Chapter 31
THIRTY-ONE
KASHTON
Eve sits next to me at the table. She’s gone silent. I was deep in conversation with Sin when I looked up to see a man walking away from Bill and Eve. It was the same one I saw outside the bathroom while I was waiting on her.
Her father was standing in front of her in a protective way, and I rushed over to them. She hasn’t said one word to me since. I haven’t asked what happened, but I will as soon as we get back to her place.
My phone is sitting on the table by my plate when I see it light up.
UNKNOWN: 911. Meeting at Blackout afterward.
It’s a group chat text. Even if I didn’t see Saint pull his cell out of his suit jacket or Haidyn reading his, all of their numbers are included.
It must be serious, but there’s no specific time. How do they know when we’re done here?
I lean back in my chair and reach out, throwing my arm over Eve’s shoulders and don’t miss the fuck-you look Ashtyn is giving my girl from across the round table.
I just stare at her, and after a few seconds, her eyes find mine.
She straightens her shoulders and puts her attention on Ellington, striking up a conversation.
It makes me wonder if what Adam said was wrong and Ashtyn does know Eve. What other reason would she have for the death stare?
I don’t know what’s going on there, but I’m going to take care of it.
“Everett.” Janice comes up to the table and greets her.
“Hi, Janice.” Eve stands and pulls her in for a hug. No one but me can tell Eve’s uncomfortable. She’s not used to affection of any kind, and I hate that. I’m going to shower my girl with it. “You look stunning. Your dress is gorgeous.”
“Thank you. Bill said he told you I wanted to take some photos.” She takes Eve’s hand. A sign she’s not going to take no for an answer. “The photographer is ready, if you have a moment.”
“Of course.” Eve gives her a nod, but I know that’s the last thing she wants to do right now.
I stand, and she frowns. There’s no way I’m not getting in on these pictures. I’m going to marry into this family, after all.
“Easton, Ellington,” Janice calls to them. “We’re ready.”
I open the passenger door for her, and as she goes to get in, I grab the hem of her dress to help her. “Thank you,” she says before I shut her door.
I get into the driver’s side and start up the car. “We’ve got to stop by Blackout. But it shouldn’t take long.”
“Okay.” She nods, looking out the window.
We took some pictures and then went back to the table and sat there. Everyone laughed and held conversations except for her.
She remains quiet while we make our way to the club. Ryat is driving Blakely’s SUV in front of me, and I can see Haidyn in his car behind us. Something is going on, but we still don’t know what it is.
We pull into the back parking lot as everyone else joins us. Making our way into Blackout, the Lords kiss their wives and tell them this shouldn’t take long as they leave them on the first floor to mingle and talk.
I turn to face Eve to tell her I’ll be right back, but she speaks before I can.
“I’m going to use the restroom.” Then she turns and walks off down the hall, and I make my way to Ty’s office.
EVERETT
I enter the bathroom, pull out my lipstick, and reapply it. Taking a piece of paper towel, I blot my lips and then run my fingers over the necklace, knowing what it represents. That I’m the property of a Spade brother.
Taking a deep breath, I tell myself they need to see the real me. The one who isn’t afraid to be in a room full of men. I won’t bow my head again for a Lord. No matter who he is.
Making my way up in the elevator, I exit and walk across the breezeway and enter the room.
The chatter comes to a halt and all eyes land on mine.
“The Ladies are downstairs,” Alex says with a laugh.
I hold up my left hand to show I’m not wearing a wedding ring. “Good thing I’m no one’s Lady.” Slamming the door shut, I lean back against it.
Every man in the room looks at Tyson, who’s sitting at his desk.
They expect him to tell me to leave, but he’s staring at Kashton.
It’s comical how all heads swivel to look at him next.
The silence lingers. They’re waiting to see if the guy I’m fucking is going to pick me up, throw me over his shoulder, and carry me out of the room.
Kash sits back and smirks. He’s curious to see how this plays out.
“Well, speak up,” Tyson starts. “Who called this meeting?”
“I did,” I answer.
“You?” Saint frowns and then looks at Kashton, but he doesn’t say anything. He didn’t know. “How did you manage to get us all here?”
“Called in a favor.” It’s that easy. Bill was more than willing to help me out after he saw how stressed I was over our encounter. “There was a man there tonight, and you guys need to be aware of him.”
“Old boyfriend?” Alex asks with a chuckle. “I’m sure Kash can take care of him.”
“His name is Evan. About six three, jet-black hair, dark eyes.”
“Do you know him?” Saint wonders. “Personally?”
This is my chance to be honest. What I know and what I’m going to tell them will ruin any chance I have with Kashton. Maybe it’s what I should have done from the beginning to get him out of my life. Self-sabotage. It was fun while it lasted. “He’s Bill’s son. And my brother.”
Silence once again as everyone looks at me like I’ve got two heads.
“Your father is Bill?” Ryat finally asks.
Guess Sin has kept my secret from most of the Lords. “Yes…no.”
He scratches the back of his neck. “I’m confused. You just said—”
“Do you think Isabella was Bill’s first wife?” I interrupt Ryat, shaking my head. “Sin’s mother is his third.”
“Wait.” Tyson holds up his hand. “I’m getting confused too. Make it simple and explain it to us.”
I inhale. “My mother got pregnant with Evan—Bill’s son—their senior year of high school. He went into initiations the following year at Barrington. They ended up marrying their senior year after he was officially a Lord. That’s when she was given her assignment, and she failed.”
“So what happened to her?” Saint asks.
“She became a breeder.”
“What’s a breeder?” Finn asks.
I look at Haidyn. “Do you want to explain it, or would you rather I do it?”
He narrows his eyes on me, and I give him a smile, turning my attention to the rest of the Lords in the room. “My mother was a founder. And when a founder fails her assignment, she is given to the Lords as a breeder.”
“You’re a founder.” Saint’s words are more of a surprise than a question.
I look at Kashton and confirm. “Yes.” And I don’t miss the way his jaw sharpens. He wants to know things about me? Here’s a little something.
“What’s your assignment?” Saint demands.
“I don’t have one.”
“Bullshit.” He stands.
Kashton jumps to his feet, grabbing Saint’s arm. “Sit the fuck down,” Kashton warns him.
Saint huffs, rips his arm from Kashton’s hold, and falls back onto the couch. “Charlotte had an assignment, and it was Haidyn.” He barks at Kashton. “Sorry if I don’t believe her.”
Ryat leans forward, placing his elbows on his knees. “Bill told us that nothing is set in stone and the Lords can change the course of a founder. That’s why some of our wives didn’t have to complete an assignment for their initiation.” He nods to me. “So why do the Lords not want to give you one?”
“Because I’m useless to them.” My simple answer makes everyone frown.
“We all must serve,” I go on, knowing I’ll have to explain myself.
I’m in a room full of grown-ass men who kill without question but can’t understand what a woman has to say.
“Their logic behind making you go without sex for three years is because they don’t want you knocking up random women who aren’t approved by their standards.
That’s why, for the most part, your parents designated your chosen and your marriages are arranged.
It’s to guarantee those at the top remain at the top.
Forged empires.” They all look at me without an ounce of understanding.
I want to roll my eyes, but instead I add, “I can’t have children. ”
“Did Gavin or Devin tell you that? I’d get a second opinion.” Alex looks over at Kashton. “I have faith in you, Kash. Try harder.” He laughs at his own words.
“I was sterilized at the age of eighteen.”
Alex’s laugher dies and his face goes pale. “I’m sor—”
“There is no ‘try harder’ or ‘second opinion.’ I can’t contribute to the society. Therefore, I’m useless and will not be given an assignment to prove I’m worthy of a Lord.” Especially a Spade brother. They are too important to be given a useless Lady.
“What does Evan do for the Lords?” Saint asks, moving on. He knows that what his brother and I are doing is just temporary.
This is where things are going to get tricky. If I tell them what he does, I’ll have to explain it to them, but I already knew I’d have to tell them everything. “He’s a trainer.”
“Like a gym rat?” Alex chuckles. “Maybe Haidyn can show him a few things.”
Everyone laughs, and I shake my head. “No, he trains men and women for Dollhouse.”
The room falls silent at the mention of Dollhouse.
“He worked for Isabella?” Haidyn growls.
I nod. “He did.”
“Not to sound insensitive, but what kind of training could a sex slave need?” Colton wonders.
“They pride themselves on having the best, and in order to achieve that…he takes them in—around-the-clock training is required.”
“So he fucks them?”
I shake my head. “He doesn’t need to.”
“I don’t understand,” Tyson growls, obviously confused and irritated.
“Give us an example,” Saint says.
I let out a sigh, hoping they don’t see my discomfort.
I walked into this room knowing how it would go.
I’m fully committed. They need to know to stay the fuck away from him.
To keep their wives away from him. I may be placing myself on a chopping block here, but it’s for the greater good.
The women they marry are the ones I fight to protect.
“He takes a woman, places a dildo in her ass and a vibrator in her pussy. He ties her to a chair and plays the most depraved porn you can think of.”
“I don’t understand. How is this training?” Finn scratches his head.
“He shoots them up with hormones as they watch women get fucked while they are forced to come all over themselves. It’s making them think that what they see and feel is okay. It makes them crave to serve.”
“He grooms them,” Kashton states, and I can’t make eye contact with him.
“It is a process with intermittent reinforcements. Submissive and cerebral conditioning,” I add. They don’t just want your body begging; they want your mind to beg as well.
“So brainwashing,” Kashton says, correcting his previous statement.
“And he makes money by doing this?” Sin observes.
I nod. “Yes. He is given the victims. Then is paid once they are sold.”
“How do you know all this?” Haidyn asks me.
“I told you—Bill is our dad, and Evan’s been working with Isabella for years.” I shrug. “I know Isabella is now gone and women are showing up tortured and dead. I’m not saying he’s involved, but common sense tells me he might know who is.”
“You think he’s running Dollhouse?” Haidyn is the one who asks. “Took over for Isabella?”
“No. It’s shut down,” Sin answers before I can speak.
“Maybe we should go look for ourselves.” Ryat shrugs and glances at me. “Are you guys close?”
“No,” I lie. Closer than I’d like to be. “And neither is Bill. They haven’t spoken in years as far as I know.”
“But he was there tonight,” Ryat reminds us.
I nibble on my lip as if in thought, trying to decide how to respond to that. “Word gets around fast, and there were about a hundred people there tonight. He could have been informed of the party by anyone.”
“It was invite only,” Haidyn says skeptically.
“Maybe he is still in contact with him and he was the guy who helped Bill locate you at Dollhouse. Bill said he had someone on the inside,” Sin says to Haidyn, and I drop my eyes to my heels.
“I guess it’s possible,” Haidyn nods. “But why would he help Bill get me out of there?”
“Do you ever see him? Other than tonight?” Ryat looks at me.
“No.”