For Love Alone

Episode Two

“Why?!”

Achilles stepped in close to me, his colder-than-death eyes looked me up and down like I was s**t on the bottom of his cheapest shoes. “Why, Layne? Why don’t you answer that little question for us? Like, why did you think it would be funny to share our private moments with the f*****g academy? Or better yet, why are you such a f*****g w***e!”

Shock had me motionless. All I could do was just stare.

I’d seen Achilles death stare directed at others, but never at me. I watched as his anger melted and was replaced by shear disgust. He addressed Judy, but his eyes remained trained on me. “I suggest you get her out of here before we make an example out of her in front of the whole f*****g class.” Watching him cut his eyes away, like he could no longer stand the sight of me.

“Wait, I…” I tried to move forward, but suddenly that nagging pain in my lower belly began to really burn, and I bent slightly over to ease the pain. I fought back the rip tide of pain to try to be one of the boys. I needed to know what they were talking about. Share their intimate moments with the Academy? I would never… “Is that f*****g blood?” This comment is coming from some nearby party girl. The amusement in her voice quickly drew the attention of others around her. I heard titters first, and then they morphed into full-on laughter. Blood? I thought

absently as I looked at Judy, but she was looking down. I followed her gaze down the front of my blue baby doll dress. Just after the mid-thigh hem, bright flecks of blood smeared my thighs. The pain ratcheted harder, but it dimmed in comparison to Achilles’s heart-crushing words. “Let’s go, Lay. Please.” I looked up at Judy’s face. Her soft blue eyes pleaded with me, worry bending her brow.

“Wow, disgusting! I guess that’s what happens when you take nine c***s in one night.” The sharp, harpy screeching laughter echoed across the room. Further laughter ensued. My eyes flicked to Achilles, but he was already walking away. What he said next cut me to pieces.

“We broke her in pretty good, but we did get to play with that round ass of hers. Looks like the Lacrosse team really broke her in. Anybody else who wants to turn is welcome. We’re done with her.” The room burst with raucous laughter, and the music cranked up until the windows shook. Judy yanked me hard out of the door and dragged me stumbling down stone steps. Numbness iced through my veins like morning frost. Even the nagging pain in my belly seemed to dim. I vaguely felt the hustle to Judy's car. I felt little when she buckled me into the seat. I was completely adrift when I still heard laughter banging out from the party.

As Judy began to pull away from the curb, I looked up to see Miller standing tall and silent in the doorway. His deep eyes watched me as If he wanted to come down the stares but then he shook his head and turned back through the doorway, his tall frame disappearing into the sea of bodies inside. My heart broke again and shattered into pieces. I looked down at my lap, half expecting to see those shattered pieces, but instead I saw blood. Lots of blood. “Um, Judes…”My lips felt dry, and my throat felt tight. My words must

have sounded strangled. “Don’t worry, Lay, we’ll get you home. I think we should do a little field trip, you know. How about Paris or Morocco? “. I heard a string of words coming out of her mouth but none of them were making sense. She even had this weird forced smile on her face. Like if she smiled hard enough, everything would be okay. “Judes…” I tried again, but I couldn't seem to make my lips work right.

Suddenly, a wave of cold enveloped me, and I began to shiver. “Don’t worry about any of that s**t tonight. You are well rid of those assholes. They have been users as long as I’ve known them. Pricks and users. Yes, all users.” Why was Judy still f*****g rambling? “Judy!” This time, I managed a yell. My throat constricts with the effort. “Jesus! What?!”My body jerked as Judy suddenly hit the brakes. She turned to look at me, and immediately I saw her eyes widen in complete horror.

“Oh my God, Lay! We gotta get you to a hospital!” Hospital? I looked past the slightly raised hem of my dress. The gray plush seat beneath me had turned black. I reached down to touch it, and my fingers came away coated in blood. “Yeah…think I should.

Then the world went black.

Layne

Chapter 1

Present Day

Cohen

Will you slow down!' My bark of laughter came off a little unhinged, but I gave zero f***s. The deep engine rumble of the Bugatti W16 Mistral vibrated through the matte black steering wheel like a wet dream. If it weren't for the fact that I'd just had meaningless s*x in the back seat of this monster thirty minutes ago, I would have actually become aroused over the sheer vibrations alone. A sudden turn appeared ahead, and I smoothly turned into it with the practiced ease of an Indy 500 pro. The high-pitched squeak coming from the passenger seat made me chuckle. Janet or Jackie? f**k if I could remember her name. I forgot it as soon as I nutted.

I floored the accelerator, the engine's roar filling me with primal satisfaction.

The road ahead was a blur as I pushed the car to its limits, the speed a welcome distraction from the mundane reality of my life. The woman beside me, a mere accessory to the thrill of the drive, clutched her seat belt, her wide eyes reflecting a mixture of fear and excitement. Her name, whatever it was, held no importance to me. She was just another conquest, another notch on the bedpost of my Bugatti. As we hurtled down the highway, the wind whipping through the open top, I felt a sense of freedom. The world around me melted away, and all that existed was the raw power of the engine and the rush of adrenaline coursing through my veins. I lived for these moments, where the only thing that mattered was the thrill of the drive and the satisfaction of my own desires. The road ahead twisted and turned, a challenge I embraced.

With each curve, I felt more alive, more connected to the machine beneath me. The woman's squeals had long faded into the background, her presence forgotten as I lost myself in the pure, unadulterated joy of speed. This was my sanctuary, my escape from the monotony of daily life. There was only one feeling that even compared to this. As soon as the thought crept to the service, I shut it down before it could fully form. I won't think about her, I told myself furiously. A fresh and familiar stab of pain pulsed in my chest, and my foot pressed down on the accelerator.

"Slow down! Please," I cast a careless glance at the chick gripping the passenger door like a lifeline. Streaks of

mascara ran in rivulets down her cheeks. The look had been sexy when her eyes had run from choking on his c**k, but now, not so much. A wave of disgust filled me. I needed to drop her somewhere quickly, fast, and in a hurry. Our little tryst was over, and now I was bored. When I got bored, I was dangerous. I regretted asking her to come along with me to The Castle. The guys were likely going to kill me for dragging one of my one-night stands to one of our "oh so important" meetings.

I snorted sardonically. When Achilles called, we all came running like little bitches. In college, it had been kind of cool, I had to admit. The Kings of Lowell Academy! What bullshit!

I pulled over abruptly, the tires screeching in protest as the car came to a stop. The sudden halt sent the woman in the passenger seat lurching forward, a fresh wave of panic washing over her face. I ignored her, popping the door open and stepping out. The cool evening air hit me, a welcome change from the stuffy interior of the car. I stretched my eyes, scanning the familiar surroundings. We were at The Castle, the secluded mansion that served as our headquarters. I smirked at the memory of past exploits and the debauchery these walls had witnessed. The passenger door opened, and she clamored out, her steps unsteady. Her eyes darted around, taking in the grandeur of the mansion. "Where are we?" she asked, her voice shaking. I turned to face her, my expression cold. "You're at the end of the road, sweetheart," I replied, my tone dismissive. Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out a wad of cash and tossed it in her direction. "This is where we part ways. Call yourself an Uber." Her eyes widened, and she reached out, her hand grasping at my arm.

"But I thought—" "You thought wrong," I cut her off, my voice hard. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have business to attend to." I strode away, leaving her standing there, her mouth open in shock. Just as I reached the main doors, a flurry of shrieking curses followed behind me. As I approached the grand entrance of The Castle, my stride purposeful, I felt a sense of dread and anticipation. Achilles hadn't called one of these little get-togethers in months. The guys would be waiting, and I knew the real "fun" was about to begin. Whatever lay ahead, I was ready for it. After all, life in the fast lane was the only way I knew how to live.

Nothing mattered anyway. Not since her. I gritted my teeth against the painful buzz that hummed in my chest. I yearned for something, anything to quiet the memories hovering in my mind, ready to pounce and eat me alive. Part of me wanted to climb right back in my car and f**k off to parts unknown.

Huge wood and brass double medieval doors swung open with well-worn precision, revealing Stanley "The Stan."

Whitaker. His stiff, well-dressed figure was resplendent in his usual black and white butler gear. I honestly don't remember him wearing anything else in all the years I'd known him. According to Achilles, that butler had been with his family as long as he could remember. In one of his best friend's few vulnerable moments, he'd said," Stanley is more of a parent than my parents." I will never forget the forlorn look on 13-year-old Achilles's face.

I greeted the butler with a genuine smile.