Your brother is disturbed. He found people who think like him, and somehow he convinced them that this is essential. Your brother needs psychiatric help,” Zeke says.
“A bullet through the brain ought to do it,” I growl.
“Ah, the best type of medicine. Murder. I love it,” Zeke says. “So, Grayson, you said you have a location? Let’s go. Let’s ruin their party.”
“Wait. Hold on. If he found us hiking, then he has to know she isn’t a virgin anymore. His plan is ruined,” I realize. “He doesn’t need her anymore.”
Zeke tsks. “I’m disappointed. I thought you knew better than that.” He reaches over and pats my cheek. “He isn’t going to risk looking like a fool. No one will know she isn’t a virgin except him, and he has to be the one to take her the first time. He’ll risk killing her if it means keeping his authority with his crazy group of people.”
Just when I thought this situation couldn’t get any worse, Zeke drops this bomb on me. My brother thinks he is a magician, a fucking wizard, wiccan? I don’t know what they call it. What I do know is it is dangerous, wrong, and it includes hurting people. Not just anyone, but Gabriella.
“The harvest moon is tomorrow, guys,” Heaven says, waving his phone in the air. “Whatever plan we have, we better think of it quick, or she’s about to be sacrificed.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
GABRIELLA
I can’t move.
My back is killing me.
Kendrick had thrown me in the dark room, whipped me, and let me stay there all night. I didn’t give him the pleasure of hearing me scream. He didn’t deserve any more of my cries or pleas for him to stop because he’ll never stop. Not until I am dead.
The heavy metal door opens to the dark room, pouring in a massive amount of sunlight. I wince, looking away from the doorway.
“You learned your lesson, my sweet?”
I don’t speak to him. I continue to breathe in through my nose and out through my mouth to try to make the pain go away.
“Tonight is the night. After so many years of waiting, I think you’re ready. I think you’ve learned your lesson. You’ll see. You were destined for this, pet. I knew it the moment I laid eyes on you. Today, you will be pampered like the gift you are, and tonight, you are going to be the reason why our lives are going to change.” He walks forward and picks me up, swinging me over his shoulder so his hands don’t touch my wounds.
I haven't asked what he has in store for me. I always thought it was just ownership, but there is something bigger at play here.
“You have no idea the gift you’re going to bring us, do you? I’m going to miss you, but I can’t keep you for my own selfish desires. No matter how much I’ve grown to love you, my sweet.”
We walk up the stairs from the basement and enter the main floor where the kitchen is. He continues to walk toward the staircase that leads up to the master bedroom, and that is when I lift my head and see all the food prepared and a few men watching me with hungry eyes. They are in black robes with golden ties wrapped around their waists.
None of this makes sense to me.
It hurts too much to keep my head up, so I lay my cheek down against his shoulder as Kendrick carries me upstairs. When he kicks open the door, I smell the fragrance of lavender bubble bath and the heat coming from the bathroom. The bathtub is being filled up, and when he places me in the water, I cry out as the gashes on my back sting.
“Oh, shhh, it’s okay. You’re okay. This is going to feel good, my sweet. I’m sorry for hurting you last night, but you had to be punished for your indiscretions. Tell me,” he says, gripping the back of my hair and darting his eyes between mine. “Are you still a virgin? Did you spread your legs for my lowlife brother?”
I have a feeling if I say yes, he’ll kill me now and get me out of the way. So I nod. “Yes, Kendrick, I’m still a virgin.” I wince when I find myself falling back into my old routine. I have to survive as long as I can. If there is any chance of me getting out of here, I have to lie. I’ll lie