Page 3 of Sacrifice

I freeze. The sound is coming from him…from the body. The phone continues its relentless call for attention, and against my better judgment, I reach over to extract it from his pocket. The screen lights up with an unknown number, but I answer anyway, driven by some morbid curiosity.

“Is it done?” The voice is cold, emotionless.

It’s like a punch to the gut, that voice. I know it, would recognize it anywhere—it’s the sound of family, of blood. But not just any family. My brother.

Caius.

“Is it done?” he repeats, more insistently this time.

And then it clicks. He’s not asking about some business deal or whether I’ve booked a table for dinner. He’s asking if I’m dead.

The line goes dead as I drop the phone like it’s on fire. It clatters against the concrete, the screen shattering—a spiderweb of deceit spreading across its surface.

I stand there, staring at the body, at the phone. The implications make me reel. My own brother. He wanted me gone, out of the picture.

Was it for money? Power? Or was I just an inconvenient truth standing in the way of his ambitions?

My heart races, beats pounding in my ears like war drums. I can’t stay here, with him…it. I need to run, to escape this dark revelation that has turned my world upside down.

As I turn to flee, I leave behind the lifeless form and the broken phone—both harbingers of a trust irrevocably shattered. My feet pound against the pavement, every step a mix of terror and determination.

This was the first time my brother tried to kill me. But as I disappear into the night, one thing is clear: it won’t be the last.

Chapter one

Rook

As I knock on Aisling’s door, my heart hammers against my ribcage—a mix of nerves and something deeper I’m not quite ready to name. The heavy door swings open, revealing her silhouette framed by the warm glow of her room.

“Hey,” I say, my voice steady despite the riot in my chest. “Ready for our date?”

Aisling steps out, a hint of rose blush on her cheeks. She’s wearing a plain black tank and jeans, a grey leather jacket with silver snaps draped over her shoulders. “I am. This is…nice, Rook. Really nice.”

“Promised you I’d do this properly.” I offer her my arm, old-school style, and she loops her own through it, her fingers brushing against mine, sending a jolt up my arm. “And that’s what we’re doing.”

“Don’t bring her back too late, Rook!” Oberon’s voice shouts from the other side of the door.

I snicker, looking past Aisling to roll my eyes at Oberon. “No promises!”

Aisling shakes her head, gesturing toward the elevator. “Let’s get the hell out of here.”

We step out into the balmy Oasis evening, the fading sunlight casting long shadows on the pavement as we leave behind the security of her room for the pulsing life of the city streets.

“Where are you taking me?” Aisling’s voice cuts through the hum of the city, curiosity lacing her tone as we navigate the bustling sidewalk.

“Trust me,” I reply with a grin I hope looks more confident than I feel. The truth is, I want tonight to be perfect—something straight out of those cheesy romance flicks she likes.

“Should I?” She arches an eyebrow, but there’s laughter dancing in her eyes.

“Absolutely not.” My chuckle is dry, self-deprecating. “But tonight, I’m hoping you’ll make an exception.”

I lead her past storefronts with neon signs and windows full of shiny things that fail to steal my attention from her. As we reach a corner, I catch a whiff of spices and grilled meats—a scent that tugs at memories I haven’t visited in a long time. Without warning, I veer us down a dimly lit side street, the sounds of the main road fading behind us.

“Rook?” There’s a hint of uncertainty in her voice now, but when she looks at me, her lips curve into a questioning smile that sets off a flutter in my stomach.

“Almost there,” I say, squeezing her hand lightly for reassurance.

The tight alley opens up without warning, spilling us onto a lively street where vendors hawk their wares beneath strings of colorful lights. Food carts line the edges, each one surrounded by a small cluster of people eager for a taste of whatever’s cooking. The rich aromas blend together, creating an intoxicating mix that seems to draw Aisling in, her gaze flitting from one cart to another with growing interest.

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