Brutal King (The Seven Deadly Sinacores #7)

Chapter 20

20

GIDEON

She came to me in the dark, a scared small thing. Terrified and wide-eyed.

I saw the flash of blond hair through the trees from my balcony. At first, I thought she was a figment of my imagination. She bolted from the woods, toward the house, staying as low as possible.

A girl had made it onto the property without being spotted. Made it past the guards Father had set at intervals around the perimeter, and was close enough to the manor that I could see her dirt smudged face.

“Hey!” I called down to her.

She dropped down and glanced around wildly.

“Up here,” I whisper-yelled. “Look up.”

Her eyes found me in the dark balcony and froze.

“You’re not safe here. If the guards see you…” I trail off, unsure of what they’d do.

“No. Please, don’t tell them I’m here. Please.”

“Are you in trouble?”

Nodding, she came closer. She wrapped her skinny arms around herself and shrank a little. “Can I stay here. For a bit?”

I looked out to the trees. “If they find you, Father will have my hide.”

“Please.”

Father’s face entered my mind. He’d be furious. But she seemed so young, younger than even me.

“All right. Wait there.” I snuck her into the house and to my room. Wrapping herself in my blankets, she ate the bread and cheese I brought her as if she hadn’t been fed in days.

“What’s your name?” I asked her.

“Tamberleigh.” She said between bites. “Tamberleigh Johnson.”

“I’m Gideon.”

“Hi, Gideon.” She finished her food and set it aside, then tugged the blankets tighter around herself. “Gideon, please don’t send me away.”

A part of me I hadn’t felt in a long time awakened in that moment. An imprint of some sort that made me want to protect her in spite of the consequences I’d face. Perhaps it was the plea in her eyes, something like I’d seen long ago in my brother, when I was too powerless to hold onto him. Perhaps it’s that he’d be just a bit younger than her now.

“What kind of trouble are you in?”

“I killed a man,” she replied. “He hurt me.” Her voice was so small, I wished she hadn’t had the chance to take his life so that I could.

“You’ll stay with me,” I said. “I’ll keep you safe.”

“Cross your heart and hope to die?”

I dragged my fingers across my chest. “Cross my heart and hope to die.”

“ I ’m sorry.”

I cut a piece of my steak and look at Sofia. “Are you?”

“I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

“Pfft.” I shove the piece in my mouth and chew with renewed frustration.

“I’m not a killer, Gideon.”

“Only because you couldn’t finish the job.” I stab three green beans with my fork. “If I hadn’t managed to push you off, you’d have my blood on your hands right now.”

“I knew I couldn’t. You’re ten time stronger than me. I knew you’d push me off before you perished.”

“I’ve killed people much stronger than me. It’s all about leverage and believe me, you had it.” Fuck. I can still feel the suffocating weight of the pillow on my nose. “You came close to being a murderer, Sofia.”

“Gideon. I’m not like?—”

“You’re not like me. That’s true. Because I’d never kill you. The fact that you’re sitting here eating my damned steak is proof that I’d never hurt you.” I run my hand down my face. Fuck!

Her lips press into a thin line. Then she glances down at her food and sets down her fork, looking as guilty as she is.

After a moment, where she’s breathing hard and swallowing down whatever emotion is rising in her throat, she says, “I don’t know what came over me. I’m sorry.” When I don’t reply, she reaches for my hand. “Gideon. I’m sorry.”

I take a sip of my wine, but say nothing. She stands and comes to stand beside me. I ignore her and she squeezes onto my lap, forcing me to push my chair back.

Her arms wind around my neck and she nuzzles my nose. Big blue eyes peer up at me through long dark lashes. “Forgive me?”

“Why does my absolution mean so much to you?”

“It just does. Say you do.”

“You. Tried. To. Kill. Me. I have a right to be pissed off.”

“Please.” She bites her lower lip and immediately I’m ensnared because when it comes to her, I’m weak. Her hand travels along her collar and then begins to undo her buttons. “Pretty please?”

My gaze is affixed to the movement of her fingers as they work to open her blouse. Creamy skin is exposed and then her pink nipples are in my face and I forget any offense.

“I’ve created a fucking monster.” I swipe my arm across the table and send our dishes flying. She giggles as I toss her onto her back and bury my face in her neck.

Laughter fades into sighs and moans as I finally accept her apology and fuck her until I’ve vanished any traces of resentment.

I forgive her, but I won’t forget. Sofia is a child of the mafia. She was kept safe from the outside world, but they couldn’t protect her from the brutal instincts bred into her. That’s what I’ve awakened.

And it’s a fucking beautiful thing.

It’s midnight and Sofia is completely out. She fell asleep in my bed after our last fuck, and I didn’t want to wake her. If she rouses, she’ll go back to her suite, and I rather like the way she looks in my bed. I like the way she curls up, her hair fanned across her pillow, he lips parting slightly with her gentle breaths.

I especially like being able to roll over and fuck her again whenever I want.

However, tonight I ignore the stirrings in my cock and head down to my study. Vicky has just messaged me with an announcement she thought I’d find interesting.

The nuptials of Peter Deacon from Martha’s Vineyard and Louisa Duran of Boston, to be celebrated this evening at Saint Mary’s.

I was interested, indeed. Louisa is the daughter of Don Fernando Duran. He heads the criminal group called the Boston Mex. But most importantly, she was once engaged to be married to Rowan Kane. Her enemy.

My brother.

There’s a knock on my door and I glance up to see Scarlet standing there. “Can I come in?”

“You’re supposed to call before you come.”

She shrugs. “Vicky sent me the article. Figured you’d want to start with the plans.”

“I do.”

“Want to do it over a bottle of wine and a steak?”

I glance at her, brow arched. “Did you bring any?”

“Wine? Yes. Steak? I kind of hoped you’d make it.”

Of course, the real reason she came was for food. “Let’s move this to the kitchen, shall we?”

I pull out the steaks while she pours us two glasses of red. She tugs out a barstool from under the large island and sits to watch me cook. “So, what are you thinking? Do we stop the wedding before he does?”

“Why would he?”

“Come on, Gideon. Louisa is the love of his life. He’s not going to let her marry some rando. Especially now that his uncles aren’t there to interfere.”

“He’d still have Don Fernando to deal with. I highly doubt he’s going to let his daughter marry the head of the McKenzie gang.”

Scarlet arches a brow. “I don’t know. Rowan might be better at negotiations than his uncles were. Especially if you back him.”

“He won’t want my backing. As far as he knows, I’m the enemy that killed his uncles.”

“You’ll explain it to him.” She sips her wine. “And Louisa can be your olive branch.”

She has a point. “All right. Plan it. I want you and Itsuki there to make sure it goes through without a hitch.”

“I like it,” she says with a grin. “It’s going to be fun.”

“Here,” I set the plate with the steak in front of her. “Rare. Just the way you—” Something in my peripheral catches my attention. I touch my finger to her side and she jumps away in surprise.

“What are you doing?” she demands with great offense.

“What the hell is this?” I lift my fingers and show her the blood on them.

She twists and grimaces as she peers it. “As you know, when I went back for Maisie, Arran stabbed me. Fucker.”

Yes, I’m aware that she was injured on her solo mission to recover Maisie. Arran and Gunner had also showed up to rescue the girl and the encounter ended with Scarlet on the losing side.

“You didn’t get stabbed there. What did you do?”

“Nothing,” she says, taking a step away when I come close. “Just leave me alone. Actually, I should probably go. It’s getting late.”

She attempts to sidestep me, but I’ve always been faster. I snatch her up by the wrist and spin her so that she’s pressed against the counter.

“Let me go!” She kicks me in the shin and shoves me away. She’s got the steak knife grasped firmly in her hand and aimed toward me. “Come near me, and I’ll fuck you up, Gideon.”

I hold my leg, trying not to scream at her, wishing I could strangle her and not regret it. “What have you done?”

“Nothing!” She thrusts her blade, missing my face by an inch.

Taking advantage of her momentum, I throw her against the wall. I pin her to it with my elbow, putting my entire weight into it.

With my free hand, I lift her shirt slightly and catch sight of the many scars she’s made over the years. She calls them notches. A mark for each kill.

My heart sinks as I spot a fresh one. “You promised you’d stopped doing this to yourself.”

“No!” She shoves me off. “You don’t get to tell me I’m fucked in the head. Not when you’re just as fucked up as me.”

“But I don’t hurt myself.”

“Don’t you?”

We glare at each other. It’s me that finally averts my eyes, because it’s impossible to maintain control when I bare much of the blame for her illness. “Let me look at it at least. Make sure it’s not infected.”

“I look at it every day. I promise it’s fine.”

“Hello.” Both Scarlet and I whirl to the feminine voice. Sofia is standing in the doorway, watching us curiously. “I heard screaming.”

“I’m sorry if we woke you,” I say.

“I was already awake. You weren’t in bed.” She glances between us.

I straighten and clear my throat. “Sofia, this is my associate, Scarlet.”

My second in command gives her a winning smile. “Nice to meet you, Sofia.”

“ You’re Scarlet?” Sofia scans the entirety of Scarlet’s person with accusation. “The Scarlet from the balustrade?”

Scarlet’s brows knit together. “Balustrade?”

“Upstairs, on the balcony. There’s a name carved there.”

“Oh. shit, I completely forgot about that.” Scarlet chuckles.

Sofia stares at her, her lips parted, disbelief written all over her face. “You’re… alive.”

“Uh…” Scarlet seems as confused as I am.

“Excuse me.” Sofia storms out.

“What the hell was that about?” Scarlet asks. “Should I feel guilty that I’m living?”

“Eat your steak and go home. We’ll talk later.”

“Sure thing, boss.”

I make to follow Sofia, but pause at the doorway. “I’m not letting this go, Scar. If I see another cut?—”

“You won’t.”

Fisting my hands, I nod. She’s made this promise before, but breaks it every time.

I chase after Sofia. She’s already on the second level and going higher by the second.

“Stop,” I call to her, but she ignores me, putting more speed into her step. “Sofia!”

She’s gone by the time I reach the third floor. I go to her room, but she isn’t there. Then I remember what she said. The Scarlet from the balustrade .

I reverse course and find her in the room that was once mine. She’s standing beyond the French doors, on the balcony, her gaze affixed on the balustrade.

Stopping beside her, I peer at her finger as she traces something carved into the cement. Scarlet Was Here . Tears drop onto the words and I look up to see her crying.

“For a moment, I thought you were jealous,” I say. “But it’s not that at all, is it?”

She sniffs. “She was my friend.”

“Scarlet?”

“I thought…” She shakes her head. “I thought she was a ghost in this house. That you killed her and her ghost lingered. I’m such a fool!”

I chuckle. “As much as I’d love to strangle her sometimes, I could never kill her.”

“Then who is she? Why did she carve her name? She wanted someone to know she’d lived. She didn’t want to be forgotten!”

Leaning over the rail, I peer out into the darkness. How much do I tell her? Does it matter if I tell her the whole of it? Will it give her something to use against me if she knows?

“Scarlet is my sister, Sofia. Not blood, but made. I took her in when she was fifteen and I was eighteen. But my father was still alive and he would never have accepted her.”

“Why?”

“Because family is vulnerability. You know that.”

She nods. “Like I am to Luca.”

“Yes.” I reach over and wipe the tears from her cheeks. “You’re not a fool, Sofia. Scarlet was hunted. She lived in hiding for a long time.”

“You said you took her in?”

“Mmm.” I decide it worth the risk if it means erasing some of the hurt from her eyes. She had an idea of who Scarlet was, and I’ve somehow robbed her of it.

I tell her about the night that Scarlet arrived, beaten and with fresh lash wounds on her back. Of how the police had been searching for her after she killed her adoptive father who physically abused her.

My father had been on a long trip and I’d been alone. But the staff were still here and they’d give her away in a heartbeat. So I hid her to keep her safe.

I tell her how I became her protector and she was the sibling I’d needed. How I renamed her Scarlet, not for the marks on her back, but for the fire and courage she possessed even at such a young age.

At first, I confined Scarlet to my room. But as her back healed and she regained her strength, I showed her the way to remain out of sight by using the passages built into the walls.

“Secret passages?” Sofia asks. “So that’s how you got into my room. It wasn’t a dream. You were there!”

“I was,” I admit, though I hate to give way my advantage.

“How do you get in?”

“I’ll show you, if you’d like. But you must promise not to use them on your own. They’re quite extensive and even I get lost. Scarlet is the only one who can navigate them well enough.”

Sofia clasps her hands and stares out in silence for a long while as she processes what I’ve told her. Then, she shifts her attention back to the carved name. “Did your father ever find out about her?”

“He did.”

“What happened.”

Suddenly, the past becomes unbearable and I shut the door to the memories. “He taught me a lesson,” I say. “One I learned very well.”