I let out a breath. Considering that I didn’t know where we were going or what we were doing, I had no idea what to wear. Brittany was nowhere to be found as I walked through the rest of the house, heading for the stairs.
“Guess I’ll have to figure this out on my own,” I mumbled to myself as I made my way up the staircase.
Brittany was already in the bedroom rummaging through the closet. She looked up at me when I opened the door, pulling out a short black dress.
“Bennett texted me and told me to help you get ready,” she said and continued moving around the room. “He wants you back downstairs in an hour.”
I glanced at the duffle bag on the bed. “What’s with that?” I asked, gesturing toward it.
“He just told me to pack it.”
“You’re leaving?” I asked, raising a brow.
She looked at me and frowned. “You are.”
My heart hammered in my chest. I couldn’t leave now. It wasn’t as if Bennett wouldn’t find me anyway and—
“No, I mean you and Bennett are leaving after your date tonight,” she explained, noticing my bewilderment. “Instead of waiting until the weekend, you guys are leaving tonight after whatever you’re doing.”
“Oh,” I said, a mixture of relief and disappointment washing over me. The thought of actually being able to escape this place was nothing but a dream, but it was one I’d continue dreaming about every day. Either way, I couldn’t leave now. I couldn’t leave until I knew for sure that Wilson was dead.
“Is there anything in particular that you want to wear? He didn’t give me any specifics and right now, I’m just pulling out possible ideas.”
I shrugged. “Whatever he’d like, I guess,” I said and flopped down on the bed. Everything grew quiet as Brittany stopped moving clothes hangers. She slowly turned to me, her face white as if she’d seen a ghost. “What?”
“What’d you just say?” she asked softly.
I furrowed my brow in confusion. “Um…to pick whatever you think he’d liked,” I repeated, not seeing what the big deal was.
She gave me a small smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Stephanie used to say that a lot when she wasn’t in the mood to pick her clothes,” she said. “It’s so strange how you both have so many similar mannerisms.”
“Well, she was my sister after all,” I said with a sigh. “I don’t know what to wear because he didn’t tell me what we were doing or where we were going.”
“Can’t do wrong with a little black dress,” she said with a grin.
I looked at the dress and frowned. “Where’s the rest of it? It looks so short that it could pass for a shirt.”
“Just try it on. I think it’ll be fine since you’re not super tall,” she said, holding it out to me. I sighed and stood up, taking the dress out of her hands. Slipping out of my clothes, I put the dress on and examined it. It was an off-the-shoulders lace dress that stopped just barely above the middle of my thighs. The material was soft against my skin, the dress lightly swishing around my legs as I turned.
“Perfect, right?” Brittany asked behind me.
“Yeah, I like it,” I said with a grin. “I guess the dark king would like it, too.”
Brittany walked over to me. “I think he’d like anything that his dark queen puts on as long as it isn’t jeans and t-shirts,” she said.
I snorted. “Of course, coming from the guy who probably doesn’t even own a pair of jeans or sneakers,” I said.
I looked over at the vanity, the mirror no longer there after breaking it in my tussle with Bennett.
“I guess we’ll do your make-up in the bathroom,” Brittany said as she gathered the makeup from the vanity table. I took the chair from in front of the table and took it into the bathroom, sitting in it as Brittany arranged things on the bathroom counter. We sat in silence for the first few moments as she got to work, but I could tell there was something she wanted to talk about.
“Can I ask you something?” I finally asked.
“What’s up?”
“Is it true that Stephanie almost freed the girls downstairs?” I asked.
Brittany paused, her green eyes staring at me in curiosity. “Um…I’m not really sure,” she said. “I only know that he was thinking about leaving the mafia because he said he and Stephanie wanted to get married and have a family.” She started putting foundation on my face. “I do know that she used to complain about it. She’d gone down there once and heard something and ever since then, she kept saying to find something else to do if he insisted on remaining in the mafia, something that didn’t involve humans.”
“She sounds like she was a very compassionate person,” I said softly.
Brittany nodded. “She didn’t belong here, that’s for sure. She was a sweetheart, the only person I know that could tame the beast within Bennett. He was so different around her.” She was quiet for a moment before she let out a light giggle. “I used to tell her how thankful I was for her because she brought me back the brother in Bennett that I remembered before he took over his part of the business. Now that she’s gone, that part’s gone, too.”
“So, I’ve been told,” I said idly, remembering the dream I had of Stephanie’s murder. I could still remember the tone of voice he used when he spoke to her. It was softer, kinder, loving, nothing he’d used since I’d been here.
“Would you say that she had a big influence on him?” I asked.
“I’m pretty sure if she sweetly asked Bennett to jump off a building to show his love for her, he would’ve done so without a single thought,” she answered.
Bennett in love sounded as if he was an idiot who could be manipulated. In order to get out of here, I had to go forth with my plan. After having to move to South Carolina, I learned very early on that I was great at pretending. I could pretend I was happy, that I was in love, that I was vulnerable. I just needed to swallow any pride I had to allow me to do this with a man who’d destroyed my life.
I didn’t say anything else while Brittany finished my makeup and quickly curled my hair.
“Are you almost done? We’re going to be late,” Bennett said from the bedroom.
“One second,” Brittany called back and then looked to me. “Stay right there. I’ll be back in a sec.”
I looked at my reflection in the mirror. Dark makeup for a dark queen; how fitting. She’d paired a dark smoky eye with a deep, blood red lip. The color reminded me of the blood I’d spilled the night Bennett took me on business with him. I could still smell that man’s blood and see the contents of his skull sprinkling the floor as I hit him over and over, euphoria and ecstasy filling me with every swing of the fucking hammer.
“Aurora?” Brittany asked, looking at me with concern in her eyes. I blinked and looked at her, the dark desire slowly ebbing away as her innocence penetrated through it.
“Sorry…did you say something?” I asked, forcing myself to give her a small smile.
She held out the stilettos to me. “Your shoes,” she said, still giving me an odd look.
I took them from her and busied myself with putting them on. “Thank you,” I said. She stood off to the side until I finally stood up, ready for whatever Bennett had in store for me tonight. “How do I look?”
“Beautiful as usual,” she murmured. I smiled.
“Thanks. You’re like a personal fairy godmother,” I said and gave her a quick hug.
She didn’t say anything, only watching as I walked out of the bathroom and over to Bennett. He held the duffle bag that was once on the bed in his hand. His eyes traveled along my form, desire, lust, and want filling his gaze.
“Are you ready now?” he asked.
“I suppose so,” I said and walked out of the bedroom.
He didn’t say a word as we walked through the house and out to the garage. The usual three—Bruce, Nyxin, and Saint—we were also already there, the trunk of one of the cars already opened. Bennett put my bag in the trunk that also held four other bags, and I coul
dn’t help but roll my eyes. So much for true time alone, I mused to myself.
“Don’t focus on that,” the small voice reminded me. “You don’t have to be completely alone to seduce a man. Bennett knows how to ask for alone time.”
I ground my teeth and got into the car without a word. Patience; I needed to be patient. If I caved too eagerly, it would put him off. If I waited too long, he may grow uninterested. As long as I remained in control of my emotions—including my anger and the brewing darkness within me—I should be fine. No matter the outcome, I’d get one of two of my desired choices: I’d either break Bennett and get out of here, or I’d be dead.
We drove for what felt like forever, the setting sun casting oranges, pinks, and blues across the darkening sky. Bennett eyes were glued to his phone screen as usual, but I didn’t bother calling him out on it. My mind ran with a million thoughts of where we were going and what we were doing. When we pulled up to a warehouse, I frowned. It was in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by other warehouses.
“What the hell is this?” I asked, looking over to him.
He only grinned in response and got out of the car. I watched him through the window as he walked around the car and opened my door.
“Come on; get out,” he said.
I glared at him as I got out. “Is this your ‘surprise?’” I mused as he closed the door behind me. “If it is, let me tell you that I’m not impressed and it’s looking more and more likely that you’re going to bed with blue balls tonight.”
“That’s the least of my worries, babe,” he said. Bruce walked over to him with a folded white garment and passed it to Bennett, who then passed it to me. “Put this on.”
I watched as he unfolded it, revealing it to be what looked like a white biohazard suit. What the fuck were we doing that required me to have to wear this?
“What was the point of getting dressed in something nice if you were going to just make me put this ugly shit on over it?” I complained.
“Just put it on,” he said. Though his voice was calm and even, I could see the impending irritation lingering in his gaze at having to repeat himself. I pursed my lips together and kept my eyes on him as I slipped the suit on over my clothes. He pulled a fabric from his pocket and motioned in air with his finger. “Turn around.”
“Why?”
“You know how much I hate repeating myself,” he said with an exaggerated sigh. “Besides, it’s a surprise, remember?”
I huffed and turned around, allowing him to tie the cloth over my eyes. He took my hand, his skin warm against mine and slowly led me away from the car. The air was damp, warm, and musty inside the warehouse. At first, the only thing I could hear was everyone’s footsteps as we walked across the floor. But then I heard something that called to me, something that called to whatever it was inside of me that thrived on pain, on suffering, on blood.
A muffled voice sounded a few feet away from me, a mixture of sobbing and trying to plead around a gag that may be in their mouth. My heart raced with excitement, a smile spreading across my face without even having to see in front of me.
“You didn’t,” I said.
“Oh baby, I did,” he replied, taking the blindfold off.
I laughed at the scene in front of me. A man sat only in his underwear, sweaty and bound to a chair. Rose petals were sprinkled around him as well as candles on the floor, too. Bennett walked over to the table of tools and pulled up the sheet to pull something from the shelf under it. He walked back over to me with a long, black velvet box, opening it to reveal a necklace that had a B with a crown over it, just like my tattoo.
“And a gift,” he said and smiled.
I returned his smile. Maybe he knew how to woo a woman after all.
“Thank you,” I said. “I’d like to wear it now.”
He took the necklace out of the box and walked behind me. The silver was cool against my skin as he clasped it on me, circling back around.
“Who is he?” I asked, nodding toward the man who looked at all of us with wide eyes.
“This is Stewart,” he said, narrowing his eyes at the man. “Stewart works for my father and I think it’s time to send my father a message.”
“What kind?”
“A message that’ll show him that he won’t threaten my wife and get away with it,” Bennett growled. My blood ran cold.
“He threatened me?” I asked.
“He told me to keep my eye on you, insinuating if I didn’t, something would happen.” He turned to look at me, his gaze hard. “I won’t let anyone touch a hair on your head, let alone him. I promise you that.”
I took a step forward and smiled at him. “I know you won’t,” I said, and I meant it. After what happened with Stephanie, I wouldn’t be surprised if he was on my ass 24/7 and didn’t allow me to move around without him or at least without someone from his security. He was being more careful this time around, protective. I couldn’t say I blamed him after what he’d gone through the first time around.
Probably what he felt he failed to do with my sister.
His expression softened after a few moments and he smiled again. “Enough serious talk. I brought you here for a date.”
“So, what are we doing? Am I watching you torture this guy?” I asked.
He walked back over to the table, revealing all the weapons on the table. “I didn’t bring you to watch, gorgeous. What kind of date involves watching if it isn’t sex?”
I snorted. “I guess so.” Looking at the sniveling man before us, I turned back to Bennett. “Well, let’s get on with it. No need to leave the man in suspense.”
“As you wish,” he said with a smile. He motioned for me to come over to him, enticing me with the tools of destruction on the table in front of him. That heavy, darkness that I’d felt that night I killed the other guy came creeping back, making me tingle all over. It didn’t feel natural, so unlike me that it sent both a sliver of fear and excitement racing down my spine. The old me, Vanessa, would never do something like this. But the person I’d become, Aurora, wanted to bath in the blood I spilled tonight. I felt possessed, but not really. I couldn’t blame my desires on any paranormal entity or demon.
The only thing I could blame was myself and embracing the dark seed planted within me.
I looked down at everything at my disposal before me. Knives in all shapes and sizes, a hammer, a manual saw, pliers, a crowbar. I picked up a small razor blade, my mind going back to my first day of Hell week. Her blood…there was so much blood. Her screams…she screamed so loud. My heart raced as the memories suffocated me, taking me back to a place I didn’t want to remember. The week Bennett tortured me. The week he broke me. The week the old me fell silent for the most part and left me with a dark alter that was thirsty for revenge. Thirsty for blood. Thirsty to cause death.
“Hesitating now?” Bennett teased.
I narrowed my eyes at him and frowned. “Never,” I said, my voice flat as I dropped the razor blade and opted for the bolt cutters. Stewart couldn’t fully see me from where he sat, his head turning as far as it could to see what I had.
“Is this really necessary?” the voice asked. “I’ve seen enough blood to last me a lifetime. This doesn’t help with the overall goal—”
If you don’t want to see it, I’d advise you to go to sleep, I thought, eying the man before me.
His voice was muffled behind the bandana tied around his mouth. I walked around him, untying the knot at the back of his head to remove the gag. No sooner than I removed it, he began begging and groveling.
“Please,” he said. “I haven’t done anything wrong.” He took in a deep breath, fat tears rolling down his equally fat cheeks. “I have a wife and kids. Please, I won’t tell Wilson I saw you.”
“Of course you won’t. Wilson won’t see you in order for you to be able to,” Bennett said, folding his arms across his chest.
“Bennett, I’m begging you. Whatever you wanna know, I’ll tell you. Please don’t make me pay f
or your father’s mistakes,” Stewart said.
Bennett stared at him for a long moment before he sighed. “It’s not up to me anymore, Stew.” He looked at me and grinned. “It’s up to my wife.”
“Mrs. Moreno, please,” he begged. “I swear I won’t tell anyone. I’ll even switch sides. Just tell me what you want, and I’ll do it!”
Mrs. Moreno, I thought. My new name that apparently held so much weight with other people who knew Bennett. Bruce, Nyxin, and Saint looked at me in amusement and Bennett looked to me expectantly.
“What I want?” I repeated, a wicked smile pulling at my lips as I settled myself behind him. He trembled slightly as I lowered my head next to his to whisper in his ear. “All I want is to spill blood.”
“No,” he wailed, jerking against his restraints. He balled his hands into fists when I tried to settle the bolt cutters against his fingers.
I looked to Bennett. “Could I get a little help, please?”
“Of course,” he said and strolled over. “What do you need?”
“His fingers,” I said. Bennett pried the man’s hand open and nodded to me. A rush of euphoria and pleasure that was borderline orgasmic when I cut his finger off and he screamed. Maybe I could understand why Bennett got off so much on other people’s pain. Blood oozed out of his new wound as he screamed, the sound motivating me to go further. I cut off another, and another, and another until all ten digits lay on the floor at my feet. I released a deep breath and rolled my shoulders, tossing the bolt cutters back on the table as Stewart wailed in agony.
“Done already?” Bennett asked with a raised brow.
I walked back over to the table and picked up a knife. “Not even close.”
BENNETT
Stewart cried out in agony as I stood before him, Aurora pacing behind him like a rabid animal ready to pounce on its prey.
“What the fuck do you want from me, Bennett?” he asked, bowing his head.
You Will Obey (Rules of Bennett Book 4) Page 8