CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CLOVER
“Are you sure you can handle this, Rainbow? You look like you’re going to puke and pass out.” A worry line creased Blaze’s brow.
“You don’t have to do this,” Cash added. “We can find another way.”
“There is no other way,” I protested. “Yes, I feel kind of like I want to throw up and blackout, but I’ll be okay. I can push through. It’s not like I really have a choice. This is the only way.”
The Sinners had finally come through for us. After several days of waiting, they’d informed us that they managed to secure us a key card so we could access the VIP area at Paradise. The news was both good and bad. All I wanted was for this to be over. And yet, the thought of stepping foot back inside that place left me shaking and ill.
This would be our last visit. There was no way of knowing what we would face back there. Our plan was to act like we belonged there. We would go through the motions, doing whatever it took to make it seem like we were like anyone else back there. Sick, degenerate monsters.
This time all four of us would be going in. The idea was that we would make it look like a gang bang with a brutal finale. I would be their victim, which meant I had to trust them to get me through this and get us all out alive. It was highly likely that we wouldn’t be able to do any of this on the sly. Getting in, planting a camera, and getting out without incident wouldn’t be happening. The Sinners would have to accept that. It was time for a new plan.
“We have to make this look real,” Daire reminded me. “We might have to hurt you, Angel. Are you sure you’re up for that?”
I met his imploring gaze, swallowing hard. “Do you really think this plan is going to work?”
We stood as a group around the kitchen island. I nervously spun the silver hoop through my bottom lip, unable to keep still. My mind raced through worst case scenarios. What if there were armed guards back there? What if we walked into a situation we couldn’t possibly escape?
Raina had told me that she would keep watch from outside. Her and the Gods would be there ready to act if anything went wrong. While that provided me some reassurance, it didn’t guarantee I would walk out of that place unscathed.
Daire tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear. “I think that we will all work together to do whatever it takes. I promise to do everything in my power to keep you safe.”
He meant every word. I knew that. I leaned into his touch, savoring his closeness.
A heavy sigh racked me. “I want to do this. I want to do whatever it takes to make these people stop. Just wish I didn’t feel like I was going to be sick. I haven’t been able to eat a thing all day.”
We didn’t bother with wigs or fake identities this time. We all knew this would be our last attempt. I dressed in a short, red skirt and a push up bra. Cash offered me a pull off his joint, but I shook my head. That would only drive my anxiety. Staying clear headed felt safest right then.
We waited until almost midnight before we headed to Paradise. Raina and the Gods met us there. They parked at the back of the lot where they would wait. If we weren’t out in one hour, they would break down the back door if necessary, guns blazing. Ideally, we would prefer to do this with as little commotion as possible. Stealth and secrecy would be safer. Unfortunately, it may not go down that way.
“You’ve got this, girl. Deep down, you’re a total badass. Embrace that. Let it guide you.” Raina’s hug was warm and encouraging.
I held onto her a moment longer, not wanting to let go and launch this plan into motion. “I’ll do my best. Wish me luck.”
My stomach did a series of flips when we entered the front door and went through the motions of showing our identification to the doorman. He raised a brow when I claimed that all three men were with me, but didn’t question us further. Group scenarios were not uncommon here.
We didn’t have a lot of time before the Gods would come in after us. Still, we couldn’t rush through things. We had to be chill and present ourselves like we belonged.
A trip to the bar for a drink was our first stop. From there, we went downstairs and found a free sofa for the three of us to sit. The guys tried to initiate a touchy-feely makeout session. Try as I might, I just couldn’t get into it. My mind was elsewhere.
“Relax, Clover,” Blaze murmured into my ear. “You’re so stiff. Finish your drink. It will help.”
Funny command coming from the guy who had been concerned about my drinking not so long ago. I didn’t argue though. I downed the drink quickly, wishing that I’d ordered a double. It wasn’t quite enough to take the edge off.
Daire kissed the side of my neck, his hand lightly caressing my arm. “Promise you won’t hate me for what we have to do here. I won’t let anyone hurt you, but that means that I might have to hurt you.”
That wasn’t alarming or anything. I turned to face him, putting my hand over his. “Why are you saying that? You’re kind of freaking me out.”
Cash surveyed the room around us. Bodies upon bodies, climbing all over each other, lost in the throes of their desires. “Nobody is paying attention to us. Maybe we need to make our move and get this over with. Clover isn’t the only one feeling uneasy.”
I nodded. That sounded like a good plan. The longer we sat here working our way up to it, the sicker I would make myself.
The guys finished their drinks, and together the four of us ambled down the hall, past the restrooms to the restricted VIP door. Keeping a casual pace was hard when I felt so stiff and wanted nothing more than to run the hell the other way.
Cash produced the key card that we’d been given by the Sinners. We held a collective breath as he swiped it through the security strip. There was one moment of wild apprehension as we waited, and then a click as the door opened.
Going in without proper weaponry made this even more nerve-racking. I’d managed to hide a small can of pepper spray in my bra. Blaze had a switchblade tucked into his leather pants. Both Cash and Daire were ready to break faces and snap necks. Whatever it took to get to the bottom of who ran this operation.
We stepped into the back area, entering the long hall lined with doors. A murmur of voices came from down the hall through a closed door at the end. For a moment, I thought I might pass out from the sheer terror pounding through my veins.
Daire slung an arm around my shoulders, guiding me along. “You’ll be amazing, Angel. I know it. We couldn’t do this without you.”
Before I could reply, a man opened a door halfway down the hall and peered out. His gaze landed on us, and a slight grin lifted his lips. “I didn’t know we were expecting anyone else tonight. Nice choice. She’ll bring in the views, no doubt.”
I felt Daire’s arm stiffen around me as he tried to hold himself back. The man looked me up and down, nodding to himself. I blinked several times, willing myself to stay upright and conscious.
We were ushered into the room where another man sat behind a desk filled with computer and camera equipment. There was a bed against the far wall, a Saint Andrew’s cross in the corner. I stumbled to a halt, my mouth going dry.
“Will you be needing this?” The first man held out a bottle of liquid and a syringe sealed in plastic, shoving them at Daire. “Unless you’d prefer a fighter. Your call, man.”
He took the bottle, reading the label. Panic hit me hard and fast. They were giving him the choice to drug me.
“Actually, yeah. This might help.” Daire opened the syringe and then the bottle, filling the syringe.
I gaped at him. “What the fuck, Daire? Are you serious?”
Catching my eye, he inclined his head slightly, subtly motioning to the gun laying on the table next to a laptop. Okay, so we were clearly in a dangerous situation. Was drugging me really the best plan? I’d been drugged by Brady to keep me complacent. Why would Daire do that to me?
He thought I was a liability. That my fear would blow this whole plan. Why else would he think drugging me was the best option?
Cash spoke up then, playing his part. A little too well. “I like my girls to lie there and take it. Give her the shot.”
“No.” My voice was breathy, barely audible. I backed away toward the closed door.
This wasn’t part of the plan. I hadn’t agreed to this.
Blaze caught me before I could try to run. He gave me this look, silently begging me to play along. Panic had taken over. I was no longer in control.
I fought and flailed against Blaze, doing my best to get away. Fuck this plan. Fuck the Sinners. Fuck all of it.
Blaze struggled to hold onto me. Cash had to help him pin me between the two of them. It took great effort on their part to hold me still long enough for Daire to stick me with the needle. I froze in their grasps. I stared at Daire, horror and betrayal all over my face. How could they do this to me?
Together they dragged me over to the bed while the two men working the equipment gave them instructions on how to place me for the best camera view. The drug quickly took effect, making my head swim and my vision blur.
I was arranged in the middle of the bed so the camera had the perfect view of anything that happened. One of the men told the guys to get started when they were ready. Everyone’s voices sounded far away.
“Did you bring what you needed?” One man asked. “We have options here if you’re interested.”
My head lolled to one side as I struggled to see what was going on. The man offered my guys things to use on me. Knives, screwdrivers, and even guns. They didn’t care how the job got done, as long as it was gruesome for their disgusting, twisted viewers.
Daire took a gun, checking to see that it was loaded. It was. He placed it on the bed next to my head before grabbing my chin, forcing me to look at him.
I didn’t want to look into his beautiful green eyes. I didn’t want to see the heartless, soulless monster he’d become. This was Daire Keller. Nothing about this should have surprised me. He told me to trust him, no matter what. I wasn’t sure I could do that anymore.
Daire pressed his lips to mine in an aggressive kiss. I started to fade in and out of consciousness. Try as I might, there was no forcing my lips to move, or any other body part for that matter.
Next to my ear, low so only I could hear, Daire whispered, “I hope you can forgive me for this. I fucking love you, Clover.”
His hand moved to my breast, squeezing gently while he kissed along my jaw. Blaze and Cash began to touch me as well, their hands all over my legs and stomach. Somewhere deep in the recesses of my mind, where a flicker of a conscious thought occurred, I hoped like hell they wouldn’t do anything incredibly intimate in front of these monsters with their camera.
They went through the motions of touching me. Lifting my skirt while they caressed my bare skin. Blaze withdrew the knife from his pants, flicking it open. He pressed the blade against my throat. The cold metal bit into my skin, promising violence.
I couldn’t so much as whimper. Not a coherent word would pass my lips, even though on the inside, I was begging them not to do this. I fought against the effects of the drug, determined not to blackout completely. Right when I thought I may succumb, Daire made his move.
Snatching up the gun that lay beside my head, he whirled around and fired. The first shot hit the man running the camera. His second shot hit the guy manning the computers.
The guys moved fast. Blaze gathered me up in his arms while Cash and Daire destroyed the camera equipment, bringing the laptop with us. It all happened in a blur. Even though it might not help now, they made sure to plant the microphones and camera devices from the Sinners.
Cash moved to the door, peering out the small window before cracking it open. “Hallway is clear. Let’s move.”
“We can’t leave without answers,” Daire insisted. “We have to take someone with us.”
Still holding the gun, Daire led the way. He kicked open the last door at the end of the hall, next to the back exit. Shouting at those inside not to make a move, he grabbed a woman seated at the desk, dragging her out with him. Then he barked at Blaze to get me out of the building.
The cool night air caressed my skin as we rushed from the building. Shouts followed us as we raced to the car. Blaze got into the front passenger seat with me on his lap. Daire dragged his captive into the back seat with him, shouting at Cash to drive.
That’s when darkness engulfed me.