Page 22 of The Devil's Wrath

“Theo, your father was just telling me that you were the one who obtained the intel on the Petrov family. Solid work.” Thomas reached out and shook my hand.

I returned his handshake firmly, inclining my head in acknowledgement. “Thank you, sir.”

My father clasped a hand on my shoulder, a rare smile on his stern face. “I’m proud of you, son. You’re proving yourself to be an invaluable asset to The Brotherhood.”

I nodded, standing a little taller at his praise. It was hard earned and seldom given.

The masked girl glanced our way, and her eyes seemed to linger on me briefly before flitting away.

Thomas followed my gaze, looking between me and the girl. “My daughter,” he stated.

I tore my gaze away from her. “I’m s-orry?” I stuttered, my face flushing in shame for being caught creeping on the boss’s daughter.

Thomas chuckled, a knowing glint in his eye. “That’s my daughter, Wrenly. She’s her mother’s daughter, intelligent and stubborn.” He leaned in closer, his voice lowering. “The day you have a daughter, your whole world changes. Somehow, they manage to weasel into your chest and thaw your frozen heart.”

I nodded, unsure how to respond. The idea of having a daughter, or any child for that matter, was foreign to me. In our line of work, starting a family was a liability, a weakness our enemies could exploit.

Thomas clapped me on the back. “Don’t worry, son. You’ve got plenty of time to start thinking about settling down.” He chuckled again, shaking his head. “But when you do, you’ll understand what I mean.”

I nodded again, my eyes drifting back to his daughter. She was talking to a group of men, and her posture was confident and self-assured. One of the men said something that made her throw her head back in laughter, the sound of it carrying across the room like a melody.

“Gage.” Thomas broke the silence between us, nodding to the masked boy beside his daughter. “My son is showing off right now. Let’s hope he can channel that class clown energy into finishing med school.”

I wondered why I had never seen the Morgan kids before, how they had avoided the life that Archer, Kai, and I had been thrust into far too young, when my father spoke, seeming to have read my mind. “Are you sure keeping them away from The Brotherhood is best for them?” my father questioned him.

Thomas sighed, his shoulders sagging slightly. “I want them to have a chance at a normal life. This—Morgan Industries—will be their legacy to carry on.” He gestured around the room at the masked figures, ignoring the air of secrecy and the few Brotherhood members that permeated the gathering. “They deserve to choose their own paths, to not be forced into a life of danger and uncertainty.”

My father nodded, though I could sense the doubt in his gaze. “And what if they decide to follow your path? Will you deny them their inheritance?”

Thomas’s jaw tightened, and I feared he might quarrel with my father. But he eased, a wistful smile appearing on his face. “If that’s their true desire, I won’t hinder them. But I want them to have the choice—the freedom to decide on their own.”

I couldn’t help but respect his position. In a world dominated by death and ruin, children were raised to inherit their family’s legacy, with our futures dictated by our births. Yet Thomas was offering his children the opportunity to choose and liberate themselves from the chains of their predetermined fate.

“What if they’re needed? What if their talents could make a difference in our cause?” my father asked.

Thomas turned to face him, his expression resolute. “Then it will be their decision to make, not ours. I know that’s not what you or our other brothers have chosen for your children, and I respect your decision to stay in line with the old ways, but this is what Margaret and I feel is best for Gage and Wrenly. We’ve chosen this life, but I won’t force it upon them. They need to live, to experience the world beyond The Brotherhood. Only then can they truly understand the weight of our responsibilities.”

As if sensing my inner turmoil, Thomas turned to me, his eyes softening. “Theo, you’re young, and you’ve already proven yourself to be a valuable member of the organization. I am grateful for your contributions. However, don’t let this life consume you. You can still choose to explore and find your purpose beyond this. Beyond all the secrets and killing.”

My father looked at him with skepticism. I could see the internal struggle playing out behind his eyes. The Brotherhood had existed for decades, a legacy passed down from generation to generation. None of us had a choice; we were slaves to the patriarchy we belonged to. What Thomas talked about was a dream that wasn’t afforded to the rest of us. It didn’t matter that Thomas and Margaret thought they could keep their children separate. We all knew The Brotherhood was a part of them, no matter how far they ran. Although I admired Thomas for his convictions, I knew better.

We all did.

After Thomas and my father excused themselves, I sat at the bar,watching her. She laughed at something Gage said, her eyes sparkling with mirth. She had a wild, untamed spirit about her.

I couldn’t take my eyes off her.

Little did she know that her whole world would be shattered in mere hours.

“Got your eye on Thomas Morgan’s daughter, do you?” Kai teased, handing me another flute of champagne.

I looked over at him and admired his silver mask. He wasn’t one for parties, but he’d really embraced the costume for this one. I had chosen a bronze mask, the filigree weaving intricate patterns across the surface, each line a delicate thread of metal. The cool weight settled on my skin, and it shimmered with an otherworldly glow in the ballroom’s crystal lights and gilded mirrors.

“I’m just keeping an eye on things, that’s all.” I took a long sip of champagne.

“If that’s what you want to call it, sure.” He leaned in and whispered, “But you might want to adjust your pants before Thomas sees your dick pointing in her direction.”

I looked down, embarrassed when I realized my dick was hard.

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