The Sacrifice: A Dark Revenge Romance

She starts to stir as I sit in the chair by the window, finishing my drink. I thought about tying her down to the bed, gagged and blindfolded. Just to watch her squirm as she woke and realized she was at my mercy, but I decided against it. I like to watch my wife’s eyes go wide when I catch her in a lie. Or the sound of her breathing picking up when she realizes I know something that she hasn’t told me.

I’d much rather punish her after I get the information I want to hear.

Rolling over to face me, she snuggles into the pillow. Her eyes still closed and still half asleep. Wanting to refuse to wake up and greet the day. It’s not even seven yet, so it’s still early.

I take a sip of my whiskey, the ice in the glass clinking, and her eyes spring open, landing right on mine. A soft smile spreads across her pretty face as she speaks. “Hey.” Her voice is soft, showing just how drowsy she is. It instantly makes my cock harden. “How long have you been home?” She sits up, pushing her back into the headboard.

I take another drink, and she frowns. “I fired Bethany last night.”

She drops her eyes to the comforter and sighs heavily. I open my mouth to speak, but her words make me pause. “Did you sleep with her?”

“Why the fuck would I sleep with her?” I growl, angry with my wife. Not only for asking that dumbass question but also for lying to me. She’s trying to deflect.

Her eyes narrow on mine. “You’ve done it before.”

“Yes, but …” I pause when I realize what she means. I may be pissed at Lake, but I’m not going to let her think I’ve had an affair. “I haven’t fucked anyone since I made you my wife.” I won’t tell her right now, but she’s the only woman I’ll ever need.

“She—”

“She fucking lied to you.” I interrupt her. “I watched her on the camera, and she hid out in the locker room while you waited on her tables.”

Letting out a long breath, she looks away from me. I get back to our previous conversation.

“But before she left my office last night, she informed me that you spoke to your brother at the house of Lords party.”

She looks away from me, her jaw sharpening.

“Why didn’t you tell me this yesterday when you told me about the phone?”

“Because it didn’t matter,” she answers tightly.

“Everything matters when it comes to you,” I say honestly. It always has. She just doesn’t know that. But why would she? I’ve never made her feel that way.

Her eyes meet mine, and I can’t tell if she’s mad or disgusted with my words. Usually, I can read my wife pretty easily. But she’s getting better at hiding from me.

“It was in the bathroom, wasn’t it? Where you spoke to him?”

Her eyes drop to the bed. “Yes.”

“That’s why you were so mad me at the party,” I growl, and she hangs her head. She had gone to the bathroom in a good mood and then came back to the table with a new drink and barely spoke to me the rest of the night. Until we were in the bathtub together and I demanded to know what her problem was. “What did he say to you?”

“He stormed into the bathroom, demanding to know what I was doing.” I frown. “I told him I didn’t know what he meant. He said he had seen the hotel room.” She swallows. “I argued that I didn’t have a choice. He asked if you held a gun to my head. Or a knife to my throat. When I said no to both, he then asked me if you tied me down and raped me.” Her voice is soft, barely over a whisper. “When I said no, he asked if I had learned anything from Whitney. That even though she loved you, she knew nothing would come from it. I said it wasn’t like he tried to stop the wedding, and he said he did what he had to do. I said the same thing. He then argued that I didn’t have to come on your cock.” Her eyes meet mine, and her cheeks flush.

I just stare at her, unblinking, but my blood is boiling. If he knows she came that day after our wedding, then they had cameras in the hotel room. He said he saw the room; he wouldn’t have known she got off just by seeing the blood on the bed. I don’t think she’s put that together yet. But why the fuck would her father want cameras in there to watch her and Luke fuck? He was already going to see that she had, in fact, remained a virgin for Luke after they checked out the next morning.

“Anyway.” She drops her eyes once more when I don’t say anything, and goes on, “He said that I was acting like the slut you were turning me into, hanging all over you in front of everyone. That you don’t love me or give a fuck about what happens to me.” She shrugs. “As if I ever thought anything different.”

“Lake—”

Her eyes snap up to mine, and she gasps.

“What?” I ask, sitting down on the side of the bed.

“He also told me that our dad had a plan, and I wasn’t going to fuck it up.” She nibbles on her bottom lip nervously. “Do you think that had to do with the phone he gave me?” I don’t answer because I honestly don’t fucking know what he could have planned. “I swear I never used it. Just saw those pictures and that was it. I never texted or called anyone on it,” she rushes out.

“Lake.” I cup her face.

Her bottom lip starts to tremble. “I promise.”

“Calm down,” I tell her. “I believe you.”

She lets out a shaky breath and nods softly. Her pretty eyes swimming with unshed tears. “Come here.” I let go of her face and pull her into my lap. She curls up and wraps her arms around my neck. I wrap mine around her small body and hold her tightly to mine.

I wish she would have come to me, but I understand why she felt she couldn’t. She’s never felt safe with me. Running my hands down her bare back, I feel her small body start to shake, and I hold her tighter. Hoping that she realizes just how much she means to me. That all she needs is me. “Lake—”

My cell phone ringing interrupts me and she pulls away, lying down under the covers while I stand and remove my cell from my pocket. “Yeah?” I snap when I see it’s Colton.

“We’ve got something. On our way over.”

I hang up, not even bothering with a goodbye, and run a hand down my face, letting out a long breath. “The guys…”

“Go,” she mumbles, sniffing.

Sitting down on the edge, I reach out and gently brush hair off her face. “I won’t be long,” I assure her, and she looks up at me through her dark lashes. Leaning down, I give her a kiss on her forehead and then stand. I close the bedroom door and make my way to the front door in time to let them in and then lead them to my study on the second floor.

“This better be good,” I say, falling into my chair. I’m exhausted and want to crawl into bed with my naked wife.

Colton walks over to my desk and drops a folder down on it.

“What is it?” I ask.

“We found something.” Jenks is the one who answers. He picks up the remote and turns on the big screen hanging on the wall and goes to the Blackout footage.

LAIKYN

I pull into the parking lot of Blackout, bringing my car to a screeching halt when I see Tyson’s car parked by the back door.

He’s not supposed to be here.

When he left me in our bed an hour ago with his cum dripping out of my pussy, he kissed me goodbye and said he had to do something with Colton and Jenks and would be home late.

I’m guessing by the way his car is parked, he had to drop by and grab something. My eyes scan over the black Continental GT. It fits him so well—dark and deadly, powerful and expensive.

My eyes drop to the license plate on the back that reads BLAKOUT. Anyone who doesn’t know he owns this club would think that’s what he calls his car. Either way, it fits.

I slouch down in my seat, making sure my lights are off as I hide tucked back in the far corner when I see the back door open, and he steps out. I lick my lips while I take in his black button-up and gray slacks. He’s got the sleeves rolled up to showcase his tan forearms. God, he’s so fucking gorgeous. His hair is still messy from my hands pulling on it earlier while his mouth was between my shaking legs. His five o’clock shadow looks darker under the dimly lit parking lot lights.

He holds the door open, and I watch Colton, Jenks, Finn, and Alex all exit. They allow the door to close and stand around Tyson’s car as they have what looks like to be an in-depth conversation. I’ve never asked what they do for him, and after I watched them tie down Collin, I’m guessing it’s whatever the fuck my husband wants.

Servants come to mind. Tyson tries to pretend he owns Blackout for the fun of it, but I see the way he runs the place. This is his palace. His home.

Tyson’s not the kind of guy who wants you to think he rules the world. No, he’s the type of man who doesn’t give a fuck who does. He’s not afraid to go toe-to-toe with anyone. And I’ll bet on him every time.

He nods his head a few times, and I watch Alex and Jenks turn back around. Alex places his wrist under a keypad, and the door pops open. They enter, and I watch my husband fall into the driver’s seat, start up his car, and drive off as Colton and Jenks go to a black Escalade.

I turn on my lights and find a parking spot as close to the back entrance as I can and head inside.

“Hey,” I say to Beau over the thundering bass.

He turns to look at me. “Oh, thank god, Lake. We could use the help.”

I figured. I’m going insane being locked up in the house. At least here at the apartment, I had the club downstairs. I don’t want to just sit around the house waiting for my husband to come home. I can help him out here.

Beau turns and picks up his cell from underneath the bar and types out a message, then nods to me. “When will you be ready?”

Smiling, I remove my jacket, and he grins back at me when he sees I’m dressed and ready to go.

The club is packed like usual. I’ve got my section plus half of Nicki’s. She had to go home because she was sick. If I’m being honest with myself, I’m not feeling all that well either. I’m just so tired. My body exhausted.

It’s been three days since Tyson fired Bethany, and I’ve overheard him talking on his phone about how hectic it’s been here. With her gone and another sick, they’re all having to pick up the slack.

I’ve been here for an hour and haven’t had a chance to breathe. I’m ordering some drinks from Beau, sweating my ass off in the packed club.

“Lake?” I hear my name being called out.

“Yeah?” I turn to see a blonde who I don’t know standing behind me. “Can I get you something?” I ask, wondering if she’s sitting at one of my tables.

“There’s a woman in the bathroom asking for you.” She points back at the hallway toward the women’s restroom.

I frown but leave my tray and turn to follow her. We make our way to the women’s restroom, and I open the door to see a familiar face standing in front of one of the sinks. “Bethany?” I ask, going over to her. “Are you okay?” My hands go to her arms. Her brown eyes meet mine, and she’s got a black eye along with a cut lip. “Jesus, what happened to you?”

“I need to speak to Tyson.” She crosses her arms over her chest, running her hands up and down her arms nervously.

“He’s not here,” I tell her, and she begins to cry. “What’s going on?”

“I messed up.” She bows her head, and her shoulders start to shake.

“What did you do, Bethany?” If she knows she did something wrong, then it must be bad.

“I’m … I’m sorry,” she cries, burying her face in her hands.

“How about we call him?” I offer. “You can talk to him, okay?”

“He won’t talk to me.” She sniffs.

“We’ll call from my cell. It’s in my locker. Come on.” I grab her hand, not letting her say no, and pull her out of the restroom into the flashing lights and pounding bass. We make our way down the hallway to the locker room, and we step inside. I open my locker and pull out my cell. “Here.” I pull up his contact, press call, and hold it out to her.

She sniffs a few times, trying to calm her breathing. Putting it to her ear, she shakes her head and hands it back.

I put it to mine. “You’ve reached Tyson. Leave a message.”

Beep.

“Hey.” I turn my back to her and take a few steps away to put some distance between us and lower my voice. “Don’t be mad, but I came to Blackout tonight to help while you’re out and I don’t know what’s going on, but Bethany is here and wants to talk to you. We’re calling from my cell, but I’m going to put it back in my locker, so when you call back, call the club. I’ll have her sit at the bar and wait. She’s crying and very upset.” I hang up and turn to face her.

“I told you he won’t talk to me.” She rubs the tears underneath her eyes.

“He’ll call back. Come sit at the bar while you wait to talk to him.”

“Lake?” She pulls me to a stop.

“Yeah?” I ask, looking at her. sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ Find_Nøvel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

“I’m so sorry for everything I’ve done.”

“It’s okay,” I tell her.

“No, it’s not. I wasn’t nice to you.” Her watery eyes drop to the floor. “I just … I just couldn’t tell him no.”

“My father?” I ask, trying to be supportive but also needing to know who the hell she’s talking about.

She shakes her head, wrapping her arms around herself, and I know she’s lying. She’s not going to tell me anything because she wants my husband.

“Who, Bethany?” I growl, getting irritated. Maybe she’s just trying to piss me off and doesn’t really want to talk to Tyson at all. “What did he want?”

The door opens and Starla enters. She runs to the trash can and begins to throw up. Once she’s done, she wipes her mouth with her hand. “Something is going around.”

“Come on,” I tell Bethany, pulling her out, and we push our way to the bar.

I know I’ve got everything out of her that I’m going to get. Tyson will have to get the rest. Thankfully, a nice man offers her his seat, and I tell her to stay right there while I add more tables to my section to help Starla.