CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE DAMON
CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE
DAMON
PAST
TEN YEARS AGO
Idrag the blade along his thigh, drawing shallow cuts into his bare skin.
Some think deep cuts bring the most pain, but it’s the small ones that are far more effective, and your subject is less likely to pass out from blood loss.
Soft sobs come from behind me, but I can’t look at her.
I was confident her tears wouldn’t affect me when I stepped in here three hours ago, but every whimper cuts at my heart the same way I do her father’s body.
Thankfully, I’ve mastered a mask of indifference over the years. Ever since that night on the lawn when I had to stare into her eyes and see myself for the first time.
A monster.
That’s what I became that night, and with every day that passes, more of my humanity fades away as if it never existed in the first place.
“I don’t know anything!” he hisses. “I wouldn’t risk my daughter and wife just to protect someone who betrayed us!”
I want to believe him. Really I do. But my father won’t take that as an answer. We either get the information he wants, or all three of them will die in here.
That time crunch we’re on doesn’t help matters, because if Ronan comes back and Chloe’s still tied up down here, he’s going to flip his fucking lid.
I’d rather not resort to hurting Iris or their daughter, but I will if I have to.
I won’t disappoint my father, not when I’m so close to taking his throne.
Shrugging, I continue with light cuts. It’ll hurt like hell when I dump hot water across his lap shortly, and part of me is looking forward to hearing him scream, even if it’s just to drown out Chloe’s cries for a moment.
Ralph, one of my father’s most trusted men and yet the one I trust the least, steps into the room, eyes tracking over the scene playing out in front of him.
It’s been just me down here the last hour, and it’s been nice to have the freedom to work without interruptions.
“Anything?”
“Nope.”
“Your father won’t be happy.”
“Then my father can come do his dirty work himself,” I snap, pushing myself to my feet and wiping my blood-soaked hands on my black jeans.
I plan on burning them when I’m done down here, like I do all the others, so there’s no sense trying to keep them clean.
He falls quiet, and I take that as him accepting my answer, allowing me to return to surveying the canvas in front of me.
It’s been a long time since I’ve seen my victims as human, but even I can admit torturing someone you’ve known your whole life is very different from some asshole from a rival criminal organization or someone that owes us money.
Fresh cries fill the room, pulling my attention to Iris, and fury slams into me before I can shut it down.
The motherfucker has his cock out, jerking it in front of her face like a fucking animal. If he’s not careful, I’m going to cut the sad excuse for manhood off, if for no other reason than making me look at it.
“Ralph,” I snap, but he doesn’t turn.
He doesn’t respect my authority, and I have a feeling I’ll have to kill him as soon as I take my seat at the head of the table.
It’s an unfortunate reality of the transition of power in mafia families. There are some people that are so loyal to the boss that even when they willingly hand over the reins, they can’t let it go.
But I’ll be fucking grateful when I no longer have to see his calculating eyes at the table.
“I’ve always wanted to fuck this stuck-up cunt,” he says, more for Neil’s benefit than mine. “Once I’ve torn her up, I’ll start the main course.”
He throws a look across to Chloe, and my blood heats to the point of pain. If he touches her, I will cut his hands off and shove them down his throat, even if Dad punishes me for it.
I want to be able to look my brother in the eye when all this is over, even if I’m part of the reason for his broken heart.
“If you don’t put that away, I will cut it off,” I force through gritted teeth.
“Come on, Damon. Don’t get soft on me now.”
“There’s only one soft thing in this cellar, and it’s your sorry excuse for a dick. Put it the fuck away.”
For a second, I think he’s going to argue with me, but he mutters something under his breath and storms out of the room.
Sucking in a calming breath, I turn my attention back to Neil.
Time to get some answers so we can end this once and for all.
The sooner the Weavers are dead, the sooner I can finally take control of this family.