SWNOVELS The Sacrifice: Chapter 25
It’s been two weeks since Tyson hijacked my wedding to Luke. Thankfully, my father hasn’t made any more appearances at Blackout. And actually, the more I think about what he did, the more concerned I get. Why would he come here? Why risk being seen? I’m guessing that Bethany helped him sneak in and out. But still, if Tyson saw him, I have no doubt he’d kill my father without thought. Then I’m sure Bethany would rat me out about the fact I was aware he’s been inside of Blackout. She’s been avoiding me and won’t even make eye contact. It also makes me nervous. It’s almost as if Tyson set me up for her to come after me only to get onto her and force her back. My head is spinning from the possibilities of what the fuck is happening. If I could drink, I’d stay drunk just to slow down my mind.
I’m lying in our bed watching TV, eating a bag of chips, when the bedroom door open. Tyson enters. He’s left me alone most days since he punished me for lying to him about what Bethany did. It’s been weird actually. I visit him before my shift, and he fucks me and sends me on my way. I’m up here and asleep before he’s done with what he needs to do, and then I wake up the following morning alone. It’s all part of his head games. Nothing but sex, then total isolation. I don’t exist to him unless he’s using my body.
“Throw on some clothes, we’re leaving in ten minutes,” he announces.
“Where are we going?” I ask, sitting up.
“Our house.”
It’s not the fact that he actually answered that makes me pause. It’s how he called it our house. I swallow nervously, getting out of bed, and I run my hands down my bare thighs. “I’m already dressed,” I say, looking down at my cotton shorts and tank top. Not like I need to look my best just to go to the house. “I can get ready when we get back,” I say, knowing my shift doesn’t start for five hours.
“We’ll be staying there tonight,” he informs me.
“Oh,” I say softly. “So I’m not working tonight?”
“No.” He enters the bathroom, closing the door behind him. The act pisses me off.
I turn the knob to find it unlocked and open it. I push harder than I meant to, and it slams into the interior wall.
He’s standing in front of his sink, washing his hands, and his eyes meet mine in the mirror.
I flinch and mumble, “Sorry.” I didn’t do it on purpose. “Why are we going there?” I haven’t seen daylight other than through the windows of this apartment since our wedding day, and even then, it was raining. So why are we leaving all of a sudden?
He turns off the water, picks up the towel, and spins to face me, wiping off his hands. “We’re going to get ready for a party tonight.”
My frown deepens. “A party at your house?”
“It’s our house.” He tosses the towel and walks over to me. “And no. The party is at the house of Lords.”
My eyes widen. I’ve always wanted to go there. I used to hear my sister talk about it to her friends all the time. They threw some wild parties, and crazy shit went down there. “What kind of party?” I ask nervously. If he’s allowing me to skip my shift, then it must be something important, especially if he won’t be working tonight.
“The senior Lords are graduating from Barrington soon. Tonight is the night they are celebrated for that.” His eyes search mine before he adds. “Your parents will be there.”
I swallow nervously at that thought. I haven’t seen my father since he was here at Blackout, and I haven’t seen my mother since our dinner at the Minson Hotel when I had a vibrating butt plug shoved up my ass. “Will other Ladies be there?” I ask.
He frowns, wondering why I would ask that and avoid the conversation about my parents. “Yes.”
At least I can try and make some friends. I never had that problem growing up. I wasn’t quiet, but I also wasn’t a social butterfly. Not until after Whitney died. Then I had no one. It would be nice to have someone to talk to other than the man I was forced to marry.
A knock sounds on the apartment door, and it makes me jump. No one is ever up here with us.
He turns, exiting the master suite and closing the door behind him.
TYSON
I open the door to the apartment to see Colton and Finn standing there. “You wanted to see us, sir?” Colton asks.
“Come in.” I take a quick look down the hall to make sure she kept our bedroom door shut. “I won’t be at Blackout tonight,” I say, facing them.
Colton crosses his arms over his chest while Finn jumps up and sits on the barstool. “Going to the house of Lords for the graduation party?”
I nod. “And we’ll be staying at the house tonight. I’ll be back here in the morning. So you four are in charge.”
Finn’s eyes go large, and I narrow mine on his. “Don’t fuck it up.”
“Wouldn’t dare.” He raises both of his hands in surrender.
“If anyone causes any problems, put them in the basement and lock them up. We’ll take care of it tomorrow.”
“Yes, sir.” Finn jumps off the barstool.
“And the cop?” Colton asks.
I’ve filled them in on the situation with the missing girl and Collin. And that he is not to be around my wife. They’re not here every night, but when they are, I like the extra eyes on Lake. “What about him?” I snap.
“If he shows up again?” His eyes slide to the hallway as if he knows my wife is back there.
“He won’t stay long.” Not once Collin finds out Laikyn isn’t here. He won’t want to be associated with this place unless it was for a good reason. My wife is the only reason. He is a Lord, but I highly doubt he’s going to the house of Lords party tonight. He’s not required to be there.
The bedroom door opens, and we all look down the hallway to see Lake walking toward us. Her brow furrows as she looks from Colton to Finn and then to me. “Everything okay?” she asks.
“They were just leaving.” I open the front door and nod to the guys as they exit. “Ready?” I ask her.
“Yeah,” she answers slowly while eyeing me. She expects me to say something about the guys, but I’m not going to. Laikyn may be my wife, but she doesn’t need to know anything about how I run Blackout. Or what they do for me.
“Let’s go.”