Page 45 of The Devil After Dark
forty-nine
LIANA
“Time to wake up,”Merrick’s voice filled the room as bright light washed over me. I flung an arm over my eyes and turned my face into the pillows. Pillows. I was in a bed. I didn’t remember how I got here. The last thing I remembered was Merrick dragging me from Cassio’s home. “Up, up. You have a big evening ahead of you.” I cracked my eyes and squinted into the room. Merrick was towering over the end of the bed. A silky black comforter was the only thing between us. I watched him slowly lean down and ball the comforter in his fingers. Then he yanked. I curled up on myself and cried out as the comforter was ripped off me.
“Time to get cleaned up,” Merrick said and pointed towards a door. “I am happy to assist you if you need it.” I quickly crawled off the bed and walked towards the door, trying to keep space between us. Merrick followed me in, leaning against the doorframe. “Take a shower.”
I looked between him and the shower. “What is happening tonight?” I asked carefully.
“An auction and you need to look your best,” he said and jerked his head towards the wall opposite the shower. A beautiful dress hung on a hanger and from a hook on the wall. “Hurry up or do I need to help you?”
“Can I have some privacy?” I asked sharply.
Merrick laughed, “No.”
I guess this was better than Remington forcing himself into the shower with me. Remington. I looked down and realized his blood was still covering me. I tore at my blood covered shirt frantically. Remington’s blood was all over me. I couldn’t get it off. I was shaking so badly I couldn’t get the blood covered shirt off. “Get it off!” I screamed as I pulled at the material. I shoved my blood splattered pants down and kicked at them until they flung across the bathroom.
“Get it off me!” I tore at the shirt more. Strong hands grabbed me and there was a tearing noise. Merrick shredded my shirt and pulled the fabric away from me before letting me go. He stared at me as he dropped the torn shirt on the floor. I was panting and shaking. He only pointed at the shower.
I rested my head against the tile wall as warm water poured over me. Standing with my back to Merrick I ran through everything I remembered. Could Cassio save me? Would he? I needed to escape Merrick. Had he said the Claiming? Why did that sound familiar?
“It’s time to get out,” Merrick said from the door. I didn’t have the energy to argue. I numbly dried myself and used the brush and hairdryer Merrick pointed to. Then he set a makeup bag on the counter. It was brand new and when I peeked inside, so were all the products. “You need to look your best.”
“What is all this for?” I asked as I carefully pulled out products and started applying the makeup.
“The auction is tonight. This is a very exclusive event, Liana. I expect you to behave,” Merrick replied simply.
“Am I your date or something?”
“You’re the auction item,” he said flatly. The small container of blush fell from my hands and clattered on the counter.
“What?” I gasped. My throat was tightening with fear. Being Merrick’s date I could handle, but being theauction item?
“Tonight you will be presented and the auction for the four spots in tomorrow night’s Claiming will take place. Once the winner is decided, it is up to them what the rest of your life looks like,” Merrick replied, his voice devoid of emotion.
This was one of the entertainment events Cassio had told me about … oh gods. This was the game his mother had been forced to participate in.
“Have you participated?” I asked cautiously.
“No. I’m not that stupid or bored. I, personally, enjoy living.”
A gang enforcer felt these games were too dangerous to participate in. What did that mean for me? “Why have these games at all?”
“Because if we don’t kill each other then we will kill all of you.”
CASSIO
“Cass?” Jason’s voice echoed through my home.
“Kitchen!” I called back.
I heard Jason’s footsteps as he neared the kitchen. My arm was starting to go numb from my body weight and the chair on top of it. At least I could feel the flickers of my magic returning. Had Jason not shown up, I would have been able to free myself soon. Either way, I was praying I would be able to get to Liana in time.
“What the fuck … Cass! What happened?” Jason was on the floor next to me a moment later and I felt the tension of the ropes loosen as he cut them away. I struggled from the chair and pushed to my hands and knees. Blood tingled through my extremities as feeling returned to them.
“Merrick has Liana,” I managed to say. Jason’s arm around me helped pull me to my feet. “Remington tried to sell us out.”
“Remi tried to … oh fucking hell. Makes sense now. Remi ordered the hit on us. The one that killed Kalvin. None of what I was finding made sense because I never considered Remi could or would do that.” Jason continued cursing as he guided me to the counter where I planted my hands as I tried to regain my balance. That fucking tranquilizer was still in my system and my body was responding like a wet noodle. I swiveled my head to look at the bodies on my kitchen floor and Jason’s eyes followed my gaze. “What happened?”
