Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
Daemon
Holding Everleigh close, I stare at the ceiling, the scene with her parents and uncle rolling over in my head.
Now that I have silence to think it over, I realize that it was all a ploy.
A calculation I would assume her uncle was making to see what will happen.
To find out if my woman would give into them.
I’m willing to bet my right nut, he probably had it in his head that he thought he’d get to Everleigh.
That she’d fear him and do as she’s told.
Hell, he might’ve even thought she’d bow down to him.
The prick had that high and mighty vibe surrounding him.
Fucking cowards, all of them.
I didn’t expect what Everleigh said about them being connected to several black-market organizations. It didn’t fill me with any warm and fuzzy feelings. Regardless, those bastards won’t get close to laying a hand on her. Not if I can help it. They’ll have to kill me first.
I run my hands along Everleigh’s bare skin, loving the feel of her lying next to me with nothing touching her skin but the sheet covering the both of us.
My cock thickens at the idea of waking her with me sliding inside her sweet honey but now isn’t the time.
I’ve got to be prepared for anything that can be coming our way, and we won’t know until Styxx finishes doing his computer thing.
I close my eyes and let out a harsh breath wishing I could just go and kill the motherfuckers for all they’ve done. If they were out of the way, I wouldn’t have to worry about them coming after Everleigh.
My phone makes a noise on the nightstand, and I cock my head in the direction to look as I reach out for it. I lift it to find it’s a text message from Styxx. I unlock to phone to read it.
Styxx: Need you to come in here. We gotta talk.
Fucking hell. This shit isn’t good.
Me: Be there in a minute.
Without waking Everleigh, I climb out of bed and tuck a pillow where I’d been lying.
Immediately she curls into it. I pull the comforter higher wanting her to stay warm.
When I’m in bed with her she doesn’t mind sleeping with only a sheet, claiming I create enough heat she doesn’t need anything else.
I shake my head and smirk at how cute my woman can be. No matter the bullshit Everleigh’s been through, it never broke her and it’s one of her traits I fucking love.
Not making a sound, I find my jeans on the floor, pull them up over my legs, and fasten the button.
I grab a pair of socks from the dresser and put them on before shoving my feet in my boots.
Lastly, I snag a shirt and slip it over my head.
I grab my cut and head for the door. I make sure to keep the light from the hallway out as I crack it open and step out.
I stalk down the hall in search of Styxx, pondering what the hell Styxx has to talk to me about.
I know it has to do with Everleigh’s folks.
I clench my teeth just thinking about them.
They fucked up coming here and trying to claim we were holding their daughter against her will.
That and them saying she wasn’t right in the head.
More like them being the ones insane and needing the looney bin.
Fuck.
Reaching Styxx’s door, I rap my knuckles on the wood before opening it. He wasn’t going to care that I stepped in without waiting.
At the sight of one of the PPs naked and strapped to a swing with a ball gag in her mouth, eyes covered with a blindfold, I shake my head. Those that Styxx and Scythe take to their bed know the score. They know what both of my brothers are into, and they’re not to speak about it after.
“Can’t you keep that shit to yourself?” I snort. “I didn’t need to come in here to see a bitch . . .” I jerk my chin up, indicating the PP.
“What can I say?” He shrugs, looking over his shoulder at the woman in the throes of pleasure from the toys Styxx has attached to her.
“I overheard her talking to one of the other PPs about Isabelle and Sutton. No way she was getting away with it. She wants to be fucked, so she’s getting it. Just not by me or anyone else.”
“You have one hell of a way of punishment.”
“It’s the first time she fucked up. Figured I’d give her the benefit of the doubt. She learns her lesson or next time her ass is out on the streets.” I don’t miss the harshness in my brother’s voice.
“Right. Now, what did you call me in here for?” I demand, trying to ignore the sounds of the woman’s moans. “She can’t hear what we’re talking about, can she?”
“No, she’s got noise-canceling headphones on that’s playing the sounds from a porno,” he answers with a smirk as he tilts his head back to look over his shoulder at the PP.
I grunt and cross my arms, waiting for him to answer my first question.
Styxx brings his gaze back to mine, and all humor vanishes. “What Evs mentioned about her folks and uncle doesn’t even tip the scale into it all.”
“What the fuck do you mean?”
“They’re not Ozzy and Harriet in the least. Talk about more like Silence of the Lambs or maybe even Zodiac.”
I don’t bother laughing at the joke Styxx is trying to make by comparing Everleigh’s family to some bullshit horror thriller movies. “You wanna explain and not do it comparing shit to movies?”
“To put it lightly, those who seem to get in the way end up disappearing.”
“We already knew about the kid who tried to help Everleigh,” I remark.
“Right, but you see, there’s more. They don’t let anyone out of their . . . church.” Styxx raises his hands, doing air quotes. “Those who try, end up simply disappearing.”
“If that’s the case then, why did they allow Evs to leave for school and whatnot?” This doesn’t sit well with me.
“From what I’ve found, the uncle struck a deal with someone, and they wanted her educated.”
“Do you know who this other person is?”
“No, I’m looking into who the person is, but I did find out that he’s associated with the black market alongside the Scarlet Needles. This one though deals in genetics.”
“The group that Dusan told us about?” I grit between my teeth.
“Looks like it, though I can’t confirm just yet.” Styxx grunts leaning back in his chair.
“We need to bring this to the table and come up with a plan to make sure my woman and the others stay safe. I don’t have a good feeling when it comes to this situation.”
“Same, brother. I don’t like it, and Scythe is flipping his shit because of everything.”
“Yeah.”
I let a harsh breath and pace slightly in the small amount of space in the room, ignoring the woman in the background while I think.
“I’m gonna finish looking into a few things beforehand, but I’ll keep at it. Find more information.”
“You do that,” I mutter as my phone rings in my pocket. I furrow my brow and pull it out to see it’s my son calling me. I swipe my finger across the screen and lift it to my ear. “What’s up, Hendrik? You’re supposed to be heading to—”
“Da-dad.”
“What’s wrong?” I demand, hearing the tremor in my son’s voice. Hendrik has never sounded scared in his life, that is, until now.
“I-it’s M-mom.”
Fuck.
“She okay?”
“I . . . I . . . I think she’s not breathing.”
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
“I’m on my way, Hen. Just hold on, okay?” I hang up without waiting for Hendrik’s answer. All I can think about is getting to him and making sure he’s okay and that Lana is good.
She’s not breathing.
My kid’s words whip around in my head as I straddle my bike and start her up. I don’t waste time pulling out of the parking area of the club. The gates are barely open enough for me to speed through the opening.
All I keep hearing is my son saying his mom isn’t breathing.
Motherfucker. I knew something was off with her, and she never told me.
After what feels like forever, I finally pull into the driveway of Lana’s house and kick the stand down. I barely get off the back of my bike before Hendrik is out the front door and running to me, tears streaming down his face.
My stomach plummets, and I move for him, meeting him halfway, taking my son in my arms.
“She’s gone, Dad. Mom’s gone.” He sobs.
I tighten my arms further and hold him close for a moment before releasing him. “Stay out here, Hens, and call your uncle for me.”
“O-Okay.” He nods, tears streaming down his face.
Slowly, I walk on leaded feet up to the house and through the doors.
I make my way through the house as I have many times before and step into Lana’s bedroom.
At first glance, it looks as if she’s sleeping peacefully.
But the closer I get, my focus on her chest, watching .
. . waiting for the rise and fall . . . it never comes, and I know it to be true.
Lana’s gone.