My cell begins to vibrate next to the gun, and I tense seeingHaidynflash across the screen. “Hell-hello?” I stammer.
“Hey, man. Where the fuck are you?” Haidyn asks. “You were supposed to meet us at the House of Lords twenty minutes ago.”
“I—” Scanning the basement, I notice the plastic curtains aren’t covered in blood like they were before. Maybe they cleaned them. I glance at the pits and they are empty.
“Kash?”
I make my way down the hallway and see the cell that Ashtyn was in is also clear of any blood, and there’s no table in the center. I continue on to see the room where my brothers’ dead bodies were hanging. Nothing.
I clear my throat. My heart is hammering in my chest. What the fuck is happening? I saw them. The blood, the sound of Ashtyn screaming for help.
“Us? Who are you with?”
“Saint is here with me. Adam is on his way with Ashtyn.”
I run a shaking hand down my face. “I’ll be right there.” Hanging up, I place my cell in my pocket and pick up the revolver on my way to leave.
My father is standing next to the elevator with a scowl on his face.
“What did you do to me?” I demand. “They were dead. I…I saw them.”
“I gave you a hallucinogen,” he answers. “This isn’t on me, Kashton. That was your mind. Your hallucination. You told me your brothers and Ashtyn were dead. I just twisted it to make you believe that it was your fault.”
“I can’t…no.” I shake my head. “I know what I saw,” I shout.
His eyes drop to the revolver still gripped in my hand. His demeanor is much calmer than mine. I think I’m having an out-of-body experience. “Keep it,” he says, referring to the gun. “Maybe one day, you’ll grow some balls and decide to put it to good use.”
THREE
KASHTON
INITIATION
Commitment
Junior year at Barrington University
I’m nauseous. The gum the older woman offered me was working, but I think it’s wearing off. That was hours ago.
I don’t care how big this yacht is; I feel us rocking back and forth out here on the Atlantic Ocean. We’ve been on this mega yacht longer than I’d like. We were supposed to get in and get out.
It’s a joke. The four of us can’t do anything on time.
“Where the fuck did Haidyn go?” Saint growls, checking his cell.
“He said he had to use the restroom,” Adam reminds him. “Maybe he had to take a shit.”
Saint gives him a doubtful look just as his phone vibrates in his hand. “Fuck,” he hisses.
“What?” I wonder, digging in my suit jacket for mine as well.
“Haidyn’s doing his alone.”
“That’s not the plan,” Adam growls.
“Let’s go,” Saint snaps. We exit the poker room, taking the elevator down to the main level. “Split up. Message the group as soon as you find him.”
We all go our separate ways, but he could be anywhere on this mega yacht. I look out over the ocean and see the lights from the shore. The yacht isn’t supposed to go too far. Just cruise out here for an all-night party.
