Styx lifted his knife and placed the tip at my sternum. I closed my eyes. I closed my eyes and pictured Bella’s face. I needed the strength for what this night would bring.
Because this death would not be quick.
And I agreed that it shouldn’t be.
Then came the blistering pain of the blade being dragged down my flesh. I tried to breathe through the pain, my jaw aching with how tightly I was gritting my teeth.
The blade was released, and I opened my eyes, only to meet a crazed hazel stare. Styx panted in victory as he brought the blade to the side of my chest. This time I kept my eyes open while he completed the sign of the cross on my torso. My blood trickled down my chest, and my arms jerked in agony as my skin was ripped open. My shoulders screamed at the strain of holding my heavy body, but I fought back the shouts that were threatening to tear from my throat.
I would take it. I would fucking take it all.
Styx moved away, his chest shining with sweat.
Ky came next, dressed in only his pants and cut. His fists were wrapped in thick chains. The VP drew his arm back and sent blow after blow across my face, my ribs and stomach. My head snapped back at the attack, my body swung on the chains. But he was far from done.
I was a turncoat.
It was time to pay my penance to Hades with no coins on my eyes.
As Ky’s blows subsided, I saw the brothers all gathering to take their revenge. I closed my eyes again, and this time vowed never to open them.
Instead I pictured Bella’s face.
I pictured her eyes, her lips and her smile. I imagined her touch, her whispered words . . . her confession of love.
And even as the taste of my own blood filled my mouth, I smiled. Because at least I’d known what true love really was. I kept that feeling in my heart. I kept that warmth in my chest, until the pain from the brothers’ blows all but faded away.
Until the darkness I deserved began creeping in.
Chapter Seventeen
Bella
I jumped awake as a loud crack of thunder sounded directly above me. I blinked into the dark room, struggling to get my bearings.
The bedroom in the clubhouse.
Memories of earlier drifted into my mind, and I smiled. I love you, he had said. My Rider. My Rider . . .
Stretching out my hand, I searched for my husband. I frowned when I was met with cold sheets. I lifted my head and cast my gaze around the moonlit room.
Nothing.
I jerked upright. My heart, for some reason, was pounding in my chest. “Rider?” I said quietly. No response came. Jumping from the bed, I rushed to the bathroom . . . but it was all quiet.
I flicked on the light and bent down to search through his clothes. His pants were gone. His boots and shirt were still where I had left them.
I did not understand it, but a feeling of dread burgeoned in my chest.
I slipped on my long black dress and put on my sandals. I rushed through the door, searching the hallway. The clubhouse was silent. I passed through the bar; there was no one in sight.
“Where are you?” I whispered aloud.
Acting on instinct, I bolted out of the door and into the yard. The rain poured over my head, but I did not care. I had to find Rider. Something was not right, I could feel it.
I took off through the woods, toward Mae’s home, my sandals slipping on the wet ground. I ran and I ran, pushing my legs as fast as they would go. By the time her home came into view, I was struggling to breathe. But I had to get help. I just knew I needed help.
By the time I arrived, I was drenched. I slammed my hand on the door. “Mae!” I called out, screaming to be heard over the storm. “MAE!”
The door opened, and Mae stood before me in her red nightdress. “Bella?” she asked, looking at my soaked state.
“Is your fiancé here?” I asked.
Mae frowned. “No, he said he had business to attend to.”
My heart beat faster, and I backed away from the door. Lilah. I had to try Lilah’s. I jumped off the porch and ran up the hill to Lilah’s house.
“Bella! Wait!” I heard Mae call out after me, but I could not stop. Lilah’s door opened before I could even knock. She slipped out onto the porch and shut the door.
“Bella?” She glanced behind her. “Grace is sleeping. I could hear your frantic voice all the way from Mae’s house.”
“Is Ky here?” I asked hurriedly.
Lilah shook her head. “He is attending to business tonight.”
I shook my head and my chest began to burn with the threat of tears. “No,” I whispered, just as Mae, Sister Ruth and Brother Stephen came rushing up the path to Lilah’s home.
“Bella!” Mae said and came to my side.
I turned to my sister. “Rider . . . he is missing.” I turned back to Lilah. “Styx and Ky are missing too.” I placed my hands on my head. “We were sleeping and he snuck out. Why would he sneak out? He only took his pants. He did not even dress for wherever he was going.”
My heart sank as I glanced through the thick forest of trees. From the height of Lilah’s home, I could see to the bottom of the verge. “No,” I whispered when I saw dim lights in the distance. “The barn,” I said under my breath. “No!” I started running.
“Bella!” I heard Mae call. “Ruth, Stephen, stay here with Grace. Lilah, come with me. We need to get Maddie.”
I heard my sisters talking behind me, but I could only focus on my destination. My eyes locked on the barn as I sprinted through the mud and the rain. Branches slapped at my face and fallen twigs sliced at my feet. But I did not care. They had Rider . . . they had my Rider. I just knew it.
“Rider,” I whispered as I tried to increase my speed. “What have you done?”
My lungs were starved of breath, but I pushed the uncomfortable feeling aside. I finally arrived at the rickety building on my right. The dim light from inside escaped through the cracks in the wooden walls. I could see movement from inside. People were in there.