Chapter 41

West

“No! Did you see that? What the fuck!”

Cheers and yells echoed from the walls of my apartment, but I wasn’t celebrating or even watching the game. Six guards were crowded into my space and although I’d been working to connect with them more by the day, tonight I couldn’t focus. All I could think about was even though Bram was barely hanging on to life, he was still outsmarting me.

Four days I’d been without my slave and it was driving me crazy. I’d come so close to having her as mine, and the minute I thought I had everything in the bag, she was taken from me. Again. By Bram, again.

I downed the rest of my beer, not even sure how many I’d had.

Enough to know that I was far from sober.

“Come on, now!” Eli crushed a can in his hand, standing. “You want another?”

“Keep 'em’ coming.” I tossed my empty beer, not caring whether or not any spilled. Eli caught it, walking swiftly into the kitchen. My head leaned back and I closed my eyes as I felt her body underneath mine. I could still taste her blood, feeding me. Urging me to spill more. I didn’t want to think about how Bram wasn’t dead yet. Or if he’d truly woken up or not. From what the high leader said only an hour ago, he’d supposedly gotten worse. It put me at ease, letting my mind drift to Everleigh even more.

“Head’s up!”

My lids were heavy as I forced them open. I barely caught the can as Eli tossed it to me. Coldness splattered across my face as I opened it and I looked down at the drawstring waistband of my sweatpants. They were wet from the overflow, but I didn’t care. I laughed, drinking down even more.

“Give me one of those slices.” I pointed to the guard sitting in a chair closest to the open pizza box. I felt like I was in college again, but it was good to raise the morale of the men I wanted on my side, and they seemed to enjoy this.

Knock. Knock.

“Ay-Oh!”

Eli’s voice was loud as he jumped up, springing to the door. He shook the other guard’s hand as the guy came in.

“West, this is Abbot. Abbot, West.”

I brought up my hand, pausing as I noticed the pizza in one and the beer in the other. “Nice to meet you, Abbot. Grab a beer, and take a seat.

Pizza’s right there,” I said, using the hand holding the slice to point.

“Thanks, Mr. Harper.”

“West. No one is working.”

He smiled, grabbing a slice as Eli sat back down. “Thank God for that. Long night.”

I sat up straighter, glancing at Eli. I knew my guy had this one invited over for a reason. He’d mentioned his suspicions earlier, but we still weren’t sure.

“Hopefully nothing too bad happened.”

“Nah. Boring as hell. There’s only so much I can take of crying little kids. Although, I guess it wasn’t so bad tonight.”

My pulse jumped and I took another drink. “Does she keep them occupied?”

He hesitated in taking a bite, looking from me to the men around the room. We all stared and I knew he probably felt trapped. “Yeah. She’s good with them. She’s got that whole motherly thing going on.”

I smiled, tearing into my pizza, angrily. So she was being kept in

The Cradle. I was permitted there. Anyone could go. They might not have her to where I’d be able to see her, but knowing I wasn’t forbidden helped ease the lack of control spiraling inside.

“Relax, Abbot. Grab a beer. No one is going to hurt your Mistress or even say you told us anything. I’m not worried about my slave. When Bram returns, everyone’s going to see that she’s mine. He’s already given her to me. The high leader and everyone else will know that soon enough.”

The guard’s shoulders relaxed as he headed for the kitchen and I went back to watching the game. Time passed and I wasn’t the only one drunk by the time the men started filing out.

“Don’t let him fall down the damn stairs on your way back to the barracks.”

Patrick laughed at me, raising the beer in his hand as he held Benson steady. Had this become my life? Most would enjoy it, but not me. I wasn’t naturally a social person … more one-track-minded. And still, she plagued my thoughts. It was stealing every ounce of focus I could manage. And the only thing I could come up with was, I’d win her over. I’d put her in her place, but I’d make it good. She’d bend, and then the damn guards would get off my back. I also couldn’t deny in my drunken state that I wanted her to want me. She’d wanted Bram. Why not me?

I put down the can, swaying as I stood. Eli was passed out in the chair and I kicked his foot as I approached.

“Couch.”

“What time is it?”

I looked at the clock, yawning. “Almost one. Guys just left. I’m headed to bed.” The door swinging open stopped me in my tracks. When I expected to see one of the guards coming back to get something they forgot, the face didn’t register right away.

“Ah, Jarrett. Surely I’m not in trouble for giving the guys a few beers.”

He swallowed hard, pulling off the uniformed ballcap he wore. “I’m sorry, Mr. Harper. I’ve come with grave news. I’m afraid our Main Master has passed. The high leader asks that you leave for Chicago first thing in the morning. You are to approve the funeral arrangement that Mr. Whitlock had in place.”

“Passed?”

“My condolences … Master.”

I swayed as the blood seemed to rush from my head. I’d known this day might come, but now that it was here I felt overwhelmed with emotion. And not just from excitement or shock, but sadness. I had loved Bram to an extent. We used to be close. I’d seen that again the day I had him killed.

Now I was feeling his chapter in my life end.

“Thank you.” I blinked and it took me a few moments to register.

“Master?” I whispered, looking up.

“Mr. Whitlock made it known in his instructions. You are our new

Master.”

My hand pressed against the wall as I forced myself to stand taller.

The high leader hadn’t mentioned that in our conversation. Although I knew I had the support of the other masters in charge, I didn’t think Bram would just so readily hand it over. I had his blessing all along.

“Of course. Please have the chopper ready for me at eight. Have Mistress Davenport and her things ready. She loved Bram. She deserves to see him one last time.”

“But …”

“Do it! Enough of this. She will go. I can more than handle her if she gets out of line. Have her ready and at my door come eight o’clock.”

“Yes, Master.”

The guard eased from the door and I walked over, locking it behind him. When I turned and glanced up at Eli, he had a big smile on his face.

“And so it begins. Welcome, new Master of Whitlock.”

A laugh burst from his mouth and I couldn’t keep the smile from mine.

“You’ll come and stay by my side. You’ll help me keep my slave in line, and when the time is right, I will be welcoming you as my new high leader.”

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