Total pages in book: 331
Estimated words: 315585 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1578(@200wpm)___ 1262(@250wpm)___ 1052(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 315585 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1578(@200wpm)___ 1262(@250wpm)___ 1052(@300wpm)
I rush through the curtains, letting them slap me in the face. The pits are filled with blood. “What?” I rush over to them, dropping to my knees and shoving my hands through the bars, sloshing the blood around, trying to feel for a body, but there’s nothing in them. I do the same to the others. Also empty.
“Where did all this blood come from?” I grind out.
“Please, don’t hurt me…” the female cries.
I know that voice. “Ashtyn?” I shout, getting to my feet and rushing down the hallway to the cells. “Ashtyn?” It’s Adam’s twin sister. We grew up with her. He would kill me if I allowed anything to happen to her. Same with Saint. He’s one of my best friends, and he’s in love with her.
“Pl-ease?” Her voice cracks and my breathing accelerates.
“I’m coming, Ash. Where are you?” I quickly scan each cell on the left and right as I frantically make my way down the hallway. “Ashtyn?” I shout, starting to panic.
Coming to the last one on the right, I see her inside. “Ash—”
“Oh, thank God, Kash. Please, Kash. Please save me,” she begs through a sob.
There’s a metal table in the center of the cell. She’s bent over the side, arms out, with her wrists secured to the front legs. Her legs are spread wide and connected to the table legs as well.
“Help me,” she screams, pulling on the restraints.
I try to open the cell, but it’s locked. “Fuck,” I shout. “Hang on. I’ve got to get a key.”
“Wait. No. Don’t leave…”
I’m already running down the hallway back toward the pits. I go over to the locker and quickly scan the keys hanging there. Finding the one I want, I rush back to her. “I’m here, Ash. I’m here.” I try to unlock it, but it’s not working.
“Goddammit,” I grind out, knowing this is the correct key. It has to be. “I—” My eyes scan the cell, and my words trail off when I see she now has a gag in her mouth. It’s an O-ring, secured tightly around her cheeks and shoved behind her teeth. It’s old. Rusted and jagged. Blood runs from her pried-open mouth and drips to the floor.
She’s sobbing and yanking on the restraints.
A man steps out of the dark corner. He’s dressed in black jeans, a Lords mask covering his face. He’s shirtless, and I can see the Lords crest branded on his chest. “Don’t fucking touch her,” I shout. “Hang on, Ash. I’m coming.”
The lock shakes in my hand while I try and shove the key into it, but it doesn’t work. “Fuck.” I drop the key, and I watch the Lord walk over to the table. Her wide, red-rimmed eyes look at him over her shoulder in horror. I wrap my bloody hands around the bars and yank on them in a desperate attempt to get to her.
She sobs through the gag and her small body trembles. “Hang on, Ashtyn.” I run down the hallway again. I rush back to the locker to grab more keys. Maybe I’m not thinking clearly. The drugs are fogging my brain, and I just grabbed the wrong one. But they’re all gone. There’s nothing there.
I run both blood-covered hands through my hair and sprint back down the hall. My heart racing at the possibility of what the Lord could do to her if I don’t save her.
My steps slow as I approach her cell. She’s lying across the table she’s tied to. The Lord standing behind her. His jeans are undone, down by his ankles. The table rattles from his hard thrusts while he rapes her.
“I’m going to kill you,” I shout, slamming my hand against the bars.
He leans over her trembling body, grabs a handful of her hair, and yanks her head back.
“No. No. No. No,” I shout, wrapping my hands around the bars.
His free hand is holding a knife, and he places it up against her neck before he slices the blade across her throat from ear to ear. Blood gushes from the wound and her body goes slack before he lets go of her head.
I fall backward into the wall and bow my head. My fingers tighten in my hair, and I let out a scream of frustration. My chest begins to burn, and I slap a hand over my mouth to stop from vomiting. I failed her. Once again, I couldn’t save a woman who needed me.
I might as well let the Lords kill me, too. My brothers will never forgive me for failing one of our own. She’s from a Spade brother and Saint has already claimed her as his.
Looking up from my place on the wall, I see the Lord is no longer in her cell. He left. I place my hands on the bars, and the door squeaks, opening.