Chaotic (L.O.R.D.S. #7) — Chapter no 32

THIRTY-TWO

KASH TON

e ride back to her house in silence. I let everything she saidW back at Blackout sink in.

She’s a founder and admitted to being sterilized. Sex training and groom ing. My girl re vealed a lot about herself, but the question is, why now? Why did she do it in front of a room full of Lords before telling me person ally? Does she think they’ll try and keep me from her? If so, she doesn’t know me at all.

Pulling up to her house, I get out, and she waits to let me open the car door for her. Once we get to her porch, I take her keys and un‐ lock the front door.

She mum bles athank you, and I enter the house behind her, shut‐ ting the door. “Why did you lie to them?”

Eve comes to a stop, her back to me, and I watch her stiffen in her tight dress. “Excuse me?” She turns to face me.

I take the few steps, closing the short distance, and cup her face.

“You lied to them.” My girl is so easy to read when you know what to look for. “You’ve seen him recently. So one last time: Why did you lie?”

Her eyes search mine before she takes a step back, and my hand

falls to my side. “I didn’t.”

“Eve,” I growl.

She turns to walk away from me, but I grab her upper arm and spin her around once again. This time I hold her in place with both hands wrapped around her upper arms. “You know how he trains them because you were one of them, right?”

She swallows, and I feel her body start to shake against mine.

“You were on theIsabella that night I saw you. That man was go‐ ing to rape you. You were trained to be a whore.” I’m not going to tell her that Adam has filled me in on her past. As much as he knew anyway. I want her to tell me. To open up to me on a personal level.

My girl needs to trust me with her life.

Her eyes harden, and she rips her arms from my hold. “Leave,

Kashton.”

“Eve—”

“Fucking leave,” she screams.

“Did Evan rape you or did he wait for you to beg him to fuck you?”

She slaps me across the face and then slams her fists into my chest, pushing me a step back. “Get the fuck out.” Eve shoves me again.

I raise my hands and take a step back. Her re action tells me all I need to know. Why she acted the way she did after we had sex.

Why Adam told her he was proud of her when he found out she’d had sex with me. Evan trained her and made her feel good, and she hates herself be cause he’s her half brother.

“Eve, I can protect you.” Who knows what he’s done to her or how often he does it.

“I don’t need you, Kashton.” She gives a rough laugh.

“Then tell me what you need, and I’ll give it to you.” Knowing about her past doesn’t change a damn thing. If anything, it shows me how much she needs me.

She turns, grabs a half-empty bottle of whiskey, and throws it at my head.

I duck and it hits the wall, shattering, “Get the fuck out of my house!” she screams, charging toward me.

I allow her to push me out be cause I have some where else to be right now. Something important that I need to take care of.

She slams the door in my face as I stand on the brightly lit porch, and I hear the front door lock. Turning, I scan the neighborhood, wondering if he’s watching her. Does he know I’m fuck ing her? Does he punish her for sleep ing with me? Is that part of his plan? Why won’t she talk to me? She told a room full of Lords about Evan and

what he does. Why? She had to have known I’d catch on. That I knew enough to connect the dots.

I get in my car, turn it on, and rev my engine before I take off.

I pull up to Sin’s parents’ house and see Bill’s Rolls-Royce Wraith in the drive way. They took a two-week honeymoon and traveled the world be fore their re cep tion tonight. I don’t know if he’s trying to wine and dine her or what, but the woman came from money. And since we took in her husband at Carnage, she was left everything.

I enter the house with out knocking on the door and slam it shut.

The re cep tion is over, and cleaners are working on re moving every‐ thing from the party.

A short woman in a traditional black-and-white maid uniform runs toward me. “Sir? Sir, may I help you?”

“Kashton.” Sin’s mother smiles at me, also entering the grand foyer.

“I’m looking for Bill,” I say, not bother ing with chitchat.

“He’s in the study with Easton,” Janice says.

“Thanks.” I nod and walk down the hallway. Opening up the double doors, I enter with out asking permission.

Sin jumps up from his chair and spins around. His hand instantly going to the gun tucked into the inside of his suit jacket, but he frowns when he sees me. It makes me wonder why he came back here after our meet ing at Blackout. “Everything okay?”

“Kashton—”

“Are you fuck ing kidding me?” I hiss, interrupting Bill when I see Adam standing off to the right. Can this night get any worse?

Bill pulls on the collar of his tux and clears his throat.

“We need to talk,” I say, ignor ing the others in the room.

“I can’t tell you anything about Adam.” Bill glances at my brother

and then back at me.

“I’m not here for him.”

Sin says, “We’ll give you two a minute —”

“You can both stay,” I tell Easton. I don’t care if they are here or not.

“What, or shall I askwho, is this about?” Bill asks, sitting in his chair behind his desk.

He knows exactly why I’m here. “Everett Sinclair.”

He frowns and re laxes into his chair. “What about her?” He didn’t say anything to me when I took the photos with the family, but he knew I was there with her. He didn’t seem all that surprised that I’ve claimed her as mine.

“What do I have to do to make her my Lady?”

He sits up straighter and glances at Adam. Does Bill know that Adam and I have talked about her? That I’ve been follow ing her?

That I’ve inserted myself into her life? “I don’t know why you’d come to me —”

“You once told me and my broth ers that you could be whoever you need to be. I can too.” His face sharpens. “I want her. Tell me what I need to do.”

“Kashton, this isn’t something that can be negotiated.”

“Bullshit.” I slam my hands on his desk. “We all know that you’re herdaddy. I also know you have influ ence. I’ve seen you pull strings. Otherwise you wouldn’t have been able to make a deal with Adam. So make one with me.”

His eyes narrow on mine before he rises to his feet. After a second, they slide to Sin, who still stands off to my left. Bill turns, giving me his back, and shoves his hands into the pockets of his dress slacks.

“I don’t think it’s a bad idea,” Adam says.

I snort. “I don’t need your per mission or blessing to marry Eve.” I didn’t come here to speak to him.

Bill’s shoulders rise and fall on a heavy sigh. “She’s been through hell, boy. Why would you willingly want to put her through that again?”

“Kash?” Sin grabs my arm and turns me to face him. His eyes search mine be fore he says, “They will make you hurt her.”

“She can handle it.” Eve is the strongest woman I know. Whatever it is, we can get through it. It might take a couple of days of sitting on the floor with her cradled in my arms, but I’ll pull her through it.

“But can you? Look.” Sin drops to a brown leather couch. “I was like you; I thought Elli could handle it. I took a Sharpie to her body,

making tallies right before she was to have her pre tend wedding to Chance. Told her that if he found out she was cheating, he’d make her an offer ing. My sis ter found her on the floor in her shower with

bleach.”

“Sin—”

“My wife was going to douse herself in bleach to try and erase what I did so another man wouldn’t see that she had been with me.” He swallows and looks down at his wedding ring. “Putting her through that was hard on her, but it was also hard on me.” He looks up at me. “Bill is right. They will make you break her.” He stands. “What if you go too far and she’s not the same person? Or worse, what if she can’t forgive you?”

I run a hand down my face. “What if you had bro ken Elli?”

He doesn’t hesitate. In stead, he gives me a soft smile. “Wouldn’t have mattered. She was going to be mine no matter what, and I still would have loved her just as much.”

“This situ ation is not the same,” Bill says, and my jaw clenches.

“Everett is a founder.”

“So is Elling ton,” I argue.

“Eve—”

“Is different,” Bill snaps, interrupting Adam.

“I’m not sure why you make the fact that she’s a founder sound like a problem.” I act like I have no clue where he’s going with this.

Bill sighs. “They won’t give her an as signment because they can’t punish her if she fails.”

“I don’t understand,” I continue to play along.

“She can’t have children.” He squares his shoulders and shoves his hand into his pocket. “As a founder, if she fails her as signment, she will be come a breeder. But that’s not possible for her.”

“If she fails, I’ll take her pun ishment.” If for some reason I don’t get to marry her, then noth ing else will matter anyway.

“What?” Sin spins around. “Kash, that’s not—”

“You’d do it for Elli,” I interrupt him, and he curses under his

breath, knowing I’m right.

Bill growls my name. “Kash…”

“Adam showed me the police re port. I know they are trying to frame her for the deaths of those women. I’m the only other option she has for pro tection.” If he knows how se rious I am, maybe he’ll think twice the next time he suggests shipping her off. Adam said she had re sources, and Bill is it.

Bill glares at Adam, who shows no sign of re morse. “He’s not wrong,” Adam agrees.

“Why would they want to pin Everett for the murders?” Sin won‐ ders.

“We don’t know.” Bill falls into his seat and buries his head in his hands. “But I think it has to do with Adam.”

I turn to face him. “Why the fuck are the Lords targeting her for you?”

His jaw sharpens when he answers. “Hell if I know.”

“Adam’s supposed to be dead,” Sin guesses. “I killed him. Maybe they don’t believe it?”

“I’m pretty sure the Lords still be lieve he’s dead,” Bill says.

“Then what does it have to do with him?” I bark. Fuck, we’re going around in circles. I turn my attention to Bill. “Make Eve my Lady.”

“I can’t guarantee—”

“I’m a fucking Spade brother,” I shout. “I’ve never asked them for anything. But this…her. I want her. No matter what it costs me. I have to be ‘useful’ to them some how.” His narrowed eyes meet mine. Hell, even his ex-wife Isabella was going to use Haidyn, from what we guessed. “Make this happen, William.” I use his real name, and his face tight ens. “Or I will make sure the world knows the truth about you.” He’s got a se cret son who trained sex slaves. He knows about Dollhouse. Made a deal with Adam. I know there’s more about him that we don’t know, but I will die fuck ing finding whatever I need.

He walks around his desk, and I meet him halfway. “Do you think threatening me is in your best interest?”

“It should show you how se rious I am and that I’ll do whatever needs to be done in order to get what I want. Make it happen.” Then I turn and head for the double doors to exit his study. “I expect to hear from you by noon tomorrow.”

I storm through the house and out the front door. I get into my car, where I squeal my tires as I take off before Adam or Sin can stop me.

I have the urge to go back to Eve’s house, but there’s one more thing I need to do first.

I never re ally had any plans for my fu ture, but now I know what I want and how long I want it for.

Her name is Everett Sinclair, and I want her forever.

Pulling up to Carnage, I run up the steps and into the building, head ing for the hospital. I need to see Devin.

EVERETT Nineteen years old A gush of air leaves my lungs when I’m dropped to a hard floor. I groan, rolling over onto my side, and curl into a ball.

“Name?” a woman’s voice asks. It sounds familiar, but my foggy mind can’t place it.

“Everett Sinclair,” a man answers. “Founder. One suicide attempt.

One pregnancy but no children—miscarriage and has been steril‐ ized.”

“Mm-hmm,” she states as if she al ready knows these things about me.

My teeth chatter, and I grab at the thick metal collar around my neck. It’s pinching my skin, but at least the hood is gone.

“What do you want to do with her?” the man goes on at her si‐ lence. “She’s pretty much useless to us. Not sure why you even con‐

sidered accepting her.”

“Men are useless,” she counters.

“Eve?” a new voice says.

A boot kicks my side, forc ing me onto my back. I try to fight, but I’m too weak. My heavy eyes open, and I see a man kneeling next to me. He runs his fin gers over my exposed chest and down my stomach before they slide between my trembling legs.

I close them tightly, and he laughs, standing to his full height.

“She’ll make the perfect whore,” he assures the woman.

I’m unable to make out her face, but I can see move ment as she checks her watch. “She’s all yours. I’m leaving. I’ve got din ner plans

yg gp with my husband in twenty.” She pats his back. “I’ll check in on her in a week to see how she’s doing.” Her heels clap when she exits the room.

“Here,” one of the male voices says and then my collar is gone. I al‐ most cry in re lief.

Then I’m picked up. He carries me out of the room and down a brightly lit hallway. It hurts my sensitive eyes. I’ve been wearing a hood for the past few days, so any light seems to be too much.

“Pl-ease.” My voice cracks. I’m so thirsty and my throat is sore, my skin rubbed raw.

His chest rum bles with laughter. “I al ways knew you’d end up here, Eve.”

I don’t know who this man is. How does he know me?

My head hangs off his arm and lolls side to side while he carries me, and I see little glimpses of red lights above doors as we pass by before we enter one of the rooms. He sets me down in a cold, unfor‐ giving chair, and I shiver.

“There’s usually a se ries of events that must take place before this, but I think she’ll understand. We’ll go ahead and get started. I can clean you up later. You’re just going to get dirty again anyway.”

She? Who is she? The woman in the heels who handed me over to him? I didn’t get a look at her face.

He kneels down in front of me, spreading my legs, and wraps some thing rough around each ankle, then does the same to my thighs.

“What—” I try to look around, but my vision is too blurry, my body too weak.

Another belt is placed across my lower waist. Followed by my wrists. I can’t keep up with his move ments.

He walks behind the chair I’m strapped to and places some thing over my face. I mumble into a mask that covers my mouth, nose and cheeks. It pinches my skin as cold air hits my face.

I’m blinking rapidly when he comes to stand in front of me. He grips my chin, pushing my head back and forc ing my watery eyes to meet his. “Breathe, Everett. Deep breaths. In through your nose and out through your mouth.”

g y I try to shake my head, but I can’t move it.

“Breathe. Come on…deep breath in through your nose.” I do as he says because I can’t not breathe. “That’s good. Out through your mouth.”

As I breathe out, a tingling feeling starts in my toes and the tips of my fin gers. “Good girl.” He praises me, and his hand drops from my chin and runs down my ster num. “Again.”

I re peat the breathing, and that tingling intensifies, spreading along my arms and legs.

“That’s it.” His hand drops lower and moves between my legs. He begins to rub my pussy, and I can’t pull away. I’m strapped too tight.

“You’re doing so good. I’m going to make you the best whore for them. You’re going to make such a pretty dolly.”

I sit straight up in bed. I’m gasping as my hand goes to my racing heart. My eyes dart around my bed room and then to the bed. I’m home. Alone. My cell sits on my night stand playing “Change (In the House of Flies)” by Deftones. Reaching over, I turn it off, needing a second to clear my mind.

Falling back on my mattress, I run a hand down my face, trying to calm my racing pulse while my heavy breathing fills my now quiet room.

Kashton dropped me off at home two days ago, and this is the sec‐ ond night I’ve woken up having the same dream.

He spent a couple of days here with me, and now I can’t sleep with out him. His pres ence makes me feel safe, and I hate that I’m dependent on that. Since when do I need a man to take care of me?

I can do that myself.

But I feel like there’s a ghost in my room, standing in the corner staring at me. Trying to tell me some thing that I don’t understand.

I’m a sitting duck just waiting for Evan to show up. I actually find it odd that he hasn’t come by to visit since the re cep tion. He and Bill aren’t close, but my father told Evan to leave for my bene fit. He’ll be back. He had al ready warned me that Kashton would be a problem once, and then he saw me there with him. Hand in hand, kissing, dancing. Evan will make sure to show his face soon.

But he’s not stupid. He’ll lie low for a couple of weeks and then pop back up when he thinks Kashton will toss me to the side. He’s re lent‐ less and I owe him. He’ll come to collect payment when I least ex‐ pect it.

Getting up, I see the clock show ing it’s a little after noon. I’ve been in bed rotting since Kashton dropped me off after our meeting at Blackout. I could grab a bottle and drink until I pass back out, but I’m actually hungry. I make my way to the kitchen and see I’m out of al cohol and anything to eat.

So I throw on a T-shirt and yoga pants and toss my hair up in a bun. Guess I’m going to the store.

I’m push ing the cart down an aisle when I hear my name.

“Miss Sinclair?”

Turning, I see a man I recognize. “Mr. Fells.” I give him a smile.

“How have you been?”

He pulls me in for a hug and then smiles up at me. I’m five ten, and he’s maybe five eight. On the shorter side for a man and bald‐ ing, but he’s so nice.

“I was just talk ing about you not too long ago.”

“Oh?” I arch a brow. Odd thing for him to say, but okay.

“Yeah. To your new neighbors. Have you met them yet?”

I shake my head. I’ve never met any of them. I stick to myself. “I saw that the For Sale sign was gone, but I haven’t seen anyone move in yet.”

“It sold to the Pierce family. You’ll love them.”

“Pierce?” I re peat, making sure I heard him right.

He nods. “Yes, Mr. And Mrs. Pierce. Such a lovely couple.”

I tilt my head to the side and nibble on my lip for a second. “What- what were their first names?”

“Kashton and Amber.” He smiles, proud of himself for re membering

that information.

Mother fucker.

“Their children—”

“It was great seeing you, Mr. Fells. I must be going.”

“Oh, yes. Yes. You have a great day, Miss Sinclair. It was great see‐ ing you too.”

I wave him off and spend the next twenty minutes pushing the cart around the gro cery store like I’m a mad woman, adding a few things to my shopping list that I didn’t have on it before. And then I’m hit‐ ting the liquor store on the way home to re stock.