Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
KILLIAN
The sun is still rising when Heather stirs, we all agreed not to wake her because she needs her rest.
Her eyes pop open, she looks around, and jumps to her feet, instantly panicking.
“Where is he?” she asks, looking around, her eyes wide.
“Baby, calm down. He’s still tied to the tree.”
“Carter!” she screams at me.
“Tesoro. He went to get you coffee.”
“Oh.” She visibly relaxes.
“I had a terrible nightmare and I thought-”
Shaking her head, she blows out a breath.
“Never mind.”
I pull her into my arms as Knox comes over and rubs circles on her back.
The nightmares have seemingly gotten better, but she still has them from time to time. We don’t know if it’s about Noah or Jedediah because she won’t talk about it. Although, she does write in her journal, so at least she’s getting it out in some way.
“I’m fine. Thank you.”
She spots Carter walking across the field with a tray of coffees in one hand and food in the other.
Her smile for him is ear-to-ear, as his is for her. Once he’s close enough, he hands her a cup of coffee first.
“My hero.”
My brother beams like he just won the fucking Olympics. But that’s just the effect this woman has on all of us. Giving her things she’s never had has become our obsession. Even if it’s something as insignificant as a cup of coffee.
I can hardly wait to see her reaction when we put a massive diamond on her finger. The three of us have discussed it, but we need to find out how she’d react first. One thing is certain.
She’s ours. Permanently.
Carter hands Knox and I our coffee before giving each of us a bagel with eggs and bacon. Heather scrunches up her nose at the eggs, and Carter flashes her a glare.
“You will eat it. You need the protein.”
“Carter.”
“Little Heathen. There isn’t much around here. I did the best I could. I’ve aged twenty years worrying about you. Please eat. For me.”
She takes a bite, and after she swallows, stares at him, her eyes filled with emotion.
“Anything for you.”
Carter glances over at the tree with an arched brow.
“Shit. Is he dead?”
I take a bite of my food and swallow before answering my brother.
“No. He wakes every once in a while to groan about the pain.”
Once Heather finishes eating, she grabs the barbecue lighter along with the torch and walks over to him. Carter and Knox compiled the list of supplies she wanted. It was a long list but what she wants she will always get.
“Good morning, Gabriel.”
She lights the lighter and holds it to the Morte tattoo on his cheek, and he instantly howls in pain as he shakes his head back and forth.
“Fuck. Would you stop! I’m s-sorry.”
She steps back and tilts her head as she glares at him. I swear I can see fire in her eyes.
“You have to be obedient, Gabriel. Do you want into the Kingdom of Heaven? Only obedient girls go there. The ungodly burn in Hell.”
“I’m not a fucking girl. I’m a man.” He yells, spit flying out of his mouth, his face reddening.
“You aren’t a man. Men don’t rape little girls. They protect them.”
Glancing over her shoulder at us, her eyes soften as she smiles sweetly.
“Would one of you men hold his chin for me?”
Knox walks over and places his hand under his chin, holding him in a firm grip.
Heather moves closer again and places the lighter against the tattoo.
“I don’t have a branding iron, so this will have to do. Do you know how it feels when you're branded? Physically? Let me tell you. It’s like being set on fire. So when you wonder, why is she doing this to me? You’ll have your answer.”
She lights it and holds the flame to his face.
“Why are you using the lighter instead of the torch, Tesoro?”
She glances at Knox with a sinful smile on her lips.
“The torch would kill him quicker. This way it hurts, but I can prolong it. I like the way he cries for me. I want to hear more of it.”
“You’re a sick, twisted bitch.”
She moves the lighter to his nipple, and he screams as the hair on his chest singes.
“Have you ever wondered if children are born evil? I held my niece last night, and I could tell she was pure. There’s no evil in her.
I, too, started out that way. Until the Prophet and the rest of you destroyed all the goodness inside me and made me this way.
Monsters aren’t born, Gabriel. They are made.
You did this. You created the monster that will end your pathetic life. ”
I fucking hate hearing her talk about herself like this, but I stay silent and let her torture her abuser.
Squatting down on his side, she glances at Carter.
“Torch, please.”
He hands it to her, and she smiles.
“This might hurt. Just a bit.”
All three of us groan in disgust when he pisses all over his leg.
She turns to me, a puzzled expression on her face.
“How quick will he burn? I want to hurt him but I don’t want him to catch on fire, yet.”
I can’t help the smile on my face because he deserves this pain. No amount of anguish could ever be enough. He’d always deserve more but the way he trembles as he watches her is beautiful. I’ve always been a bit of a fan of revenge. Giving people what they gave is rewarding.
Our girl is a fucking savage.
Heather giggles, a sound straight out of a horror movie, it’s sweet, but sounds fucking crazy.
“Well, Gabriel, I guess we can find out together.”
The flame touches his skin and the blistering is immediate and then his flesh begins to break and we can see bone.
As visually disturbing as some might find this, it’s nothing compared to the sounds coming from his throat.
I’m sure he wishes he had died during the fight. It was a much easier way to go.
She turns to Carter and smiles at him, it’s not a genuine one, more pissed off and sadistic.
“I don’t think he deserves to look at me anymore. Do you agree?”
Knox and I exchange a glance because we both know what’s coming next.