“This is the first new car I’ve ever had. Sue me if I want to keep it clean.”
Shock splays across my face. “Why didn’t Sinner buy you a new car when you got your license? It’s not like he’s short on cash.”
A sneer appears on his face. “He offered, but everything he does comes at a price. I wanted to buy it myself so I owed him nothing. So it wasn’t tainted by that evil piece of shit.”
I stare at him, momentarily speechless at his honesty and hurting for him. What must it have been like to grow up with a parent who showed you no love and always expected something from you? “So, um, Mantiss Forest,” I mumble, needing to redirect the conversation to safer topics, because Saint has just opened himself to me, and I’m feeling far too much. I can’t let emotion affect me because it screws with my head.
“The training facility has this massive assault course on the grounds of the forest, and that is where your skills test will take place.”
“What’s involved?”
“Water crossing, zip lines, tunnels, rope swings, high walls, balance beams, etcetera.”
“That’s doable.”
“It’s testing your strength, stamina, and agility mostly. After that, you’ll enter the maze. It’s a simulated war zone, and it’ll test your combat skills against the other trainees. Then, there’s the shooting range test.” His lips kick up. “We know you’ll ace that one and the knife throwing test.”
His eyes move to his crotch, and he shivers, and I crack up laughing. “How are the itchy pubes?” I tease.
“Still itchy.” He slants me some serious stink eye. “I haven’t forgotten I owe you for that.”
“I’m as bare as the day I was born, so you’re shit out of luck.”
“I know my way around your pussy, princess.” He smirks, and a dark glint flashes in his eyes. “And there are other forms of payback.”
I jab my finger in his arm. “You owed me that, and now, you owe me again.”
“Is that why you did it?” His fingers dig into the steering wheel, and a muscle pops in his jaw.
He need not elaborate because I know what he’s talking about. “I did it because I wanted to fuck Caz and you need to learn to share. You’re done cockblocking me.”
He grips the steering wheel tighter but doesn’t reply.
“I’ll have no issue passing those tests,” I say, putting this conversation back where it needs to go. “How soon will I be out of there?”
“You’ll stay a minimum of a week, and I wouldn’t get too cocky. You’ll be head to head against other members.” His eyes drill into mine. “Other male members.”
“Most all of my training was against guys,” I admit, enjoying the look of displeasure that creeps across his face.
“You’re still inferior physically. No amount of skill can compensate for that.”
“I know men are physically stronger than women, but that doesn’t mean women can’t win in a physical fight. Being lighter on foot has its advantages, and it’s as much about mental resilience as it is physical.”
“How long have you been training with him?” He looks like the question pains him to ask it.
“Since I was thirteen.”
His head whips to mine. “Since…”
“Your father kidnapped and tortured me. My dad wanted to make sure if anything happened to me again I could at least protect myself better.”
The car slams to a halt in the middle of the highway. Brakes screech and horns blare as cars swerve to avoid plowing into us.
“What the actual fuck is your problem?” I roar, throwing my hands up. “Do you have a fucking death wish?”
He flips the hazard lights on and kills the engine as his cell pings. Out of the corner of my eye, I spot Caz parked behind us, flipping his finger up at passing cars as they blow their horns and shake angry fists in both our directions.
Turning to face me, Saint grips my face in his hands. “I need to know if he touched you, Lo.” His eyes scream, and I wonder if he truly cares or if he can’t stand the thought of Sinner touching what he considers his.
I convince myself it’s the latter, because it’s the easiest one to process and it enables me to remain detached.
“Did my father or any of those other bastards rape you?”
“What if I said they did?”
His chest heaves, and anger blazes in his eyes. “Then, they’re all fucking dead.”
“Killing them might seem like an easy solution,” I say, “but they deserve to rot in jail for their crimes. Dying is too easy.” I place my hand on top of one of his. “They didn’t rape me or touch me like that although they stripped me to my underwear, and I felt their pervy eyes on me all the time.” It was an effective form of psychological torture, and I spent that entire time waiting for them to take it further. It made me feel vulnerable and weak and utterly helpless.
He pulls my face to his, pressing his lips against mine. His kiss is hard and blistering with simmering violence. When he pulls back, it feels like my mouth’s just been assaulted. “They’re sick fucks, Lo, and I wouldn’t be surprised if you’d told me they had raped you.” He rubs my mouth, ignoring his cell when it vibrates again. “You’re older and sexier now, and that psycho dictates what you do for initiation. It scares me.”
All the color drains from my face. “You mean he could force me into having sex with him?”
He nods, and now, I get why he made the call on the safe house.
“Or it could be worse,” he adds.
Understanding dawns, and I shake my head as bile swims up my throat. “There are many things I’m prepared to do to see this through, but letting those assholes have sex with me, one after another, is not one of them.”
“That’s not happening,” he agrees. “If it comes down to it, we’ll find a loophole.” I’d like to believe his words, but the troubled look on his face speaks volumes, and acid crawls up my throat at the thought of what that psycho has planned for me.
For all our sakes, I hope Sinner doesn’t make that a task, because if I have to resort to murder to avoid being abused by him and his buddies, I won’t hesitate to take out every one of them, consequences be damned.
CHAPTER 9
Harlow
WE ARRIVE AT the training facility on the outskirts of the sprawling town of Mantiss just after lunch. High wooden gates conceal the compound, and a tall gray wall borders it on all sides. Barbed wire sits atop the wall along with several mounted cameras.
Security is clearly tight, but is it to keep people out or to keep the trainees in?
Saint presses the button on the small keypad attached to the wall, and after he has confirmed our names, the gates automatically open to let us through. Saint drives along the winding driveway for a few miles, and I stare out the window at the thickly wooded area. All I can see on every side are trees and more trees. It’s been raining, and drops of water drip in a steady line from the branches, adding to the soft rivers of water trickling down the gravel driveway as we advance.
The driveway gives way to a large opening, and an impressive building comes into view. Saint parks in front of the entrance, and I hop out, eager to stretch my limbs after so long in the car.
“Here,” he says, rounding the car and holding out an iPhone. “This isn’t secure, so be careful what you use it for. Check in daily.”
“I will,” I agree, slipping it into my pocket, alongside my burner cell. “Thanks.”
“They won’t let you take weapons with you. I’ll safeguard your knife.”
“I’m not parting with my knife.” I fold my arms, stabbing him with a warning look. “And I’ll gut anyone who attempts to take it from me.”
“Lo, you can’t ruffle feathers here. Sinner will go apeshit if you embarrass him.”
“You say that like it’ll deter me.”
“I know it will because you’re too smart to be this dumb.” He steps right into my face. “The quickest way you’ll get out of here is to pass all the tests a
nd keep your head down and avoid trouble.” His hand lands on my hip. “If you piss him off, he’ll devise the worst initiation tasks imaginable.”
“He’ll do that anyway.”
“We don’t know that for sure, and it’s not smart to antagonize him.”
I know he makes sense, but it’ll kill me to act like some Mary Sue; however, I don’t have any choice. Bending down, I roll up the end of my jeans and unstrap my Strider SMF from my calf. Straightening up, I hand it to him. “This feels like I’m handing my firstborn child to the devil,” I admit, and he grins.
He unsheathes my knife, admiring it. “I’ll guard it with my life.”
“Don’t use it,” I warn, narrowing my eyes to slits. “I don’t want some murder attributed to me while I’m gone.”
“I’ll try to refrain from murder and mayhem.” He smirks, cocking his head to the side. “But I’ll make no promises.”
“Of course, you won’t.” I roll my eyes, taking in my surroundings as Saint eyes the locket around my neck.
“Where’d you get that?” His eyes burn with jealousy, and I’d love to tell him Diesel gave it to me, but it’ll only end up smashed on the ground if I admit the truth.
“My dad gave it to me.”
“You weren’t wearing it at the warehouse.”
Shit. The obvious lie would be to say I had it at the cabin, but I don’t want the guys to know about that place.
“I thought I’d lost it, but apparently, I left it behind at training. The chain was broken so Diesel got it repaired. He just gave it back to me.”
He opens his mouth, to ask more questions, I assume, and I need to shut this down. “I should head in.” I gesture at the door. “They’ll be wondering what’s keeping me.”
He looks like he wants to argue but thinks better of it, and I release the breath I was holding.
Saint moves around me, a slight suspicion clouding his features, as he removes my bag from the trunk. His instincts are sharp, but I doubt he suspects it’s a tracker. He’s probably questioning my explanation and wondering if Dad really was the one who gave it to me. Throwing one last look my way, Saint tosses my bag over his shoulder and walks toward the others. They are leaning against Caz’s car, quietly conversing.
Turning my back on them, I check out my new temporary home. The property is huge and surprisingly modern, comprising a large two-story building made up of glass and wood, spread across a site that spans acres and acres of woodland. I can’t see the infamous assault course from the front because the building is so wide.
“What do you think?” Theo asks, coming up alongside me.
“Crime pays,” I deadpan.
“You thought it didn’t?” Galen says, arching a brow.
“Who said you could speak?!” I bark, shooting daggers at him. “Just shut up and look pretty.” I scan my eyes over his bruised, battered face, snorting. “You can’t even do that anymore. You’re a hot mess.”
“I have looked in the mirror,” he snaps.
I shove him in the shoulders, and he bites down hard on his lower lip, wincing. “What part of our conversation yesterday didn’t you understand?” I shove him again. “You will fucking beg for my forgiveness. Anything less won’t do.”
“I said I’m fucking sorry!” he shouts.
“Words are meaningless!” I shout back. “And I’m sick of listening to the same pathetic crap coming out of your mouth. Unless you’ve something valuable to add, say nothing.”
Caz slings his arm around my shoulders. “Nervous, babe?”
I roll my eyes. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
Caz and Saint share a look, and I see red. I slam to a halt, shoving Caz’s arm off me. “You don’t think I can do this.”
“That’s not it,” Theo says, ever the peacemaker. “We know you’re smart and you have obvious skills, but this is a whole other ballgame.”
“Your lack of faith has been noted,” I say, snatching my bag from Saint. “I’ve got this. You can all fuck off now.”
I storm off, using my anger to propel me forward.
Pushing through the double glass doors, I enter the perfunctory lobby area, masking my surprise. A woman in a smart white blouse and gray pinstripe skirt sits behind the small reception desk, smiling at me as I approach. Small black leather couches, with glass coffee tables in front, are propped against the windows on either side of the entrance
It’s surreal, business-like and professional, and not at all what I was expecting.
“Good afternoon, Ms. Westbrook,” the woman says, placing an A4 envelope on the counter before me. “That’s your welcome pack with your schedule, room assignment, and map of the facility.” She hands me a black card, and I scowl at the familiar fiery emblem as I tuck it into the front pocket of my jeans.
I hate The Sainthood’s logo because it reminds me of the mark etched on my skin and the destiny Sinner has mapped out for me.
“That will get you in and out of all the doorways,” she continues, “and it doubles as a meal card in the cafeteria.” She glances at the clock on the wall. “Your general skills test starts in forty minutes, so you must hurry. I’ve left training clothes in your room. Report to the assembly area in thirty minutes.” She points at the doorway on the right. “Go through there, and head for the inspection room. Once completed, go back to the corridor, and take the elevator to the first floor. Turn left for your accommodation.”
“Thank you.” I consider asking her exactly what the inspection room is but decide against it because it seems self-explanatory. I’m pressed for time, and I’ll find out soon enough. I grab the envelope and take a step away when she calls out to me.
“You can’t take that with you,” she says, standing and pointing at my bag. “I’ll store it, and it will be returned to you upon leaving.”
I hand it over without argument, assuming I’ll have everything I need in my room, and I have my two cells on me. She didn’t specifically say anything about no phones, so I’m not mentioning it.
A thought lands in my head, and my fingers fly to my locket. If I’m undergoing some kind of inspection, I can’t have this with me in case they identify the tracking device even though it pains me to remove it because I promised Diesel I wouldn’t. It would be ideal to record shit while I’m here, but walking around a training facility with a locket around my neck would raise suspicion, so I have no choice. I console myself with the fact it will remain with my bag, so Diesel still has a lock on my location even if I don’t have it on me until I walk back out the door. “I’d best leave this in my bag,” I say, putting the envelope down so I can remove the chain. She nods in agreement, and I tuck it into the side pocket of my bag.
I snatch the envelope up again, glancing outside as I walk toward the side door, noting the guys are still there, leaning back against Caz’s car, legs stretched out in front of them and arms folded. They stare at me through the window, and I flip them the bird.
Using the key card, I gain entry to the corridor and walk down the carpeted hallway until I come to a door with INSPECTION marked at the top of it. The door swings open before I can knock, and a man dressed all in black appears before me. He steps aside, motioning me in. The door closes behind me, and I look around the small square room. Apart from a bench, coat hooks on the wall, and a wooden unit with some technical devices on top, the room is empty.
“Remove your jacket, and stand with your legs spread wide and your arms out.”
He takes my jacket, hanging it on a hook on the wall, and then, I adopt the position expected of me.
He pats me down thoroughly while I stare ahead, conveying no emotion.
“Strip down to your underwear,” he says, giving me his back as he walks to the wooden unit. Panic whittles through me at the thought of what’s coming. I guess they’re not just checking for concealed weapons but for drugs too, and there’s no way in hell that man is putting his fingers inside my ass or my pussy. I will fucking decimate him if he tries to touch me there.
/> Forcing myself to remain calm, I sit down on the bench and remove my boots and clothing while his eyes watch my every move. When I’m down to my underwear, I stand and walk into the center of the room. “Same stance,” he instructs, his eyes dropping to my chest.
Using some type of digital scanner, he scans every part of my body. His fingers brush against me an inordinate amount of times, but I don’t flinch even though I’m on edge and ready to take him down if he goes near my lady parts.
“You can get dressed now,” he says, and I don’t need to be told twice, breathing a quiet sigh of relief.
I hurry out of the room a few minutes later, take the elevator to the first floor, and quickly locate my room.
It’s a small utilitarian room with a single cot and bedside table, compact wardrobe and matching dresser, and a small wall-mounted TV.
I grab the quickest shower in history, careful not to wet my hair, and I dress in the black training top and black combat pants left on the bed. I scowl at the fiery symbol on my shirt, wishing I could rip it off.
A quick inspection of the closet and dresser confirms other sets of the same clothes plus some underwear and plain black pajamas. Everything is in the right sizes, and that creeps me out more than anything else so far. The thought of that bastard Sinner rooting through my stuff to determine my clothes and underwear sizes makes me ill, but I don’t dwell on it because I need to keep my head in the game.
The bathroom cabinet has all the essentials I need, and I remove a brush and a hair tie, quickly smoothing my hair into a high ponytail.
I open the envelope and skim through the documents, locating my schedule and the map, as I lace up my black boots. I’m to report to Assembly Area A, which is at the rear of the building, on the lower level. I memorize the way before folding the map and tucking it inside my bra.
I hide one cell under the mattress and one in the bathroom cabinet before heading out, making my way downstairs and walking along successive hallways toward my destination. I pass a few other trainees and staff, but there doesn’t seem to be a huge amount of people milling around.
The Sainthood : A Dark High School Romance (The Complete Series) Page 36
