Jethro
GET YOUR FUCKING hands off her.
Don’t touch her.
Let her go.
Leave her alone, goddammit!
Every thought hurricaned around my head, blistering with outrage but not able to spill thanks to the rancid gag inside my mouth.
I wanted to kill him. Motherfucking slice his godforsaken head off his shoulders.
Every inch of me cried with agony—from the gunshot wound to the fever to the pounding headache and potentially cracked ribs from the car crash.
Yet nothing hurt more than listening to Cut deliver the story of Mabel and William—the same tale I’d heard over and over again—and counted down the minutes of when it would be over.
Nila paid attention, rapt beyond her will, absorbing my family’s history.
To hear it for the first time would’ve answered so many of her questions but I had my own about William Hawk.
Along with Owen, I felt most connected with him.
I had documents of when William was inducted into the House of Lords while building Hawksridge.
I had countless notes of his rise to wealth and the ledgers from his ships.
He was the keystone to my family, just like Mabel. He’d managed to deliver our rightful happiness without spilling any more Weaver blood. I liked him. But I hated what’d happened after his time had passed.
Nila struggled in Cut’s control. “I paid the Fourth Debt at the Hall.”
Cut laughed. “You paid one element of it, that’s all. This is the main part and must be completed for the contract to be appeased.”
Snatching her tied wrists, he stroked her tattooed fingertips. “You’ve only earned two tallies. You need two more marks before the Final Debt can be paid.”
Nila snarled, “If you think you can etch your name into my skin, I won’t let you. Jethro’s initials are what I bear. Only he can tally me. Only he can claim me as per the Inheritance rules.”
Cut let her go, tutting under his breath. “As you no doubt have figured out, Ms. Weaver, I’m not exactly playing by those rules any longer.”
Another wash of crippling pain from my headache dulled their voices. My shoulders ached from flipping in the car and my sockets bellowed from being wrenched behind my back.
They continued to argue as I grappled for coherency.
I willed them to continue talking. Every extra stolen minute could help.
Gritting my jaw, I struggled with renewed force. For the past half hour, I’d done everything I could to get free.
My fingernails sawed at the rope; my tongue pushed on the gag. But Cut hadn’t tied me with half-measures. He’d tied and triple tied.
All I achieved was more pain and tiredness. Despite my bitterness and hatred, I’d become helpless. All I could do was sit there like a fucking arsehole while my father tortured Nila with anticipation.
The Fourth Debt.
Originally, the debt ensured ultimate pain and a quick delivery to the Final Debt. Not many would’ve survived for long—especially a few centuries ago when anaesthetic and disinfectant weren’t used. The Fourth Debt was the last to be claimed and the most barbaric.
Missing body parts.
I shuddered, breathing hard through my nose. My innards crawled with what would happen, what Nila would endure, what I would witness.
I have to find a way to stop it.
Thankfully, Nila wouldn’t be subjected to Cut’s surgery skills. Not in this day and age. The debt had evolved a little since then. But it would still be painful. It would still be brutal and cruel.
I twisted in the ropes, wishing for just a small loosening that I could use. But the twine only gathered tighter, rocking the chair legs against the floor as I writhed.
Cut glanced at me, his eyes narrowing. “I’d save your strength, Jethro. You have a new task, remember?”
I threw every inch of hate into my gaze. If only looks could kill. I would’ve ripped his motherfucking head off with one glance.
“Your fate is no longer death.” Cut came toward me, calm and collected. He acted as if this was a business meeting discussing new terms of the estate. “Your destiny is to stay alive, missing her when she’s gone. Forever alone with memories of her death.”
Nila swallowed a cry, her eyes darting to the exit. “That doesn’t have to be the case. He’s your son. I’m in love with him. Let us go and be a father rather than tormentor.” She could run, but her hands remained tied—without her fingers to open doors and arms to defend, she was as trapped as I was.
Cut ducked to my eye level. He hid so much of himself but throughout my childhood, I’d seen parts of him in direct contradiction to the man before me now. Was there any goodness left inside, or was he nothing but a black shadow, a grim reaper of Weaver souls?
Don’t hurt her!
Don’t do this.
He didn’t need words to understand what I begged. If the ropes didn’t lash me to the chair, I’d fall to my knees and plead. I’d give him anything—my life, my future—anything to save Nila from what he would do.
With a smile, he patted me on the head. “Keep your eyes open. Nila agreed to do a certain something for me back at Hawksridge. It’s time to see if she’ll obey.
” Leaning closer, he whispered so Nila wouldn’t hear.
“If she does it, it will rip out your fucking heart but she’ll remain intact.
If she doesn’t, she’ll be loyal to you but will pay the price with pain. ”
Taking a step back, he grinned. “Let’s see what she chooses, shall we?”
I looked directly at Nila. How could I tell her to behave and do whatever Cut asked? How could I tell her to choose between two horrendous things?
Her eyes widened, confusion settling on her face from my scattered questions.
Trying to calm down, I did my best to silently share a message. Do what he asks.
She flinched. Never.
Please.
Don’t ask me to do that.
Her emotions waked around the space, tainting the walls and air. I couldn’t turn my condition off, and I wouldn’t survive feeling Nila’s agony.
My muscles bunched as I struggled harder. I choked on saliva, sucking on the disgusting gag.
Cut placed himself in front of Nila with his back facing me.
I couldn't see.
I can’t see.
I strained to the side, seeking a better vantage, but I couldn’t see around Cut’s large frame.
“Now, you’ve heard the history, so let’s focus on the present.” Cut’s voice echoed in the cave. “But first, you owe me from the dice throw in Hawksridge. I won’t tell you what you’ll avoid if you obey, but I will tell you if you don’t, worse pain than you’ve endured so far will be delivered.”
His hand landed on her cheek, brushing aside glossy black hair. I hated his hands on her. I hated I couldn’t see Nila’s reaction or read her face. I hated, hated, hated he’d already stolen so much from her—her long hair, her happiness...her smile.
She looked nothing like the young seamstress from the runway show nor any hint of the sexy, shy nun in her first text messages.
Together, my father and I had stripped her of everything she’d been and created this new creature. A creature being led to the slaughter.
No!
I growled.
Cut looked over his shoulder, rolling his eyes. “A growl? That’s all you have to say?” His gaze landed on the duct tape over my mouth. “Like I said, Jet. Save your energy. All you need to do is watch.”
I’ll fucking watch.
I’ll watch wolves tear apart your carcass.
I’ll watch demons suck your soul into hell.
My breathing crescendoed until my ribs creaked and my head swam.
Nila trembled in place. Her emotions stuttered, fading a little as she locked down internally. I’d felt it happen to many people. When stress overloaded the system, a human’s natural response was to go quiet. To focus. To numb. To delete every distraction.
I’m here with you, Nila.
I’m with you every step.
Nila’s voice was a blade as she replied, “If I refuse, will you hurt Jethro?”
“No, my son isn’t going to participate in this next part.”
She sniffed. “In that case, you can’t inflict worse pain than I’ve already endured. The day you shot him and I believed he was dead is the worst you can ever do.” Her tone strengthened until it shone with steel. “So do your worst, Cut Hawk, because I can survive you.”
Cut didn’t reply, but his hand lashed out to wrap around her waist. “We’ll see about that.” Jerking her elbow, he spun her around to face away from him. “If that’s how you want to play this.” Letting her go, he pulled out a switchblade from his back pocket.
My heart splattered into my toes.
Stop!
I growled and struggled, but it was no use.
Shit!
Maybe I was wrong. Maybe the Fourth Debt would still include slicing off a limb or appendage. I had to stop him!
Don’t!
Don’t fucking touch her!
With a flick of his wrist, Cut sliced through the rope around Nila’s wrists and spun her around to face him again.
The relief at no blood being drawn layered my shoulders with heavy relief. I slouched, breathing hard, fighting through the thump-thump of my headache.
Thank fuck.
Tucking the knife back into his pocket, he smiled. “Now you’ve had time to think about your lies, Nila, let’s try again. Where is Daniel?”
Black hair flicked as she shook her head. “I’ve already told you. I don’t know.”
“You do know.”
“I don’t.”
Cut gathered her close, wedging her body against his.
“When I find out the truth, you’ll understand I can deliver pain outside of the original debts to be claimed.
” He ran a hand over her chin. “If I find out you’ve hurt or somehow killed my youngest, you’ll wish to God you died in the car crash today. ”
Pacing away, he gathered his temper. His boots scuffed the earthen floor.
My eyes immediately latched with Nila’s. Now Cut’s body didn’t block hers, I shot as much love and pride that I could.
I’m so fucking in love with you.
She smiled sadly. I know.
We’ll get through this.
Her body folded with depression. Her eyes didn’t return a response.
Cut moved behind Nila, folding his arms around her in a rotting embrace. Locking eyes with me, he whispered in Nila’s ear.
I couldn’t hear, but the change in Nila faded her heartbeat by heartbeat.