Infidelity: Sacrifice (Kindle Worlds Novella)

by Rae Riley

  Before I could stop myself, I scowled. “A couple bottles of her favorite shampoo aren’t going to make her happy.”

  The sound of his slap echoed through the quiet office.

  “You will do as you are told,” he reiterated. “If you do a good job, I won’t use the belt on that tight little ass of yours tonight.”

  Instantly, I knew that I would do as he said. Anything to avoid his belt.

  Chapter Eleven

  “Please don’t make me go,” I pleaded as Bryce walked through my door. I had followed the text message instructions, putting on the stupid pink dress and twisting my hair into a bun. Still, I had hoped that I could talk Bryce into letting me stay at Carmichael Hall instead of going to Montague Manor.

  “You’re going,” he stated. Walking to my vanity, he rifled through the drawers until he found a simple string of pearls.

  “I can’t,” I argued, my voice cracking with emotion. “I can’t face her, Bryce. Please don’t make me.”

  Turning me by my shoulders, he secured the necklace around my neck. “No more arguing,” Bryce ordered softly, his breath on my ear making me shiver. “You will come to the manor and tell Alexandria our story. She is not to know about Infidelity.”

  I shook my head, allowing the tears to slip down my cheeks. I would rather Alex think that I was a whore than a traitor.

  Grabbing my wrist, Bryce moved my hand over his belt buckle. I tried to pull away but his grip was firm. “If you do a good job, I won’t use the belt on you tonight.”

  As he moved my hand lower, I felt his erection through his slacks.

  “We’re going to be late,” I prompted, trying again to pull my hand away.

  “A second ago you didn’t want to go,” he grumbled, releasing his hold as his phone beeped with an incoming message. While he checked the text, I took the opportunity to move a few steps away from him. The grin across his lips when he looked up from the screen made me sick. “But you’re right. We need to leave. Alton just sent a message. He has Alexandria.”

  “Is she okay?” I asked.

  “Why wouldn’t she be?” Bryce questioned, his brow furrowed.

  “She wouldn’t get into his car willingly.” My heart raced as a new thought popped into my head. “Please tell me that he didn’t drug her.”

  “Whatever Alton did or didn’t do to her is none of your concern,” Bryce declared, moving toward me, backing me against a wall. “You are mine. The only person who you need to be concerned about is me. If Alton did something to Alex, that is Alex’s fault. She is the one who is being difficult.”

  “Yes, Bryce,” I whispered, looking at the floor to avoid his gaze while he towered over me.

  ***

  Biting my lower lip, I stared out the window in an effort to distract myself from the situation. The car had pulled into the drive several minutes ago. At any moment, Alex would walk in and I would have to face her.

  “Chelsea,” Bryce called.

  Obediently, I met his gaze.

  “What is her name?” he questioned.

  “Alexandria,” I answered. I had been instructed several times to refer to her as Alexandria or Miss Collins – never Alex.

  “Who are you?” he asked.

  My eyes widening, I glanced at Suzanna. She was pretending not to listen to our conversation, although since we were the only three people in the room it would have been impossible for her not to hear it.

  “Chelsea,” he prodded.

  “Your whore,” I whispered.

  “Chelsea,” Suzanna scolded. “Language!”

  Bryce smirked as I turned back toward the window. My heart skipped a beat when I heard the door open.

  “Alexandria, come in,” Suzanna encouraged.

  Maybe if I don’t move, she won’t notice me. It was a childish wish and certainly wasn’t granted. I felt Alex’s eyes on me as soon as she entered the room. As I turned to face her, my breath caught in my throat. We stared in silence, each of us studying the other. There was so much that I wanted to say to her. I had come to Savannah in the hopes of protecting and saving Alex. Judging by her current situation, I had failed.

  The confusion and fear on her face suddenly morphed into relief as she rushed toward me. “Oh my God, Chelsea,” she said, pulling me into her embrace.

  I wasn’t sure how to react. A hug wasn’t the way that I thought she would greet me.

  Taking a step back, her confusion returned. “What the hell is going on?” she questioned.

  “Alex,” I started, before quickly correcting myself. “Alexandria. I’m sorry.”

  “It’s nice of you to finally join us,” Bryce greeted her, stepping toward us. My body stiffened in response. I couldn’t help but notice that Alex’s body reacted the same way.

  “Yes, Alexandria, welcome home,” Suzanna added.

  Bryce’s head tilted ever so slightly, motioning for me to sit at the table. I didn’t hesitate to obey.

  “Dear, let’s all sit,” Suzanna prompted, looking at Alex. “Your father will be here soon.”

  “Suzanna, what can you tell me about my mother?” Alex asked, stepping toward her.

  I quietly sat and listened as Suzanna explained Adelaide’s condition to Alex. Although it made me a horrible person, I was actually relieved to hear that Adelaide was truly sick. It meant that my text to Alex hadn’t been a total lie. It meant that there was a good reason for her to be in Savannah.

  “Why are you here?” Alex asked Bryce as her voice came back into focus. Then she turned toward me. “And you? I mean, fine, Suzanna, you’re Momma’s best friend, but I don’t –”

  “Family, dear,” Suzanna said as she lowered herself into a chair. “We’re all fam–”

  “That’s my mother’s –” Alex started before Bryce cut her off.

  “And we were asked to be here,” he added.

  “Told to be,” I muttered, unable to stop the words from slipping past my lips. Bryce’s expression flashed as he turned toward me.

  “Wait,” Alex declared as she stood. “I want answers. This isn’t from my mother, but from… Facebook… news articles… what the hell is the deal with the two of you?”

  Taking a breath, my gaze moved to the table. This was when I was supposed to speak – to lie. I knew what I was supposed to say, but I just couldn’t.

  “We’re glad that you’re home,” Bryce said. “I love you.”

  I almost laughed. Bryce wasn’t capable of love.

  “Obviously,” Alex mocked, placing her hands on the table.

  “No, Alexandria,” Bryce softly argued. “I do. I always have.” I felt his eyes on me but refused to look up. “She knows. I never lied to her. But you wouldn’t talk to me. You wouldn’t respond to me. Over the last four years, I traveled many times to California to see you. During those trips, Chelsea met with me. She would tell me that you didn’t want to see me, explaining how busy you were.”

  His palm rested on the table next to me. I knew what he wanted and instinctively I gave it to him, placing my hand in his. It wasn’t worth the punishment that rejecting him would elicit.

  “We grew close,” he continued. “It’s been going on for a few years. We never intended for it to go this far, but well, I had to explain to the courts that I couldn’t possibly be the person responsible for Melissa’s disappearance. I was in California with Chelsea.” As he brought my hand to his lips, I fought the urge to scowl. Instead, I worked to keep my composure.

  “Didn’t Melissa go missing around the same time that Chelsea was hurt? Do you know who hurt her?” Alex asked.

  Yes! Don’t believe his lies. Please, see the danger. I was proud of my best friend’s ability to connect the dots. She was going to make a fantastic lawyer.

  “I know that I was glad I was there for her,” Bryce said. “I only wish I wouldn’t have left her alone that night.”

  “B-but you called me from Atlanta the next day,” Alex argued. “I remember your saying that. I was in the airport on the way to
see her. You couldn’t have been in California.”

  “I was. I lied. We still didn’t want you to know.”

  “Chels?” Alex whispered, sliding back into the chair. “Tell me. You’ve never lied to me. Bryce has. I want to hear it from you.”

  My heart broke. I didn’t want to lie to her, but Bryce’s increasingly tight grip on my hand forced me to speak. “I’m sorry,” I said, raising my gaze to meet hers. “I have lied to you.”

  The hurt that she felt was written on her face as she gasped. “Do you two…? Do you love each other?”

  “I told you,” Bryce reminded her. “I love you. I always will.”

  “What the fuck?” Alex screeched. “You’re a pig. You’re holding her hand and professing your love for me? That doesn’t make any sense. And you’re some sick fuck if you think it does.”

  “Alexandria!” Suzanna scolded. “Language!”

  “I don’t believe you,” Alex declared, looking at me.

  “It’s true,” I lied.

  She shook her head. “But in your hospital room, you said he was there and that you didn’t recognize -”

  I cut her off. “I knew you’d run into him in the lobby. I wanted to throw you off.”

  “No, no,” she gasped. “This isn’t right. It doesn’t make sense.”

  “Why?” Bryce defensively asked. “You can be screwing someone on the side, but I can’t?”

  They started yelling. She accused him of getting turned on at the thought of sleeping with her friends. He accused her of getting turned on at the thought of sleeping with a criminal. I had no idea what Bryce was talking about. Who was the criminal? Nox? Suzanna tried to stop their fight, but they continued until suddenly the door opened and Alton walked in. He reprimanded Alex for her behavior but said nothing to Bryce. Typical.

  I listened as Alton explained the will to Alex. Every so often, I glanced at her face. Her expression ranged from confusion, to sadness, to pure terror. She tried to argue with Alton. She called him crazy. She downright refused to go along with it. I saw Alton’s anger and nearly stood to get between them when Bryce surprised me. He protected Alex. Although I was grateful, a pang of jealousy stabbed at my heart. He never would have protected me. Not only did he protect her, he fought for what she wanted – visitation with her mom. A mention of Lennox’s name made me sit taller. Did they know of my connection?

  “That’s it,” Alex huffed. “You’re afraid if I leave the grounds that Lennox’s people…”

  “We need to be sure,” Alton said.

  “You see,” Bryce coaxed. “It’s not us stopping you from seeing your mother. We could go now. You could see her, but we can’t risk your safety. It’s because of him.”

  “My safety?” Alex scoffed. “Lennox’s people won’t hurt me.”

  “They’ve already tried,” Alton told her.

  Alex looked baffled. “What are you saying?”

  “The shooting in Central Park was an attempt to get you out of his life,” Alton lied.

  Don’t believe him!

  Scowling, Alton continued lying to her. “You’re not wanted there and being with him or seen with him ever again is dangerous and forbidden.”

  Alex protested, claiming that the shooting was a domestic thing and that she was never in danger. Bryce told her that the shooter was hired by Demetri. I prayed that she would see through their lies. Then again, she hadn’t seen through mine. She argued that Nox would never do that, that he loved her.

  Why is she so unwilling to believe the lies that they are saying about Nox, but so easily convinced of my betrayal?

  The three of them – Alton, Alexandria, and Bryce – continued to argue while Suzanna and I sat quietly and watched. Eventually, Alexandria was sent to her room with Bryce as an escort. My body stiffened as Bryce and Alex left the office, leaving me alone with Alton and Suzanna.

  A piece of paper and a pen landed on the table in front of me.

  “You will write exactly what I say,” Alton ordered.

  Chapter Twelve

  Unable to sleep, I sat on the bench in front of the window and stared up at the moonlight.

  I had written the letter that Alton dictated – the one that told Nox to move on. Except I hadn’t addressed it to Nox. I had addressed it to Lennox, praying he would realize that Alex would never write a letter addressed to that name. When Bryce returned from Alex’s room, we stayed for dinner. The three of them carried on, laughing, as if Alex wasn’t being held prisoner a floor above them. Finally, it was time to leave.

  “Do you remember my promise?” Bryce softly asked as he led me to the car.

  I nodded as I took my seat inside the car and looked up at him.

  “You did a good job tonight,” he praised.

  I couldn’t stop the smile from forming on my lips. I had done well. He wouldn’t be using his belt on me. My smile grew as he slid onto the seat next to me. If he was at Carmichael Hall with me, it meant that Alex was safe – at least for one night.

  Then as we were driving away from the manor, the car stopped just outside of the gates.

  “Where are you going?” I quickly asked as Bryce exited the vehicle.

  “It doesn’t concern you,” he replied, closing the door.

  The car pulled away, leaving him standing on the side of the road.

  “What is he doing?” I asked, turning to Suzanna. I tried to hide the panic in my voice.

  “Dear, I know that this is hard for you,” she soothed. “But this is the way it has to be. Bryce and Alexandria are to be married. He needs to give his time to her now.”

  I shook my head at the memory. The stupid bitch thought that my panic was caused by jealousy. In actuality, it was caused by fear for my friend’s safety.

  It was nearly three thirty in the morning and I still couldn’t fall asleep. I was too concerned. It had been six hours since we had left him on the side of the road. What is he doing?

  Suddenly my door slammed open, causing my body to jump in surprise. Unable to see the drive from my window, I hadn’t realized that Bryce had returned home. My nose wrinkled in disgust. I could smell the whiskey on his breath from across the room. The light in the hallway behind him made it hard to see the details of his face but as soon as the door closed I saw it. The bruise across his cheekbone.

  “Oh my God,” I gasped. “Is Alex all right?” If she had done that to him, what had he done to her?

  “Alex?” he yelled, moving across the room. “I’m the one with a fucking bruise and you’re worried about Alex?” Before I could react, Bryce’s hand was around my neck as he pulled me up and pushed me against the wall. “I told you that whatever happens to her is none of your concern.”

  “Did you hurt her?” I asked, my voice strained from the pressure against my throat.

  “No, I didn’t fucking hurt her. I told you,” he growled, pressing his erection against me, “that’s what I have you for.”

  “You said you wouldn’t do that tonight,” I reminded him, chills running up my spine.

  “I said that I wouldn’t use my belt on you. There are other ways to hurt you.”

  The promise of abuse scared me. The fact that I had never seen him this drunk scared me more. I knew not to fight. I knew what it did to him. But I couldn’t stop myself. I needed to get away. I brought my knee up between his legs as hard as I could, but he pulled away before I could make contact.

  “Stupid bitch,” he yelled, slapping my cheek.

  Kicking my legs out from under me, he forced me to bend over the edge of the bed. “Stop,” I screamed, trying to scramble away.

  “You want to fight?” He yanked my shorts down to my ankles. “I’ll give you something to fight.”

  “Stop,” I cried, my voice cracking in fear. My heart nearly beat out of my chest when I felt him press against me. I had had anal sex before, but my partner had always been gentle. I was positive that Bryce Spencer would be anything but gentle. He pushed my face into the mattress to drown out my screams
as he entered me.

  “I’m not stopping until you’ve learned your lesson,” he promised. “How many times have I told you that Alex isn’t your concern?” Each sentence was accentuated by pain as he pulled out and then forced his way back in. “You certainly aren’t hers.” My fingers blanched as I gripped the comforter on the bed. “Do you think that I would be here right now if she had given me what I wanted?” I couldn’t breathe with my face pressed against the mattress. “Do you think that she cares that you are suffering in her stead?” Grabbing my hair, he pulled my head up, arching my back and sending excruciating waves through my body. “Who put you in this position?”

  “Stop,” I pleaded.

  Pushing my face back into the mattress, he punished me with five more thrusts, each more painful than the last. “Let’s try this again,” he panted, pulling my head back up. “Who is the cause of your pain?”

  “Alex,” I choked, preparing myself for another stroke. It didn’t come.

  “Does she care about you?” he asked, releasing my hair.

  I shook my head, though I told myself that it was a lie. I needed the pain to stop. It was too much.

  “Do you care about her?” He began to pet my head.

  “No.” It was spoken out of self-preservation, but it made my heart hurt.

  “Who is the only person who matters?” he asked.

  “You,” I sniffled.

  “That’s right.” With a hand on my back, his thrusts resumed, this time gentler.

  When he was done, my body slipped from the bed onto the floor. Pulling my knees to my chest, I cried. Through my tears, I watched him pick up my cell phone and place it in his pocket.

  Standing over me, Bryce said, “I think it would be best if you stayed in here for a while. I will let Mr. Abbot know that you won’t be coming in. Do I need to lock the door or do you think that you can manage to stay in here by yourself?”