Bending down, I place my arms under her shaking body and pick her up, carrying her out of the basement and up to the apartment.
_______________
I HELP HER out of the bath after washing her hair and soaping her body for her. I wrap the towel around her before picking her up into my arms.
She’s about to pass out. Our little session down in the basement took what little she had left to give. Setting her on the side of the bed, I dry her off a little more, and then she lies down, snuggling into the sheets.
“Here.” I hand her two painkillers, knowing her jaw has to be sore along with everything else. I didn’t want to keep her down there for long, considering the position I had her in.
She takes them and then hands me her bottle of water. I set it on the nightstand and then crawl in next to her. “Lie on your stomach,” I order.
I straddle her back and rub my hands together quickly, warming them up before placing them on her skin. She moans when I start rubbing on her. Maybe a minute goes by before I hear her start softly snoring, but I continue to rub her back, arms, and legs, hoping it will help her soreness when she wakes up in the morning.
Once I’m done, I lie down and pull her into me. Kissing her wet hair, I whisper, “I love you.” Hoping she can hear me before I close my eyes.
They spring open when I hear my cell go off.
Groaning, I reach over to the nightstand and pick it up.
Mandatory meeting at house of Lords.
I close it and sigh. It’s later on tonight. Thankfully, it’s early enough that I can go to the meeting and be back to Blackout before Blake has to do her initiation.
BLAKELY
I’M A LITTLE tipsy. Probably had more than I should have, but I needed the liquid courage to do what needs to be done tonight. It’s not the fact that I have to pretend to flirt with a man. It’s the fact that I know what my husband is going to do to him afterward. Why does this guy deserve to die? And why was he chosen for my initiation? Are these people picked at random?
I’m wearing another dress of Sarah’s, and Ryat literally growled when he saw me in it but didn’t say anything. I take another drink before setting it down. Taking a quick look around, I try to find Ryat in the crowd, but it’s too busy, and he’s not standing on the second-floor balcony tonight.
I can’t feel him like usual either. I wonder if it’s because I’m just nervous. The fuck fest we had last night in the basement did knock me on my ass, and I slept in until noon today. I woke up sore as fuck and needed another hot bath to help relax my tight muscles. It worked enough. But even now, these heels are killing my feet. Not to mention I’ve still got hearts on my tits and MINE written between my legs. Wonder how long Sharpie lasts on skin?
“Boo.”
I jump when I hear someone in my ear. Spinning around, I see Sarah standing before me. “What are you doing here?” I ask, wide-eyed, pulling her in for a hug.
“I brought you your car.”
“Really?” She nods, and I say, “Thank you.” I’ve missed her so much. I haven’t gotten to see her much since classes started this year. Between the Lords, my running away, and someone trying to kill me, we’ve been pulled apart. More so now than when I was dating Matt.
“Of course. I guess the Lords have a meeting back at the house …”
I frown. I didn’t know that.
“Ryat called Gunner this morning and gave him the address to the cabin and asked us to bring your car up here. So Gunner took me out there, and he said he’ll just catch a ride here with Ryat after they’re done at the house.”
He promised he’d be here. “When will they be done?” I ask her.
“Should be anytime now.” She looks down at her cell. “But I wanted to come help my girl.” She winks at me.
Does she know what I’m doing, though? Does she know what Gunner has done in order to become a Lord? I don’t even know what all Ryat has done at this point. And I probably never will.
My cell vibrates in my clutch, and I pull it out. Opening up the text, I take a deep breath, thinking it’s going to tell me the guy is here but it’s from Ryat.
Had a meeting at HoLs. On my way.
Okay. See you soon.
“While we’re waiting, I’m going to go out to my car really quick.” I’m going to grab a pair of flats in my trunk so I can put them on as soon as this is done. I’ve hated living out of the small suitcase we brought with us. If I had known we weren’t going to return after burying Cindy, I would have packed several bags.