Brutal King (The Seven Deadly Sinacores #7)

Chapter 26

26

GIDEON

I remained by Shiloh’s side, staring at her unseeing eyes, stroking her cold neck. Even when the rain started, I stayed.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I’m sorry. I’m…” Over and over I repeated the words, praying that she could somehow hear me.

She’d been loyal to me and I betrayed her in the worst way.

When I finally returned to the manor, I found Father in the dining room.

“Come,” he ordered.

I glanced at him, but did not speak. I could not keep my gaze on him for more than a split-second. This man that I’d respected and loved had made me do something monstrous.

“You’re angry with me,” he said when I did not move from my spot. He set his napkin down and let out a long breath. “But you will thank me one day. Because one day, Gideon, it will not be a horse you must sacrifice.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Go. See your pet. But understand that as long as she remains with you, she will be your vulnerability. If you are not careful, she can cost you more than you’re willing to pay.”

“ I always wondered what the inside of Briar House looked like,” I say when the mask over my head is removed. I look around, then focus on Luca and Carina who are standing near the single steel door. “Kind of drab.”

“You’re in the hold, idiot,” Luca says.

“Still, it wouldn’t hurt to add some art. Liven up these walls. I have a dealer. Name’s Jackson Shaw. Owns The S Gallery in Jersey. You might have heard of him. Ah, Noah, so nice to see you again.” As I’m talking, Noah Esposito steps inside.

He pauses at the mention of his father-in-law’s name. “Whatever business you had with Jackson is long over.” He rolls up the sleeves of his blue dress shirt.

Chuckling, I ask, “Are you getting ready to fight me?”

Noah, who can’t crack a smile to save his damned life, doesn’t reply. He drops a bag onto the table, then goes to stand beside Luca, still silent and moody.

Carina pushes off the wall she’s been leaning against. “No one is here to beat you up. We just want to talk.”

I shift my attention to her and give her a charming smile. “Carina. You’re as lovely as I remember.” Luca practically gnarls and I laugh. “Relax, Luke. I already have a girl. And Sofia is a jealous little thing.”

“Asshole!” He lunges for me, but Noah catches him before he strikes.

“Can you please stop provoking him?!” Carina yells at me.

“Can’t help it. It’s fun.”

Carina motions for them to move away. Then, she sits across the table from me. “What can we give you in trade for Sofia?”

I sober. “Nothing.”

Her mouth pulls into a tight line. “I’m trying compromise.”

“You have me tied up to a chair in a house surrounded by your men. What kind of compromise could we possibly come up with? I tell you where she is, you put a bullet in my head.”

“Well, you do have a proclivity to killing us,” Luca interjects.

“We’ve gone through a lot of trouble to get you here,” Carina tells me. “You’ve lost men, we have lost men. How about we try to lessen the casualties this time?”

“What do you suggest?” I ask.

“A truce. Tell us where she is. We get Sofia, you go home. Our fighting can resume.”

I tilt my head and study her. “You’re the one that put the tracker on the gun. You knew I’d take Scarlet back to safety, even if it meant her boyfriend had to tag along.”

She gives me a sweet smile that’s actually scary. “I had a hunch she was your soft spot.”

“Damn those pesky vulnerabilities.” I grin at her.

“Family.” She nods. “I’d do anything for mine.”

As would I.

Luca slams his fist into the table. “Tell me where she is!”

“Damn. I’ve never seen anyone so angry. You should really consider seeing someone about that.” It’s just a suggestion, but he turns a deep shade of red.

“Give me your gun, Hansen,” Luca demands from his head of security. “I’m just going to fucking get it over with.”

“No.” Carina grasps Luca’s wrist. “We didn’t do all this to lose our chance to find Sofia.” She stands and moves toward the door. “We are done with games. It’s clear to me you’re not willing to negotiate. I think it’s time for a different tactic.”

Luca gives me a grin so evil, it puts mine to shame. “You’re going to wish she’d let me kill you,” he says and leaves behind his wife.

Five guards come in and close the door. They go to stand at intervals around the room.

“All this, just for me?” I’m flattered that they think I’m strong enough to tear through the ropes holding me and would need five dudes to keep me down. Guess it won’t hurt to try.

Noah sighs as he moves closer to me, as if I’m going to be hard work and he’s not in the mood. “Guess now you’ll know why I rolled up my sleeves.”

From the bag he left on the table, he begins to tug out tools. Surgeon’s tools, if I’m not mistaken. Not modern day ones, mind you. More like, something out of the middle ages.

“Ah, I’m having surgery today,” I remark. “Seems a little unsanitary in a place like this.”

“I’m not worried about infections,” Noah says. “All I care about is prolonging the pain. Unless, you happen to tell me where Sofia is. Then, it can be over quickly.”

“Just promise me one thing,” I say as he slides brass knuckles over his fingers.

“What?” he growls.

“That you’ll make it hurt real good.” I wink at him.

“With pleasure.” That’s the last thing I hear before my ears ring from the impact of his fist to my temple.

I’m not sure how many hours have passed. Or is it days? I’ve lost track. But these fuckers don’t give up, and neither can I.

“Where. Is. She?” Luca asks for the millionth time.

“King.” I cough with my head bent low. Blood sprays onto my lap, covering my expensive gray slacks in crimson. “King.”

“What the fuck does that mean? What is king?” Luca leans in slightly, enough that he blocks the incandescent light from the overhead lamp.

I lift my one good eye to the man standing in front of me and grin at the annoyance on his face. “Not what. Who.”

He sharpens his gaze on me, as if by doing so he’ll be able to dig up the thoughts in my mind. “Who is King?”

“I’m glad you asked.” I force myself to remain steady, to ignore the throbbing in my temples and ringing in my ears. “Me. I am king. And your sister is my ransom.”

Luca smirks. “Fine. I’ll trade your sorry ass for her. Now, tell me where she is.”

“I never said I’d trade.” I cough again and grimace. Fuck, I may have a broken rib or two. “I just said she’s my ransom.”

Scowling intensely, he asks, “The fuck does that mean?”

“It means, she’s locked away in my castle and I’m her only keeper. And if you kill me, she dies too.”

The full meaning seems to dawn on him and terror fills his gaze. “You’re lying.”

“Perhaps. Perhaps not. The question is, are you a gambling man? Are you willing to take the risk?”

“Wait!” He raises a hand to stop Noah before his knuckles make contact with my face. “Wait.”

“You can’t believe him. He’s bluffing,” Noah tells him.

Luca stares me down as I’m sure he imagines putting a bullet between my eyes. His jaw tenses and the veins in his forehead bulge.

It makes me smile to see him so distressed.

“Change of plans,” he says.

“What? You don’t want to play anymore?” I tease.

“Luca, you can’t be serious.” Noah points a finger at me. “If we let him go, we’ll never be free.”

“Ooh, I don’t envy your predicament,” I say with glee.

“Shut the fuck up,” Luca hisses.

“He’s right, you know,” I continue. “If you let me go, I’ll be a thorn in his side until he gives up.” Noah glowers at me and I laugh. “Don’t worry. There’s enough of me to go around. I’m good at multi-tasking. I’ll harass Arran too. But Sofia will be alive. So, what will it be?”

“Ignore him,” Luca says to Noah. “Come with me.”

They leave me without another word. Not even a backward glance.

“Don’t take too long,” I say to their retreating backs.

A long while later, the steel door to the hold opens again. This time, it’s Rowan that walks in.

I’m hallucinating, obviously. The beatings have taken their toll. I smile anyway. “Come to keep me company?”

Luca steps in behind him. “You have five minutes.” He looks at me and growls. “If you’re still on my property, I’ll fucking kill you both.”

Rowan hurries to me and begins to tear into the ropes binding my wrists with his blade. “You’ve really fucked us both, Dionne.”

“What? Why?” I ask, confused. My hands come apart and pain instantly shoots up my arms. “Fuck!”

“I’ll explain in the car.” He goes to work on my legs, moving quickly. When he’s done, he grabs me roughly and tugs me upward.

“Fuck. Fuck!” I nearly double over as I’m hit with a wave of nausea.

“Come on. We don’t have time.” He throws my limp arm around his shoulders and half carries, half drags me out of the room.

“Bye everyone,” I say to the guards staring at us. To Rowan, I say, “You’re actually here?”

He gives me a side glance. “What the hell else was I supposed to do?”

Somehow, he’s able to get me up the stairs and through the house. Luca and Carina are standing near the entrance. Luca comes close and grinds through his teeth, “Remember our deal, Rowan.”

But my brother ignores him, getting me past the front door and to the car waiting beneath the portico. He helps me into the passenger side of the black sedan. I drop inside with a grimace.

Just as we pull away, Luca comes out to give us one last glare.

“What deal did you make?” I ask Rowan. “Don’t tell me you sold my soul to the devil.”

“Not yours.”

“Whose?” I sit up and narrow my eyes on him.

“Mine.”