It took a mere six seconds for me to realize that I was in the same bedroom from before. Naked.

  Rather than obsess over the fact that another stranger had undressed me, I stared up at the ceiling trying to get some order in my head.

  Pain, however, was a persistent distraction. There was a continuous throb coming from the lower left side of my stomach. I feared what I would see if I peeled back the sheet that covered me.

  But wasn’t it better to know than not?

  My first attempt to sit up and investigate ended in me flopping back onto the bed, hissing in pained frustration.

  The second attempt proved more successful.

  Using my elbows, I pushed myself up and scooted backward so I could use the fluffy pillows as a prop. Then, slowly, cautiously, I peeled away the silk sheet that was covering my body.

  Something inside me withered as I stared down at the brand on my flesh. It was ugly, raw and charred.

  Undeniable proof what my reality had become was staring me in the face. I touched the mark with tentative fingers, tracing over a scabby M and an R.

  “I did it for us.”

  I jumped at the sound of his deep voice, fingers flying away from the brand as if I’d been caught touching something I shouldn’t.

  “Shit,” I sucked my teeth, balling my hands into fists.

  A fresh wave of pain shot up my side. I shut my eyes and breathed, waiting for it to dull.

  “I’ve got pain medicine for you to take.”

  “Keep it,” I grunted through a clenched jaw, refusing to look at him.

  He released an exaggerated sigh and pushed off the dresser he’d been leaning against.

  “Let me rephrase that. You need to take this medicine that will help you feel better, and if for some reason you can’t, I have no problem with assisting it’s descent down your throat.”

  I watched him approach through lowered lashes. It didn’t escape my attention that he was now only in his dress shirt and slacks.

  “Open your hand,” he softly commanded when he reached my side.

  My stubbornness wanted to tell him he could shove his meds up his ass, but common sense told me to quit being a stupid bitch and alleviate my pain. Prolonging it would only hurt me more in the end.

  Common sense persevered.

  I held my hand up, not bothering to shield myself. At this point, it didn’t seem to matter. It’s not like I’d come here virginally innocent, and my dignity had long since perished.

  Ryker gave me the medicine and then retrieved a bottle of water from a bedside tray I hadn’t noticed until right then. I wordlessly accepted it from him.

  I unscrewed the cap and quickly took both of the pills he’d handed to me, swallowing them down with the still cold liquid.

  I stopped drinking the second he sat down on the edge of the bed.

  Using the back of my hand, I wiped my mouth and recapped the bottle before asking, “What do you want?”

  He met my scowl with an amused smile. “Is that your way of saying thank you?”

  “You want me to thank you for carving me up with a knife? You hurt me. You kidnapped me. You’re keeping me at this…” I waved my hand around the room. “This fucking satanic cult house where you brainwash sex slaves.”

  He began to laugh, which wasn’t the reaction I’d been expecting.

  “Nothing about Malignant is satanic. It’s an institution for the diseased. The only religion here is mine. The ideology is a system of beliefs you’ve rejected without trying to understand. No one here is brainwashed, that I can promise you.”

  He shifted and turned so that his upper body was facing me.

  “As for sex slaves, what makes you think that’s what these women are?”

  When I didn’t respond another smile spread across his face. I glanced away, feigning interest in some invisible object.

  He placed his hand on my knee and began to softly stroke it with his thumb. “You don’t have to tell me you were jealous of Susan. I already know. I know exactly how your mind works, pretty girl. You’ve been my favorite history lesson thus far.”

  I pressed my lips together as his stroking moved higher, graduating to my thigh. With nothing to cover me, my pussy was exposed, just a few more strokes away.

  “The men and women who live here have been selected to do so because of their loyalty to my beliefs.”

  “Please spare me.” I shut my eyes and eased myself down so that I was lying on my back again. I didn’t care to hear any more. I’d heard enough from Megan; I didn’t need a recap.

  I wasn’t too concerned about being wholly defenseless or alone with him. The trepidation from earlier was all but gone, which was a bit backward after the day’s events, but I was too mentally exhausted to analyze anything else.

  “You want to know something interesting, Rye? Aside from the fact you’re a fucking psychopath, I never checked into the resort.

  Dad would have realized that hours ago. How long do you think it will be before the cops come knocking on your door and asking questions?”

  An elongated silence stretched between us. It didn’t bother me much; this was all rhetorical. The realization had only come to me moments ago.

  “You’ve really figured it all out haven’t you?” His hand disappeared along with his weight on the mattress.

  I kept my eyes closed thinking he was going to leave me be now. I’d been sedated twice in less than twenty-four hours and was left feeling as if I hadn’t slept in days. Sleep would allow me to escape this place for at least a little while.

  I’m not sure how much time passed before he spoke again, only that it was long enough for me to start nodding off.

  “You want to know something even more interesting?”

  I mumbled an unintelligible response, opening my eyes to the sight of him shirtless again.

  I scanned over his various tattoos, knowing them all by heart down to the last detail.

  His left arm was a sleeve of a weeping angel. Its face was tilted upward, soot-like tear streaks on its cheeks. His right arm had an odd looking cross with various markings shaded around it.

  Four small scriptures were inked on his pectoral, but written in Latin. Now that I’d read his doctrine I would bet my life they were the Malignant principles.

  And on his back was a flying devil with a halo above its horns.

  “See that, in itself, is interesting but I‘ll come back to that in a moment. First, let’s discuss how I own that particular resort along with Bishop. It’s nothing to ensure it looked like you’ve checked in and enjoyed some of the amenities.

  Furthermore, what makes you think your dad doesn’t know you’re here?”

  Any elation I’d just felt was quickly snuffed out. It was so, so stupid to think he wouldn’t have covered all bases. I’m not quite sure why I even began to hold out hope for such a slip-up. I knew better than that.

  Hope was one of the most painful devices of self-mutilation. It could be snatched away just as easily as it could be used to bait.

  There was no way someplace like Malignant existed without him being careful to keep it hidden, which explained why the place was secluded.

  And of course, the Resort would have been his. That only made too much sense. What didn’t make sense was the implication of Dad knowing where I was.

  I was reminded of Megan’s question— who wrote my check?

  “Dad would never do that,” I heatedly refuted.

  “Are you trying to convince me, or yourself?”

  Shaking my head back and forth, I glared at him. “Dad would not send me here. Why would he…do that?” I finished lamely.

  There were a million reasons why he would if he thought I was still having issues. But I thought I’d been pretty convincing in my effort to prove I was fine. I was still going to cling to my denial, though.

  “Dad wouldn’t do this. He loves me. Even if he didn’t, he’s a good person. He’d never be okay with this.”

  Ryker made a sound in his throat like a low hum, and sat back down, muscles flexing as he did.

  “Are you sure you’re the best judge of character?

  Your dad does love you, but he’s also endorsed Malignant for the last four years. And just like Amy’s husband loved her, she was simply too diseased to be helped.”

  I heard his words, but they seemed too abstract to be true. Yet, I couldn’t argue any of his points except one.

  “Sick. Virulent. Diseased. Look at me, Ryker. Is that really what you see?” My voice wobbled at the end of my sentence. I swiped at my cheeks to rid them of the pesky tears that had managed to break free.

  He slid closer and took my hand, pulling it away from my face when I tried to wipe another.

  “You’re the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen, and you’ve got demons inside you just like I do.

  You’re just too virulent to accept them.”

  “Stop saying that! I don’t have anything wrong with me!”

  I tried to pull away, but there wasn’t anywhere to go. I’d put myself at a disadvantage when I laid down, and now he was hovering over me.

  A second later his mouth was on mine. The attempt I made to push him away was half-hearted.

  On the expulsion of a shuddered breath, his tongue slipped into my mouth, exploring until it found mine.

  The sounds coming from him were meant to soothe, to comfort as he’d always done.

  He was my Ryker. I’d seen that when I looked into his eyes in the chapel.

  He also kidnapped people.

  And killed them.

  He had a whole side to him I’d never known.

  All these years and I had no idea that he was obviously teetering on the edge of sanity.

  None of that stopped me from kissing him back, wrapping my arms around his neck and ignoring the pain in my side to pull him closer.

  He tasted faintly of liquor and peppermint. His skin was warm and smooth beneath my palms.

  With a nip on my lower lip, he slid down my body, peppering kisses on my neck, my breasts, and coming to a stop right above where he’d branded me.

  “You’ve always been mine. Now you have a permanent reminder of that.” His warm breath blew onto the wound followed by the pressure from his tongue being dragged over the raw, tender flesh.

  I took a deep breath as pain mingled with pleasure.

  Instead of disgust, a gush of wetness came from between my legs. Not a moment later his mouth was covering that very place.

  The tip of his tongue toyed with my clit, lashing the swollen nub relentlessly.

  He slipped one digit inside me followed by a second, then a third, rocking them in and out at a steady tempo as he continued to ravish the rest of my pussy with his mouth.

  Pain nothing but a buzzing sensation, I arched my back and lifted my hips, aching for what he could give me.

  I pressed my lips together to muffle the sounds trying to come from my mouth.

  A heat began to course through my veins, bringing with it a pressure that wasn’t released until he bit down on my clit and shoved his fingers inside me to the knuckle, curling them upward.

  I bit my cheek as bliss washed over me.

  My legs fell weakly to the sides as he slid back up my body, lowering his slacks in the process.

  He touched me like a long time lover would, so tender it hurt. When I went to speak, he quieted me with his lips pressed to mine once more.

  “I’m going to cure you of your sickness, Faith. I’m going to unleash your demons and take possession of your soul.” Without further preamble he pushed inside me, bringing a hand to my throat.

  This time I began to adjust immediately as started thrusting with increasingly hard, deep strokes that had my pussy drenching his cock and balls with arousal.

  My nails dug into his back hard enough to leave lasting marks.

  Whimpers and soft moans were released into his ear the harder he fucked me.

  When my legs began to shake, and my body began to vibrate, he adjusted his angle to hit the spot deeper inside me.

  A spot that had me raking my fingers down his spine and screaming my release in his name.

  He continued to fuck me until a low growl rumbled through his chest, and the warmth of his come spilled inside my cunt.

  We didn’t remain that way for more than a minute or two.

  He gave me another lingering kiss and pulled out, taking all semblance of comfort with him.

  Our eyes locked as he redressed. He didn’t bother wiping himself off this time.

  After his clothes were righted and he’d smoothed his brown locks back into place he went to the silver tray and picked up a navy cloth.

  Passing it to me, I dropped my gaze and began to clean myself up. There was a swelling feeling of shame in the pit of my stomach. I forced back the fresh wave of tears before they dared to fall.

  I wanted to hate him. I told myself part of me did, but the truth was I didn’t. Not even a little bit. And I didn’t know what that said about me.

  “There’s food for you on the tray.”

  He glanced around the room as if searching for something before settling his pale blues’ back on me.

  “Your body is a gift, a treasure I plan to appreciate for a very long time.

  Don’t be ashamed of what we do together when I know how much you like it.”

  He strolled forward and bent down to kiss me, getting my cheek when I turned my head.

  With a dark chuckle, he grasped my jaw so hard something popped. I was forced to look his way again.

  “Don’t be ungrateful, Faith. Pissing me off is the last thing you want to do. I can make you scream just as loud in pain as I can pleasure.” He captured my mouth in a brutally possessive kiss, biting at my lips until they bled.

  When he finally let me go, they were puffy and swollen.

  “Tomorrow.”

  It was the last thing he said to me before vanishing from the room, ensuring the lock was in place upon his departure.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Faith

  I dropped my cheek on a fist, flipping through the Malignant ideology for the fourth time.

  I’d eaten—twice, thanks to the tray last night and the second one delivered while I was in the shower—dressed in the only thing there was to wear, and dozed for at least an hour or two.

  I didn’t really see the words as much as I was trying to find a distraction. After a while I gave up, flipping the heavy book closed.

  My brain was buzzing with a plethora of thoughts and feelings. Everything hurt. My body felt as if it had been hit by a truck. My heart was splitting at the seams. And my mind was all over the place.

  It seemed as if every minute spent in this place brought with it a new discovery, another revelation.

  Ryker said I had demons; my father had once said that too. So did my mom when she broke down and prayed over me in a hospital bed the first time I had my stomach pumped. Too much liquor and too many pills had almost sent me to an early grave.

  The only difference was the demons they spoke of and the ones Ryker claimed I had were two very different species. One was evil and craved all the wrong things while the other was weak, truly malignant and diseased.

  One I was afraid of, and the other repulsed me. Both had me questioning everything I’d come to know. I was more confused than I’d been before.

  Was I here because of my dad or one of the girls?

  Or was it like I thought to begin with, my history of drug use and alcohol?

  Rolling onto my side, I stared at the sky through the window I’d left uncovered.

  I’d never been good at deciphering human emotions or uncovering what some kept hidden. If I were, I’d have known my mother was so unhappy that after she kissed my cheek she was going to drive her car into the lake behind our house.

  What a way to die…

  drowning and suffocating in your own backyard as her only child screamed for help.

  It made me wonder what else I didn’t know, what other secrets were being kept from me by those I loved.

  Maybe Sam was depressed too?

  He was my best friend, and I had never been able to come to terms with his overdose.

  And if he knew what this place was, he’d had secrets too.

  A knock on the door summoned my attention back to the present. I had just sat up when the lock clicked in the door swung open to reveal none other than Bishop.

  “Good afternoon, gorgeous!” He waltzed in with his suit jacket draped over one shoulder, frappe in one hand, and a huge smile on his face.

  If I’d have seen such a smile in passing him on the street my panties would have disintegrated. Like Ryker, he looked angelic. Men like this were a lot harder to find than one would think.

  And he was here.

  He’d had this same face inches away from my pussy while he pinned my legs the day prior.

  The reminder sent a surge of heat to my cheeks, flushing my face a bold pink.

  “Ah, I see it now,” he chirped in amusement. “As much I’d love to admire you like this, I need you to get your sweet ass off that bed and come with me.”

  I was only slightly taken aback by his cheery disposition. Something told me this wasn’t forced. It was his natural way of behaving. So different from Ryker, I could see why the two would be friends.

  Without asking where we were going, I cautiously slid off the bed, careful not to move too fast because of my side.

  “Are you still in a lot of pain?”

  I glanced his way, the apt concern in his eyes throwing me for a loop.

  Did he not remember partaking in the cause of said pain?

  I shook my head in response and slipped my flats on. “The medicine makes it nearly numb.”

  I left out that the scabbing was driving me absolutely insane. I had an overwhelming desire to scratch at it.

  “You wouldn’t lie to me would you?” His tone was teasing, but I’d learned from Ryker that wasn’t always a good thing.

  “I don’t know you. So I have no reason to lie or be truthful. Right now though, I’m telling the truth.”

  “Oh, I like you. And don’t worry, before long you and I will be the best of friends.” Green eyes brightening, he laughed and gestured for me to walk out of the room.

 

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