Deadly Sacrifice

Deadly Sacrifice Sybil Reese Salacious Publishings LLC Copyright Copyright © 2023 by Sybil Reese All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. This is a work of fiction. All names, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, places, and events is purely coincidental. Dedication To my alter ego. You couldn’t write this story because your mother-in-law reads all your books. Yikes... So you created me. Your pen name. Time to let all the dark, nasty, delicious ideas out to play. Trigger Warning This book is part one of a dark why choose bully romance with mature topics that may be triggering for some readers. If you want your book boyfriends to be the hero of the story, this is not that story. (Seriously, even the good one of this trio has some dark moments and a lot to redeem himself for by the end.) These are not nice guys. It’ll be hard to find things to like about them. You may question the female lead’s sanity at times. If you’re still here and you’re ready to dive in, then let me give you the actual triggers. No, Sybil, why are you trying to scare me off? I’m not, but I don’t want a bunch of hate over anything in this book. You can’t say I didn’t thoroughly warn you. If you have any doubts, just turn back now. If you’re getting more and more excited as you read this page… you’re my kind of person. Triggers: Non-con, bullying, violence, murder, kidnapping, death, hazing, torture, sexual harassment, physical abuse, mental illness, side character in an abusive relationship, underage drinking, drug use, stress about body image, neglect/abuse from a parent, past trauma… I think that’s it. But really, if all of that is okay with you, then anything I forgot to mention will probably be fine, too. Book one isn’t high heat. Our FMC Prudence is firmly NOT interested in dating or anything else when she shows up to college. Our MMCs have ulterior motives, and each one has a totally different plan for her. There ARE sex scenes in this book (thank god, right?) but I’d say we’re starting off more with of a slow-burn here, and they mostly all hate each other. The next book will be spicier, don’t worry. Okay, now go enjoy this dark depravity!! Contents 1. Prudence 2. Prudence 3. Asher 4. Prudence 5. Prudence 6. Prudence 7. Creed 8. Prudence 9. Griffin 10. Asher 11. Prudence 12. Prudence 13. Asher 14. Prudence 15. Creed 16. Prudence 17. Prudence 18. Asher 19. Griffin 20. Prudence 21. Prudence 22. Prudence 23. Creed 24. Prudence 25. Prudence 26. Asher 27. Creed 28. Prudence 29. Griffin 30. Prudence 31. Creed 32. Prudence 33. Prudence Author's Note Books by Sybil 1 Prudence Three Years Ago “Where are we going?” I mumble as my eyes sweep over the busy city streets. There’s a growing knot in my stomach, equal parts excitement and dread. Mom seems to be having a good day — she woke me up early with a bright smile and her green eyes full of life for once — but something still feels… off. When she doesn’t answer, I turn my attention away from the window and toward her. My mom’s chestnut hair is washed and brushed, half of it clipped back to keep the curly strands off of her face. Her expression is calm, a small smile gracing her lips. But it’s an act. Her hands are white-knuckling the steering wheel and she keeps shooting her eyes around like she’s expecting someone to be following us. Reaching forward, I hit the off button on the radio, plunging us into a tense silence. “Mom?” I hedge, watching her carefully. “I have school tomorrow… I can’t keep missing. I know you like to take adventures with me but—“ She cuts me a quick glance as she puts a soft hand on my knee. “This is important, baby. They called and told me where to meet them. You’ll see,” she says distractedly as she switches lanes on the freeway without a proper glance. The car we almost hit slams on their brakes and blares the horn, but it’s as if Mom doesn’t notice. On instinct, I grab the ‘oh shit’ handle above my head, fighting against the urge to shut my eyes and pretend I’m not in this car. I guess it’s not a good day for her... “Who called? Where are we—“ “Did you drink your coffee? I left it out for you, did you see? On the counter.” My eyes roll all on their own. We’ve had this discussion countless times, but here we go again. “No, Mom. I didn’t drink the coffee you left out. You can keep filling up a mug for me, and I’ll keep ignoring it. It’s becoming such an exciting game between us,” I drawl. “Prudence Cate,” she grits out, crossing over two lanes at once to get to the right off-ramp. No blinker, no peek at the mirrors, she just goes for it, balls to the fucking wall. If I make it back home in one piece, I’ll be shocked. We get off the freeway, drive down a block, and get right back on. “A cup of coffee every morning opens your mind. You know this! You wouldn’t be so worried right now if you drank it. You’d have heard them calling too. Then we could be excited about this together,” she tells me with a giddiness to her voice. Ah. So them, meaning the voices. For once, I thought maybe… Maybe we could have a normal day. Mom got me out of bed, put together for