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TRINITY MOVED FORWARD but Gaar grabbed her arm.
“Watch, wait,” he whispered.
She repeated the old mantra in her head. It stilled her body, but not her heart.
Hugh continued on his path and then stepped out of the bushes at the back of the camp. “Tell me yourself.”
Jethro turned, his eyes narrowing as a false smile spread across his face. “Hugh, my brother.”
Two of Jethro’s Guards grabbed Hugh and escorted him to the center of camp
“So, where is she?” Jethro looked around.
“I don’t know. What did you do with her? You had her last.” Hugh’s face was hard with anger.
“Oh, I had her last all right.” Jethro’s eyes gleamed. “But do you really want me to tell you everything I did with her?”
Trinity covered her mouth with her hand, stifling a gasp. He wouldn’t. They didn’t. Gaar’s hand landed on her shoulder, keeping her from moving.
Hugh burst free from the unsuspecting Guards and lunged at Jethro. The boy dodged, but Hugh’s fist grazed Jethro’s jaw before the Guards tossed Hugh to the ground, punching and kicking him.
She lurched forward, but Gaar’s grip tightened, stopping her. She trembled as the Guards continued to kick and hit Hugh. He couldn’t take much more. They were going to kill him. She glanced at Gaar. His face was an angry mask but he remained motionless.
“Enough,” said Jethro, wiping the blood from his lip
The Guards pulled Hugh to his feet.
“Seems like I’ve hit a nerve,” said Jethro.
The Guards’ laughter was a bit strained as they watched the two Almightys.
Jethro walked over to Hugh until they were chest to chest. “I’ll give you one last chance to tell me where she is.”
She unsheathed her knife. If anyone touched Hugh again they’d deal with her.
Gaar grabbed her arm, sliding the knife back into the sheath and shaking his head.
“I don’t know,” said Hugh.
Jethro turned and spun around, punching Hugh in the gut. The blow was fast and hard almost bringing Hugh to his knees.
“I’ll kill him.” Trinity started forward, but Gaar grabbed her arm again.
“Watch. Wait.” Gaar turned her face toward him. “If we need to, we’ll help but only on my lead. Understand? This many trained Guards won’t be easy to kill.”
“We can—”
“Yes, we can take them, but there are others here and they’ll join in.” His eyes bore into hers. “Jackson, who’s injured. Hugh.”
Cold fear swept through her. Hugh was so close. It’d be easy for them to kill him. She nodded. She’d wait. She’d obey.
Jethro punched Hugh again. She glanced at Gaar but he remained as still as the trees.
“Jethro, stop.” Kim started across the camp.
A Guard grabbed her arms.
“Get your hands off her,” yelled Jackson, struggling again with his captors.
“I think you’re lying.” Jethro tipped his head, studying Hugh. “And I think I can make you talk. A good beating loosens the tongue.”
“Don’t do this,” pleaded Kim. “You promised not to hurt him.”
“I promised not to kill him.”
“This is going to kill Mom and I’ll—”
“My flogging didn’t kill her, so I’m sure she’ll get past his. Although, it may make holiday dinners a bit awkward.” Jethro started removing his belt. “Unfortunately, I don’t have a cat-o-nine, but we’ll make do.” He waved his belt. “Hold him up.”
Two Guards each grabbed one of Hugh’s arms, stepping apart. He struggled, throwing his body around but it was useless.
“Keep him still.” Jethro snapped the belt.
Three Guards moved over to help. One grabbed his shoulders and the other two help to hold his arms.
“I was given twenty lashes with the cat-o-nine, but I only have this.” Jethro snapped the belt again. “So to be fair, I guess I’ll have to give you one hundred and eighty lashes.”
Hugh would never survive one hundred and eighty lashes. Trinity didn’t pause to think which must’ve caught Gaar off guard because before she knew it and before Gaar could stop her she was in the camp. “Leave him alone.”
Everyone turned toward her. Several Guards moved forward, surrounding her.
“Damnit, Trinity,” yelled Hugh.
“Little One,” whispered Jethro, then in a louder voice he said, “So, glad you decided to join us.”
Her heart raced frantically as she let the Guards escort her to Jethro. He was furious with her. She could smell the hate wafting off him, but she was furious with him too. All she needed was a moment alone and she’d attack. She could take any Almighty, male or female.
“Mine at last.” Jethro’s hand trembled slightly as he ran the back of his fingers down her cheek.
She shifted her head away from his touch. It was unbearable that she’d once had feelings for this monster.
“Leave her alone.” Hugh broke free from the Guards and ran toward them. He’d only made it a few steps before two Guards tackled him, slamming him into the ground.
“Hugh!” Trinity started for him.
Jethro grabbed her around the waist, lifting her in the air. She kicked, hitting his leg but he only grunted as he put her down and shoved her toward Indy. “Watch her.”
“Let her go. Take me.” Hugh looked up from under the Guards. “I can end this war. You win. Take me.”
Jethro turned, staring down at Hugh. “Don’t offer me what’s already mine. I can take you both.” His eyes met Kim’s. “But I won’t. I’m done with this war. Mom might lose the house, but I...I’m done.” He nodded to the Guard who held his sister. “Let her go.”
Kim hurried over to him. “We won’t lose the house. Davies gave us the deed. You don’t have to do any of this.” She touched his cheek.
He rested his head on her hand for a moment before turning and walking back to Trinity. He stopped in front of her and their eyes met. For a second, his were sad and he reminded her once again of the boy he used to be—kind and lonely—but then the anger returned and he looked over his shoulder at Hugh. “She’s mine. She was raised in my camps and she belongs to me.”
“I don’t belong to you,” she said. “I’m not property.”
“Ah, but by our laws you are.” Jethro stroked her cheek again. “And I can do whatever I want with you.”
“I’ll kill you.” Hugh bucked and thrashed but there was nothing he could do against two Guards.
A Guard screamed and Mirra sauntered into the yard, holding the Guard in the air by his neck, his legs twitching. “Let Little One go.”
“Mirra.” Jethro pulled Trinity away from Indy and to his side. “You, I have no problem capturing and turning over to the authorities for the bounty.”
Mirra bared her teeth and with a flip of the wrist broke the Guard’s neck and dropped him at her feet. “Bah, you no catch Mirra.” Her eyes gleamed as she surveyed the area. “Mirra kill you all.”
Jethro smiled, shoving Trinity at Indy again. “Tie her up and make sure she doesn’t escape.” He waved his hands and at least twenty more Guards moved out of the bushes.
“Sorry about this.” Indy yanked her arms behind her back and started wrapping a rope around her hands.
Not again. She threw herself backward, her claws sinking into the flesh near his groin.
He pushed her away. “Holy Araldo, you almost neutered me!”
“You say that like I should care.” She raced to Mirra.
“You safe. Now, we kill.” Mirra patted her head.
Indy grabbed Jethro’s arm with one hand, his other still covering his private parts. “We should get out of here.”
“We can take the Tracker.” Jethro’s knife was out and he was moving toward Mirra.
“Yeah, but it’ll cost us.” Indy unsheathed his knife, staying by Jethro’s back.
“I’m feeling pretty good today. I think we’ll do okay.” Jethro eyes never left the Tracker.
Mirra stood her ground, flexing her claws. “Stupid prey seek death. Mirra help him find.”
Gaar stepped into the camp. “How do you think you’ll do if you add a Handler to the mix?” He moved over by Mirra and Trinity.
Indy’s jaw dropped and he tugged on Jethro’s shirt. “We need to reconsider...”
“We’ll be fine.” Jethro moved forward.
“Don’t do this.” As much as she hated him, she didn’t want to witness this. Gaar and Mirra would tear him apart but they might get hurt too. There were a lot of Guards.
Nirankan prowled into the camp from the same side that Mirra had. Jethro stopped, snarled and then motioned for his Guards to gather behind him.
“You think you get to walk away from this?” Hugh scrambled to his feet and rushed toward Jethro.
“Yes, but I’d love to gut you first. Mom wouldn’t expect me not to defend myself.” Jethro’s knife glinted in the sunlight.
“I think you’re a little too cocky.” Hugh slowed down, watching for an opening. “By my accounts the tide has just shifted.”
Tatania moved into the camp from the forest followed by another female Handler.
“Then you need to count again,” said Jethro. “I still have your troops in my prison and all the Producers in my camps.”
“But you’re here.” Hugh motioned and as Jackson finished untying the few Guards, Servants and Producers they began to circle around Jethro’s troops.
“Yes, but I left Guards behind with strict orders.” His eyes met Trinity’s. “They’re to kill one Producer every day I’m gone. It’s already taken me three days to get here. I’m sure my Guards have been eating well.”
Trinity’s knife trembled in her hand. She wanted to make him feel what it was like to fear.
“Go then.” Hugh moved over to Trinity and grabbed her arm. “But this isn’t over.”
“No, it isn’t.” Jethro and his Guards backed away.
“We’ll make sure they leave the area,” said Gaar as he and the other Handlers and Trackers followed Jethro and his team.
Trinity took a step toward Gaar, but Hugh kept ahold of her.
“Let go of me.” She’d use her claws if he didn’t let her leave.
“You’re not going anywhere.”
“I’m going to kill him.”
He grabbed her by the shoulders. “Think for once in your life. That’s exactly what he wants.” He shook her, hard. “You!”
“I don’t care.” She shoved him, her claws poking his chest, before she stumbled backward. “I can take care of myself.”
“No. You can’t. Not always.” He reached for her but Jackson grabbed his arm, pulling him back several paces.
“Don’t go.” Kim stepped in front of Trinity. “I know you can take care of yourself, but please...stay.”
“I can’t.” She had to kill Jethro. He’d never leave her alone and that put everyone she loved in danger.
She shoved past Kim but Travis strode up to her, wrapping his arms around her and holding her in place.
“Hugh’s right. If you follow, Jethro will catch you,” said Travis. “You won’t be lucky enough to escape him again.”
“Pack up.” Hugh jerked free from Jackson and stormed toward his tent. “We need to leave as soon as Gaar returns.”
“Let me go.” Her body shook with rage as she struggled in Travis’ grasp.
“Not until you calm down.”
“Please,” she whispered as a tear ran down her cheek.
“Travis.” Kim touched his arm. “It’s okay. Trinity isn’t going to go anywhere, are you?”
Trinity shook her head. She didn’t want to cry. She was afraid she’d never stop.
“Promise,” said Travis.
“I promise.”
He put her down and she hurried to her tent. Travis followed and stood outside her door. She dropped on the cot. Great, now she had her own personal guard to make sure she didn’t do anything foolish. She sat up. She could escape from Travis, but then what? She was still mad but she didn’t think she’d actually be able to kill Jethro and that meant he’d have the advantage. They were right. She was better off staying here.