Chapter 18 #3
“I would never be foolish enough to trust you, but I will leave you with a reminder, somewhere your daughter will never see it, that will hopefully make you think twice next time.”
Ash walked to the lamp and removed the glass cover. He pulled something out of his pocket. A wax seal stamp. He held the metal end of it in the flame and turned it slowly. “It’s probably best if you go home now, Giles.”
Giles shook his head. “I’m staying.”
Ash looked at him for a moment, raising a brow to ask if he was sure. Giles nodded. He wanted to see the man punished.
Ash nodded toward the bed. “Get him on his stomach.”
“No, no, no!” Pelham squealed as Brennan and Allister threw him onto the bed. Allister somehow had both of the man’s hands held behind his neck. Brennan tugged up the nightshirt and gripped both ankles, pinning Pelham in place.
“No!” His voice was muffled against the bed. “Please don’t do this!”
By the time Ash removed the stamp from the flame, it was glowing red. He pressed it into the center of the man’s left buttock. His piercing scream made Giles flinch, but he didn’t look away.
After a few seconds, Ash removed the brand, leaving the unmistakable shape of a raven on the man’s flesh.
He leaned down close to Pelham’s face. “Every time you sit down, I want you to think about all the distress you’ve caused your daughter and her husband.
I want you to remember this night, and know that if you ever hurt either of them again, this pain will pale in comparison to what comes next. ”
Tears poured from the man’s eyes and he nodded frantically. “I’ll never do anything to hurt them again. I swear it.”
The acrid smell of seared flesh made Giles gag. He fled from the room. If he didn’t get some air he was going to be sick all over the floor. He’d never seen anything quite like that. The bawling continued behind him as he descended the stairs. The butler stood at the bottom, looking terrified.
“You’ve nothing to fear, old chap,” Giles assured him as he passed.
Bursting through the front door, he gulped in the cool night air, blowing out long breaths. He braced himself with his hands on his knees, and slowly, his stomach eased.
“You alright?” Ash asked, patting him on the back.
Giles nodded. “Nearly.”
Ash was still utterly unshaken. As if they’d just taken an evening stroll.
“I think you might be even more terrifying than Allister.”
Allister stepped out and closed the door behind them. “That’s why we’re glad to be a part of his team.”
“Why don’t you two go on ahead? Giles and I are going to walk.”
Brennan and Allister wished them both a good night, and left.
“How do you do it, Ash? How are you always so calm and collected, regardless of the circumstances?”
He breathed a long sigh. “It’s a skill I had to learn at a young age, in order to protect myself and those around me.”
“You don’t seem keen to speak of your childhood, so I won’t ask questions. But I’m sorry for whatever you went through.”
Ash shrugged. “It’s all in the past now. Are you sure you’re alright? You look a bit pallid, even in the dark.”
“I’ve never been a part of anything like that before. I’ve never witnessed someone being… tortured. And certainly not in my name.”
“I told you to go home.”
“I know you did. But I’m glad I stayed.” Giles stopped walking and turned toward Ash.
“We need another plan. You and I both know where this is headed. He’s not going to be able to stop himself, regardless of the threats and the pain we cause him.
If we continue with this tit for tat, we’re going to have to kill him, and I can’t let that happen.
Regardless of how worthless her father is, Christina loves him, and I’ve caused her too much pain already. ”
Ash nodded. “I know she does. That’s the only reason he’s still breathing.”
“I’ve given it a lot of thought,” Giles said. “I think perhaps we need to bring him closer so we can keep an eye on him.”
“Allow him to gamble in our club, you mean? So there are no debt collectors?”
“More than that. I think there might be a way to keep him close, let him scratch his itch, and give him a purpose, all in one fell swoop.”
“Make him our inside man at the tables?”
Giles nodded. “Exactly.”
Ash sighed heavily and began walking again. “Let’s let him sit on what we gave him tonight for a week or two. I’ll need to think it over and discuss it with Allister to make sure the risk is low enough.”
Ash walked him all the way to his townhouse. Giles knew it was only because there was no other security with him, but for some reason, he was grateful rather than resentful. “Thank you, Ash. For everything.”
“You don’t need to thank me. You’re family, Giles.” Ash squeezed his shoulder. “Take tomorrow night off. It’s time for you to stop running away from”—he nodded toward the townhouse—“what’s most important.”
Giles looked up at his front door. He didn’t know how to respond to that. He had been running away from her, because he didn’t know how to breach the chasm that had opened between them.
Eventually, he nodded. “Goodnight, Ash.”
When he reached the top of the stairs, he placed his palm against her door and whispered, “I love you, Christina.”