Chapter 74 Everett
SEVENTY-FOUR
EVERETT
Ihad to go to my house after I killed the man at the motel. I needed a few things before I drove to Barrington and made the call to Kashton. Now it’s time.
I pick up Kashton’s white zip-up hoodie and slide it on. I zip it all the way up in order to conceal what I have underneath.
Getting out of his car, I lift the back of my hoodie and push the barrel of the gun into the waistband of my jeans. I want to have the element of surprise, so that’s where it has to be.
If I was a praying person, this is where I’d ask God to save me. But I’m not here for me. I’m here for my husband. I knew when I read the text on that Lords phone that I’d die today. For him.
My black boots that I changed into at my house thump on the steps as I make my way up to the double doors. Taking a deep breath, I grab the old handles and shove them open.
They creak, and I stomp my way through the entrance and smash through the second set of doors.
Four men dressed in black jeans and matching hoodies stand in front of the Lords’ altar. All of them wear masks and their hoods are up. I wish I could say I’m not scared, but the rope that hangs from each end of the altar makes my stomach knot.
They’re going to tie me to it and torture me. The thought of them recording it and sending it to Kashton makes me want to vomit. He doesn’t need to see that. His imagination will be bad enough.
“You wanted me. Here I am.” I hold my arms out wide. My voice echoes throughout the large space.
The one on the far right steps forward. “We wanted your husband.”
How do they know we’re married? Not many do. “Always the bridesmaid. Never the bride,” I chide, rolling my eyes.
The one next to him steps forward. “Oh, I think we can make do with Mrs. Pierce.”
The way he says it freezes me where I stand. They’ll definitely record whatever sick shit they’re going to do to me and send it to Kash. They’ll keep me alive long enough to send him a message as to where I’m at, and he’ll come running. Then they’ll get him too. It will all be for nothing.
That’s why I can’t leave here. Not the way I walked in.
“Where’s Rhett?” one of them demands.
They could only be referring to one man. “The guy you sent to the motel to kidnap me? He’s dead.”
They grunt, and the one on the far right readjusts his stance.
“We going to get to it or just stand here and talk?” My fingers itch to reach for my gun. Four against one isn’t the best odds, but I’ll take as many as I can with me.
I have a vest on. I came as prepared as I could. If there’s the slightest chance I can survive this…
“I didn’t expect you to be so enthusiastic.” The one on the far left tilts his head to the side in thought.
“I did,” another laughs. “She’s a whore. And whores love to be used.”
“Only my husband can call me that.” I lift my chin with a smile.
They all laugh. “Well, we’ll make sure to call you that when he watches us fuck you.”
I fist my hands. Kashton will rip their heads off if I don’t do it for him.
“Come here.” The one on the far right turns and taps the Lords’ altar with his hand. The sound bounces off the high ceilings. “Get undressed and lie down like a good whore would do.”
“You didn’t think I’d be that easy. Did you?” I arch a brow.
Yes. They did. They expected me to be carried in by the guy that I killed in the motel room. He was sent to pick me up and deliver me by whatever means were necessary.
The sound of a gun cocking behind me has my pulse racing. Fuck. There’s another. He was probably outside, and I didn’t even bother checking. I was already running out of time. I spent too much time on the phone with Kash.
“Strip,” the distorted voice commands behind me.
I spin around and come face-to-face with a new Lord dressed in a cloak and mask, but they seem smaller, shorter. “No.”
A laugh carries from the mask-covered lips before “Take off your clothes!” is shouted at me, the gun pointed at my face shaking in their hand.
I stay where I’m at. If they want me naked, they’ll have to cut my clothes off me.
“Are you deaf?” The gun is shoved into my forehead, forcing me to arch my neck, and I swallow at the feel of the cold metal.
“I’ve been close to death before. It doesn’t scare me,” I say, trying to control my breathing.
I’m terrified. Not for me but for Kashton.
The longer I take, the more likely it is he’ll find me.
What if he has a tracker on his car? Surely not.
Or Haidyn and Saint would have found us while we were hiding out at Blackout.
The gun is lowered and a mocking laugh is hurled my way. “We’re not going to kill you. Not right now, anyway.” Then the gun is fired.
I lose my hearing first. There’s nothing but a loud ringing. Then the pain takes over. It’s like a hot flash but a million times worse. Blinking rapidly, I realize I’m on the floor in the middle of the aisle of the cathedral.
With shaking hands, I run my fingers over my right leg, and it’s wet. Lifting my hand, I see it’s covered in blood. A burning sensation takes over my chest, and I suck in a deep breath.
“Get her up,” the one who shot me orders. “Get her undressed and secured to the altar.”
I grip my thigh, trying to stop the bleeding, but it’s not going to do any good. I feel around, trying to see if it went through, but I can’t tell.
That burning intensifies as I’m grabbed from behind and yanked to my feet. Then I’m thrown over a shoulder and a scream is ripped from my lips as I’m hauled to the Lords’ altar. I should fight, but I’ve got to use this time to my advantage.
My adrenaline is pumping, but my blood pressure will drop with how much blood I’m losing. Right now, my body is in fight-or-flight mode.
“She’s wearing a vest.” The guy grunts at the feeling of the bulk of it digging into his neck and shoulder.
“So fucking remove it,” someone orders.
I’m tossed onto the altar and groan as they go to either side of the end and each grab an ankle. I roll over onto my side, reach behind me, and grab my gun. I get a shot off into one of them before they even notice.
The ringing returns, and I’ve lost all hearing once again. I don’t realize I’ve been shot a second time until I’m lying on the floor on the back side of the altar. Blood runs from my left arm, and I grit my teeth. At least I can hold the gun with my right hand.
Fuck. I’ve got to kill them before I die. I have to take them with me. I won’t leave them behind to hurt Kashton.
I get up and slam my back against the side of the altar, trying to calm my breathing and listen for any sign of movement, but my ears are ringing. Blood pools under me from the bullet wound in my thigh. I need to wrap my belt around it, but my left arm is useless, and I refuse to let go of my gun.
“Come on, Eve,” one of them taunts me. “You’re not one to hide.”
The vest restricts my movements more than I’d like, but if I take a bullet to the chest, I’m dead within seconds. I can’t chance it.
A figure steps into my sight, and I don’t even think before I fire. One of the guys falls to the floor, a mask still covering his face, but the blood begins to pool underneath his lifeless body.
“Fucking get her,” someone barks. “There are more of us.”
I’ve got six bullets left. It’s now or never. I go to stand up, but something wraps around my throat from behind. I look up to see someone leaning over the altar, and the belt around my neck tightens to the point where it cuts off my air.
I have to stand in order to relieve the pressure, but I still can’t breathe as they drag me across the altar. I’m shoved into it, pinned against the front. The belt feels like it’s cutting my skin in half.
Reaching over my head, I fire, and then the belt is released. I fall to my knees, coughing and sputtering as drool drips from my lips.
Three down. Two to go.
A scream erupts from behind me, and I spin around to fire, but I’m knocked back with what can only be another bullet to my vest. The force of the bullet takes away what little breath I have. I lift my gun and fire off two more rounds aimlessly. I’m losing and running out of time.
I fall to my side and begin to crawl to the back of the altar, needing a second to regroup. I’m unable to catch my breath, and I don’t know if it’s from being choked or another bullet.
Unable to move a muscle, I lie on the cathedral floor, looking up at the high ceilings, and a calmness washes over me. Finally. After everything I’ve done wrong in my life. I was able to do something good for someone.
I hope Kashton understands why I did it. What he means to me. That I would have given the world for him to have what he deserves.
My vision begins to blur, and I choke on blood that fills my lungs. I’m dying, and it wasn’t for nothing.
I had a purpose, and I was able to save a life instead of taking one.
A blurry figure steps around the altar, and I lift my gun, my hand shaking as I pull the trigger, firing off another round.
My eyes fall closed as they laugh. I missed and don’t have the energy to try again. “Goodbye, Eve,” their distorted voice says before another round of shots fill the cathedral.
KASHTON
“Who the fuck texted you the address?” Saint demands.
“It’s unknown,” I answer, my knees bouncing. While we were at Barrington, I got a text that Eve is at the cathedral. We called Tyson and filled him in, but he’s farther out than we are. Adam called me and said she hadn’t been arrested. I’d rather my wife be in jail than at the cathedral.
“Your car is here,” Haidyn announces when he barrels into the parking lot.
I don’t even wait for him to bring the Cadillac to a stop before I’m jumping out and running up the steps and inside. Once I enter, I come to a stop, looking over the blood-covered floor. It’s smeared down the aisle and covers several of the pews.
It’s everywhere. Puddles of it. And in some places, it’s splattered. I count three dead bodies while I search for my wife.