Daisy and the Dead (Book 3): Daisy and the Lost Souls

by Bale, Sarah

  “He’s here, isn’t he?”

  Theo nodded. “She’s planning-”

  “I know. I overheard some men talking.”

  Elijah asked, “Are you sure she won’t change her mind? She’s definitely going to trade Daisy before the fight?”

  “As far as I know.” Theo sighed. “Are you sure you can’t leave tonight?”

  The universe had a sick sense of humor because thunder boomed in the distance as rain hit the tin roof.

  “Well, there goes that option.”

  Everyone knew storms riled up the dead. It wouldn’t be smart to try to leave until the storm had blown over.

  “Hopefully it lets up by the morning.”

  The wind howled and rain slammed against the roof all night. Bursts of thunder and flashes of lightning lit up the sky. Through it all, Elijah held me close. We should have been sleeping, but neither of us did. Instead, we talked about our options.

  “If you make it outside the fences, then try to find Grey and Kat. That will be your best bet.”

  I replied, “I’m not leaving here without you.”

  “Daisy-”

  “No. I already told you once. If you die, I die. So you better come up with a backup plan in case the first one doesn’t work.”

  He stared at me, emotions warring across his beautiful face.

  “I don’t know how we’re supposed to distract Lilly. That’s the only part of the plan that I worry will backfire.”

  I’d been worrying about the same thing. Theo had given us some ides, but none of them felt right.

  “What are your concerns?”

  He sighed. “She always has people around her. It’s going to be hard to get her alone. I think it’s going to have to be you.”

  “Me? Why would you think that?”

  “Because I don’t think she’ll expect you to do anything. She sees you as weak.”

  I’d always known this. And I guess I’d let her think it, too. But she was wrong.

  “Okay. So I’ll do it. Any ideas?”

  “Theo had the right idea when he said she needs to be in the main house. At different points in the day, the house is fairly empty. I think that’ll be our best bet.”

  I replied, “I’m not so sure, Elijah. If something goes wrong, then that’s a long way from the fence.”

  “We both know we’re not going to get her all the way out here.”

  “Fuck.” I rubbed my temples. “You’re right. I’m just being a coward.”

  “You’re not a coward.” His eyes flashed. “You’re the strongest woman I’ve ever met. You saved my life, Daisy! And we’re going to get through this.”

  I leaned my head against his chest. I didn’t agree, because who knew what tomorrow would bring?

  17

  The sun was shining bright the next morning and everything felt peaceful. Elijah and I went over our plan one last time before we left the safety of our bunk.

  Over breakfast, the men talked about repairing fences and buildings across the property that had been damaged during the storm. Hope spread across my chest. Elijah and I managed to stay out of the way until the house was empty.

  He kissed me. “You’ve got this.”

  I replied, “Hopefully it works.”

  He left the house and I inhaled. It was time to find Lilly.

  She ended up being in the study. Figured I would have to come back to this room before I left. But, for once, she was alone. Maybe miracles still existed.

  I knocked on the door. “Can we talk?”

  Lilly’s eyes narrowed. “Right now?”

  “It’s important.”

  “I’m kind of in the middle of something and don’t want to be bothered.”

  She gestured to the papers on the desk.

  “Not to be rude, but whatever you’re doing can probably wait.”

  She snorted. “You have no idea what I’m doing.”

  But I did. I was certain it had to do with trading me back to Wyatt and his group. And that wasn’t going to happen.

  I took a new approach. “Whatever. Your loss. Maybe Theo can help me. After all, he is a man and might know what’s on Elijah’s mind.”

  My cousin had never been able to turn an ear on gossip and this got her attention.

  “Trouble in paradise?”

  I nodded. Her face lit up and she sat the ink pen on the desk.

  “Spill.”

  “I don’t want to do it down here. Can we go to your room?” At her look, I said, “Lilly, I don’t want to advertise to the entire world that I’m having problems. Besides, what if he walks in?”

  “You’re so dramatic. Come on.”

  She left the study and went upstairs, to the master suite. When I was inside she closed the door.

  “Better?”

  I nodded. “Thank you.” I clasped my hands together. “I’m just not sure who to talk to about this problem. I thought about going to Mom, but you see how she is.”

  Lilly sat on the bed. “This better not be a sex thing.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “I don’t want to know if he can’t get it up. That would be too disappointing.”

  My cheeks flamed. “Why would you think that is what I wanted to talk about?

  She shrugged. “It happens, especially in older men. And he’s how much older than you?”

  “Lilly, I promise I’m not here to talk about my sex life with Elijah.”

  “Jeez, calm down. I forget how uptight you are when it comes to sex.”

  I inhaled, trying to calm myself. It wouldn’t do any good to let her rile me.

  “If it’s not sex, then what is it?”

  I sat next to her on the bed.

  “I think he’s slipping away from me. He’s distant. And I’m worried that he might do something.”

  “Such as?”

  “Run.”

  She couldn’t hide her surprise. Elijah had been right about that. Now I needed to bring it home.

  “What makes you think that?”

  “Come on, Lilly. We both know he doesn’t fit in here. He doesn’t see this as his home.”

  “Because I’m in charge?”

  “I don’t think it would matter who was in charge. These aren’t his people and he makes no point in hiding that fact. He regrets not fighting for our home in Oklahoma.” I rushed on, “I need to know that even if he leaves that I’ll have a place here.”

  “You wouldn’t go after him?”

  “No. The world is dying out there and I lost so much trying to get back home.”

  She said, “If he runs, I’ll have to send men after him. He’ll be put to death. And then his head will end up on a spike.”

  I shuddered, but replied, “I know, Lilly. That’s not what I’m asking, though. I need to hear it from you that I will have a place here. That you won’t try to get rid of me.”

  “I would never do that to family.”

  I wanted to cry out ‘bullshit’. I’d seen what she could do to her family.

  Instead, I said, “Thank you.”

  “Do you know when he’s planning on leaving?”

  “No, but if I were to guess it would be before the champion fight.”

  We were tipping our hand by telling Lilly this. This plan could go south at any moment unless she took our bait.

  Lucky for me, she did.

  “I’ll have someone go get him. We’ll have a little chat with him.”

  “You won’t hurt him, will you?”

  She shook her head. “Of course not.” She opened the bedroom door and called out, “Theo, bring Elijah up here. Don’t tell him Daisy is here.”

  Theo replied, “Will do.”

  While we waited, I asked, “Should I hide?”

  “Nah. It will be better if he knows you’re in here. He won’t see it coming.”

  No, she was the one who wouldn’t see it coming.

  18

  Elijah

  Theo found me by the barn.

  �
��You’ve been summoned.” He glanced around and then said, “Good luck.”

  “Just make sure you keep the others distracted.”

  He replied, “It’s already taken care of.”

  The wind blew and I caught a whiff of smoke.

  “Did you-”

  “Not your concern, man.”

  One of Lilly’s guards ran past us and said, “There’s a fire near the south fence!”

  Theo replied, “I’m coming!” To me, he said, “It’s been so dry. Wouldn’t take much to start a fire.”

  With a wink, he followed the man. I walked to the house. Daisy’s mom was probably inside, but no one that would try to kill me.

  I took the stairs two at a time. When I reached Lilly’s door I knocked.

  “Come in.”

  I stepped into the room and found Lilly and Daisy sitting together on the bed.

  “Theo said you were looking for me.”

  “Close the door.”

  Sure, bitch. I did as she ordered and waited.

  “My cousin came to me today with a concern. About you.”

  “About me? Daisy, what’s this about?”

  Lilly stood. “Don’t talk to her. You talk to me.”

  “Okay. Can you tell me what’s going on?”

  “Daisy seems to think that you’re not happy here. That you’re planning on leaving.”

  My jaw clenched. “It’s no lie that I’m not happy here, Lilly. I heard that some of the people that’d come here with me left during the storm. I’m thinking they have the right idea.”

  This little tidbit was true. Half of the people that’d arrived with us to the ranch had left last night. I hoped they knew where to look for Grey and Kat or at least found safety.

  “You men are all the same. You let your dick do all the thinking for you.”

  Behind her, Daisy stood and reached for a figurine on the nightstand. It looked heavy. She held it behind her back and waited.

  I said to Lilly, “Me having a dick has nothing to do with this.”

  Lilly snorted. “When are you wanting to leave?”

  “Soon.”

  “That’s not good enough.”

  I sighed, loudly. “What do you want me to say? I’m planning on getting out of here as soon as fucking possible.”

  “That’s just not going to be possible. You see, I have plans for you. And it all starts tomorrow when I trade Daisy.”

  Daisy exclaimed, “Lilly!”

  “Oh get over it, Daisy. I said I wasn’t going to kill you. I never said anything about someone else doing it.”

  I said, “Why tell us this? Aren’t you afraid we’ll run now?”

  Lilly threw her head back and laughed until tears streamed down her cheeks.

  “Something funny?”

  “Yes. You actually think you can just walk away from this ranch and no one will stop you? Wrong.”

  I took a step toward Lilly.

  “That’s where you’re wrong.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “I might have made a mistake back in Oklahoma by not having a network. But you’ve made a mistake here by thinking you were the one in control.”

  “I am in control.”

  I smiled. “Then call out for your men.”

  Lilly’s eyes grew large and she yelled, “Theo! Get in here.”

  I took another step toward Lilly.

  “They’re not coming. Want to know why?”

  She hissed out, “Why?”

  “Because we’re smarter than you,” Daisy said.

  Lilly spun around to face Daisy at the same time Daisy struck Lilly’s head with the figurine. It made contact with her skull with a sickening thud and Lilly fell to the ground. Daisy raised her arm, about to strike, but I stopped her.

  “I can’t tell you not to kill her, because god knows she deserves to die. But I know you, Daisy, and you won’t be able to live with yourself if you end her life.”

  The figurine fell to the floor.

  I pressed my finger against Lilly’s neck and felt a pulse. “You just knocked her out.”

  Daisy said, “We need to lock her up. I’ll grab her feet.”

  We carried her to the large walk-in closet and tied her up using belts. She began to stir as we finished.

  “Come on, Daisy. We need to go.”

  “Help me roll her onto her side.”

  I did as she asked and she pulled a ring from Lilly’s finger, slipping it onto her own.

  “This doesn’t belong to her.”

  She said it like she thought I was going to tell her to put it back, but she could do what she wanted.

  I said, “Let’s lock her in.”

  We closed the closet door and pushed the oak armoire in front of it. It was heavy as fuck, but we managed to get it in place just as Lilly began pounding on the door.

  “Come on!”

  I led the way down the stairs. Daisy’s mom was standing by the rail, looking up.

  “Is everything okay up there?”

  Daisy exhaled. “Mom, we’ve done something, but there’s no time to explain. Just come with us.”

  “I can’t do that. This is my home.”

  I saw Daisy’s heart break in that moment as her lips trembled. And there wasn’t a damn thing I could do about it.

  19

  Daisy

  “Mom, you have to come with us. Now.”

  “What are you doing?”

  “We’re leaving, Mom.”

  “You can’t! She won’t let you!”

  Lilly screamed from upstairs and my mom’s eyes grew round.

  “What have you done?”

  “Nothing she’ll die from.”

  “Daisy-”

  I sighed. “I love you, Mom, but I should have never come back.”

  “Don’t say that. Your father and I are glad you’re here. Lilly is, too, even though she doesn’t know how to show it.”

  “Do you hear yourself?” I asked incredulously. “You’re not the same person you used to be.”

  Her eyes flashed. “Don’t talk to me like that.”

  “Mom, I thought I was coming home to a safe haven. But the only thing I found here was a bunch of lost souls. And I can’t stay here or I’ll end up like you. Or worse.”

  Because I’d end up dead or become a bigger monster than Lilly. And the way they lived at the ranch was crueler than death or even fighting for survival.

  Elijah called out, “Daisy, we have to go. Now!”

  I threw my arms around my mom’s neck and hugged her.

  My lips trembled. “I’m going to do my chores, Mom. I love you.”

  I knew now it was better this way.

  She nodded. “Don’t forget to wash up before dinner, Daisy.”

  I squeezed her one last time. “Goodbye, Mom.”

  I turned and went outside, where Elijah was waiting with open arms. I threw myself against him and hugged him as tight as I could.

  “You okay?”

  I glanced over my shoulder. “I am. Let’s get out of here.”

  We both knew the others would be back sooner or later and we needed as much distance between them and us as possible. We reached the bunk and got our things. Then we climbed over the fence. True to his word, Theo had made sure the guards were all gone. When we got on the other side of the fence, we rushed away from the ranch

  I thought I heard my mom yelling my name, but maybe it was just the wind.

  “Theo said the car would be a mile out,” I said as we ran.

  Elijah nodded. “We’ll keep going even if it’s not.”

  Our feet were silent on the dirt road. As we ran, I found myself wishing I had a gun.

  “Think she’s out of the closet yet?”

  He didn’t answer me, but picked up his pace.

  The road ahead curved and the big pecan tree loomed in the distance. I couldn’t see if there was a car or not. What were we going to do if there wasn’t one?

  “We’re out – that’s all that mat
ters,” Elijah said, as if sensing my train of thought.

  As we got closer I did a fist pump into the air. Theo held up his end of the bargain – there was sedan waiting for us. Elijah reached the car first, opening the driver’s side door. He started the car and grinned at me.

  “It’s not the GTO, but it’ll do.”

  I threw my arms around his neck and his lips met mine in a hard, demanding kiss. God, I’d missed him so fucking much. He broke the kiss, pressing his forehead against mine.

  Groaning, he said, “I want to fuck you so bad right now, but we don’t have time. We need to get out of here before she realizes we’re gone.”

  Maybe it was because we’d just outsmarted my cousin and gotten away or, maybe it was because we hadn’t been together in a long time, but I couldn’t wait.

  Elijah’s eyes widened as I pushed him toward the backseat of the car.

  “Get in there. I’m going to ride you until I come.”

  This time the look in his eyes changed to dark desire.

  “Is that so?”

  I nodded. “Pants down. Now.”

  He shook his head, chuckling, but did as I said and pulled his pants down. His cock was already hardening, so I knew it wasn’t just me who wanted this. I pulled my shirt over my head and tossed it on the ground. Kicking my boots off, I shoved my pants down my legs and climbed on Elijah, settling on his cock with a satisfied sigh.

  “No foreplay?”

  His tone was teasing and I laughed.

  “Not today. I just need to… feel you.”

  He nodded. “I know the feeling.” He took hold of my hips and said, “Fuck me, Daisy.”

  Desire spiked through my body and I shivered. I rolled my hips and he groaned. I’d almost lost this man. Each thrust reminded me that we both had a lot of living and loving to do in this life. My orgasm built and my pace matched my desire to find release.

  “Come for me, my love.”

  His words sent me over the edge and I shattered. He thrust a few more times until his hot semen filled me.

  “God I’ve missed you,” he said.

  I leaned forward, kissing him. “That will do for now. But I need your ass naked as soon as possible.”