The girls inside the room look up, terrified, as they notice us enter.
“You two!” Devon screams at Stacey and Britt, who jump up from the bed. “C’mere. NOW!”
Britt shakes her head, tears running down her cheek, and Stacey blatantly says, “No.”
Fuck.
She shouldn’t have.
All it takes is one word. One fucking word for my brother to snap. And it just happened. That click … it was visible; I could see it in his eyes.
“You think you can kiss each other in my house and get away with it? Huh?” he screams at them. “You think I wouldn’t notice that you love each other more than you love us?”
“Stop,” I yell as I grab Devon by the arms and try to hold him back.
“Fuck, no,” Anthony says, and he jerks my arm away. “Those girls deserve punishment. Remember the fucking rules,” he growls.
Before I know it, Devon’s already up in the girl’s faces.
From the side of his pants emerges a gun.
Bang.
That’s all it takes.
One shot.
Stacey is gone.
A red hole in her forehead. Her body sinks to the floor. A loud scream ensues.
In shock, I stare at my brother and Britt, who’s going ballistic, and Naomi who stands at the back with her hand over her mouth.
“Devon!” I scream.
“We told you we wanted full devotion. Love only us, no one else. But you failed. And you know what? You sob too fucking much,” Devon growls at Britt.
As fast as my legs can take me, I rush to him.
But not before he’s reached into his other pocket, fished out a knife, and slit her throat.
Blood pours like a fountain from her neck, and it makes me stop in my tracks and sink to my knees.
Too late.
With my hands on my knees, palms up, I watch my brother tuck his knife back into his pocket and push her to the ground.
So many gasps coming from her dying body, it makes me want to choke.
In the distance, Naomi still stands frozen, but her eyes glaze with tears and unspoken words as she stares directly into my eyes.
Anthony casually walks past me, ripping a white sheet off Stacey’s bed, and covers the bodies with it … Right before the rest of the girls run in and come to a screeching halt in front of the door, probably alarmed from the gunshot and scream.
Their silence reminds me of the deafening sound of murder.
Part IV
The Culmination
22.
Accompanying Song: “Are We Having A Party” by Cliff Martinez
Naomi
Day 20
Four brides left.
We’re running thin.
I’m not sure if I should be elated or damn shocked. I mean the way they went wasn’t exactly gentle. I watched the blood gush out of those girls like waterfalls. And all the guys did was just watch. None of them helped.
We’re all sadistic fucks.
Just watching Devon kill them like it’s no big deal.
Sometimes, I wonder if I even have a heart.
If I do, it must be pitch black in there.
Camilla, Latisha, Jordan, and I watched in silence as the baggers came to take Stacey and Britt away. The beds were stripped and all their belongings removed. They even cleaned the carpets until the stains were gone. If I didn’t know any better, it’s like they never even existed.
We sit in the women’s bedroom, staring each other down like hawks. The men haven’t shown their faces since yesterday, and I bet it’s because they’re either afraid, or they have to keep their temper in check so they don’t kill more of us. Or maybe it’s both of those. After all … they need us. And I think Devon forgot about that fact.
“How could this happen?” Jordan mutters out of nowhere.
“Easy. We weren’t paying attention,” Camilla says.
“She was,” Latisha says, narrowing her eyes at me. “Why didn’t you stop him?”
“Stop who?” I say.
“Devon.”
I snort. “Like I could take a gun and a knife from his hand.”
“I mean when he came in. You could’ve prevented that.”
“It was already too late,” I answer. “By the time I showed the girls the camera, the men were already bursting in.”
“Right …” She makes a face and takes a deep breath. “Yet you just stood there with a gaping mouth as they laid there, dying.”
“Excuse me?” I cock my head.
Is she trying to pin it on me? Get the girls to hate me?
“Latisha …” Camilla sighs.
“No, she needs to hear this.” Latisha’s fingers curl around the chair. “It’s because of her that they’re now dead.”
“What? They were kissing. I didn’t have anything to do with that,” I retort. “If anything, they should’ve known that was what happens when you don’t pay attention to the rules.”
“Rules? The rules never stated you couldn’t kiss each other,” she growls.
“The rules stated that we were there for the guys. We are at their disposal. We are their pets. We are their lovers. They do not want us feeling any emotions whatsoever unless it’s for them.” I lean in, my fingers digging into my chair. “That’s why they died. Because they were intimate with each other without the men present. Without it being for the guys.”
“In any case, we’re with four now, and there are three men. Little choice left,” Jordan chimes in. “If they keep going at this rate, there won’t be any left.”
“Well … it’s not like they can’t find other girls to make their brides,” Camilla says.
It’s quiet for some time as everyone realizes they could just as well kill us all off.
But I’m not worried. Max wants me too much. He’s infatuated with me. He’d never let the guys hurt me. Never.
At least, not more than they already have.
“They won’t, right?” Latisha says. “I mean … I’m not going to give up that easily. I’ll follow every damn rule if I have to, but I’m not leaving this house until I’ve won.” She laughs it off as if it’s no big deal. “I’m gonna be married.”
“The question is whose wife will you be?” Camilla replies, cocking her head.
“Anthony’s, of course,” Latisha says, almost spitting venom as she speaks. “He’s mine.”
The look in her eyes makes everyone stare at her for a moment.
“If he proposes to me, that is,” she suddenly adds. Latisha shrugs, and the conversation grows quiet.
Not soon after, we’re all called out of our room but not for a game. A few days ago, we all went to the doctor to have our blood taken and tested, and now, they’ve come back with the results. Anthony herds us to the room that has the pool table in it, where Max and Devon sit on the couch. Devon stares at his hands that rest in his lap while Max is busy with the mail. Max opens the letter that contains the information and licks his finger to turn the pages around.
“Results are in,” he says.
Anthony sits down in a chair to the left and casually pours himself a scotch.
“I know you’re probably wondering why we made you do a blood test,” Max says.
Jordan nods softly.
“It’s because we wanna know if you’re pregnant or not,” Anthony muses, taking a sip. “Obviously, if you are, that’s great. If you’re not … well, then we gotta keep on fucking you until you are.”
“What do you mean?”
“It means,” Max intervenes, “that we want babies.”
“Like we told you before,” Devon adds. “We can do anything we want to your bodies as long as the contract lasts.”
“And you want heirs …” Jordan mutters, her shoulders slumping.
“Exactly.” Anthony winks, and it makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
“Anyway, let’s continue.” Max clears his throat. “Camilla …” He briefly glances at her. “Not pregnant.”
“Latisha … not pregnant,” Max continues.
“Dammit …” Latisha mumbles.
“Naomi … not pregnant.” The way he pronounces each syllable as low as he can makes me want to grab the vase in the corner and smash it to bits.
When he reaches the end of the page, his eyes wander off for a second, and he turns the page a few times, checking if what he sees is correct. But then he opens his mouth. “Jordan. Pregnant.”
I stare at her and so do the others. No one speaks a word. Except her.
“What?” she mumbles.
“Wait, whose is it?” Devon tries to snag the paper from Max’s hand, but he won’t let him. Everyone’s eyes are on Max now, and the seconds that pass feel like ages.
He purses his lips and frowns, almost like he’s confused. “It’s Anthony’s.”
Everyone’s jaw drops and Anthony’s eyes widen. Jordan shakes her head, mumbling, “No…”
Anthony jumps up from his seat with a victory pose. “Fuck, yeah!”
He walks over to her and grabs her by the waist, twirling her around in his arm like she’s suddenly become his favorite. “That’s my girl!”
“Wait …” she mumbles. “No …”
“Yes, Jordan.” He grabs her chin and forces her to look at him. “I’ve gotten you pregnant. You’re mine now.”
He smashes his lips onto hers, kissing her, even though she tries to push him away.
“Jesus, calm down, will ya …” Devon muses. “Take it to another room. I don’t want to see you two get it on. I’ve seen enough dick for a while.”
Jordan finally manages to push Anthony away, but not before he’s stolen another kiss. His eyes are still on her like a tiger who’s finally found his mate. And I’m horrified. Utterly fucking horrified. Because now, there’s one less bachelor … and still, three girls who are potential threats.
I swallow away my pride and say, “Okay. Are we done here?”
“Yes. That was all,” Max replies.
I turn around and leave. I don’t care whether they make more babies or whether Anthony proclaims her as his chosen bride. I just want to be alone.
Camilla and Latisha follow suit, but not before Latisha throws a temper tantrum.
“You were supposed to pick me!” she yells. “Me! I wanted to be the one to give you everything.” She cries like a baby as she storms around and leaves.
Luckily, she doesn’t follow us into the women’s bedroom. I don’t know where she goes, but as long as she’s not here, I’m happy. I can’t deal with her crazy ass right now.
I sit down on my bed and grab my purse, checking myself in the mirror. I’m a freaking mess.
“Well … that went great,” Camilla says, throwing herself on the couch.
“I really don’t feel like talking right now,” I say.
“Well, excuse me.” She sighs.
“It’s not you, it’s me,” I say, smiling at her. She returns a petty smile, which only makes me smile harder.
“Don’t take me as a fool, Naomi. I know what’s going on here.”
“I don’t think you’re a fool, Camilla,” I reply. “Tell me what’s going on.”
“Three girls left without a man … and only two bachelors. Someone’s going to end up with that motherfucker who killed Lauren, and it isn’t going to be me.”
I suppose that’s a veiled threat, so I don’t respond.
“And you know … those men aren’t just seeking brides and making babies,” she says. “They’re making heirs. And that can only mean one thing … someone’s gonna take over the company.”
“So?”
She frowns. “It means only one of them can win. Those brothers … only one of them will be in charge. They can’t all three be in charge. It doesn’t work like that.”
“Hmm … interesting,” I muse, pretending that I didn’t already know that.
“And I think I already know who it’s going to be …”
“Really? And who’s that?”
“Well, it isn’t Anthony,” she says, slamming her lips together like she wants to say more but doesn’t. She knows damn well it’s information she could use to her advantage. Clever girl.
“You can say what you want, but Jordan is pregnant,” I say. “So they’re gonna win.”
“I’m not so sure. How do we know Max was speaking the truth? For all we know, he could be lying to our faces to make his own move.” She eyes me like she knows he’s into me and no one else.
I shrug. “Whatever. We’ll find out soon enough.”
“I guess you’re right,” she muses, like she’s not at all on edge, even though I know she is. I can tell from her rigid posture.
“Why did you come back?” I ask.
She sighs. “I don’t even know, to be honest.”
“Yeah, you do,” I reply.
She throws a piercing glare at me.
“Money,” I say softly. “And … because they told you you had no other choice.”
“How do you know?” she frowns.
“They did the same thing to me …” I cock my head. “What else do you know?”
“That I was threatened? They’d kill me unless I came back here? What else am I supposed to know that you don’t?”
Interesting.
I purse my lips and mull it over.
“But you know you can’t win this either … are you afraid they’ll kill you afterward?”
She just stares without giving me a hint of emotion.
“No?” I ask. “Or do you think you can still win one of their hearts?”
“I don’t need to give you an explanation,” she hisses. “You think I’m only here for myself, that I’m like you, but I’m not. I care about the girls in here. I worry about them. I don’t want to see them hurt.”
“You care about them?” I scoff. “No wonder you left.”
“These men are insane. If they even threatened to kill me, what would they do to them? The girls who I left behind? If they were smart, they would’ve packed their bags and ran with me!” she yells.
“Why do you care about them? You barely know them.”
“I’m not a monster!” Her eyes fill with tears. “I care about people. I don’t need to know anyone to care about them.”
“Right …” I sigh. “But they stayed because of the money,” I reply. “And you know that.”
She shrugs it off like it’s the truth. Like she’d jump in front of a train for these women. I can’t believe that simply because I don’t feel the same way. But she’s always struck me as the mother hen type.
It’s quiet for some time before she breaks the silence.
“All I know is that someone is pregnant. And that someone isn’t you,” she says, throwing me another glare.
Just that single word … pregnant … can make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Why? Because she’s right. It isn’t me … when it should have been.
We both know this conversation has ended, so I get up from the bed and clear my throat. “I’m going to take a stroll.”
“Have fun,” she answers, and she immediately gets up to make some coffee.
I walk through the door and take a few breaths, shaking my head at the thought that Anthony would take the company for himself and ruin my plans.
I don’t go outside. I go straight to Max’s room.
23.
Accompanying Song: “Only Human” by Cold Showers
Max
She storms into my room and slams the door shut behind her then starts to pace around.
“What a nice surprise …” I murmur.
“Shut up,” she mutters.
“Hello to you too.” I sit down on my bed and lean back, watching her body move fluidly through my room like a fire spreading fast.
She looks at me through the corner of her eye. “Did you threaten Camilla to come back?”
; “My brother did,” I answer.
“And Hyun?”
“No.”
“Don’t lie to me,” she hisses, clearly upset.
“I’m not. They don’t like her, and neither do I.”
“Your brother had a thing for her. I remember that,” she says, still pacing.
“They’re not interested anymore. They already had their favorites.”
“Then why Camilla?” she whisper-yells.
“Because she wasn’t weak, and my brother wanted another option. That’s all.”
“Weak? So that’s what this is about,” she mumbles, almost like she’s talking to herself.
“Are you just going to pace around my room or are you going to sit down?” I pat the bed.
She briefly glances at me but doesn’t take me up on my offer. “Suit yourself,” I say, shrugging. “I know you’re not here to talk about Hyun. Or Camilla. I do know why you’re really here.”
She stops in her tracks.
“The pregnancy test,” I say.
Her eyes are on me like a hawk as she licks her lips, her nostrils flaring. “Is it true? Is she really pregnant with his baby?”
“Yes.”
The news hit me as hard as it did her.
I admit it was arrogant to assume my plan would work without fault. I was a bit careless in my effort to drug my brothers. Maybe I didn’t give them the right consistency. Or maybe his sperm was just so goddamn thick, just like his head.
“Goddammit …” Naomi rubs her forehead.
“Are you jealous?” I jest.
“Fuck yes, I’m jealous. I want to win,” she retorts, and I love her honesty. “Tell me she isn’t pregnant. Tell me it’s all a lie.”
“It’s not. Why do you think I’m lying?”
“You’d have every reason to do so …”
“True,” I say, nodding. “But I wasn’t lying.”
She narrows her eyes at me. “Why not?”
“They would’ve found out anyway, regardless of whether or not I told the truth when I read that paper out loud. My brothers would’ve snatched it right out of my hand if I lied and said it was you who was pregnant.”
Indecent Games Duet - Boxed Set Page 18
