I send the reply. My new phone rings a moment later.
“Hello?” I answer theUNKNOWNcall.
“Carnage,” the altered voice growls in greeting.
“Carnage?” I ask.
“He’s a Spade brother,” he barks at me as if I haven’t read the emails he sent. “Look…you either take the assignment or walk away. That’s your choice.”
“Yes, of course.” I sit up straighter before he can hang up on me. “I…just—am I not allowed to have questions?” I need a little more information than what he’s given me, and I don’t think I’m asking for the impossible.
“No,” he replies. “You have three months to change your life. If you don’t get it done, then we’ll decide for you.”
Click.
HAIDYN
Senior year at Barrington
The vow ceremonyis quickly approaching, and my father is on my ass. He’s mad because I refused to choose my best friend’s girl.
No amount of money or power will make me betray Saint like that.
I pull up to my father’s house and make my way inside. He spends most of his time at Carnage, so I’m surprised he’s here. I already know he’s in his office. His doors are closed, but I enter without knocking. He’s expecting me.
Entering, I see him sitting behind his desk, a glass of brandy in one hand and a pen in the other, as if he’s just signed a deal. “Son.” He gets to his feet, motioning me to come have a seat.
I cross my arms over my chest and say nothing.
He gestures to a man who sits on the couch to the left. I immediately know he’s a Lord by the way he’s dressed and sits there like he fucking owns the world. We’re all conditioned to have that mentality.
“I have a proposition for you.” The man stands and buttons his suit jacket.
“I’m not interested,” I say, stopping him before he goes too far. If my dad is involved, then I want nothing to do with it. Turning, I give them both my back and go to walk out.
“Haidyn,” my father growls. “You’re lucky I was able to find another one.”
I spin back around to face them. “Another what?” I demand, but of course the bastard ignores me and looks at the other Lord. Women are a dime a dozen in our world, so I’m not sure why he’s acting like they’re limited.
“Let me introduce myself.” The guy steps toward me with his right hand out. “I’m…”
“I’m not interested,” I repeat, stopping him. I’m not dumb. This man has made some kind of deal with my father, and they both think they can fuck me over. It’s not going to happen.
I’ve done things ordered by the Lords, and until they tell me I have to take this bullshit deal my father is trying to lock me into, it’s not going to happen.
Once you get an order, you don’t negotiate with them. One day, my time will be up, and the Lords will call for my death, and it will be granted.
I wouldn’t say I have a death wish, but I’m not afraid to die.
“Haidyn,” my father snaps, slamming his hand down on his desk.
“Sorry you wasted your time,” I say, giving the Lord my back. I walk out of the house, not caring if I just pissed off my father or what it cost him.
It’s beenthree months since I fired Lana. And I’ve been assigned a new therapist. The Lords have ordered me to talk to someone. They act like words fucking matter. They don’t. Not in our world. Actions are what make a Lord. You show up, and you do what you’re told.
So I sit here in a room at Carnage on the seventh floor, watching the rainfall from the floor-to-ceiling windows. It’s been this way for days. I like it, though.
Saint and Kashton are somewhere around, probably down in the basement. Saint lost his mind the day he woke up from Ashtyn shooting him. Kashton tries to hide everything with sarcasm and a knife. Me? I just don’t give a fuck. Life is boring. It’s the same ole thing every day. Torture and kill. Then repeat. There’s no thrill like there used to be.
