Page 11 of Dust to Dust

Worry once again creased Brooke’s brows. Since we both shared a wild stubborn streak in our DNA, she knew it was useless to argue once I’d made up my mind. Reaching over she took my hand in hers,“Just promise me if you ever feel uncomfortable or unsafe, that you’ll quit, and we’ll find a way to pay for your tuition together.”

As I stared into her eyes, I wanted nothing more than to be able to say yes. But I knew that regardless of whatever feelings the job might unearth, I couldn’t let it get to me. My goal wasn’t just to pay my tuition. It was to ensure that Brooke made it through school, and that Henry received the most love and care possible.

After forcing a smile to my face, the lie rolled easily off my tongue. “I promise.”

Chapter Two: Quinn

“This is fucking torture!”

A dark chuckle rumbled through my chest as I eyed the man strung up before me. “That’s because it is.” My fist connected with his jaw again, sending a spray of blood and saliva misting through the air. At his groan, I snatched some of his blood and sweat stained hair and jerked his head up to meet his gaze. “It’s what happens when a loyal clan member such as yourself decides to double cross us on a shipment.”

“But I–”

I threw a harsh uppercut to his jaw. As I flexed my tingling fingers, Conrad had the audacity to snivel. Nothing pissed me off more than a man who couldn't take his punishment. Or in this case, his torture. “This shit will keep going until you give me a name.”

He shook his head wildly back and forth. “I swear I don’t know.”

I tsked at him. “Now that’s not what I wanted to hear, Conrad.”

This time my fist connected with the doughy flesh of his upper abdomen. At the crack of his ribs, he squealed before a sob tore through his chest. The noises of agony fed the beast within me.

The depraved monster who fed on suffering.

Sometimes I pondered if the monster within me was a product of nature vs. nurture. Was my DNA tainted with a bloodthirst that could only be quelled through murder and violence? Or was it because of the way I’d been raised.

In the end, it seemed to be a mixture of both.

Conrad apprised me through his swelling eyes. When I grabbed the knife off the table, he started jerking wildly against the chains. “Help, help!” he shrieked.

A cruel smirk curved on my lips. “Don’t waste your breath. We’re in a soundproof room.”

My words, coupled with the gleam of the knife, caused a wet spot to bloom in the front of his pants. With a disgusted grunt, I said, “Did you have to go and piss yourself?”

When I flicked the blade under his chin, a shudder rolled through his body. “Tell me. Which part of the body will you miss the least, and I’ll start there?”

“Kolosov!” he howled.

And there it was–the breaking point. Every man had one. For some, it came sooner than others. Some like Conrad needed more physical persuasion while others you break simply with threats to those they loved.

“Are you ever going to entertain business proposals from Bratva scum again?”

“Never,” he swore.

“I want to believe you, Conrad. I really do.”

He began blubbering, his salty tears mixing with the blood on his face. “Please, I swear.”

I jerked my knife from his chin. “This is your warning. You fuck with us again, and I’ll be taking pieces out of not only you, but your family.”

Conrad sobbed so hard he could only nod his head. I flashed him a shark-like smile before clapping him harshly on the back. “Have a good day.”

After I exited the door, I turned to the two soldiers waiting outside. “Leave him strung up for another hour. Then send him on his way.”

“Yes, sir,” they murmured in unison.

With my hands and clothes covered in blood, I needed to clean-up before any unsuspecting person could see me. After nodding to the men, I headed down the hallway to the bathroom.

From the outside the Beacon Hill penthouse where my brothers and I resided appeared just as the others in the neighborhood. However, I could vouch that none of their spacious basements possessed a windowless, sound-proofed torture room, nor did they contain a medical room that could’ve doubled for any ER trauma bay.

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