Chapter 21
Chapter 21
KINGSTON
I t’s hard to concentrate on anything, let alone exams in the middle of my search for Iris. I’ve been losing my mind inside, but regardless, I grit through the boring bullshit and manage to still pull the highest grades in my classes. I have to keep up with everything including my orders, or my father will flip his shit. I learned as much early on and the last thing I need at this point is him thinking I can’t handle things. My father loves me, I have no doubt, but while I have limitless perks in this life, there’s also the heavy weight of certain expectations always bearing down on me. For example, he expects me to earn top honors in my courses and shine at any extracurriculars I pursue. He demands I maintain a high GPA as well as excel socially.
I can’t help but wonder how the fuck any of it matters, when the woman I love has disappeared. My father’s delusional, but the few times he’s called or texted I’ve managed to act like everything’s okay. It’s not, though, and the extra burden of worrying what he’s thinking of me brings back memories from last year.
He’d believed I was going to be named Most Eligible Bachelor when I was a freshman. I’d worked my ass off to do the best in everything, however, I didn’t quite reach that goal- though I should’ve. I came in second with the votes, but it still wasn’t good enough and I’ve heard about it several times since. He swears all this shit will open more doors for our company in the future, so damn near every move Beau and I have made in the past has been under surveillance at some point. I’ll admit it’s hard to balance it all sometimes, but I never show my struggle outside of my best friend and my family.
I’m at the top of the social ladder and anything less would be an utter fucking tragedy to my family.
I head straight to my room, head a mess as I scour every face I pass by for some sort of clue where my woman could be. I don’t know whether they all know and I appear to be a fucking fool or they know absolutely nothing. It’s fucking maddening. I can’t stand not being in some semblance of control and the society has the power to strip you of all of it.
My phone’s lit up with various unread texts from today, but there’s no information I need. My frat brothers have messaged throughout the day and I’ve been ignoring them all. It’s a trend I’ve adopted since Iris and Beau both disappeared, and I’ve been on a never-ending hunt, desperate for a clue. It’s not like I’m missing anything, the frat brothers were discussing exams and what to expect, which quickly switched to plans for another party now that everyone’s finished. The last thing I want to deal with tonight is a party full of dipshits. They’ll ask me where Beau is, and it’ll make me snap. I’ll end up killing one of them and I don’t need to worry about another grave on my conscience right now.
Grabbing a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt, I stroll for the bathroom. It feels as if the weight of the world is riding on my shoulders and I’ve gotten next to no sleep since I’ve been racking my brain on how to get Iris back. I’d do anything for her, be anyone she needed and right now I’m being one shitty fucking hero. I turn on the shower and strip down, momentarily glancing at my bloody knuckles with a sigh. There’s no way to hide them but at this point I don’t give a shit. What’s one more scar on top of everything else?
I step into the shower and let the hot water hit my sore muscles. Shaking my head, I can’t stop the thoughts of Iris and the last time I fucked her in here.I’ll be dreaming of her tonight, like I do every night. She'll whisper to me in my sleep, filling me with the false hope she’s laying there beside me and still will be when I wake up. Even when she’s not gone, I have wild dreams of her, full of vivid sex scenes that I always wake up from hard as fuck. The difference is usually I can roll over and sink deep into her tight cunt, pound her until she swears she can’t walk and I’ve filled her up with my cum, marking her as mine all over again. I’ve always had a healthy sexual appetite but when it comes to her, well, I’ve never fucked so much in my life, nor have I ever been so content.
I’d rather not use up all the hot water so I make it quick. Most of the frat is all home at once and they’ll need a hot as hell shower after a long week of studying. As self-centered as I typically tend to be, I’m not a complete dick with no thought for anyone else. I head back to my room, towel wrapped around my waist, and find my room as empty as when I left it.
A frustrated sigh leaves me as I realize I left my sweats in the bathroom. For fucks sake. Enough of this moping bullshit. When have I ever been the type to sit back and be a victim of circumstance? Not fucking ever, that’s when. I’m getting my woman back, now, damn it. I don’t give a flying fuck who I have to torture and kill to get the information I need, I’ll do it. First things, first. I need Beau, as he’ll be able to help me find her. I’ve had my fill of this separate bullshit we’ve been forced to do, and I’m saying no more. If the society wants to come for me, well, I’ll have to live with the circumstances, because I refuse to sit in the background of this place any longer.
Grabbing my cell, I pull up the last message I received from the Brotherhood. I’ll get Beau back. I’ll fucking make them give him to me.
Me
If I don’t see proof Beau is alive within the next two hours, I’ll start slitting the throats of some of your finest pledges. You’ll discover just how deep my family’s pockets truly reach when I make all these rich kids disappear. You know what garners unwanted attention? The top ten percent’s kids not breathing anymore.
I hit send without a fuck to give. Idle threats are not something I make, and The Brotherhood of Darkness should know that fact better than anyone else. I’m sure it’s one of the reasons I’m being initiated in the first place. I’m Kingston motherfucking Banks, and I get what I want, because I fucking make it happen. Taking my woman was their first mistake. Making my best friend disappear out of thin air was their second. So help me, they haven’t seen crazy yet. I’ll burn this fucking university to the ground.
Private
Plot twist, we make you disappear.
Me
Try me. I’m dead fucking serious. I have no fucks to give. The first will meet their fate in less than three minutes.
Grabbing for a fresh pair of jeans I quickly get dressed, seeking out the nearest knife. My phone pings with a new message.
Private
It’s best you leave your threats for those who fear you. The society will not bow to anyone.
Me
I have nothing to lose and that makes me really fucking dangerous right now. My loyalty runs deep. Now, tell me where Beau is, or they die.
Private
Still a child. Throwing around threats on a whim and expecting the world to fold at your feet.
Me
This blood is on you.
Rage pushes me out of my room, on a path of murder and mayhem. I stride purposefully down the hall until I find the most uppity motherfucker belonging to the frat. There’s a ninety percent chance anyone living here has either already pledged or is currently suffering through the initiation process with the rest of us, so I’m confident this poor bastard fits the requirements.
“Oh, Brody …” I draw out his name, mockingly, sounding like a psychopath calling out his victim. He barely glances up from his computer screen to nod at me, and in the next beat I have my blade shoved against his throat, nicking him in the process. The blood trails over his flesh as I place my mouth to his ear. “Blame it on the society.” The words leave me in a hiss, my fury feeding my decisions.
A voice comes through a speaker hidden somewhere in the room, making me pause. “You like to play games, I see.” It’s creepy in its own sense but doesn’t derail me from what’s important. Finding Beau so he can help me get Iris back.
“No games here, motherfucker. Tell me what I want to know, and I stop.” Brody coughs dramatically and grips his chair hard enough to turn his knuckles white as I speak.
“Beau is one of two we have moved to a compound. His return depends on you.” The stupid voice is robotic, leaving me no clue as to who’s on the other end of this conversation. Fucking coward move.
“Say no more. Tell me what has to be done now, or we’re gonna need a little cleanup here in Brody’s room. Neck bleeds can be rather messy.” His muscles tense under my grip even though I nod to him. It’s my small semblance of a white flag letting him know he’s only going to die if they leave me no choice. It isn’t my fault he can’t read my true intention and is too caught up in the manic look no doubt plaguing my features. If he only knew how deep the crazy truly went, he’d be pleading with me right now.
“Your next order… take one home and kill the other.”
“Consider it done.” Not wasting another moment, I throw Brody to the ground and rush to my room. I grab my gun, leaving the knife behind and take off as if the entire place is on fire. I can’t be fucked with anyone else right now, so I ignore the few people I pass and practically jog to my HyperSport. As my car door rises, I slide into my seat and my phone pings with a new message.
It’s an address. Thank fuck. I swear if this is a bullshit fake address, I’m going to lose it. Beau is my ride or fucking die and I’m not allowing this society to come between us any longer. I don’t give a fuck who’s there with him, I’ll kill them in a heartbeat. No one fucks with my best friend and gets in the way of us being one step closer to my woman.
The drive to the cabin takes me half the time it should, and I leave my car parked down the road a ways. I purposely creep around the cabin, needing to check out my surroundings, coming in blindly. This could be a goddamn set up and I could die in my over-eagerness. No way I’m allowing that to happen.
Although stalking comes naturally to me… my shitty attempt of tip-toeing needs work. I’m most comfortable when I’m the center of attention and the last thing I want to do here is draw any awareness to myself. I thoroughly case the place out to eliminate any possible surprises they plan to throw my way.
Beau’s truck is here, thank fuck. It looks like the person on the speaker at the frat may’ve been telling the truth about this address. We’ll soon find out, anyhow. Running my hand over the cold hood proves that he’s been here awhile. It also tells me he most likely came here willingly, even though I take that information with a grain of salt. Probably as ‘willing’ as I’ve been doing the bullshit I’ve been ordered to for the initiation. We’ve done what we’ve been told because the society demands it. Period.
A faint light comes on, shining through one of the side windows of the cabin. It takes me about ten steps until I’ve got a full view of my best friend’s naked ass walking out of a bedroom while my girl sits up in the bed, taking in the same view. I stumble back a step before I regain my footing with my face less than an inch from the window so I can witness every fucking thing possible. This is the last thing I was expecting on my way here and it sure as fuck isn’t what I’ve been picturing since they’ve both disappeared. I was imagining the worst, them strung up somewhere in the woods, left to the elements until I found them on some fucked up timer or some crazy shit the society designed to test me. This scene now, however, has my fists clenching. They owe me a motherfucking explanation, and I won’t be leaving without one.
“Isn’t this a picture-perfect little scene.” The irritation in my voice doesn’t come close to the rage I feel inside. My blood fucking boils. Instant insanity crawls over my body, replacing the tiny bit of logic I might’ve still had after this shit day.
This feels all wrong and it has my gut clenching with anxiety over the various possible scenarios that would have them both here. Together. Alone.
I have to be reading this shit all wrong and they’ve run out of gas and have no phones or some shit. Surely, they wouldn’t run off together and leave me alone? With no goodbye or a fucking note telling me they’d decided to rip my heart out and smash it to pieces?
Iris leans forward, allowing the sheet to fall from her naked breasts. Her fresh fucked hair, and flushed cheeks paint a very vivid narrative I didn’t ask for, and the smile on her face wretches into my heart like a fatal stab.
This can’t be.
I must be making this shit up in my mind right now.
My woman is naked, staring at my best friend like he’s a piece of goddamn cake and I want to puke.
I love her…and I thought she loved me too.
I was literally trying to turn the society upside down to find either one of them and here they are playing house and cuddling up without a damn care in the world. I bet they even plan on making breakfast together. So fucking cute and domesticated like we’re not sitting at the mercy of the darkest society that would have you killed for less.
They have to know… I will fucking kill us all, before I allow them to break my heart and leave me alone in this fucked up world.
It’s time I remind them of the psycho they’re dealing with.