Chapter 27
Chapter 27
KINGSTON
I t’s been twenty-four hours since Iris left the hotel room. The only thing saving everyone around me is how relaxed her grandfather is over the situation. I have to hold on to that meaning she’s truly safe. And it kills me to admit, but she’s much safer wherever she is than here with us.
We’ve sent a message to the society, knowing our fate has probably already been decided by the masks, but hope we can reason with them about their demands. They can slaughter me, so long as they leave Iris the hell alone. They’re crazy to believe I’ll settle for anything less. They may be ridiculously powerful, but I’ll take whatever members I can out on my way to death’s door. They need to remember they invited me to join them, it wasn’t the other way around. Sure, I wanted in, but I’m an automatic in because of who I am.
Kingston motherfucking Banks. Disgustingly wealthy. Former playboy. And one of those so-called monsters, as Iris’ grandfather graciously pointed out. A natural born killer, if you will. I’ve never denied it, and the Brotherhood would be stupid to underestimate the lengths I’ll go to. They want to test our loyalty? They haven’t fucking seen loyalty until it comes to what I’ll do for those I love.
Beau and I stayed at a hotel again last night, wanting to have at least a few more hours to brainstorm and not have to watch our backs the entire time. We considered contacting our fathers but concluded they would not understand my dilemma. To them the decision would be easy. They’d probably off our mothers today if they were given the same order and not lose a wink of sleep over guilt.
We’re not them, though. We’re different.
I park my HyperSport in my usual parking spot and wait for Beau to pull in with his truck. He caught a few lights behind me but should be here any minute. Climbing out of the sleek beauty, I stroll for the fraternity house, expecting the masked members to ambush me at any moment. Fuck knows they couldn’t take me single-handedly, they’d need a fucking mob to control me.
I’m almost to the front door, grabbing my keycard to enter when my phone goes off.
Private
You’ve decided to defy the Brotherhood. Do you believe you’re above the process?
Me
No, I’ve been willing to cooperate from day one. However, I think there are different ways for me to prove my loyalty to the society.
Private
You do not hold the power to change orders. You claim your willingness to pledge, yet defy us. We don’t offer second chances, to anyone.
I hesitate sending my next response, knowing it will most likely end the conversation, but I refuse to beg and plead like a fucking pussy. I can’t live like this, and I refuse to. The pressure of the society’s demands the last few days is enough to send a man to his grave. They can’t truly expect me to choose between the two most important people in my life, and I won’t. Fuck them.
Me
Do what you have to do.
I double-step to my room, packing up what I can before I meet the Reaper that’s bound to be headed my way. My phone vibrates in my pocket once again.
Private
Decide your own fate at Lost Souls Park. Be there in one hour.
Fuck. One hour? That’s about how long it’s supposed to take to get there. I have to be faster, there’s no other choice in the matter. I grab a load of everything I can carry, stuffing it into my backpack until I get to the park. I sling my bag over my shoulder and step out the door. I’m in a rush, so I jog to my car, toss my stuff in and squeal my tires leaving the parking lot. Fuck the university rules, they’re lucky I haven’t burned this place to the fucking ground with what I’ve gone through the past week.
Beau’s not back yet, so I dial his number as soon as I’m speeding down the road. When he doesn’t answer, I text him. Dread churns in my stomach as I regret not making sure we arrived at the same time so we would be in this together. If I was a guessing guy, they’ve given him a similar text and I’ll be seeing him shortly.
I roll my windows down and take in the fresh air blowing through my car. My chest has been tight for days, so any help getting an easier breath is welcome. I want to believe they’re bringing me here to give me another order. One that doesn’t involve me making a personal sacrifice to prove my devotion to the society. I can’t imagine that everyone who pledges has to accept this type of loss to get in.
I’m driving much faster than I should be to Lost Souls, but I suspect Beau is there. My mind keeps replaying the memories of the last time I was in the creepy woods, surrounded by fifty-ish members and I can only hope they don’t have him chained up like that guy was.
This time I don’t fuck around with parking and hoofing it through the grounds; instead I hop the curb to take the most direct route. My side skirts scrape as the concrete rips against the bottom of my beautiful luxury sports car. I’m not taking a chance of being captured before I make it to the spot I was taken to last time.
When I pull up, the vision is much worse than I expected...
I leave my lights shining over the scene to help me see the image not even my nightmares had conjured up. Both Iris and Beau are handcuffed and chained to the ground on their knees, just like the guy was before. Their mouths are taped shut, blinders over their eyes, left in nothing but their underwear and Iris’ little crop top bra she loves so much. There’s another person chained to the ground to the right of them, but there’s a hood covering his head so I have no idea who it could be. With any luck, I have to choose one of the three to kill and this will be over in half of a second.
The members clad in their emerald robes and masked faces start to move around the grounds, making this officially ritualistic and not easing my nerves in the slightest.
I get close enough, trying my hardest not to flip my shit and lose control, knowing I have to keep a clear head about this so I can get us all the fuck out of here, safely. “Kingston Banks. Do you know why you’re here tonight?” One of the robes takes the lead of this hellacious ceremony while I attempt to figure out how to respond to their question. Of course, I fucking know why I’m here. But do I want them to know I understand what they expect out of me?
“Please clarify what you expect from me.” I take the easier path and wait for them to explain it to me. I need all the information I can get. I run my gaze over Beau and Iris again, scanning their bodies for injuries, but thankfully they appear to be okay. For now.
It still irks the fuck out of me they have my woman on her knees. It’s not their place. She only bows for me, or Beau, and it has to be her decision. I may not be able to do much today but mark my words… someone will fucking pay for putting her in that position. I’ll make fucking sure of it.
“You were told to bring one home and kill the other,” he reminds me. It has to be a man; the fuck is tall and willowy, like a goddamn tree wearing a robe and I’m saying that as a fairly big guy myself. I swallow, my throat growing dry at the realization the society’s not going to let this go. They’re going to punish me for not obeying.
“Yes, I was.”
“Yet, you’ve done neither. You chose to go above the Brotherhood, to take your order into your own hands. We didn’t grant you permission. You answer to us, Kingston Banks.”
“May I ask for a different order? You can give me ten others in place of this one and I will complete them no problem. You have my word.”
“Your word?” It’s said mockingly. They go on, dousing any hope momentarily filling my chest. “We do not negotiate.”
I still can’t make out the voice behind the mask and it only serves to frustrate me further. Iris whimpers behind the tape while Beau remains stoic and at peace. He and I talked about this exact scenario happening and he made me promise to choose him as my target. Our conversation fucking sucked and even though I promised him, I could never follow through on it. At the end of the day, I love two people. Iris and Beau. I will not let them die because of circumstances I can control.
“Is this guy one of my options?” I hedge, scrounging for anything at this point but my optimism is killed once again with the response they give.
“No.”
“Alright. What’s the weapon of choice?” I ask, hoping for a gun so it’ll be quick. The robed guy in charge waves a hand toward a small table set up in front of Beau. When I see the pistol, I instantly exhale. This is the first feeling of relief I’ve felt since I fucked Iris yesterday morning before the sun came up. It was bliss and I’m so fucking grateful I got to feel my woman and whisper how much I love her before I make this sacrifice.
“You have one minute to make your decision,” they command, making my muscles clench. I can’t believe I’ve looked forward to joining the Brotherhood of Darkness for so many years, only for it to come down to tonight. I was a fucking idiot to believe the society would protect me, but at least through this Beau will know. He’ll watch out for himself and Iris and be certain he can never trust any of them.
I haven’t spoken to my parents in weeks . The thought hits me, and guilt claws at my insides. My mother will be a wreck from my choice tonight. Beau will no doubt try to comfort her, but she’ll push everyone away.
Iris wails under the tape, screaming and crying as I take the gun in my hand. “Shh, baby. I love you and everything’s going to be alright,” I say aloud, no longer giving a fuck about the others surrounding me. In this moment it’s only us. She can’t see anything, but she can hear. I wish like hell I could put ear plugs in her ears, so she doesn’t hear what I’m about to do.
What I have to do.
I move closer to Iris and Beau, walking around them, and hating how they can’t touch me in return. I don’t do well being alone and right now I have to make peace I’ll always be by myself.
My entire life flashes before my eyes and I couldn’t swallow or speak a single word now if they asked me to. There’s a vice around my chest with the heaviness of what I’m about to do. The severity of my situation is worse than an anchor, plunging me into the depths of darkness as it sinks me to the bottom of the ocean, slowly stealing every breath along the way.
Caressing her cheek, I linger at her side much longer than I should, but I can’t break my touch from her soft skin. I love her so much my heart literally aches right now, as pain skates over my pecs. It’ll be gone soon, but in the meantime, it reminds me I’m very much alive. For now.
My grip on Beau’s shoulder is meant to comfort him, even though I know there’s nothing that can ease us through this. It will be hard on them both, but they’ll get through this together. It’s all I want, my best friend’s happiness. He deserves everything right in this world for never leaving my side. He’s a good man. The best I’ve ever met, if I’m being honest with myself, and there’s no time right now to be anything but. I love him too.
Once I’ve walked around and silently said my goodbyes to them both, there’s only one thing I have left to do...
I grip the pistol, flicking the safety off, then place the barrel against my temple.
And pull the trigger.