Madness: A Dark Revenge Romance

I sit in my office at my house, watching her on one of the monitors. She’s standing naked in her bathroom, her back facing the mirror as she looks at her ass over her shoulder. Removing the bandage, she hisses in a breath before ripping it off.

She freezes where she stands, the used bandage dropping to her bare feet. Eyes wide and lips parted, she stays silent and unmoving as all the color drains from her pretty face.

I smile to myself as I read the word HAIDYN on her ass cheek. I branded her after I fucked her last night. It was the icing on the cake. It was something too good to pass up. In weeks, months, years from now, I want her to remember who the fuck I am.

I may have not been her first, but I will be the one that reminds her who the fuck she is—a pretty little whore that I once used.

The sound of her screaming fills my office as the initial shock wears off at what she sees. Leaning forward, I turn off the monitors and sit back in my seat, placing my hands on my thighs. I fucked my little whore and branded her. She’ll never be the same. No matter who she ends up with, he’ll see that. Hell, a fucking bikini will show the world that I was there. Nothing she can do will cover it up. I mean, I guess she could tattoo over it. Unless she cuts it off, it’ll remain.

My phone rings, and I look down at it, expecting it to be her calling to tell me to go to hell, but to my surprise, it’s not.

It’s Ashtyn.

I hit ignore and stand. Picking up a pack of cigarettes off the desk, I remove one and my lighter and then turn to the double doors behind my desk. I walk out onto the wraparound porch and light one up, soaking up the sunny day. I’m not ready to talk to her. Not until I have something to give her. She deserves answers. Saint deserves answers. And I haven’t heard anything new from Kashton, so I know he and Saint don’t have any information.

So I’ll continue to look for the man in the picture and see how this plays out with Charlotte. I wanted her pissed and running. If this doesn’t do it, then nothing will.

Turning, I walk back into my office and sit down at my desk. I open the top drawer and pull out the information that Adam had found on my little whore.

I look over it.

That’s all he was able to find, but honestly it was all I need. This tells me everything I needed to know about her. Who she is and why she was placed into my life. But it also doesn’t make me feel sorry for what I did to my doll face. I wanted to make an example of her, and it couldn’t get any better than my cum leaking from her ass and my name branded on it.

CHARLOTTE

I was so tired I was able to crawl into bed and pass the fuck out for five more hours. My brain hurt as much as my body, and I needed to rest it. I hate that I dreamed of Haidyn and what we did down in my basement. It was like I lived it all over again. I woke up and had to remind myself about our phone call. Of course, I’m not good enough for a man like him in bed. I’m an inexperienced virgin. I don’t know why I’m letting it bother me so much. Maybe it’s the failure. I was born to win. My father raised me to know my limits and push past them. My mother raised me not to underestimate myself.

I may not be a Lord, but that doesn’t mean I can’t be something in our world. This was my one chance, my assignment, and I blew it.

And not to mention that his name is branded on my ass. It’s not big by any means, but it’s a reminder that he’s laughing at me. That I’m nothing more than a fucking joke.

After finally crawling out of my bed for the second time today, I shower and get ready for my girls’ night out. I’m slutting it up.

My black minidress has my tits on display. They’re not large, but with the right bra, they look like I paid for them. I know my stilettos will hurt so much that I’ll be crawling out of the club when it closes. I’ve done my makeup dark with black shadow, winged liner, lots of mascara, and the longest fake lashes I own. I have fucking wings on my eyes.

I feel good. Like a new person. One who didn’t allow Haidyn Reeves to touch. I scrubbed my skin until it was red and irritated, trying to get rid of his scent. I exfoliated and shaved every inch of my body. The bruises are still there, but I just can’t bring myself to care and cover them up. Fuck that. That would let him win.

I fluff my curly hair and apply some red lipstick. I’m going out to make a statement—my pussy may still be a virgin, but I do anal. I’ll find a guy, bring him home, and let him fuck me. Then I’ll be someone else’s whore. My ass will leak someone else’s cum. Hopefully, the bastard still has cameras in my bedroom and watches some drunk guy fuck my ass while I cry out the mystery man’s name like I’m being paid to do so.

Exiting my bathroom, I pick up my cell just as it rings. I answer without looking at the caller ID, knowing it’s my friends. “I’m about to leave…”

“Hello, Charlotte.”

The altered voice using my fake name almost has me tripping in my heels.

“Go to your living room,” he orders before I can even speak.

It’s as if someone threw cold water on me. Numbly, I make it to my living room to see two men dressed in cloaks, masks, and hoods. My stomach drops at the sight of them.

“Place me on speakerphone,” the man barks in my ear.

Pulling it away, I do as he says with shaking hands.

“Can you hear me?” he asks.

“Yes, sir.” Both men standing in my living room answer. Their voices also altered. I hate that the Lords go-to is to hide who they really are. It makes them fucking cowards if you ask me.

“Good, we’ll get started.”

I take a step back, expecting them to both rush me, tackle me to the ground, and drag me out of my home.

“I received your email, Annabelle.” The man on the other end of my phone starts. “I’m going to give you one chance to change your mind.”

I swallow nervously.

“You choose Haidyn, or you choose to quit,” he says simply.

It reminds me of Haidyn’s ultimatum. You always have a choice, doll face. And I know how that turned out.

He continues at my silence. “If you choose Haidyn, these two Lords will leave your house. But if you choose to quit…” The one on the right picks up a duffel bag and drops it on the coffee table. The same one Haidyn tied me to. “They have been given strict instructions to deliver you to the cathedral immediately by any means necessary.”

“Cathedral?” I breathe, taking another step back. The memory of me removing the brand from the woman and having to kill her comes to mind. And what if they strip me naked? They’ll see Haidyn’s name on my ass. Will they remove that one too?

“Yes, Annabelle. They will deliver you to the cathedral where you will fulfill your…duties. You will serve your Lords one way or another.”

“Haidyn,” I say without thought. It’s a no-brainer. “I’ll continue with Haidyn,” I rush out, feeling my pulse racing. Duties? The only thing I can think of when he mentions duties is an offering. Where they take women who have betrayed their Lords, tie them down, and let Lords take their turns with them. They like to cut them, make them pay in blood and screams. The lucky ones die quickly. It’s not necessarily about sex. It’s about torture in general.

“Did you hear that, Lords?” the man asks.

“Yes, sir,” they both answer again.

“You may leave.” He hangs up, and I drop my hand to my side.

They both laugh. Then one picks up his bag, and I feel their eyes on me. “She thinks she chose right.”

The other one adds, “At least I would have made you enjoy it. You think he’s not going to pass you around? That he’s not going to use you like the whore you are?” He steps forward, and I take one back. My heel trips me on the rug.

Their laughter grows as they step out of my sliding glass door, and I want to scream because, once again, I’m going to be Haidyn’s bitch.

The motherfucker doesn’t even want me! What am I supposed to do?

“GODDAMMIT!”

Falling down onto the couch, I rock back and forth as the memory of the cathedral comes to mind.

The bleach blond who sits at the opposite end of the pew stands. Before walking away, her eyes meet mine once more before exiting the front double doors.

A man’s grunts get my attention as I look back at the altar. We’re too far back for me to see anything, so I get to my feet. My father grabs my hand, but I push it away and step out into the aisle to get a better view.

The woman lies naked other than the black latex hood over her head and collar. She fights the rope that binds her to the altar like the sacrifice they’ve made her.

A man kneels on the altar between her open legs, one hand massaging her large breast while the other runs a razor blade down the middle of her already bloody chest. His hard dick is out of his undone jeans.

Three more are lined up to take their turn.

I jump when a hand is placed on my back. My eyes catch sight of the woman across the cathedral, and I hold my breath as Anne stares at me. Does she know it’s me? Will she tell my mother that my father brought me? Will he get in trouble with the Lords?

Turning around, I sprint out of the cathedral and into the cold night.

“Annabelle?” my father calls out, following.

“We should go.” I’m gasping as I rip the cloak off my body and the mask, needing fresh air.

“Annabelle,” he barks. Grabbing my shoulder, he spins me around to face him as he removes his mask with his free hand.

“Why did you bring me here?” I demand. “Why did you want me to see that?” I point at the old building.

He runs a hand through his hair before releasing a sigh. “Because…” He looks away and sucks in a long breath while I still try to catch mine. When they meet mine again, they’re as cold as I’ve ever seen them, making a shiver run up my spine. “You only see the rewards, Anna. The life me and your mother chose—the money, the cars, the gifts. This…” He points over his shoulder back to the cathedral. “This is what happens if you choose to become a Lady and are unable to be faithful.” He cups my face, and his eyes soften. “Your mother and I want very different lives for you. But if this is what you choose, I won’t allow you to go in blind. The reward isn’t worth the sacrifice unless you know what they demand in payment.”