Page 158 of The Ritual

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“Her initiation.” Ty interrupts me, spinning around to face Jake Winston. “You were the one supposed to be at Blackout. You’re the reason Matt was even there in the first place.”

He presses the gun into Ty’s chest and shoves him backward into the couch. “That bitch has become more of a problem than pussy should be.” Jake snaps.

Blake had only ever received her first text the night before initiation. I had checked her cell in the hospital and never saw where she got another one with her assignment details the night of the attack. Now I know why. That’s why Matt didn’t kill her, or take her, it was a diversion. He was just trying to save his father.

“Why would the Lords want you dead, Jake?” I demand. “What have you done?”

He gives me a chilling smile. “it’s what I’m going to do.” Lifting the gun, he places it between Ty’s eyes.

I pull the trigger, the sound of my gun firing, rings out in the room, shooting his hand. Jake cries out, the gun falls from his hands and Ty knocks a fist into his face.

Matt turns and charges me. I pull the trigger again, but he’s already on me, the gun firing off into the ceiling as he picks my feet up off the floor. He slams my back into the coffee table, and it takes my breath away. Pain shoots up my side and a burning sensation follows that makes me see dots floating around.

Fuuuccckkkk!

“Don’t worry, Ryat.” He laughs in my face. “I’m going to make your wife my whore.”

No! “Over my dead body.” I grind out.

Laughing he ignores that and adds. “I won’t be stingy like you. I’ll make sure that everyone else gets a taste as well.” Getting up off me, I start coughing, sucking in a ragged breath. I feel wetness on my back and know that the impact has done something to my already injured body. I’m bleeding out. Probably ripped open my stitches. I might die right here and now, but I will take Matt with me.

Gritting my teeth, I land a punch in his face, knocking him back, knowing I’m running out of time to do what I came to get done.

BLAKELY

I EXIT THE bathroom at the sound of gunshots. Ryat told me to stay here but I can’t. He’s alive! He came for me. I have to help him. In any way that I can.

Running down the hall, I hear people struggling—men grunting. Coming to a stop, I see Tyson kicking a man huddled on the living room floor by the couch. He stops and the man rolls onto his back, moaning in pain, face covered in blood and cradling a bloody hand to his chest.

Tyson leans down, retrieving a gun from the floor and straightens, pointing it down at who I now recognize is Mr. Winston—Matt’s dad. “If the Lords want you dead, then you already are.” Tyson fires the gun at him, shooting Jake in the face.

I yelp, jumping back and my ears now ringing.

“DAD!” Matt yells, running over to him.

Tyson takes a step back, the gun hanging at his side.

Matt drops to his knees and pounds his fists into his father’s chest. His heavy breathing fills the room when he wipes his own bloody face with the back of his hand.

I smile, the scene all too familiar. I was doing the same thing to Ryat when Matt shot him. But only I know Ryat really didn’t die. Jake is dead. The fact that half his face is gone, says it all. “Karma is a bitch.” I say but I don’t think anyone hears me.

Matt jumps to his feet. He goes to charge Tyson, but he lifts the gun again, pointing it at Matt’s chest. He comes to a stop, his nostrils flaring and chest heaving. “You son of a bitch! I will fucking own you!” Matt shouts.

“You always were a worthless Lord.” Tyson tilts his head to the side. “They should have killed you years ago.”

Matt’s face turns red and his blue eyes narrow to slits at his words. “Do it!” He slaps his own chest like a gorilla. “Fucking kill me you sorry son of a bitch!” Matt screams.

“In time.” Tyson tells him calmly.

“You don’t have the fucking balls!” He eggs him on, stepping into the barrel.

Tyson takes the gun and slaps Matt across the face with it. So hard it knocks him to his knees “You of all people should know the Lords don’t allow us the easy way out.” Tyson squats down next to him. “They make us suffer more than anyone.” Then he looks up and I see Ryat stepping behind Matt.

He grips a handful of Matt’s hair and yanks his head back, before sinking a needle into his neck. Matt’s body falls to the floor next to his dead father.


Tags: Shantel Tessier Dark