Jethro

“NO, FOR THE final time, you’re not coming.” I pushed Nila aside. “You’re not going to be there when I do what needs to be done.”

Her mouth opened to argue, her uninjured arm hugging her broken one. “But—”

“No buts. You’re not coming. No matter what you say. You. Are. Not. Coming.” A sliver of the old me—the arsehole who’d collected her that first night—came back. That shell had long since broken, but it rapidly reformed.

And I let it.

I let it because what I was about to do would test every inch of my condition. It would kill me as much as it would kill Cut because I would feel everything my father would go through. I wouldn’t be able to shut off his emotional screams nor freeze myself from ignoring his thoughts.

I would be with him for every lash.

Nila tried to grab my arm. “Jet—”

Dodging her hold, I pointed a finger in her face. “No, Nila. You’re to stay. Obey for once. Don’t make me ask again.”

“You’re not asking, you’re telling.”

“Goddammit.” I swallowed hard, running a hand through my hair. I hadn’t slept in days, my body hurt all over, and my mind barely functioned from dealing with so much death and agony in the ballroom. Seeing her on her knees with the hood on her face and guillotine above her head—it’d fucking crippled me.

I’d hurt so many people for her. I wore their souls like badges of worthless honour. And yet, she still argued.

I can’t do this.

You have to.

I couldn’t falter now. Not when the end was so close.

All I wanted to do was drag Nila to her quarters, tend to her arm, and fall asleep. I wanted today to be over so tomorrow could banish the past.

But I couldn’t.

I had things to do, and I would not—no matter how much she fucking argued—let Nila be a part of them.

I looked at my sister as she wheeled closer. My eyes shot two messages: Help and don’t argue. My voice sounded like I’d been smoking for decades. “Take Nila to her quarters.”

Jasmine nodded slightly, understanding better than anyone what I was about to do and why I had to do it. Her fingers slinked around Nila’s unbroken wrist.

Nila jerked, trying to free herself. “What? No way.” Managing to shake Jasmine off, she planted one hand on her hip; the other she let hover by her waist, protected by her body.

Her gaze darted between Cut and me. “He’s not worth it. Can’t you see that? He isn’t worth what you’re about to—”

I grabbed her cheeks, rubbing my thumbs over her face. “Nila...shush. I need you to let me do this.”

Tears sprang to her eyes. The diamond collar he’d almost extracted glittered in the false light of the chandeliers.

I forced myself to hide my nerves, soothing her with whispered confidence. “Don’t ask me to stop. It’s what I need to do to fix my family and yours—our very history.”

Tears trickled over my thumbs as she fought my decision. “But—”

“There are no buts, Needle.” Looking at Cut, I hardened my heart toward him. He’d done the right thing in the end. He’d let her go. Nothing had stopped him from killing Nila in front of me. Only his decency and lingering affection for Emma.

When Nila had forgiven him, I thought for sure he would pull the lever. He’d never been good at accepting charity.

But for once, he went against the actions of the man who’d raised me and became a hero. He deserved a fragment of respect for that gallant move.

But he also deserved to pay a very painful toll for every other sin he’d committed.

That was his fate.

And it was my fate to deliver it.

Nila pressed her cheek into my palm, her skin warm beneath my touch. “Kite...I—”

I understood her knotted thoughts and scrambled conclusions. “I know.” My voice was a breath as I kissed her. “I understand your fear, but you have to trust me.”

How many times had I asked her to trust me, only to shatter the trust she bestowed?

I won’t shatter it this time.

I knew what I was doing.

Don’t I?

Nila’s onyx eyes glowed with rebellion, and I steeled myself against yet another argument. I sensed she only wanted to support me. For me to lean on her while I did something so heinous. But I didn’t want to lean on her. I had to do this for me, my siblings, my past and present.

I couldn’t have her there because I didn’t know if I’d be able to carry out the punishment he deserved. I didn’t know if I’d break and crumble and submit to his power like I’d done all my life.

It would be my biggest trial. But I’d try my fucking hardest to make Cut pay.

Dropping my hands from Nila’s cheeks, I stepped back. “Just trust me, okay?”

Kill morphed from the men checking on the wounded, coming toward our tight-knit gathering.

Flaw had fetched his medical equipment and put his healing knowledge to work on those needing immediate attention. I trusted him to arrange help and take those who required more than he was capable of to the hospital without alerting a massacre had just taken place.

Killian had come through for me. He’d waited outside the ballroom where Tex, V, and our team of mercenaries poured in. He had his gun pinpointed on Cut and would’ve pulled the trigger if we hadn’t arrived at that exact moment.

He would’ve saved Nila without a bloodbath, but by doing so, he would’ve stripped me of the right to make my father pay. It’d been risky, barging in and giving Cut the opportunity to murder Nila right before my eyes, but Cut didn’t know everything that I did.

He slipped.

In Africa, I’d felt a slight thawing in him. And today, as we barged in and brought death on our heels, he looked almost...relieved. As if he expected me to show up and was grateful it was over.

I couldn’t understand it. But he couldn’t keep it hidden any longer. He’d finally shown the truth of how tired he was. How tired we all were.

All my life, he’d been a controlling bastard with unattainable ideals and strict rules. I’d maintained my belief that he never liked us, let alone loved us. But there was something more to him. Something I never let myself focus on as it only confused my conclusion of my father.

But I sensed it now. A deeper facet poured from Cut as Kill jerked him from Textile’s arms and pinched his shoulders. My father held a lot of hate and delivered many ruthless requests, but he also held compassion and guilt.

And that guilt had steadily grown more and more dominant the longer Nila lived with us.

That was another reason why I wanted to be alone with him. I wanted to look him in the eye, drop my defences, and truly strip my father of his secrets so I could understand him for the first time in my life.

And that was why I didn’t know if I’d be able to go ahead with what he deserved. because what if I found his secrets redeemed him? What if I felt something that changed twenty-nine years of believing a lie?

“Jethro...” Nila’s voice dragged me back from thoughts and tiredness. My vision wavered, dancing with figments of hallucinations from lack of sleep and stress overload. The hallucinations weren’t anything major, just the odd flutter of a curtain looking like a blackbird or a ripple of sunshine resembling a bumblebee or butterfly.

Innocuous things but non-existent things nevertheless.

Sleep.

I could sleep soon.

Pinching the bridge of my nose, I inhaled deeply. Keep it together. A few more hours and I’ll be free. We’d all be fucking free, and I could rest safely for the first time since I could remember.

The minute this was over, I would visit my brother. I would tell him things were taken care of and it was safe to come home.

I missed him so fucking much.

Time to return, baby brother. 

Time for me to show him I had his back like he’d had mine all my life.

“Kite...I do trust you. But you need to rest.” Nila’s fingers landed on my hand. “Please, whatever you’re thinking of doing, it’s already eating you alive.” Pointing at Cut imprisoned in Kill’s arms, she murmured, “You’ve won. The Debt Inheritance is over. Let the authorities deal with him.”

I chuckled darkly. “Authorities? Nila, we own the authorities. No one would dare testify or incarcerate him. If you want justice, this is the only way.” Cupping her chin, I smeared a strand of cotton from the hood away from her skin. “Trust me when I say this is what needs to happen. Don’t try to stop me again.”

Nila dropped her gaze. Her heart raced, her emotions bubbling like the hot springs beneath the Hall, but she obeyed me. She stepped back, giving me the freedom to leave.

I sighed, thanking her silently.

Cut didn’t say a word—not that he could. The minute he’d submitted to my custody, I’d returned the favour of a reeking rancid gag and duct-taped his mouth closed. His nostrils flared, white hair cascading over his forehead in a tumbled mess.

Daniel was dead. Bonnie would be soon. Cut would be the next to expire.

Nila stepped back as Jasmine wheeled closer to me and grabbed my hand. “I won’t try to stop you, but don’t feel like you have to—”

“Don’t you start, Jaz.”

“I’m only worried about what—”

I laughed coldly. “What it will do to me? Jaz, you know yourself what will happen if I don’t do this. I’ll never forgive myself. He’s delivered enough agony to those we love. Don’t you think it’s time he felt his own medicine?”

Kill didn’t say a word, gripping my father tighter in his arms.

Nila bit her lip, looking down at Jasmine, waiting for her reply.

Jaz sat stiffly in her chair. I let my condition fan stronger, singling her out in the crowd. She felt the same fear Nila did. Fear that I’d never be the same if I did this. Fear that it would forever haunt me.

That might be the case, but I owed this debt. To the miners who’d helped free me. To Kill who’d had my back. To Textile for the death of his wife. To everyone involved in the Debt Inheritance.

I wasn’t doing this for me. I was doing this for them. And it was a sacrifice I was willing to make.

Jaz smiled softly as my eyes met hers. Her emotions quieted, fading into one singular calling: closure.

I nodded, letting her know I understood her conclusion. “Thank you.”

She smoothed the blanket over her useless legs. Legs that’d been payment for me. Disability given by our father who would now answer for his crimes.

Tonight was the night everything ended.

Cut’s life was the full stop on his terrible reign.

Jaz nodded, too. Wordlessly giving me permission and strength. Her eyes narrowed on Cut. “I tried to be the daughter you wanted, but I was never good enough. I hope that thought alone haunts you for eternity.”

Cut’s chest rose with an influx of breath, repentance bright in his gaze.

She didn’t give him forgiveness like Nila had. She’d suffered too much at his hand to be so selfless.

Her switch of fear for me and need for retribution drenched her. She wanted me to do this. She urged me to do this.

Good enough for me.

Cut swallowed, his face glowing, filling with things addressed to his daughter. The scramble of emotions from him smothered me and I deliberated removing his gag to say farewell to Jasmine.

However, my sister decided for me. Her fists wrapped around her wheels, shoving backward and granting space for Killian to move forward.

“Take him.” Her voice hissed. “I don’t want to see him anymore.” Grabbing Nila’s hand, she kept her anchored as Kill stormed forward, carting Cut toward the exit.

Nila’s gaze met mine. I sent a silent message. You understand why?

Her lips twisted, but she nodded. Yes.

“I’ll come find you when it’s done.” Turning my back on Nila’s family and a room full of carnage, I stalked past Kill and snapped my fingers for him to follow.

I didn’t stop to give directions. I trusted the biker president of Pure Corruption would obey. Whatever hierarchy existed, we were on equal footing. Kill knew the terms when he came to help me. I would pay him back for his help. I would honour the agreement we’d made.

Besides, his task was almost over.

While mine is just beginning.

Leaving the room of men, I sucked in a breath. The oxygen helped cleanse my system of thoughts and pain. I did my best to shut out Cut, but I couldn’t completely ignore him.

We were bound together until the end. Blood to blood. Pain to pain. There would be no separating my mind from his until he was dead.

“Jethro—” Nila gave chase, following us out the exit, leaving the guillotine behind.

I spun around just in time for her to launch into my arms. Her black hair glistened like a raven wing. The afternoon sunshine mocked us after the darkness that’d happened in the ballroom.

Kill continued onward, dragging Cut away and granting a small oasis of silence. My arms wrapped around her tightly even though I wanted to push her away.

Her chest rose and fell, her embrace one-armed with her other dangling painfully by her side. “Please, Kite...just stop for a moment and—”

“Nila, you promised.”

“I know, but—” Her eyes met mine, glossing with angry tears. “I’m not going to stop you. I understand. I really do. I just. I needed to—I need...”

My heart overflowed, and I grabbed her. My forehead nudged hers as I bowed over her. “I know what you need.”

My mouth claimed hers and she sighed, melted, positively submitted to my kiss. Her tongue instantly met mine in a tangle of hot desire, invoking pleasure and pain and undeniable passion.

This kiss deleted the last one we’d shared in the mine as she was dragged away. That kiss had been a goodbye. This kiss was a hello. An acknowledgment we soon wouldn’t have to fear tomorrow. That the future was no longer our enemy but our friend. We could be together. Our promise to get married could come true. Our heartbeats unnumbered now we’d won.

Pulling away, I kissed the tip of her nose, her eyelids, her hair. “I’ll be back soon.”

She arched in my hold, peppering my rough cheeks with affection. “I’ll be waiting for you.”

“I know.”

Slipping from my embrace, her gaze travelled past me to Cut. “Do you mind?”

I stiffened but didn’t stop her. “By all means.”

If it granted her closure, who was I to stop her saying goodbye? Cut was no threat. Even if he wasn’t bound and gagged and held by Kill, he wouldn’t run. I knew he’d accepted his fate and would stand regal and defiant until the end.

His almost royal bearing made me proud for a moment. Proud that I came from such strong stock, even if madness ran in his veins. If my condition had prevented me from inheriting his drive for perfection, regardless of what sins he committed, then I was glad.

I wasn’t like my family.

I was unique.

I was me.

And I’d never been more fucking grateful.

Nila padded over to Cut, her bare feet disappearing into the long grass. Kill didn’t speak as she stopped in front of my father. The wind whipped her hair around her jaw, slicing and slicking, looking like oil in the breeze.

“I said before that I forgive you.”

Cut shifted, rolling his shoulders in Kill’s grip.

“I’m not here to take that forgiveness back. I don’t even know why I’m here.” She rubbed her face, trying to re-centre herself. “I guess I wanted to say...be thankful. Your crimes have caught up with you...and I’m there to see it.” Her voice lowered as she looked back up. “I’m here to see you one last time. To know you’re just human. That you were doing what you thought was right, but now you have to pay. We all have to pay, Cut. Nothing is free in this world, and you’ve taken enough from my family that from now on, we’ve paid our dues and deserve happiness. I won’t celebrate your death. I won’t think of you with hate or cruelty. But I will be free of you, and I’ll be happy you’re no longer there to terrorize my lineage.”

Shuffling away, she smiled softly. “May God have mercy on your soul, Bryan Hawk, and for you to find redemption in whatever awaits you.”

Looking at me one last time, she moved back toward the Hall.

V and Tex hugged her, kissed her, then let her go. 

Flaw appeared from the exit, jogging over to Nila and slinging an arm over her shoulders, joining her family. His possession didn’t spark jealousy; if anything, it granted peace knowing she would be cared for and protected while I was gone.

“Thank you, Flaw.” My voice travelled on the gentle wind to the Black Diamond brother. I didn’t know how much war had gone on before our arrival, but he’d managed to enlist over three-quarters of the brothers to fight on our side. I would have to debrief and investigate each member and have them swear new allegiance to me, but for now, Flaw was in charge.

He saluted me casually. “No problem.”

V guarded her while Tex looked dotingly at his children.

Switching his grip on Nila, Flaw relinquished her shoulders in favour of her hand. “I’ll take her to her quarters and make sure she’s fed and rested. Don’t worry about her.”

I smiled in gratitude.

Nila didn’t say a word as Flaw guided her around Hawksridge, leading her toward another entrance and avoiding the nastiness of the ballroom. Tex and V followed, smearing bloody hands on their black trousers.

I would never know if Flaw’s loyalty was because he trusted me or because of his steadfast friendship with Kes. Either way, he was a good man. And his actions today had prevented yet more deaths and helped those injured with his medical help.

Turning my back on the Hall, I moved alongside Kill as he shoved Cut forward, leading us away from prying eyes and looming buildings.

We didn’t talk as we traversed the lawn, circumnavigated the maintenance shed where Cut had given me the salt shaker and told me it was time for the Second Debt, and entered the woods.

Our shoes snapped twigs as we moved deeper into forest darkness.

“You sure you want to do this, Hawk?” Kill’s voice grabbed my attention. He fisted Cut around the back of his neck, shoving him forward. Two of Kill’s men flanked us, morphing from the trees where they’d been watching the Hall.

I appreciated the back-up, but I didn’t want an audience. The minute we arrived at our destination, I would send them away.

I needed to be alone in this.

Looking at the Florida-born president, I nodded. “I know what I’ll have to pay in order to get retribution. But yes, I’m sure.”

Kill grinned. “When the day comes for me to claim vengeance on my own father, I’m taking it. I don’t care how hard it will be to kill flesh and blood or how fucked-up I am afterward. I need closure. I understand you completely.”

I didn’t reply. I had no reason to. He lived the same predicament, and his approval helped fortify my resolve.

In shared brotherhood, we made our way down animal tracks and through clearings, moving ever deeper into the treeline.

The outbuilding I’d decided on existed the furthest from the Hall. This one was hidden—alone with its horrible secrets. A place I’d never been able to enter after what happened to Jasmine, no matter what Cut did to me as a child. No matter the threats and corrections. No matter the curses and pain. I’d never stepped foot into the torture chamber again, boycotting its hateful memories.

Our clothing dappled with leaf stencils, trading sunshine for shadows as we traipsed deeper and deeper. The outbuilding nestled in the woods—swallowed whole by trees doing their best to delete the terrible atrocities.

We kept moving.

Cut didn’t struggle, his breathing loud and uneven around the gag.

More flickering hallucinations played havoc with my vision. Leaves danced, turning briefly into wolves. Bracken crunched, morphing into badgers.

Goddammit, I need to rest.

My hand went to my side. The fever I’d had ever since heading to Africa hadn’t broken or grown worse. If anything, it granted a heightened sense of everything, muddying outside influences, letting me focus entirely on what I wanted. What I needed. But it came with a price. A price of withering energy and health.

Soon.

Soon, I can rest.

Breaking through a final thicket, we stepped into a small glen.

The building loomed tall and ancient. Two stories high with oaks and pine surrounding it in their morbid cage. The double barn doors remained locked with a large padlock.

The key was hidden.

“Wait here.” Leaving the men, I ducked into the woods and searched for the tree I needed. Cut had taken me the night he’d told me of my birthday present and inheritance of Nila. He’d marched me through the darkness, filling my head with tales of what would happen and how proud he was that soon I would show him how worthy I was and finally take the place I was born for.

My eyes searched the green gloom.

Where is it?

It took longer than I wanted, but finally, my strained eyes caught sight of the symbol of a diamond and an outline of hawk wings signalling I’d found the right one.

Climbing a few feet up the coarse bark using gnarly roots and limbs, I found the knot left behind after a branch fell away and reached inside for the packet. Jumping down, I undid the fastening and tossed out the key into my palm.

A few others jangled free, landing with a hint of rusty metal. The extras operated parts of the machinery inside. Machinery I had no intention of using or ever switching on again.

Fisting them, I turned on my heel and stomped out of the brush past Cut, Kill, and his men and toward the brittle barn doors.

My breathing turned harsh as I inserted the key into the tarnished padlock.

The mechanism turned as smoothly as the day the lock was bought, the doors creaking on their frame as I shoved open one partition. The stench of dead rodents and rotting foliage mixed with time-stale dust hit my nose.

Barring the entry with my body, I turned to face Kill.

The biker came forward, delivering my father.

I held out my arm. “Give him to me.”

“You sure?”

“Very sure. I want to be alone for the next part.”

Kill passed over my father without another word. He didn’t try to talk me out of this. He didn’t have any obligation to remind me that this was murder, not revenge. That I would become as bad as those I hated if I went through with this.

Kill was not my brother or my conscience. He’d done all he needed to. His obligations were complete.

Cut didn’t struggle as I latched my fingers around his bound wrists. However, his eyes glowed with golden rage. His emotions poured forth, swamping with hatred and killable fury.

“Are we done?” Kill asked, crossing his arms over his leather jacket. “Will you be okay with your own men or do you want back-up?”

Shoving Cut into the barn, I ran a hand through my hair. “No. That’s it. Your task is finished. You’re free to return home, and I’ll make sure to repay the favour whenever you need.” Holding out my hand, Kill shook it. 

“We’ll wait until you’re done. I’ll station my men at the forest edge, just in case. Once they know you’ve finished, they’ll leave.” He cocked his head, eyeing the building. “How long will you need?”

His question weighted with hidden curiosities he wouldn’t get answers to. What will you do? What’s in there? How badly will he die?

I swallowed, dreading what my night would entail. “Until dark. I need until dark.”

Kill grinned. “Six hours, it is.” Moving away, his large boots created indents in the soft woodland. “Pleasure knowing you, Hawk. I doubt we’ll see each other face-to-face again, but we’ll stay in touch.”

We’d come together for mutual advancement, and now, we would go our separate ways. It was for the best.

I waited for Kill and his men to disappear from the clearing before turning my back and entering the barn.

The moment I traded trees for tomb, I shed all resemblance of who I was.

I left behind my humanity.

I tore Nila from my heart.

I embraced the motherfucking ice my father had taught me.

This would kill me.

But it had to be done.

I stepped into the darkness and prepared to murder.