The Ritual: Chapter 25

WITHIN MINUTES, I hear her softly snoring. The drug working fast. She hasn’t eaten in hours. I slipped a sleeping pill into her water while in the kitchen. I needed her out in order to leave without her asking questions. I was tired of not being able to answer them. Not only because of the oath I took, but also because I have no fucking clue what I’m going to be doing. I didn’t trust to leave her at the house of Lords, so I had to get her back here and asleep as soon as possible.

Pulling out from underneath her, she doesn’t even move. She’ll be pissed at me when she wakes in the morning, but I’ll deal with that when I’m done with my assignment.

Getting out of bed, I exit her room just as Gunner and Sarah walk through the front door. “Give us a second,” he tells her, and she heads to her room at the other end of the apartment.

“She’s out. Will be all night,” I tell him.

He nods once.

“I’ll let you know what’s going on as soon as I can.” He understood that I wanted him and Sarah to stay here with her while I’m gone. I may not be able to control what she does or where she goes while I’m working. I still don’t want her up at the house of Lords even if Matt is away, so I needed to give her a reason to stay away. Sarah being here is as good as I could come up with in such a short time.

“Of course. Just be careful.” His eyes go to her closed bedroom door. “And don’t worry about her. I’ll make sure nothing happens to her while you’re gone.”

My cell vibrates in my pocket, and it’s a text from a blocked number.

Opening it up, I see it’s the address of the cathedral. Without saying another word, I exit and head out.

_______________

THIRTY MINUTES LATER, I’m walking inside the double doors of the cathedral tucked back in the woods. I look around to see I’m alone. But that victory is short-lived when the doors creak open behind me, and Matt steps inside.

“It’ll be like old times.” He gives me a fucking grin when I turn to face him.

“Try not to kill an innocent this time.” I make a jab at him. But instead of taking offense, he just laughs.

The doors open, and we both turn to face the three men who enter. All three wear black cloaks and white masks over their faces to hide their true identity.

My pulse quickens, and my heart begins to race at the adrenaline pumping through my veins. I forgot how much I’ve missed this. The action. This is the part of the Lords that I love. I’m not going to pretend not to like the violence. I love it.

“Gentlemen,” the one on the far right speaks.

Matt steps toward them.

All three raise guns at us. “Hands up,” one orders.

I raise mine as does Matt.

“Turn around. Lie on your stomachs with your hands behind your backs,” the one in the middle demands.

Doing as I’m told, I smile to myself. Let the game begin.