Revenge (Out For Blood Book 1)

by CY Jones

  “It’s a surprise, little bird. Do you trust me?” Maddie asked.

  Without thinking about I replied, “Always.”

  We both ran down the hall, and Maddie pulled the ladder down that led to the attic. Once we both climbed the stairs, Maddie pulled on the ladder, shutting us inside.

  “Remy, Remy, Remy, and me. Remy, Remy won’t you have tea,” Maddie sang, pulling out a chair for me at the small table where he had a tea party set up for two.

  “I can’t believe you did this for me,” I gushed, taking my seat and automatically reaching for a scone and stuffing it in my mouth.

  The flaky, buttery crust melted in my mouth, and a burst of strawberry cream cheese filling made me moan. Embarrassed, I looked over and saw Maddie’s eyes widen and dilate at the noises I was making.

  “Sorry,” I said, wiping the crumbs from my mouth with my sleeve. “O’Donnell told the staff I was only allowed water this week,” I explained, taking another bite of the delicious scone.

  “What is he starving you for this time?” Maddie asked, his eyes darkening in anger.

  Looking down, I released a long, drawn out sigh before l answered. “Who knows with him. Everything he does is for some unknown lesson that’s supposed to help us.”

  Pouring us both a cup of tea, Maddie held his cup up dramatically in the air and said, “Eat, drink, and be merry, little bird.”

  Unlike everyone else, Maddie was not afraid of O’Donnell. He defied him at every turn, and the cheeky bastard normally got away with it. O'Donnell thought Maddie was too insane to know any better, but I knew the truth. Maddie just hated O’Donnell, and besides, he wasn’t insane. He may be the sanest one out of all of us here. Sometimes I wished I could be more defiant like him, but somewhere deep down inside, the little girl in me wanted my father’s approval.

  We talked for hours, and once the tea and scones were gone, Maddie took my face in the palm of his hands like he was holding a precious jewel and kissed me tenderly. My first kiss.

  “Little bird,” Maddie whispered against my lips. “One day you will fly far, far away from here and set this world on fire.”

  “Isn’t that a bad thing?” I asked, chuckling.

  “No,” Maddie said, growing serious. “The opposite actually. It would be the most beautiful fucking thing this world has ever seen. Ballads would be sung about you, people would worship at your feet, and you will be free. I love you,” Maddie confessed, crushing his lips to mine. This time the kiss was more heated, filled with passion, like he tried to portray his words with his lips. His love both consumed me and held me prisoner, contradicting what he said about being free. But unlike my current prison, I never wanted to be free from Maddie’s arms. He owned me. Mind, body, and soul, and it felt so right.

  “I love you too,” I murmured against his lips and kissed him back just as intensely. I went to bed that night with swollen lips, love in my heart, and a smile planted firmly on my face.

  It didn’t take long for O’Donnell to shatter the feelings of happiness and love Maddie gifted my heart. When he returned from his trip a week later, I woke up on the cold cement floor of the basement with my brother and Maddie chained to chairs in front of me. My twin’s eyes widened with fright once he realised I was awake.

  “What’s going on?” I croaked.

  My throat felt scratchy and dry, like I hadn’t drank any water in days.

  “You little bitch. You thought I wouldn’t find out?”

  I flinched, turning toward the harsh voice, and saw O’Donnell staring down at me With his face contorted in anger.

  “Find out what?” I asked, frightened. I’d never seen O’Donnell that furious before. O’Donnell clicked a button on a control panel and a screen lit up on the far wall across from us. The makeshift tea party Maddie set up last week played out across the screen, and an immediate stab of pain broke my heart wide open.

  “Didn’t I tell you, ye little whore, ye were suppose to be fasting,” O’Donnell shouted. “That’s something I’m doing for your own damn good, to make you stronger, and as soon as I leave for business you stuff your face with pastries and act like a harlot in the attic.”

  I chanced a glance over at my brother and Maddie. I could tell Rowen was scared shitless for me, no doubt feeding off my own fear, and Maddie looked furious. If he could, I know he would have tried to break through his bindings and kill O’Donnell himself.

  “Let her go, asshole. It was me who broke your stupid rules,” Maddie shouted.

  “Shut up, boi, we will get to your part in this later,” O’Donnell shouted back.

  Resigned to my fate, I turned back to O’Donnell, eyes lowered to the ground in complete submission.

  “For defying me, your punishment will fit the crime. Ye stole from me, and the price you will pay shall be your hands,” he said wickedly.

  “What? No,” my brother cried. “Take mine,” he shouted while he violently tried to shake free of the chair.

  “You will watch, boi. Just like you should have been watching your sister in the first place, making sure she was doing what she was told and not off diddling about with him,” O’Donnell yelled at my brother. His Scottish accent thickened the angrier he got, and the promise of danger danced in his eyes.

  Tears streamed down my twin’s face when he realized he wouldn’t be able to save me. Maddie still violently tried to shake free of the heavy silver chains that bound him in place, and I swore I could feel the ground tremble in response to his efforts.

  “Take her,” O’Donnell ordered, his voice laced with disgust. Not an ounce of feeling crosses his cold face.

  Another man I hadn’t realized was even in the room stepped out the shadows and roughly grabbed me by the arm, bruising me in the process. He dragged me over to the sink, and I screamed, frantically fighting to get free. O’Donnell’s enforcer smiled down on me as he relished in my struggles. I tried biting him, and he slapped me hard across my face, with so much force it made my ears ring. He dunked my hands in the sink, wetting them, then chained me to thick silver hooks in the cement wall. Pulling out a heavy duty military grade taser, he moved without warning and struck my cuffed hands, shooting high voltages of electricity onto my hand and holding it there. I screamed in pain as my nostrils filled with the smell burnt skin, pleading over and over again for him to stop. The pain was excruciating, but as soon as I would pass out, he threw ice water on me to shock me back awake.

  He repeated the process over and over again, until finally, I blissfully felt nothing. My hands were blackened from my wrist to fingers, and when I glanced over at the enforcer, a huge wet spot accompanied the prominent erection that tented the front of his jeans The sick bastard actually got off on my pain. That time when I blacked out, it was from the shock my body took. In my dreams a song of eerie sorrow comforted me.

  Remy, Remy, little bird

  Remy, Remy of another world

  Remy will set this world on fire

  Through her love, passion, and desire

  Remy, Remy, don’t be afraid

  My little bird, you’re so brave

  Remy, Remy, don’t you cry

  One day you’ll find freedom, just give it time

  Remy

  “Remy, love, it’s time to wake up.”

  Soft kisses rain down on my neck, and I moan from the touch. I open my eyes to a set of azure blue eyes staring back at me, reminding me of the ocean on a hot sunny day.

  “Hey, sleepy head. It’s time to go to work,” Cody prods softly, nuzzling my neck.

  “Do you always call going clubbing work?” I ask in a groggy voice.

  “For what we’re going there for, then yes. Let's get ready, sunshine, before I’m forced to ravish you in this big comfy bed,” Cody says with a wicked smile.

  “Sunshine. No one has ever called me that before,” I tell him, frowning.

  Giving me a look of complete adoration, Cody smiles and winks at me before turning to leave. Just as he gets to the threshold of th
e door he suddenly stops and turns toward me.

  “That song you were humming. It sounded so sad. What were you dreaming about?” he asks softly.

  “Nothing,” I lie, turning away from him. I don’t want him to see the deceit in my eyes. I’m ashamed of my past, and I have no intention of sharing, or turning this into some kind of Dr. Phil moment with my daddy issues. I also don’t want to see the disappointment on his usually carefree face, but turning away didn’t stop me from hearing him whisper, “Maybe one day you will trust me enough to share your dreams.”

  He leaves me alone to my thoughts, and once again I feel like a huge disappointment. Remy, you need to get your shite together. I’m not here to make friends, and once you find your brother, you’ll be gone anyway.

  Thirteen

  Are you high?

  Remy

  We pull up to the club in my black Mercedes Benz AMG. Before the guys are even fully out the car, I’m already tossing my keys at the waiting valet and heading to the door. Skipping the line, I walk straight up to security with the guys in tow. With my mask of superiority firmly in place, I exude an air of importance threaded with menace. One that screams don’t fuck with me if you want to keep breathing. We don’t deal with any nonsense of showing ID or paying a cover charge. The beefy guard at the door barely pats me down, missing the numerous weapons hiding in my tight dress.

  I dressed indecently for this very reason, sporting a super short bondage dress with black knit thigh-high tights ripped at the knees, and my favorite leather jacket that also helps conceal my shoulder holster and two Glocks. My upper thigh has a dagger strapped to it and my long hair is held up in a high ponytail hiding numerous darts filled with poison. Hunter and Cody also survive their pat downs, which was more thorough than mine. I’m sure neither one of them came out unarmed, and judging by the cheeky wink Cody gives me, I know I’m right.

  The guys clean up well. Both wear tight jeans and even tighter t-shirts that mold to their chiseled frames. I wanted to snog them both as soon as I saw them when I walked down the stairs at the house, but alas, duty calls, and we’re here looking for signs of my bone head brother. The blast of techno music assaults my ears when we move through the doors, and the smell of sweat and a sweet smelling smoke fills my nose.

  “We should split up,” I yell over the music.

  Hunter starts shaking his head, ready to argue, but I quickly hold up my hand to cut him off. “Remember, I’m in charge. This is a big club. We will cover more ground if we split up.” I say reasonably.

  “What if you run into someone from The Circus?” Hunter counters.

  “You can't fight them alone.”

  “I'm a big girl,” I growl. “I can take care of myself. It’s you who should worry about The Circus, not me.”

  These two seem to have forgotten who I am. I’m no damsel in distress. Just because Hunter suddenly decided to start caring about me, does not mean I will let him treat me like one.

  “Meet back here in an hour,” I tell them. Not giving either one a chance to argue, I walk away and disappear in the crowd.

  I wasn’t kidding when I said this club was huge. Before it became a popular nightclub, it used to be a hotel in the late 1700’s. Rumors claim it’s still owned by the same family, who are practically considered royalty. The spacious two story building caters to everyone from the rich and famous to the dark and dangerous types like myself. Anything you could possibly need can be found here if you know the right person to ask. A mixture of high end, illegal goods and eclectic finds all rolled in one. I have yet to venture into every room in this place, which makes it the perfect place to hide.

  Sitting at the bar, I make a show of pulling a hundred dollar bill out my bra, giving the hot bartender a nice view of my ample cleavage.

  “Hello, beautiful, how can I help you?” the bartender asks when he finally pulls his eyes away from my breasts and up to my face.

  “I’m looking for someone,” I purr seductively.

  “Well you’ve found him,” he answers without missing a beat.

  “As pretty as you are, I’m actually looking for a certain person,” I say, pushing the bill into his tip jar.

  “And who may that be, sweetheart?” he asks, licking his lips as his eyes dip to focus on my breasts again.

  Leaning forward, I push my chest out to give him a better view, I whisper, “Oreo,” into his ear.

  He immediately snaps his head back, focusing on my face. All traces of flirtation disappear, and his hazel eyes narrow at me in suspicion.

  “What do you need with him?” he asks, his voice turning cold.

  “I just need to ask him a couple of questions,” I answer as sweetly as I can manage. I’ve already spooked him, and I don’t want him to bolt.

  “What kind of questions?” cutie bartender counters, grating my nerves a bit and trying my patience.

  “That’s between me and Oreo,” I say, grinding my teeth and resisting the urge to do bodily harm to the nosey bartender.

  “You know, pretty, you are not the only one looking for me tonight,” a voice behind me whispers in my ear, making me jump.

  Turning towards the voice, I’m struck speechless by the face of one of the most beautiful men I have ever seen in my life. He wears his shockingly white hair shaved on the sides and long everywhere else, and it’s pulled on top of his head in a trendy man bun. A neatly trimmed beard covers the smooth, porcelain skin on his angelic face. He’s tall with a narrow frame, but I could tell he was packing muscle. The dark suit he dons fits him well and screams money. All black with a white silk skinny tie. Milk chocolate eyes spark with amusement at my utter lack of tact as I stare him up and down.

  “Now I’m really curious. Why are you looking for me, pretty?” he asks seductively.

  His honeyed voice draws me in like a pretty trap. “I’m looking for someone,” I manage to get out.

  Oreo chuckles at me, mirth dancing in his chocolate color eyes. “Someone else.”

  “Yes,” I answer, shaking myself out my stupor. “ My brother. He’s missing, and I believe he may have come here,” I try to focus on why I’m here and not the gorgeous man in front of me.

  “This is a big place. What makes you think I’ve seen your brother?” he asks as his eyes drift down my body, taking in my curves.

  “I--I just know,” I stutter. What the hell is wrong with me, and why can’t I take my eyes off this gorgeous man?

  “Such a beautiful woman,” Oreo says, tilting my chin with his finger and angling my neck how he wants it.

  Stepping closer, he completely takes over my personal space and moves his face so close his nose grazes my neck, and he whispers in my ear, ”You know, pretty. If you weren’t the mirror image of your brother, I would ripped your pretty throat out just like I did the other one who came by here tonight asking for him.”

  Then he licks up the column of my neck with the tip of his tongue.

  “So sweet,” he whispers as he nips at my earlobe, snapping me out my daze.

  Acting on pure instinct, I grab the dagger attached to my thigh and hold it against his dick. Looking down, Oreo chuckles wickedly.

  “No need for that, pretty. I’ll tell you what you need to know,” he says, his voice full of amusement instead of the fear I was going for.

  Maybe people threaten to cut his dick off every night. Who knows in this place. When he takes a step away from me I lower my dagger and strap it back to my thigh.

  “I really need to amp up security in this place. What else are you hiding on that tight little body of yours?” Oreo’s eyes sweep over me, this time out of inspection instead of lust.

  Exasperated, I blow out a breath and take another step back. With Oreo so close I can’t think straight. He’s like a hallucinogen that fogs my brain and made causes me to want to make bad decisions. “Where’s my brother, and who else came looking for him?”

  “One of O’Donnell’s black widows. He knows his filth is no longer allowed in my club,”
Oreo growls. “Don’t worry, pretty. I took care of her.”

  That’s interesting. Black widows are the whores O’Donnell trained to lure their victims into bed, then fuck and kill them, hence the name. My brother and I can spot one a mile away, so why would O’Donnell send one after him? Why not someone from The Circus who’s more suitable for the task?

  “This act you’ve got going on. Is this some kind of vampire fetish for you?” I ask, raising my brow.

  “Incubus,” Oreo says, twirling a strand of my hair around his long finger and reeling himself closer.

  “What?” I mumble. The foggy feeling returns to my brain, increasing with his every step closer to me.

  “Not vampire, sweetheart, incubus, and it’s not an act,” he murmurs, peppering my neck with soft kisses.

  “Whatever,” I try to push him away, but it’s a half hearted attempt, and I barely make any leeway.

  “Where is my brother?” I repeat, my voice more husky this time. I press my thighs together in a pathetic attempt to control what’s going on down there, Oreo shoots me a knowing smirk telling me he noticed.

  “Taz, make my female friend here an Oz,” Oreo orders, turning toward the bartender as he takes a step away from me.