful. Strappy black heels encrusted with little silver spikes on the straps. The ensemble was definitely different from my usual wardrobe, but I somehow still felt like myself.
“Jessie, I don’t know how I’m ever going to pay you back for these things.”
“Girl, don’t worry about it. Your guys are taking care of everything.” She said with a wink.
“They aren’t my guys.” I said, shaking my head.
“It doesn’t seem that way.” She said, giving me a pointed look. “They’ve never brought a woman here before.”
I didn’t respond as I eyed myself in the mirror one last time and let the weight of her words sink in. I didn’t have the heart to tell her that the only reason they were so protective over me was because, for all intents and purposes, they owned me.
I didn’t give a fuck about their reputation, but I didn’t want Jessie to feel sorry for me. After getting to know each other, Jessie felt like a friend. She grew up in Caspian Valley, like me, and she understood how out of my element I was.
“Come on, you look fab. They’re literally going to be eating out of the palm of your hand.”
That made a small smile slip to my lips. Maybe I could find a way out of this. A man’s greatest weakness was his cock. If I could get The Reapers to think with theirs, I might stand a chance of getting out of here in one piece.
After finishing up my makeup, Jessie led me straight to the bar for a drink. I leaned against the cool granite countertop and fought the urge to search for the guys in the crowd. Something about her words struck a nerve with me. I wanted to see what kind of reaction my new wardrobe would elicit from them.
As Jessie began collecting the ingredients to make me one of her signature Hellhound cocktails, my eyes wandered around the crowded room in search of The Reapers.
Scanning the crowd of people swaying to the music, my eyes caught on a light streaming in from the outside. The front entrance. A figure appeared in the light, and I had to do a double take to make sure my eyes weren’t deceiving me. What the hell was DC doing here?
I don’t know why it surprised me. This place with its classy suede furniture and extravagant cocktails seemed like a place someone like DC would love. I just never expected to see someone from my old life in this new world.
If he knew what happened to me, knew what kind of danger I was in, surely he’d step in and save me from these assholes. We never spoke about what he did for a living, but he seemed like a guy that had connections in high places.
I broke away from the bar and pushed into the crowd, trying to move towards him. Body after body banged into me, but I couldn’t stop now. The asshole Reapers had probably seen me leave Jessie’s side, and if I turned back now, they’d be waiting for me and I’d miss my one shot at escaping.
DC looked as stoic as ever as his eyes searched through the crowd. He hadn’t seen me, that much was obvious because he made no move to step towards me. As I pushed my way through the crowd, a window opened, finally giving me a better look at him.
Relief swelled in my chest. I would tell him everything and maybe he could help me get out of here and get back to Alex. I’d run forever if I had to, but I couldn’t risk being stuck with them for good. DC was my way out.
The moment a slim blonde woman stopped in front of him and wrapped her slender arms around his torso, my heart sunk. DC pulled her in for a kiss on the cheek and whispered something in her ear before grabbing her hand and rushing her to the other side of the room. I stood there in shock, unable to move or think as dancing body after dancing body bumped into me.
I felt a small hand grip my wrist and physically yank me away from the dance floor. I knew I should have moved my legs and helped whoever it was get me out of there, but all I could focus on was the feeling of my heart shattering. He had a fucking girlfriend.
“Are you okay?” Jessie asked, a look of concern furrowing her brows.
“I’m fine.” I responded, trying to hold back the tears welling in my eyes.
“What happened? Why were you staring at him like that?”
“Nothing.” I said, shaking my head. “It’s stupid.”
“It’s okay babe,” she said, squeezing my hand, “don’t take it personally. Out of all of them, Atlas is the one who cares the most about appearances. He may want to fuck a girl that comes from our side of town, but he’ll never love someone without status.”
“A-Atlas?”
“Yeah, I saw you staring at him and Melanie Diaz.”
I stared at her, unmoving. Atlas. DC was Atlas.
“The engagement news is all anyone can talk about. Let me guess, you guys were fucking around?”
“Something like that.” I bit out, my eyes looking everywhere but at hers as deep shame flamed my cheeks.
“You’re better off without him. Don’t waste your heart on him or any of his brothers. I don’t know how your paths ended up crossing but trust me, they may be a good fuck, but none of them would ever settle down with a girl like us.”
“Thanks.” I said, faking a smile I didn’t feel for the new friend that just ripped my heart apart.
The overwhelming need to cry barrelled through me, but I fought against it and followed Jessie back towards the bar. This was all too much to handle. DC was Atlas. Not only was Atlas the fucking leader of The Reapers and therefore the man that negotiated buying my sister, but he had been visiting me almost every night with a fucking girlfriend, I’m sorry a fiance.
I hated him. Hated everything about him and all the lies he let me believe for the last two years. He wasn’t a hero; he was a villain, and he was going to regret ever playing with my life.
He and his brothers wanted to own me? Well, I would make sure that they would regret the day they ever agreed to Malcolm’s arrangement. No one could ever own me, and The Reapers were about to find out just how broken their little toy was.