“Well aren’t you a treat,” he growled, grabbing me by the hips and yanking me off the bottom step before kissing me hungrily.
Saint cleared his throat in irritation and as Kyan stepped away I found him, Blake and Monroe all lined up by the door.
“What’s this, a receiving line?” I teased and Blake smirked, but the other two kept their deadly serious expressions intact.
We approached Saint first and he held out a medical facemask to Kyan. “Don’t take stupid risks.”
“Yeah…I’m not wearing that. I’ve got my bike helmet then we’ll be wearing masks into the club anyways,” Kyan said with a shrug.
Saint narrowed his gaze. “Have you got the earpieces in?” he asked.
“Yeah,” I said. He’d gotten us some high-tech, top of the range, military grade, stupidly expensive communication devices which would apparently go undetected by a bug or spyware detector so that we could all stay in touch while we were out there. It made me feel like a real life spy or an operative or like some really badass superhero with a team of agents at my back. Or maybe I was just trying to convince myself of that so that the nerves didn’t freak me the fuck out, but either way, knowing we would be in contact with the other Night Keepers throughout this whole thing was weirdly reassuring.
“Good,” Saint shoved the face mask at Kyan again. “Take it in case you need it. You could always wear it beneath your mask.”
“I could, but that would be overkill.” He grinned at Saint, slapping his cheek a few times patronisingly. “Are you worried about me, sweetums?”
Saint glowered at him, saying nothing but it was clear he was worried. As Kyan moved along, punching Blake and Monroe in turn for putting on this line-up for us, I took the mask from Saint’s hand and tucked it in my pocket with a wink.
His mouth tugged up at one corner and I reached forward, kissing his cheek before moving on to Blake and leaving his smile growing.
Blake kissed me like we were about to charge into battle and I wasn’t going to return. I was breathless and had sore lips by the time he released me and I moved towards Monroe.
“Take care of her,” he spoke to Kyan, his expression becoming dark.
“I won’t let her out of my sight,” he growled and the other three nodded, making me roll my eyes, though it was admittedly kind of cute.
“Nothing bad will happen,” I promised, wishing I could kiss Monroe goodbye too. The way he was looking at my mouth said the feeling was mutual.
“Naw, baby, a lot of bad shit will happen tonight. Just not to us. I promise you that,” Kyan said protectively, taking my hand and pulling me toward the door.
I glanced back at the others with my stomach twisting, giving them a tight smile that none of them returned. The worry in their eyes was potent and I swore quietly to myself that we’d pull this off. We’d find something to bring down these assholes and I’d return to the rest of my Night Keepers before dawn.
Kyan was silent as we walked and I glanced up at him, the lamps lighting his face in an amber glow. His jaw was ticking and his eyes held dark secrets which scared me, secrets I was sure were about to be unveiled in this horror show of a club tonight.
“It’ll be okay,” I told him and he blinked out of his stupor, looking to me.
“Nothing about this is okay, baby. I don’t want you anywhere near these fucking people.”
“I want to see my enemies before we destroy them,” I growled and Kyan wet his lips.
“Guess I can understand that. You don’t have to make it sound so hot though,” he commented as his eyes dropped to my mouth.
“My bad,” I teased, lightening the mood and he smirked a little.
We made it to the front gate and the guard on duty let us out, nodding to Kyan like he was his boss and I guessed if you were a Night Keeper at Everlake, that was the case for these guys. I wondered how much money they spent paying them off.
Kyan led me to his bike and took my helmet from the bars, turning and putting it on my head. He snapped the visor down and made sure it was secure, a small crease forming between his eyes. It was kind of endearing the way he treated me sometimes. The two of us were either clashing with the force of two tsunamis or caressing each other like we were worried the other would break.
He put his own helmet on, swinging his leg over the bike and I climbed on behind him, shifting up close and wrapping my arms around his waist, his stomach muscles firming under my touch. He started the engine and turned us around, taking off down the road that led away from the school, the night devouring us as we went. It was eerily quiet out on these roads, the streetlights few and far between so only the headlight on the bike pierced the dark.
The scent of leather and gasoline pulled at my senses as we sailed along and gazed into the shadowy forest beyond the road. The wind was cool, but the bike leathers kept out the worst of the cold and Kyan was so huge that he shielded me pretty damn well from the wind anyway.
It was over an hour to Hemlock City and when we finally circled down from the hills towards the sprawling metropolis, my heart started to beat a little harder. We sailed along brightly lit streets which were almost as quiet as the forest, the bars and restaurants all shut up for lockdown. The few people who were out wore masks and walked briskly along like they were anxious to get to their destinations. It sent a chill down my spine seeing a place which should have been thrumming with life silenced by the threat of the Hades Virus.
A siren somewhere in the distance made my heart judder. We weren’t allowed to be out here. The only travel allowed was for essential workers or for those doing grocery shopping and if a cop stopped us, it would be pretty clear we weren’t out for either of those reasons.
Kyan took back streets to avoid the main roads and eventually pulled up in an alley, killing the engine and the lights. He pulled his helmet off, hanging it on the bars. “We need to leave the bike here, baby.”
I nodded, climbing off and taking my own helmet off. Kyan took it from me to hang it on the bars then pushed his fingers into my hair, messing it up to fix the flat look it no doubt had from the helmet. Then he grabbed my hand and tugged me out of the alley, my heart tripling its pace as we turned onto a street with graffiti on the walls and the general air of a bad neighbourhood about it. We passed a chain link fence and a dog lunged at it from the other side, barking fiercely, practically foaming at the mouth as it tried to break through. I gasped in surprise and Kyan tugged me along quicker then slowed as we made it to the corner of the street.
“This is the meeting point,” he murmured and I nodded, glancing up and down the road as I hunted for any sign of a car. There was nothing around, just the drum of music coming from an apartment across the road and smoke pluming from the window as a few teenagers laughed and toked on pot.
The sound of a car approaching made me still and I glanced behind me, spotting it coming up the street, the dark SUV looking completely out of place here. It had blacked out windows and screamed you’re-about-to-be-murdered-in-the-back-of-me.
I straightened my spine, schooling my features and slapping on a resting bitch face for good measure. These monsters weren’t going to unnerve me. Or, they at least wouldn’t see it when they did.
The car pulled up beside us and the driver’s window rolled down, revealing a broad chested man wearing a faceless black mask which was creepy as shit.
“The night awaits you,” he said in a deep, gravelly tone that set the hairs rising on the back of my neck.
Kyan stepped forward, taking the crest from his pocket and flashing it to the guy. “Set us free of our shackles.”
The man nodded. “Stay where you are.” He opened the door, stepping out in front of us and revealing how big he really was. He rolled his shoulders, posturing and clearly aiming to intimidate us. Kyan sure as shit didn’t look like it was working on him, but a trickle of fear ran through my blood as the guy reached inside his large coat. He didn’t take out a weapon as I expected though, he took out a device which loo
ked like a paddle and my breathing came unevenly as he looked to Kyan.
“Arms out either side of you, legs spread,” he commanded and Kyan stepped back, doing as he asked with his jaw tight as the guy ran the paddle over him, hunting for weapons and listening devices. I didn’t breathe as he ran it past each of Kyan’s ears, but the paddle didn’t detect the earpiece and I let out a controlled breath as the guy nodded and turned to me.
I spread my arms and legs and he started running the paddle up from my feet, reaching my waist then my sides and along my arms. The tracker in my bra wasn’t activated, but what if something about it set off that paddle? Would we run? But if we did, then this guy would report it. Kyan’s family would surely hear about it. Then-
He ran the paddle over my breasts and it didn’t go off. Thank fuck.
I schooled my expression, practically holding my breath until he finished the search. Then he got back in the car and shut door sharply.
“Get in,” he commanded and I released a subtle breath as I tried to calm my racing heart.
Kyan moved to the back door, opening it and ducking his head in as if to check the space was clear of psychos before standing back to let me go first.
“Ever the gentleman,” I said with a taunting smile.
“We both know I’m nothing of the fucking sort.” He hounded me into the car, tugging the door shut behind him as we sat side by side on the back seats. There was plenty of room in front of us with two seats facing towards us with two neat piles of clothes on them.
“Change into the Royaume D’élite regalia,” the driver instructed. “Your clothes will remain here in the car until you return.” He held something out for us and I took it from his hand. It was a small silver disk with a button at the centre of it about the size of my thumb. “When you are ready to leave, all you need to do is click that button and I will have the car waiting outside.”
“Okay,” I agreed, slightly reassured that we didn’t have to stay there all night if we didn’t want to.
“Now change.” The guy put a divider up between us and took off down the road. I realised the car windows in the back weren’t just blacked out one way, they were blacked out both ways, meaning we couldn’t see where the hell we were going.
I exchanged a look with Kyan and he brought my hand to his mouth, kissing my wedding ring before moving forward and passing me a bundle of clothes then grabbing his own.
I unravelled the black material. It was an all over black catsuit, the material stretchy and opaque in places and it had the number 77+ embroidered on the chest in gold. With it was a black skull mask with gold detailing all over it, the eyes hollow and the mouth filled with gold teeth. It made my skin prickle to look at.
I stripped out of my clothes, wriggling into the super-tight material which clung to my body. Then I put on the high-heeled boots provided with it before I turned to Kyan, finding him in honest to shit robes over a fitted pair of black trousers and a smart black shirt with gold buttons. It looked so strange on him, covering his tattoos and making him look like some sort of medieval prince. On his chest was the small number 77.
“What’s with the numbers?” I frowned.
“Anonymity,” he explained and I remembered he’d said something about that before. “When you’re signed up as a member a number is linked to your name so if you wanted to go into business with anybody, it can be arranged through the club. Names and details can be swapped privately then or you can remain entirely anonymous depending on people’s preferences.”
“You told me you were 69,” I said, raising an eyebrow at him.
“I will be later if that’s what you want, baby,” he said, but the joke didn’t quite land as we looked at each other fearfully, knowing we were about to walk right into a snake pit.
“So why does mine have a plus symbol on it?” I asked, running a finger over the gold embroidery to point it out.
“Because you’re only allowed to come with me. Your membership is spousal and I’m responsible for you while you’re here. If you do anything out of line, it’s on me.”
“I’ll behave,” I promised and he nodded.
Kyan reached forward, tugging up a hood on my catsuit which I hadn’t noticed. “Every part of you has to be covered.” He tucked my hair into it before putting up his own hood and I shivered as we shared an intense look. This was getting realer and realer by the second. We were risking so much by being out here. The virus alone was enough reason to stay away, let alone what terrors awaited us at Royaume D’élite. But I wouldn’t have been able to stop Kyan from coming here even if I hadn’t wanted to come myself. We were doing this for reasons beyond ourselves but knowing that didn’t stop me being afraid.
Kyan brushed his rough thumb across my jaw then leaned in and kissed me. There were so many words that passed between us in that kiss, I couldn’t count them. But all of them said the same thing. That we had each other’s back, that we were going to face this together and return home safe.
When we broke apart, I tucked myself up against him, our fingers interlacing. I rested my head against his shoulder and took comfort in the solid strength of him as we were driven somewhere off into the night.
It was over an hour before the car finally slowed to a halt and the clamour of a party reached us beyond the car.
The driver put the partition down, peering at us through the eyeholes of his mask. “Put your masks on,” he instructed sharply.
I put mine on, securing it in place and keeping the hood tight around it, looking to Kyan and shuddering at the sight of the skull covering his face.
The driver gave a signal to someone beyond the car and my heart lurched as the side door opened and another man in a black mask ushered us out. Kyan went first, taking my hand, his grip iron as he guided me from the car and kept me close to his side.
We were at the foot of an impressive stone stairway that led up to what looked like a huge old hotel. The walls were faux gothic and sheer, rising up to steeples and towers, the enormous building casting a massive shadow thicker than the night.
Lights glittered in the windows, but many of the curtains were drawn and my instincts told me I didn’t want to know what lay behind them.
“Welcome to Royaume D’élite,” the man said, walking ahead of us up the stairs. “You have a guest waiting for you.”
He led us through the enormous arching glass doors and I noticed a huge man in the same robes as Kyan waiting to one side of the entrance hall, the number 230 gleaming on his chest. He strode forward at the beckon of our escort and clasped Kyan’s hand in greeting.
“Uncle,” Kyan said curtly and I realised this must be Niall. He glanced my way and I recognised the ruddy brown colour of his eyes beneath his skull mask. I was surprised when he reached for me next, squeezing my arm.
“Hello, lass,” he purred.
“Please remember not to use each other’s names or titles,” the escort said with an edge to his voice. “We all go by a single name here.”
“And what’s that?” I asked, lifting my chin.
“Master,” he breathed, the word sending a chill through me. “For we are all the masters of our own destiny at Royaume D’élite. Here we are free to become our truest selves. We shed our skins at the door and step into a realm where anything is possible.”
“Great, lad,” Niall said. “Now where can my truest self get a stiff drink?”
“Down the hall and to your left,” he answered, bowing his head to us. “Have an exhilarating evening.” He swept away with that freaky statement, heading back out the front door and leaving us there on the bone white floor.
Niall nodded to us then led the way down the hall and Kyan’s grip on my hand only tightened.
“I assume you’ve arrived?” Saint drawled in my ear suddenly and I nearly leapt out of my skin. Jesus Christ.
“Yeah,” Kyan answered in a murmur.
“Good. Keep your eyes peeled. Watch the staff’s movements and look out for no access areas.”
<
br /> “Okay, over and out,” Kyan muttered with a breath of laughter and Saint cursed him.
Niall turned left into a room under a stone archway and I took in the huge, dark hall spreading out before us. One whole wall at the far end was built of nothing but cages and bile rose in my throat as I saw the men and women inside them, dressed in leather underwear, some of them screaming for help while others curled in on themselves or had haunted expressions on their faces. I realised I wasn’t moving, my feet glued to the floor and Kyan was suddenly yanking me along towards a bar, his mouth falling to my ear.
“Don’t stare, baby,” he reminded me and I jerked my head sideways, my pulse pounding furiously in my head as I tried to calm down.
I noted the people at the bar were drinking through straws, a hole between the teeth in their skull masks allowing them to do so. I had the urge to tear their masks off and throw my fists into their exposed faces and we’d barely even been here a moment.
A shriek caught my ear and I couldn’t stop myself from looking as two men in black masks hauled a young girl from one of the cages before injecting her with something. She fell limp and they handed her over to two men who pawed greedily at her skin before they carried her through a black veil out of the room. I found myself moving in that direction, unsure what I could do for her but knowing I needed to try. Kyan yanked me back to his side, fixing me in his gaze and squeezing my wrist hard enough to cut through the fog in my mind.
He didn’t say anything, but I knew what he meant. I couldn’t go. Even the thought of it now seemed foolish. I couldn’t save anyone here. Not tonight anyway. We had to find a way to bring them down. I had to stomach this awful place and not fuck up this chance.
I realised Niall was doing shots through the hole in his mask, throwing them in without the supplied straw on the bar. I held out my hand for one and he placed a clear shot in my palm. I tossed it through the hole in my mask, swallowing thickly and letting the burn of whiskey wash through me, blocking out everything else for a moment.
Kings of Anarchy Page 34
