Infidelity: Sacrifice (Kindle Worlds Novella) Read online

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Text copyright ©2017 by the Author.

  This work was made possible by a special license through the Kindle Worlds publishing program and has not necessarily been reviewed by Romig Works, LLC. All characters, scenes, events, plots and related elements appearing in the original Infidelity remain the exclusive copyrighted and/or trademarked property of Romig Works, LLC, or their affiliates or licensors.

  For more information on Kindle Worlds: http://www.amazon.com/kindleworlds

  Sacrifice

  By

  Rae Riley

  Table of Contents

  Acknowledgments

  Disclaimer

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-one

  What’s Next

  Acknowledgments

  To my husband, family, and friends, thank you for your support and encouragement. It has meant so much and I love you for it.

  To Aleatha Romig, thank you for allowing me to create in your world. It has been a pleasure!

  To all of my fellow Infidelity World authors, thank you for the knowledge that you have all shared.

  To Kellie Dennis from Book Cover by Design, thank you for creating such a beautiful cover for Sacrifice. It is more than I could have dreamed!

  To my editor, Lisa Aurello, thank you for all of your patience and advice.

  To my proofreader, Lisa Ackley, words can not describe how thankful I am for all of your help. You have been simply amazing throughout this whole process and I truly appreciate it.

  Lastly, to all of Aleatha's readers who have taken this plunge into the Infidelity World, thank you for trusting us. I hope you enjoy.

  Disclaimer

  This standalone novella is part of the Infidelity World created by Aleatha Romig. For full understanding, it is recommended that this story be read after the completion of the Infidelity series by Aleatha Romig.

  Due to mature themes, this story has been written for adult audiences only.

  Infidelity World

  The Infidelity Corporation will broker relationships – for a price. Their clients are exclusive and successful, their employees confidential and classified. Infidelity ensures that CEOs, politicians, and high-profile artists find love, with their friends and relatives none the wiser about how the happy couple met. But twists and turns abound in a world where old money, new money, and no money clash, from West Coast to East Coast and beyond. Enter Infidelity's world of entrapment, betrayal, and deceit, where you decide whose relationship is real and whose is just an agreement.

  Chapter One

  Thud

  In the split second between dreams and reality, I tried to convince myself that the sound had been imagined. Yet, as my mind became more aware of its surroundings, I knew that it hadn’t been. Still, the sound had been soft – as if it were coming from outside rather than in the apartment.

  Did I lock the door?

  Although I was sure that I had, I moved from my bed, wanting to double-check. Using my phone’s screen as a flashlight, I made my way through the apartment toward the front door. Still several feet away, I saw that the deadbolt was indeed locked. It didn’t matter. Whoever had caused the thud was already inside.

  Still facing the doorway, I didn’t have time to react to the sound of footsteps behind me. Something heavy hit the back of my head, causing me to fall forward. My phone slid across the floor. I groaned as the pain registered, my mind suddenly fuzzy and my body weak. The intruder quickly pushed me onto my back and moved to straddle my stomach, effectively pinning my arms to my sides. Catching a glimpse of his face, I realized that the intruder was wearing a ski mask. A bright light shone onto my face, causing my eyes to squint.

  “What the fuck?” he questioned, his body above mine going stiff. “You’re the wrong one!”

  I squirmed uncomfortably underneath him, trying to free my arms. “Please don’t hurt me,” I gasped, his weight on my chest making it hard to breathe. “Whatever you want… It’s yours.”

  His fist collided with my cheek. “Shut up,” he growled, his lips near my ear. “You can thank your friend for this.”

  His breath made me nauseous. Or was the force behind his blow the cause? Either way, it made concentration difficult. His fist landed on my cheek again. I wanted to scream, to cry out in pain, but my body was incapable. He had wrapped his left hand around my neck while his right hand delivered the punches. Blow after blow landed on my cheek, too many to keep count. How many until I lost consciousness?

  The shrill sound of my ringtone jolted me awake. My body was wet with sweat though my blankets had been kicked to the floor. The dream – the nightmare – had been recurring almost nightly since the attack. At first it was vague, the details blurred, but each night it became more and more real.

  I sighed and reached for my phone. “Hello,” I answered, trying to keep the grogginess from being evident in my voice.

  “Chelsea Moore?” the woman on the other end of line questioned.

  “This is she,” I replied. Glancing out the window, I realized how late I had slept. The nap had been meant to last an hour or two. The setting sun told me that it had lasted much longer than I had planned. Great! It’s going to take forever to fall asleep tonight!

  “This is Cheryl Hill from Infidelity,” the woman explained.

  “Oh,” I gasped, forcing myself to sit up. “Of course! How are you?”

  “I’m fine, dear,” she said. “I’m calling to let you know that you have been matched.”

  My tummy did a somersault. “Matched?” I asked, my throat suddenly dry.

  “Yes,” she confirmed. “Today is the first day of your one-year agreement. Under normal circumstances, I would ask you to come in to the office to meet your client. However, he insisted on meeting you at your hotel. He will be there shortly to pick you up.”

  “Pick me up?” I echoed, unable to grasp the information.

  “Yes, Miss Moore,” she said, her words clipped. “Your first paycheck will be automatically deposited within a few days. Congratulations on your new companion.”

  The line went dead. Fuck-fuck-fuck! This is really happening!

  I scurried around the hotel room, picking up dirty clothes and throwing them into my suitcase while simultaneously changing into the dress that Mrs. Witt had purchased for me to wear to the Infidelity interview. Though I was still in Palo Alto, I had moved into the hotel after being released from the hospital. I couldn’t bring mysel
f to go back to the apartment. Standing in front of the bathroom mirror, I ran a brush through my blonde hair. Before I was attacked, it had been bright pink, but Mrs. Witt had asked me to dye it a more natural color for my new job. Blonde seemed the least boring.

  As I was applying the last bit of makeup, a knock echoed through the suite. Taking a deep breath to steady my nerves, I smiled. What is it that Alex always says? Let’s get this dog-and-pony show started!

  Keeping the smile plastered on my lips, I walked through the suite and opened the door. Instantly, my lips turned downward. “Alex isn’t here, Bryce,” I sighed. Bryce wasn’t alone. A large man wearing a dark suit stood behind him.

  “I’m not looking for Alexandria. I’m here for you,” Bryce said.

  The thought churned my stomach. “No thanks,” I scoffed, moving to close the door. His foot between the door and the frame stopped my effort. “This isn’t a good time, Bryce.”

  “Not a good time?” he persisted. “Did Miss Hill not inform you of my purchase?”

  “E-excuse me?” I gasped, pure shock causing my hand to drop from the door.

  He took the opportunity to walk into my suite, closing the door behind him and leaving his friend in the hall. “So you see, Miss Moore,” he mocked. “I couldn’t possibly be looking for Alex. I have you.”

  I moved away from him as the words tumbled from my lips. “What? No!” I declared. “No-no-no-no-no! This isn’t right. I wasn’t supposed to… You’re no–”

  “Are you done with your little outburst?” He took a step toward me.

  Straightening my shoulders, I worked to steady my voice. “No, this isn’t happening. I refuse to be your companion.”

  “You refuse?” he sneered. “You signed away your right to refuse.”

  “That’s bullshit!” I began to search for my phone. I needed to call Miss Hill.

  “Are you aware that if you back out of this agreement, you will have to return the payment you received from your interview?”

  I looked up at him, eyes open wide. “T-that’s not true,” I stammered, thinking about the mounting hotel bill. “That money is mine! I-I already spent some of it.”

  “I’m sorry, darling, but that’s what happens when you go back on a contract.” His tone oozed sympathy but his expression seemed amused. Moving across the room, he placed a hand on my arm. I quickly jerked my body away causing his hands to rise in surrender. “Look, I’m a nice guy. I can tell that you're struggling with your decision. You need time to think. I understand that.”

  With a plan forming in my head, I nodded in agreement. “Yes, I need time to think.”

  “And I’ll give it to you,” Bryce glanced at his watch. “I’ll leave you alone with your thoughts for tonight and will return for your decision tomorrow morning.”

  “That's very nice of you,” I replied, wanting to get him out of my hotel room.

  “Until I return, one of my men will be stationed outside of your door. It's for your safety.”

  “You want to make sure I don’t run,” I quipped.

  “As I said, it is for your safety,” he responded, causing a chill to run down my spine.

  Is that a threat?

  “Do not make any phone calls either,” he continued. “Keep the confidentiality agreement in mind. I’ll be here at eight.”

  “See you then,” I said, opening the door for him. As soon as he was gone, I closed the door and secured the chain. Grabbing my phone, I quickly locked myself in the bathroom and turned on the shower. I needed to make sure that the man stationed outside my door wouldn’t hear my conversation. As the phone rang, I paced, willing the tears of anxiety to stay away.

  “Miss Moore?” Deloris answered.

  “What the fuck happened?” I was too upset to censor my language.

  “Calm down, Chelsea. What are you talking about?”

  “You were supposed to get me to Severus!” I yelled. “My new companion just left. Spoiler alert! It’s not Severus.”

  “I don’t understand how this could have happened,” she said calmly. I could hear her typing on her keyboard in the background.

  “Well, it did,” I mumbled. “And you need to fix it. I want out! He said that if I back out of my contract, I would have to repay the money that I received for the interview.”

  She started to reply, “I highly doubt tha–”

  “Oh God,” I interrupted. “Alex is going to hate me. He’s going to tell her and she’s going to hate me!”

  “Slow down. Who is going to tell Alex?”

  “Bryce,” I cried. “He’s my client.”

  “Bryce Spencer?” Her tone registered her shock. “Her ex?”

  “Her ex that used to and maybe still does stalk her! Her ex who her stepdaddy loves and wants her to marry,” I exclaimed. “Yeah! That guy.”

  “Okay,” she said, sighing. “This could be a good thing.”

  “In what fucked-up universe could this be a good thing?”

  “Alex was attacked today,” Deloris explained.

  My pacing stopped. Hell, my heart stopped. “Is she okay? Why didn’t anyone call me?”

  “Yes, both she and Lennox are fine,” she reassured me.

  “Nox?” I questioned, wondering why she included him in that statement.

  “Today, in Central Park, someone fired a shot at either Lennox or Alex. From what I’ve learned, it could be Alex’s family trying to scare her into returning home, but we can’t be sure. Hear me out,” she continued. “What if you go undercover with Mr. Spencer instead of Severus Davis? A person on the inside could help us figure out this attack and any possible future problems.”

  “No, not with Bryce. Alex would hate me.”

  “This could possibly save her life,” she implored.

  My heart twisted. I sat on the edge of the tub and lowered my head to my knees. “What do you want me to do?” I asked quietly, allowing the tears to finally slip down my cheeks.

  “Whatever he tells you to do.”

  Chapter Two

  Standing in front of the bathroom mirror the next morning, I rushed to curl the ends of my hair. I had overslept… again. It seemed to be a continuous cycle lately. The nightmares would cause me to toss and turn most of the night. When morning came, I would either wake too early, causing me to need a nap later in the day, or I would sleep past my alarm and wake too late. My head ached from the lack of sleep.

  After ending the phone call with Mrs. Witt the day before, I had spent a great deal of my time crying. Alex wouldn’t understand. I was sure of it. But it wasn’t only the thought of Alex being angry that scared me. It was what Alex had told me about Bryce, about the accusations that he had committed physical and sexual assault. Did he really do it? Will he hurt me? I knew my outs: the card that Cheryl had given me on the day that she told me my application had been approved, or the card that Deloris had given me when I told her that I would go undercover with Severus Davis.

  Tightening the robe around my body, I walked out of the bathroom. I startled when I saw Bryce sitting on the edge of my bed. “What the hell are you doing?” I screeched, crossing my arms over my chest. “You can’t just walk in here like this! How di–”

  “Actually,” he interrupted, standing to walk over to me. “I can. I currently own you, darling. I can do whatever the hell I want. Or have you decided to renege on our agreement?”

  Though every instinct Mother Nature had given me told me to run, to get out while I still could, I straightened my shoulders and raised my chin. Forcing the words from my mouth, I said, “I have decided to fulfill my contract.”

  “Then drop the robe, Miss Moore.” He smirked, taking a step back. “I would like to admire my new… companion.”

  I worked to keep the look of disgust off of my face. It wasn’t that I was self-conscious – I wasn’t. I felt confident in my body and its ability to impress. However, the thought of Alex’s ex admiring me made me feel ill. Get used to it, Chelsea. He’s going to do a lot more than just look
during the next year. I loosened the sash, allowing the robe to slip down my shoulders and puddle at my feet. His eyes wandered over my body, lingering at my breasts. My jaw clenched as I fought the urge to cover myself.

  “It’ll have to do,” he hummed.

  “Have to do?” I placed a hand on my hip.

  “Well, let’s face it, darling,” he said, smiling. “You’re no Alexandria. I believe a trip to the salon would benefit you.”

  If looks could kill, he would have spontaneously combusted. Ignoring the comment he made about Alexandria, I explained, “I was at the salon right before I interviewed for Infidelity. It’s too soon to go again.”

  “Your appointment is in an hour,” he stated, walking over to my open suitcase. He rifled through it and threw some clothes at me. “Would you like to eat breakfast first?”

  “There is no sense in wasting your money for me to go to the salon when I just went,” I countered, pulling on the clothes that he chose.

  “It won’t be a waste.”

  “Bu–” I started, stopping mid-sentence, my breath hitching when Bryce's eyes met mine.

  “You are forgetting your place, Miss Moore,” he chided. “I bought you. I own you. If I want you to go to the salon, you will go, and you will not argue. Is that understood?”

  “Y-yes,” I stammered, my heart racing. “It’s understood.”

  “And?” he prompted, taking a step toward me.

  I forced a smile to my lips. “And I apologize for arguing with you. It won’t happen again.”

  “We’ll see about that.” He smirked, placing an arm around my shoulder. “Now, let’s get some breakfast.”

  ***

  The look of disgust was becoming harder to hide as I stared at myself in the salon mirror.