Page 34 of The Devil's Chaos

Alex forcefully kissed me, then spoke again, “You’re lucky I decided to let you live. But let this be yet another lesson for you. You stay out of my business, or else I won’t be forgiving next time. And you wouldn’t be the first Benson woman to be escorted to an early grave.”

The last part hurt, and I cringed, my sweet mother springing to the front of my mind. And as Bruno pushed me down on all fours, positioning himself behind me, I clung to her memory. To the moments we had before she was taken from me. My father and brother may take everything else from me, but they could never take my memories. Especially not those I held onto like a life preserver, clinging to them for dear life just to make it through a few more moments of torture.

"Do not leave any marks on the outside of her. Everything else is fair game, am I clear?” Alex said to Bruno.

“Don’t worry,bella ragazza.” Bruno sneered as he prepared himself. “Bruno is going to take his time with you.”

I gripped the velvet cushion beneath me, bracing myself for his violent assault.You can make it through this. They can’t break you. Just breathe.

The sound of Bruno's belt loosening made bile rise up in my throat, but before I could even think about vomiting on my couch, my brother's phone rang. He answered immediately.

Bruno spit on his hand and began stroking himself behind me while Alex spoke with our father.

“Yes, Father. I understand. I’m on my way now.” Alex hung up and turned toward Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum. “Let’s go boys. It appears we will have to commence this spiritual awakening at a later time.”

“Boss?” Bruno questioned.

“Did I stutter numbnuts? Someone hit the warehouse! Get the fuck up!” Alex screamed, clearly agitated.

I held my breath until I heard the door lock behind them, signaling their departure from my apartment. Only then did I allow myself to move, slowly standing up and stumbling toward my bedroom, where my phone was ringing. My legs felt weak, and my hands shook as I answered the call.

“Hey, girl. What are you doing tonight?” Olivia’s voice blared through the phone.

“I don’t have anything exciting going on,” I replied, clearing my throat.

“Well then, come out with me. Some guys from a frat on campus are throwing a huge party. I guess they’re trying to make it up to the girls who didn’t get chosen for The Devil’s Hunt put on by those stuck-up shitheads from The Brotherhood,” she said with a sarcastic tone.

“I’m sorry…The Devil’s Hunt?” I questioned, intrigued.

“I thought I told you. You know, the little hunt the boys put on at the manor where they pick girls from St. Mary’s and chase them through the woods. Whoever wins gets to be their sex toy or…whatever else they want. Which honestly sounds way better than working for your brother,” Olivia explained.

Olivia graduated from St. Mary’s last year, but she stayed active at the parties on and off campus, often trying to convince me to party with her. She was still bitter that she had never beenChosen, so I didn’t fault her for her sarcasm. Growing up with private tutors and no social life, I never had the opportunity to experience the private school thing. I was only twenty-two now,but I often wondered what being born into a different family would be like. If only life were as simple as attending class and partying until you throw up on the weekends. That life was stolen from me. However, that didn’t mean I couldn’t pretend, right?

“So, The Devil’s Hunt is happening tonight?”

“Normally, it’s on Halloween, but they started it early for some reason.”

“And the members of The Brotherhood organize it?” I clarified.

“Yep, only three brothers this year.”

Archer.

Kai.

Theo.

It’s not that I expected Kai to tell me about The Hunt just because we made it to third base. But that doesn’t mean that I wasn’t irritated that he was out there fucking everything that walked while I stayed in my apartment waiting for him to come back and finish what we started. Instead, he was chasing girls through the forest, probably balls deep inside them at this very moment, leaving me at home like a good little girl. Except I was the furthest thing from a good girl, and I was young and single. Nothing was stopping me from going out with Olivia and drinking until I forgot all about my brother and everything that almost happened tonight.

“Okay.”

“Okay? Is that a yes?”

“Yes.”

“Woohoo!” Olivia squealed. “I’m just finishing my hair right now, and then I’ll come get you!”

“Great.”

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