Page 95 of Caged
Jace makes a disgusted, scoffing noise, and I make a mental note to remove him from my kill list. “It’s not right, Kieren. We should take her to the hospital. She might have brain damage.”
“You’re so fucking weak, Jace.”
“Dude, it’s just… she’s your girlfriend. Drop the act. Everyone knows you love her. You’ve been obsessed with her for the past three years!”
“Wasmy girlfriend, and no, I don’t. Not anymore.”
“Bullshit. We all watched you fuck her on Saturday night with your tongue down her throat like you couldn’t get enough, like we’ve done at each one of these Full Moon Ceremonies.”
“Does watching her ride my cock make your dick hard, Jace?”
“Give me a fucking break, you two put on a show, and you know it. The king and his trophy queen. You can’t leave her in there. She’s going to starve to death or die of dehydration.”
“She has water.”
“But it’s laced.”
“Are you such a bitch Jace, that you wouldn’t do this to Gabi? If she had cost us what this bitch cost us? Are you telling me you’re fine with human sacrifice but draw the line at physical imprisonment?”
“Leave that bitch out of this. You and I both know if it were Gabi, I’d do far worse than put her in a cage, but Monroe didn’t fuck you over like Gabi did to me,” he growls out before changing his tone to something softer. “The two are not the same. The opposite, actually. All I’m saying is you’re taking this way too far.”
“And you’re about to take a bullet,” Kieren quips at Jace in that cocky little bitch-boy voice of his, and I’m reminded of my first impression of Kieren when we met our freshman year, right here at Sigma, no less, for a return-to-campus barbecue: entitled, elitist brat.
I hate this man. I hate this man with every fiber of my being. Threatening me with the gun is one thing, but threatening his right-hand man as well, like taking a life is a fucking joke to him?
“Fuck you, Kieren. Shoot me or shut the fuck up. I know you’re mad, as I would be. I’m not saying what Monroe did was right. It was stupid and reckless. I’m sure you got an earful from that gold-horned motherfucker. I’m sure he threatened toend whatever scheme he’s got you wrapped up in, just like he does with my father. That asshole extortionist must have all of Sigma wrapped around his pinky finger. I wish I knew this guy’s identity, but then again, based on his fondness for ending human lives, he probably kills anyone who figures it out.”
“He probably sacrifices them,” Kieren chuckles, again, as if murder is funny. These rich pricks think they’re so goddamn untouchable, don’t they?
“I think we should cancel the Little Sisters mixer tonight.”
“Why?” Kieren sneers.
“Because the girls are freaked out!”
“I thought we had this under control? She had a psychotic break because of the drugs. That’s all.”
“It’s not just Monroe. People are going to start asking questions. It’s been two now.”
Kieren releases an exaggerated sigh of satisfaction. “And doesn’t it feel good, Jacey? I’m sure your daddy is happy.”
“Jesus Christ, you’re unstable,” Jace mutters.
Kieren scoffs. “I’ve been unstable my entire life; welcome to the fucking party. Listen, Sigma has been practicing the Ritual of Sacrifice for over a century. We have people on our side. Powerful people. People who can make problems go away. Besides, the administration and police have already been handsomely taken care of I’m told, so I need you to sort your shit out, Jace, and remember who the fuck is in charge here.”
“Keep the mixer,” Kieren states. “Tell the brothers to be on their best behavior to smooth over any disharmony, especially Barrett. He’s getting too rough with his bitch. I saw the bruises on her neck at the Full Moon Ceremony.”
I mentally move Barrett up on my list, right below Kieren and immediately preceding Harrison, the useless lackey who restrained me while Kieren shoved pills down my throat.
My heart breaks as I think of Kasey, and how I lied to her. I lied to herfor Kieren. Goddammit, I’m so fucking culpable.If anything more happens to her, I’ll never forgive myself. I hear my breath hitch as my rage builds, and I pray the monster in the room doesn’t notice.
“Fine,” Jace acquiesces.
I can sense Jace is staring down at me as I pretend to be asleep. He wants to do more. He wants to help. I don’t understand this hold Kieren has over him, aside from the gun, which, when directed at Jace, is nothing more than an empty threat. Let’s be honest, Jace is going nowhere, and both he and Kieren know it, so why is Jace subjugating himself to Kieren’s will? I assume the gold-horned reference is to the elder I believe is X. What extortion scheme is Jace referring to? What control does this guy have over these families?
Does this have something to do with the comment about Jace’s father being pleased about the murder of two women? Whoarethese people who takepleasurein the extinguishment of a life,and why?What sinister motive is behind these heinous crimes? I know the ultra-rich and powerful are all sorts of fucked up, but am I to believe this is done simply because they can?
The thought nauseates me. If I had food in my stomach, I would puke it up. But I can’t unpack this mystery right now, and certainly not in my compromised circumstances.
