Page 68 of Sincerely, Butterfly

“We didn’t think she would run.” Sylas sighs heavily, running a hand through his wet blonde strands. “Why the fuck would she volunteer to do this, go through with it, and not sign the contract? It’s not like we were asking her to sign away her fucking life. Just to keep her mouth shut about what goes on down there. I mean, she would have left with millions for fuck’s sake.”

“Gee. I don’t know. How about we go ask her?” I shove my hands in my pockets. My fingers itch to grab another cigarette. Fuck. I’m going to have to stop by the store before going home to grab another pack.

“Right now is not the time for your smartass remarks.” Jasper snaps.

It’s rare to see him lose control like this. It’s kind of fun to watch. Like a burning train crash.

“How are you not more worried?” Jasper glares at me.

“We did what we were supposed to do. We picked the girl, fucked her, cut her open, collected her blood, and drank it. I played my part. I wasn’t aware that she was going to bolt like a scared little rabbit.” I say dryly. “What do you want me to say? What do you want me to do?”

“Find her!” Jasper snaps.

“Yes, I’ll use my magical powers and do just that.” I roll my eyes.

I’d have to say, I am curious why she ran. From the moment our eyes landed on her, we knew she was the perfect sacrifice for the night.

I’m sure everyone else was just as qualified, if not, it would have been easy to figure that out. But there was something about her.

She came here knowing what she was doing. She wore that little white night gown, looking all sweet and innocent.

It was a lie. She wasn’t the least bit innocent. She came here with a purpose. She wanted to be chosen, and she was. Now, the question is why?

If she didn’t want the money, the number one reason these women volunteer their bodies, then why put herself through all of this and get nothing in the end?

Or, did she get what she wanted, and that's why she ran?

“I don’t think it’s as big of a deal as you're making it out to be,” I tell him.

“You’re joking, right?” Jasper’s eyes widen. “This is a really big fucking deal!”

“No. He’s right.” Sylas stops his pacing and looks at us. “No one sees the contract but us. Each group of men is responsible for their own sacrifice. No one is going to know that she ran off and didn’t sign it. Everyone had already left the room before she did.”

“Even if that's the case, without the contract, what’s keeping her from opening her fucking mouth and telling the world what really goes on within the Brotherhood?” Jasper demands.

“Nothing,” I tell him plainly. “She could do just that. And there's nothing we can do to stop her.”

“And you're just okay with that? What the fuck!” Jasper growls. “Am I the only one who takes any of this seriously?”

“Pretty much.” I shrug. “The only reason why I agreed to continue to have anything to do with the Brotherhood is because I don’t like the idea of someone else taking my position and having more power over me. I stay because I want control. I don’t believe in the god we give these offerings to. I don’t believe that by drinking some girl’s blood, my bank accounts are going to stay filled.”

“You should,” Jasper growls.

“Why is that?” I ask. “My father followed every rule and custom to a T. He fucked the girls, took their blood, and drank that drop every day. And look where it got him. He almost made us lose everything.” I push off the tombstone from where I was perched and take a step toward him. “It’s not what we do down in the catacombs that gives us the wealth and power we have. It’s the way we work at our companies. If you're a bad business person and make bad decisions for the company, no amount of virginal sex and blood is going to fix that. If that was the case, I’d keep all my money to myself and not waste it on paying my employees.”

“You spent the past eight years working toward this. And all for what? Nothing? What's the point if you don’t want to be a part of this?” Jasper demands.

“I was forced into it. My sick, fucked in the head father was thrilled that his young, teenage son was old enough to not only take lives, but have sex with random, strange women. Sure, at the time, I was thrilled to be able to sleep with an older woman. What teenager doesn’t dream of having sex anytime they want? But don’t you think it’s a little fucked up that we didn’t know how old they really were? Sixteen, eighteen, thirty? Who the fuck knows.”

“Don’t act like you don’t enjoy every moment of your life,” Jasper says.

“I didn’t say I didn’t. I’m saying, I was only a part of the Brotherhood because my father forced me. Never have I ever believed in any of it.”

“Then why stay?”

“Because of you. Because of Sylas. Because of my company. You’re my family. My brothers. And the only people who I give acrap about.” With the exception of Callie and Nola. But now is not the time to bring up either of them.

Jasper closes his eyes, taking in a deep breath.