His words make my heart race, and I swallow nervously. “I love you,” I whisper.
Giving me a tender kiss on the lips this time, he pushes open the door, and we enter the cathedral. All the Lords are present in the pews dressed in cloaks and masks. Ryat leads me to the front row, and I sit down in the same spot I had last time I witnessed him torture someone who tried to destroy my life with him.
Ryat makes his way up the stairs, and he walks over to a black sheet that hangs from the ceiling. He reaches up and yanks it down, exposing what’s behind it—Matt.
He’s got his arms tied above his head by a rope secured to the ceiling. His feet are spread wide, chained to the floor, and all he wears are his boxers.
He’s covered in blood, and I wonder just what Tyson’s been doing to torture him for the past month while Ryat recovered. It wasn’t enough to kill him, but definitely enough to fuck him up by the bruises and dried blood on him.
Ryat moves to stand behind the baptism pool and faces the congregation. “Lords, I find this to be a teaching moment for you all.” He starts. “This here is a fellow Lord who decided to betray his oath and be disloyal to us.”
Matt lifts his head and glares at the back of Ryat’s head.
“What is his penalty?” Ryat asks.
“Death!” Everyone answers at the same time, making me jump.
“Go ahead.” Matt growls, “I won’t say shit!”
A smile spread across Ryat’s face. “You don’t have to … but she will.”
The sound of a door opening and closing on the second floor fills the large space, and then I see my dad dragging Valerie onto the stage. I sit up straighter, my eyes shooting to Ryat. His eyes are already on mine. He tried to tell me I didn’t have to stay here tonight. Is this why? I thought he was trying to save me from what he was going to do to Matt, but maybe it was to protect me from the woman who I grew up thinking was my mother.
My father brings her to a stop and forces her to her knees. She whimpers behind her gag. Stepping up to her, he removes it, and she cries harder. He grips her hair and yanks her head back. “You get one chance to explain yourself,” he says calmly.
I’ve known my father was a Lord since Ryat brought me back, but I never expected to see him in action. Is this what he wanted to talk to me about in the office? Prepare me for what he had planned on doing? Maybe he didn’t want me to be here either.
She sobs, her body shaking. “He killed her.”
“Valerie!” Matt snaps. “Shut the fuck up, you stupid bitch!”
Ryat walks over to him and yanks something out of his back pocket. It’s a black ball gag. He shoves the rubber ball into his mouth and then fastens it behind his head. “You’ll have your turn,” he assures him.
“it’s okay,” My father runs his hands over her hair and her body shakes with fear at the single touch. “Keep going.”
She sniffs. “I … I found where you had been talking to LeAnne. You guys wanted to tell Blakely about her …” Her tear-filled eyes meet mine. “I couldn’t let that happen. I couldn’t …”
Dropping my eyes to the floor, I dismiss her. I honestly thought she was my mother my entire life, and even though I loved her, I can’t get over that she was going to take my babies. That she thought I had failed her so badly, that she wanted a do-over.
“Go on.” My father urges her. His hand still in her hair lovingly, but she’s shaking like a leaf in a tree.
“He was just supposed to scare her. But Matt took it too far.” She cries. “And killed her …”
“You’re correct.” My father takes a step back from her and she sags with relief. Thinking he’s going to reward her for telling the truth. “Matt did take it too far.” He agrees, nodding his head once. “But LeAnne is still very much alive.”
My eyes shoot to Ryat and he’s looking at my father, confusion written all over his face, informing me he was in the dark just as much as I am.
“No.” She shakes her head quickly. “He killed her …”
The sounds of the double doors opening behind me squeak. Everyone in the pews turn around to stare at whoever entered but I can’t. I’m frozen in place. Staring up into the loft at my husband. His already sharp jaw clenches, body going rigid, and eyes darken.
The sound of a pair of high heels on the concrete floor is all you hear as someone—no—some woman walks down it. I wrap my arms around my growing stomach protectively, not knowing what to expect while tears fill my eyes.