Page 15 of Property of Fire

Once done, I turn my back toward him, get to my knees, and brace for it. I know Heat. He’s not going to enjoy this any more than I am.

“You can’t be serious,” Evelin snaps.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Brimstone’s got an arm around her waist holding her back. Her eyes are darting back and forth between Heat and myself.

None of my brothers speak a word as Heat begins. They won’t hold it against me, what I did. Not because I did it, but because I owned up to it without a fight.The same goes with Heat in the end.

The first lash of the whip comes down on my back, tearing through my flesh and my body jerking slightly. I clench my teeth together to keep from making a sound. I won’t allow anyone to hear the pain of each lash I take. It’s my pain to bear. No one else’s.

With each lash to my back, I hold still the best I can. It doesn’t help to hear Evelin’s shouts and cries for Heat to stop. If he were to stop because of her or me, he’d have to do it all over again. Brimstone needs to get her to shut up so this can be done.

Heat must have her toned out because he doesn’t stop until I’ve received all twenty-two lashes. My back feels like it’s on fire.

“It’s done,” Heat states moments after the last lash is doled out. “Go clean up and know this. You hurt her, and I’ll kill you, brother or not.”

“You know me, Prez, I wouldn’t do anything to hurt her. Never could. Never would,” I grind out.

“Good,” he growls and comes to my side. “Come on.” Without a word he helps me to my feet. “You know I had to do it, Fire.”

“I know.” I grunt, nodding. “By not doing it would have put you in a position you wouldn’t have wanted to be in.” Not with any of our brothers. We’re brothers for a reason, and I disrespected him by fucking his sister.

By the time Heat and I get to the door of the RV, Evelin is right there, getting in our faces. But it’s not her that catches my attention. It’s the fact that my back didn’t feel like it was on fire anymore. The pain was gone.

“What the fuck?” I hear Brimstone say behind me.

“What?” I demand, looking back at him.

“Your back . . .” He jerks his chin in my direction. “It’s already starting to heal.”

“Fuck,” Heat grinds out, steps back to take a look for himself. “This wasn’t supposed to happen.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?” I stare at Heat in question.

Instead of answering me, he pulls his phone out. Finds who he wants to call and lifts the phone to his ear. “Herja, we got a situation. Fire’s back is healing after a lashing where he also claimed Evelin as his woman.”

He pauses for a minute and lets out a heavy breath, eyes on me. “Right. See you tonight.” Heat yanks the phone from his ear and shoves it back into his pocket.

“You gonna fill me in on what’s going on here?” I don’t know what the hell is going on now, and I don’t like it. Not in the least bit.

“There’s something it seems my dear mother has kept from you and until recently me,” Heat starts, taking a moment to shove his fingers through his hair. “Herja will be here this evening to fill in the blanks, but what I can tell you now is that you are Freyja’s son.”

What the fuck?

How is this fucking possible.

ELEVEN

EVELIN

My heart feelslike it’s going to pound right out of my chest. So much is happening at once, and I’m not sure how to handle it all.

Never before had I witnessed what just happened within the club. All because of what Fire and I did. If I’d known that would happen . . .

God knows seeing the pain Fire went through because of me clenches at my chest and makes me ache for what he endured. It’s not fair that he had to submit to what I brought as he did. I heard what he said to Heat and everyone else. Those words still ring in my ears. The whole situation . . . it hasn’t fully sunk in yet, but I heard him. He not only didn’t regret it, but he put his claim in. From what I gather in what he said, it was a big deal. I just don’t understand what all it meant.

I wanted to scream and throw a fit about the whole thing, but Brimstone had whispered in my ear that it was the way of the club. Heat had no choice but to follow through with it. If I didn’t cool it, I’d only make things worse for Fire. I’d already done enough, I didn’t need to cause him more.

On top of that, witnessing the way his back all but heals on its own is more than a little mind-blowing.

---