His eyes slide to one of the Mason brothers helping behind the bar and then back to mine. “Business never sleeps.” He smirks, and his eyes find Jasmine at the bar. Hooke went to Barrington with my brothers and me. He graduated the same year as us.
I pick up my water, shaking my head in disbelief. “Ain’t that the truth.”
The lights turn off, and the crowd screams when the music stops. A spotlight comes on, pointing over in a corner to a hallway, and Grave bounces out of it as “Bloody Nose” by Hollywood Undead plays. The crowd gets louder than I knew possible.
I turn around to the bar and hold up my water, signaling that I want another one. I'm rethinking not having any alcohol because it’s going to be a long day. For the first time since the Lords have forced me to start seeing therapists, I wish I had those sleeping pills on me. And the pretty brunette naked in my bed to bury my cock into as I pass the fuck out.
ANNABELLE
I feellike I’m running circles around Haidyn. I pretend to know what the fuck I’m doing, and he just tells me that he wantsto fuck me. It’s getting to the point where I go home, get undressed, and get myself off thinking of him.
It’s unbearable. This guy is mentally fucking me, and I’m just supposed to take it. I haven’t heard from the Lords in a few weeks. Have they forgotten me? Surely not. I’m not going to give up.
I’ve done everything they asked me to do.
Sitting up, I run my hand over my face and groan at the pounding headache I have from going out last night.
“You okay?” A hand gently rubs my back, and I nod.
“Yeah.” My mouth is dry, and my tongue is heavy. My eyes feel crusty, and my hair is a tangled mess. I went to Blackout last night and got hammered. My mind has been fucking mush since I ran out of the basement at Carnage a week ago. I hate how often I looked around, hoping to see Haidyn there.
Getting out of bed, I manage to make my way to the bathroom and look at myself in the mirror. I’m still wearing my makeup from last night, but it’s smeared across my cheeks.
Turning on the sink, I splash my face and decide that only a shower can fix this hungover disaster. I turn on the water and step inside. Falling to my ass, I sit under the sprayer and let the hot water rain down on me.
The door opens, and Wesley smiles at me. “Here, you need to drink something.” He places a bottle of water in the corner so the shower doesn’t hit it.
I thank him, and he closes the door, so the steam fills the large space. After I spilled my drink on him the first night we met at Blackout, he got my number and asked me to dinner the next day. We’ve been seeing each other ever since. I wish I really liked him, but it’s just part of the job. And I pray to whatever God might exist that the Lords don’t forget what I’m doing.
It’s happened before or so I’ve heard. The Lords are a large secret society, and no one knows who is really in charge. It’snot like there’s a 1-800 number that you can call to reach an operator.
Sure, I have an Apple watch, cell, and laptop, but I’m not reaching out to them. I’ll continue to wait to see what directions they give me.
“Your mother just called. We’ve got lunch with her today,” Wesley calls out.
“We?” I ask.
He opens the door once more and smiles at me. “Yeah, I figured I’d go with you. You don’t mind, do you? If so…I don’t have to go.”
“No. It sounds great.” Just what I want. My mother to see me hungover.
His smile grows. “I told her noon would be best. That gives you plenty of time to shower and get ready.”
“Sounds great,” I tell him, and he shuts the door.
I lean my head against the cool wall. He’s a good guy, but I like my space. It’s hard enough to be someone else when with Haidyn. But having to continue that on a day-to-day basis twenty-four seven is so draining.
My mother knows what I’m doing, and that Wesley is my fake boyfriend. It’s not uncommon for the parents of the Lords to know what their sons are required to do for initiations or assignments. I’m really close with my mother and tell her everything. And it’s nice to have someone in your corner, wanting you to succeed.
At twelve o’clock sharp,I pull up to my mother’s house. My father bought it for her back when she was his chosen. He proposed to her that same day in the backyard. After my fatherdied, my mother was regifted, and my stepfather moved in. He didn’t have any kids, and my mother wanted to remain in the house where I grew up. William was nice enough to accommodate her wishes.
Turning off my SUV, we get out and make our way inside. I’ve taken two painkillers and downed a bottle of water and a handful of crackers. I also put more makeup on than usual to cover up the dark circles under my eyes. She’ll still notice, though.
Entering the house, I call out for her. “Mom?”
“Hello, darling.” She walks into the foyer, her Louboutins clicking on the white marble floor.
Wesley knows that my family is wealthy. He just doesn’t know the truth of how they acquired it. He thinks my mom married into money, and I’ve never corrected him. It doesn’t matter, and he can judge her all he wants. It’ll still be better than telling him about the Lords.
