Chapter 53
CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE
KNOX
Reaper had already warned us to be respectful to Bella before the ladies came back downstairs. It was an unnecessary request, but understandable. We’d be just as cautious with Heather if the tables were turned.
Killian tosses back his whiskey and sets his empty glass on the coffee table.
“What led you to go after him, or did he come after you?”
She glances at Reaper, who nods for her to go ahead and answer.
“He raped the love of my life. Repeatedly. He did not deserve to live. I went after him for what he did to Nico. I didn’t know about Raven or your brother.
Knowing what I know now only cements that I made the right decision.
It didn’t come without consequences, but I have no regrets.
He was a vile monster, undeserving of life. ”
We are all quiet, processing her words until Carter speaks up.
“It’s hard to imagine such a petite woman killing him. He was many things, but weak wasn’t one of them. Would you mind explaining how it happened?”
A growl from Reaper fills the room, sounding like an injured animal, and I know she meant it when she said there were consequences.
She turns to Reaper and presses a hand to his face.
“It’s okay, Nico. It’s in the past, and I think they deserve to know. Wouldn’t you want to?”
He kisses her softly before she turns back to us.
“I charmed the guards into letting me in. I said I was a prostitute he ordered. He knew before I made it inside that I had lied. Long story short, there was a struggle. He hit me on the back with the lead pipe he raped Nico with before also raping me with it. I had a knife in my hand and fought him. The first couple of slashes were superficial wounds until I plunged the blade into his stomach. That’s what killed him. ”
Carter speaks, and his raw voice matches the look on Reaper's face.
“A lead pipe?”
Her eyes show sadness, but for some reason, I think it’s more about her husband than it is her.
“A lead pipe.” She confirms quietly.
Carter looks at Raven and asks, “You too? Did he rape you with the same lead pipe?”
He shakes his head and closes his eyes as he counts out loud. I’m not sure what that’s about, but we wait silently as Bianca squeezes his hand.
He takes a deep breath and exhales slowly before answering Carter's question.
“No, he used his hands. His disgusting dick. My mouth. But not the lead pipe.”
I watch my brother's face as he speaks out loud. It’s filled with pain as he clutches onto Heather.
“Lucky me. I got a combination. He fucked me with everything he could find, but he didn’t stop there. Even when I begged and cried, he never stopped.”
The room is silent aside from Carter's heavy breathing — you could hear a pin drop.
Killian and I stare at each other as we process our brother's words. He said he was never sexually violated, but we now know he was. Somehow this makes our father more of a monster. I don’t know how old the others were, but Carter was a fucking toddler.
A baby. My heart fractures for my brother.
The more we learn, the more it makes sense that he didn’t speak for so long.
There’s trauma, and then there’s what Carter experienced. I don’t even know the word for what our father did to him. It’s more than trauma.
Heather sits perfectly still, likely wanting to give Carter time. All three of the brothers sit across from us, two of them appearing heartbroken for Carter, but Psycho wears the same stoic expression he always does. I don’t think it’s because he doesn’t care. Maybe he has a resting bitch face.
Carter asks him, “Were you?”
Psycho shakes his head.
“No, he never touched me, but I’m older. He didn’t touch Bones or Kage either. I think he went after the youngest ones. Small children are the easiest targets. It’s sick, but it’s true. I was always expected to be the head of the family, so maybe that’s why. I’m not sure.”
Reaper rubs his hands down Bella’s arms. It’s clear that he’s as obsessed with her as we are with Heather.
“Do you have any other questions?”
Carter shakes his head before addressing Bella.
“I wish I had gotten the opportunity for revenge, but I understand why you did it. I’m glad he can’t hurt anyone else.”
Carter is as kind as he is capable of. Since the day we found out Frank was dead, it has gnawed at Carter.
Men like us don’t forgive and forget. If you hurt us, you die.
It’s something my brother needed to heal, but he’ll never get it.
I think it’s why we understand Heather's need for vengeance the way we do.
“Are you okay?” I hear Heather ask Carter, and I’m relieved when he says, “Yes, Little Heathen. I’m fine, but it’s time to go. I need to get out of here.”
She quickly gets to her feet and runs over to hug not only Bianca, but Bella and Hadley too.
“We are going to go. Thank you so much for the yummy dinner.”
Raven and Bianca walk us to the door.
“Don’t forget. Bones will want to see the drawing tomorrow so he can set up extra guards.”
As he opens the door for us, Bianca says, “There’s an office in the guest house. Paper and pens are in the drawer.”
I nod as we walk outside.
“I’ll get it done.”