Ihear Cat’s light footsteps disappear behind me as I kneel down to put my arms underneath Brady. “She beat you up that bad, huh?” There’s no need to sneak around. Fenris will know about this regardless, so I might as well deliver him right to his feet.
I feel something wet and warm land against my face when the mother fucker spits on me. I bring my fist back before slamming it into his jaw. It pops, and I know it’s either dislocated or, hopefully, broken. Painful groans and bloody spittle fly from his mouth.
I spin his body to where he’s facing away from me; he’s struggling but he’s so weak that his attempts to wriggle out of my hold are useless. My arms slip around his neck, and I squeeze until his body goes slack against mine. Once he’s unconscious I flip him onto his back, grab his ankles, and begin dragging his body down the dim hallways as I make my way to Fenris’ office, which, unfortunately for Brady, is on the opposite end of the building.
The floor is unforgiving, even more than I am. Maybe if I thought he had a brain I’d be a little more gentle with him. But, if there isn’t fear of a brain bleed, I’m not going to make it harder on myself. Sweat drips down, burning my eyes, and I’m pretty sure I just tore something in my back from the searing pain working its way through my muscles with every turn.
I’m letting his head get knocked every which way. The side of his face has made contact with damn near every corner, all of the divots in the floor, and a trash can. I pick up the pace, using the wall to leverage me as I cut around the final corner. A loud metaltingvibrates through the air. Make that two trash cans.
I drop him when we finally make it to Fenris’ office since I need both hands to open the door and maneuver him in. I push open the door, pick Brady up under his arms, and turn around. When my eyes make out what’s going on through the dim light, shock crashes into me.
I still, dropping Brady, his deadweight hitting the floor with a loud thud, and stare at my father who is standing behind his desk. Melinda is bent over in front of him. She isn’t moving, her eyes are shut, and despite the fact I walked in on him pumping into her from behind, her face looks like she’s asleep or in some weird way, peaceful. He stops, glaring at me, but not for long. It only takes a few seconds before he starts thrusting into her again.
I watch a familiar grin spread over his face. “I was saving her ass for last, but you’re free to have it after if you want. Their holes are so much better when they aren’t aroused.”
Everything inside of me drops… it all just caves in. I know my feet are planted on the floor but I feel like I’m falling, like the floor is swallowing me. I try to open my mouth but my jaw feels like it’s wired shut.
“Oh come on, we both know you don’t mind sharing.” There’s a loud ringing in my ears as I watch her body shift back andforth two more times before I hear his disgusting grunt echoing through the room as he finishes. My eyes switch between her body and him.
“What,” Fenris finally says, dragging the word out and zipping up his pants, “is this?”
I swallow, forcing myself to speak. “This,” I say, jerking my chin toward Brady, “is one of your little minions overstepping.”
Fenris lifts a brow. “And?”
“And I’m no longer in the habit of letting that slide.” While the expression on his face doesn’t change, I watch as he shifts his stance. He lets out a quiet laugh, but there’s no humor in it. He studies me for a moment before pushing away from Melinda’s, what I assume to be drugged, body. I hear a pained groan come from Brady. Good. Maybe he’s waking up.
“I assume this is about Catarina.”
I look down, seeing the veins in my forearm bulge. He knows it is. He just wants to hear me say it. My voice is low. “He touched her.” My hands curl into fists at my sides as he moves across the room slowly, stopping when he makes it to Brady.
“You think you can protect her?” he asks. “Keep her out of all this?” He gestures vaguely to the room. “She’s already in it, Zed. Whether you like it or not.”
I don’t offer a response. She isn’t in this. She isn’t his fucking pawn in his fucking little game, and if he tries to move her like she’s a game piece, I will snap the board in half and carve out new ones from his ribs. Fenris clicks his tongue. “She’s different, isn’t she?” She’s not fucking different. She’s mine. The marrow in my bones. The air in my lungs. The blood in my veins. All of it belongs less to me than she does. His amusement fades. “And that’s exactly why she won’t last.”
Every muscle in my body feels like they’re straining against my skin, and the rage I feel is like a hot iron has been plunged into my chest.
Before I can say or do something I can’t take back, the door swings open and Harold steps inside. His gaze flicks between Fenris, me, and Brady, sprawled out and bloody. He exhales sharply, then his eyes look over at Melinda. I keep my face blank so Fenris doesn’t see my expression. Something about the way he looks at her doesn’t make sense. He blinks and adjusts his shoulders. Back to scheduled programming I guess. “I swear,” Harold mutters as he rubs his temple. “It’s like dealing with a pack of rabid wolves.”
I see Fenris’ lips press into a thin line, not missing the way the tension shifts. The sharp moment between us that was nearing its breaking point, snaps.
“Handle your business, Fenris.” Harold spins around before walking to the door, yanking it open so hard it crashes against the wall, causing a picture of Fenris to fall and shatter.
He turns to me. “Take your little victory, Zedediah.” He waves his hand dismissively. “But, I implore you to be careful. And smart. It seems you’re getting too attached.” I take a step toward Melinda. “Get out!” Fenris screams, rushing me. I push him off of me. “If you touch her, I’ll?—”
I cut him off. “You’ll what? It seems you need to take your own advice and be very careful with the words you choose to speak next.”
He adjusts his collar and clears his throat. “Touch her and the next time you open my door, it will be Catarina bent over my desk.”
My world begins to tilt from his words and I know he can sense the plotting going on behind my stare. The anger boils over. He sees the minute I decide to take a swing at him and raises his hand. “Tsk, tsk,Zedediah.” He lifts his chin. “The only reason I haven’t had you killed is because you’re how I will live on. Even long after I’m dead. You’re my only heir.” I listen to his hollow laugh. “Well, as far as I know.”
He’s silent after that. We stand there, seeing if the other will make a move. Neither of us do. But he just signed his death warrant. I know it, and by the look in his eye, so does he.
I got back to my room and changed clothes before heading to the fellowship hall for chapel evening service.
I’ve distracted my thoughts by thinking about what I am going to do to Cat tonight. All the ways I’m going to have her. Her reaction to my harsh grip on her earlier let me know my sweet girl likes a little bit of pain. When she would arch or move. It wasn’t ever away from me, it was into me.
She doesn’t have any idea of the pain and pleasure I plan on introducing her to tonight. Depravity seems to be the only thing I inherited from Fenris. I reach the open doors and step inside to lean against the wall while my eyes roam over the rows of bodies, stopping when I spot her. She’s sitting near the front, her hair cascades over the wooden ledge on the back of the pew.
