CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
RYAT
STEPPING OFF THE elevator, Gunner and I step into the basement. The bunker was added after the hotel was given to the Lords. It’s an armory down here. More guns, ammo, and weapons we could ever need. It’s also where we hold all our important meetings.
The walls are matte black with racks of guns hanging on the far wall. The right wall has knives of various sizes and colors.
There’s a black table in the center of the room. Enough seats to fit fifty people. I notice that only the seniors are present. I plop down next to Prickett, ignoring Matt, who sits across from me. Gunner takes the seat to my right.
Lincoln enters the room and doesn’t waste any time. Clapping his hands, he gets started. “I’m guessing everyone has seen the news by now and is aware of what’s happened.”
“Yes,” everyone says in unison.
He takes the chair at the head of the table. “I need two volunteers for an assignment. I can’t give you any other details other than the job might take a day, might take three weeks. That all depends on how long it takes you to get it done.”
I’m about to volunteer when I hear Matt speak. “Ryat and I will handle it.”
Gunner’s wide eyes shoot to mine while Prickett runs a hand down his face.
“Ryat?” Lincoln looks at me, relaxing back in his chair, waiting for confirmation.
I can’t say no. If I do, it’ll prove to everyone in here I have a problem with Matt. “Sounds good, sir,” I say and then clench my hand in my lap. Motherfucker!
“Perfect. You all are dismissed.” Lincoln stands and exits in a hurry. I’m sure to go get updated on whatever I’m about to be doing.
“Are you fucking serious?” Prickett snaps in my face the moment we’re out of the room and jumping on the elevator. Thankfully, it’s just him, Gunner and me. The others stayed behind.
“What was I supposed to say?” I growl.
“No. That you refuse to work with him.”
I snort at that.
“He’s obviously setting you up.” He goes on.
“Let him.” I shrug.
“Ryat …”
“I don’t give a fuck about him right now.” I snap at Prickett and put my attention on Gunner. “I need a favor from you.”
“I’ve got it covered.” He nods, already knowing what I was going to ask.
“Thanks, man.” The elevator dings and stops on the first floor. We exit, and Lincoln stands there.
“May I have a moment?” he asks me.
“Yeah,” I tell him as Gunner and Prickett walk off down the hall, leaving us alone. “What’s up?”
“Sure you want to do this?” he asks.
“Doubting me?” I arch a brow.
He chuckles. “Never.” His face gets serious, and he checks his watch. “All I know is that you’ve got five hours. So, I’d make sure your girl is home and in bed asleep before you leave.”
BLAKELY
“IS EVERYTHING OKAY?”Sarah asks me while we sit on Ryat’s bed.
“Yeah.”
“Why do I feel like you’re lying to me?” She laughs softly.
I sigh, pulling the hair tie loose from my hair. The messy bun was falling anyway. “Does Gunner tell you anything about the Lords?”
“Nope.” She shakes her head. “And I’m totally fine with that. I’d rather not know.”
“It drives me nuts,” I admit. “Like what the fuck could they possibly be doing that’s so secretive?”
“Listen, Blakely …” She takes my hands in hers. “Whatever you’re thinking, let it go. Okay? I’ve heard some shit while staying here, and you’re much better off not knowing.”
“Like what?” I urge.
Letting go of my hands, she tucks a piece of hair behind her ear. “They …”
The door opens, and she jumps when I look up to see Ryat and Gunner both enter the room. “Hey, babe. Come on.” Gunner stands in the doorway, holding the door open, obviously taking her away from me.
She looks back at me, giving me a soft smile. “I’ll see you in class tomorrow.”
I nod, pissed that they interrupted whatever she was about to tell me, but I guess waiting until morning isn’t too bad.
Ryat enters his bathroom, and I get up, following him. He turns on the sink and bends over, splashing water on his face. “Are we staying here tonight?” I ask him.
“No,” comes his clipped answer before yanking a hand towel off a hook and running it down his face. Then he just tosses it onto the counter. “We’re headed to your apartment.” Then he walks past me, going back to his bedroom.
“How long are we going to do this?” I ask, following him.
“Don’t, Blake,” he snaps. “I’m not in the mood right now.”
“Maybe I’m not in the mood to put up with your shit!” I push.
He spins around, his hand goes to my throat and shoves me back into the wall. So hard it knocks the air out of my lungs. His face lowers to mine, our lips almost touching, and his green eyes are slits on mine with a tic in his sharp jaw.
I almost forgot how terrifying he could be. He’s been nice, understanding even. But it reminds me that this is just an agreement, and I’m nothing to him. Like I said in the car, I’m just here so he can piss off Matt.
“I said I’m not doing this right now. And I meant that. So, unless you want to really see me pissed, I suggest you back the fuck off.” His voice is low, his words controlled, but his hand around my throat is shaking, giving away his true feelings at the moment.
I wonder if it’s me or something else. Lifting my chin, my lips thin. “I understand.”
Letting go of my neck, he steps away. “Let’s go.”
We exit his room, and I look up across the hall to see Matt walking out of a room. His eyes meet mine, and he gives me a smile. It makes the hairs on the back of my neck rise. His blue eyes go to Ryat, and I notice the black eye that he has. What the hell happened to him? Did Ryat do that? Are they fighting? Is that why Ryat is on edge? Did Matt say something to him about me? It’s not like Matt knows any secrets about me. I never got the chance to do anything crazy.
“See you soon,” Matt speaks, nodding his head to Ryat with that smile still on his face.
Ryat grabs my hand and yanks me down the hall. I look back at him over my shoulder just as the bleach blonde exits Matt’s room, pulling him back into it and shutting the door behind them.
_______________
WE ENTER MYapartment, and I’m on edge. I don’t like not knowing what’s going on. Especially when it could involve me.
“What did Matt mean?” I ask Ryat as we enter my bedroom. “Why will he see you soon?”
“Not now.” He sighs heavily, scratching the back of his neck.
“Ryat …”
“Blake!” he snaps my name, pinning me with a glare. Releasing a sigh, he slowly walks over to me.
I don’t move. Coming up to me, he slides his hand in my hair and licks his lips. “Can we just go to bed? It’s been a long weekend and an even longer day. We can discuss it tomorrow.”
My eyes search his, and I hate that I can’t tell if he’s lying or not. I knew Matt well enough to tell if he was trying to avoid a conversation or just me in general. Ryat is harder to read.
Nodding, I say, “Sure.”
Leaning in, he gives my forehead a soft kiss. “I’ll get you a water.” He pulls away and goes into the kitchen while I remove his T-shirt and sweatpants before crawling into my cold sheets.
I am tired. I thought I was going to pass out at his cabin, but then the events that followed woke me up really quick.
“Here you go,” Ryat says, entering the room with a glass of water for me.
“Thanks.” I take it from him and drink more than half of it, not realizing how thirsty I was.
He takes it and sets it on my nightstand before crawling in bed next to me. “Sweet dreams, Blake.” He kisses my forehead again, pulling my back into his front.
My last thought is that we won’t be having that conversation in the morning.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
RYAT
WITHIN MINUTES, I hear her softly snoring. The drug working fast. She hasn’t eaten in hours. I slipped a sleeping pill into her water while in the kitchen. I needed her out in order to leave without her asking questions. I was tired of not being able to answer them. Not only because of the oath I took, but also because I have no fucking clue what I’m going to be doing. I didn’t trust to leave her at the house of Lords, so I had to get her back here and asleep as soon as possible.
Pulling out from underneath her, she doesn’t even move. She’ll be pissed at me when she wakes in the morning, but I’ll deal with that when I’m done with my assignment.
Getting out of bed, I exit her room just as Gunner and Sarah walk through the front door. “Give us a second,” he tells her, and she heads to her room at the other end of the apartment.
“She’s out. Will be all night,” I tell him.
He nods once.
“I’ll let you know what’s going on as soon as I can.” He understood that I wanted him and Sarah to stay here with her while I’m gone. I may not be able to control what she does or where she goes while I’m working. I still don’t want her up at the house of Lords even if Matt is away, so I needed to give her a reason to stay away. Sarah being here is as good as I could come up with in such a short time.
“Of course. Just be careful.” His eyes go to her closed bedroom door. “And don’t worry about her. I’ll make sure nothing happens to her while you’re gone.”
My cell vibrates in my pocket, and it’s a text from a blocked number.
Opening it up, I see it’s the address of the cathedral. Without saying another word, I exit and head out.
_______________
THIRTY MINUTES LATER,I’m walking inside the double doors of the cathedral tucked back in the woods. I look around to see I’m alone. But that victory is short-lived when the doors creak open behind me, and Matt steps inside.
“It’ll be like old times.” He gives me a fucking grin when I turn to face him.
“Try not to kill an innocent this time.” I make a jab at him. But instead of taking offense, he just laughs.
The doors open, and we both turn to face the three men who enter. All three wear black cloaks and white masks over their faces to hide their true identity.
My pulse quickens, and my heart begins to race at the adrenaline pumping through my veins. I forgot how much I’ve missed this. The action. This is the part of the Lords that I love. I’m not going to pretend not to like the violence. I love it.
“Gentlemen,” the one on the far right speaks.
Matt steps toward them.
All three raise guns at us. “Hands up,” one orders.
I raise mine as does Matt.
“Turn around. Lie on your stomachs with your hands behind your backs,” the one in the middle demands.
Doing as I’m told, I smile to myself. Let the game begin.