“You of all people should know why I’m doing it,” I say, looking out the windshield of his car, the clock on the dash of his Bentley shows it’s now almost six in the morning. The sun is just starting to rise above the tree line.
“Why is that?” he wonders.
“You gave up your future for love.”
He snorts. “I gave up mine for revenge. They are not the same. One is power, the other a weakness.”
“If giving her a future that she deserves makes me weak, then so be it.”
He gives a rough laugh. “You seriously think she wants a life without you?”
“I think she deserves a dad.” Pulling my cell out, I look down at the cameras in our bedroom. She’s cuddled up to my pillow, sound asleep. “I’m doing the right thing.” I’m not sure if I’m trying to convince him or myself. I would never give Elli her father just to take him away after a week. Even I’m not that cruel of a person. She’s finally starting to warm up to him.
“People don’t go to Carnage to die, Easton.” He growls, going on, “For fuck’s sake. Look at Nicholas. Years they have kept him alive. They are about torture, not death.”
“Everyone pays for their sins,” I mumble. None of us are untouchable, no matter if we want to think we are or not.
His hand tightens on the steering wheel but thankfully he falls silent for the rest of the thirty-minute drive.
_______________
HE PULLS UPto the circle drive and gets out of the car. I smirk, trying to lighten the mood. “You don’t have to walk me in.” I remove my cell and drop it into the car next to the journal I brought with me. “Make sure she gets that.” I didn’t want her to find it before Tyson returned. I remove my Lords ring and toss that into the seat as well. Won’t be needing that.
Placing his forearms on the roof of the car, he speaks, “You know she won’t forgive you, right?”
My jaw clenches.
“You really think she wants you here?” He taps his finger on the roof. Sunglasses covering his eyes. I can’t see them, but I can feel them glaring at mine. “You think she’ll find someone else? Love someone else?” He shakes his head. “I mean, she’s going to fuck other men, sure.”
“Tyson,” I growl. I’ve already had this conversation with myself a hundred times. Somehow it sounds worse hearing it out loud.
“But she loves you, Easton. And you’re doing what everyone else has always done, turn their back on her.”
I grind my teeth. “I’m protecting her.”
“By turning yourself in?” he snaps, pushing off the car. “For fuck’s sake, Sin. Use your fucking head.”
“Gentlemen, something we can do for you?”
I turn around to see all three brothers standing at the top of the stairs.
I slam my door shut and walk toward them, holding my arms out wide.
The one with the snake tattoos smiles. “You’re early, Sin. Sure you don’t want your two extra days of freedom?”
With fists clenched, I walk past them and into the open door, not bothering to look back. I follow the one I’m guessing is the leader down a hallway while the other two walk behind me.
We get into an elevator and my breathing picks up. Not because of what I’m doing, but because of what Tyson said to me. I hope that the pain is so unbearable that I never think of her with another man.
The elevator dings before the door opens. Freezing cold air fills the metal box before we can even step out. My breath now a cloud in front of my face. I smell blood. Fresh and old. There’s a haunting feeling in the air. Almost like souls trapped down here.
We walk down a narrow hallway and he pushes open a door, moving to the side to allow me to enter first.
Stepping inside, I come to a stop when I get a look at the room.
The guy with the gagged nun tattoo slaps me on the back, giving a dark chuckle. “We’ve never had someone willingly give themselves up. It won’t be as fun knowing you won’t put up a fight.”
Taking in a deep breath, I square my shoulders. This is what I agreed to. For her. She deserves this. I deserve this. We are not forgiven of our sins just because we are Lords. In the real world, Lords are gods. Here at Carnage, you’re nothing. Long gone, a forgotten soul. I’m not sure what my wife will say to the world when asked how I died. And honestly, it doesn’t matter. Eventually no one will know that I ever existed.