Page 8 of Perilous

Believe me, you’d be surprised at what lonely, rich wives will pay for a little excitement.

I must have turned my head or something because the first thing Luc does is point at me.

“Problem with what you just saw?” Luc asks.

I don’t respond.

Fuck Luc.

I don’t give a fuck about his throne or his gold mask. I don’t give a fuck that he’s Tyrant’s brother either. Yes, I’m here to serve thePergand I’m here to serve the throne. I’m here to honor mybroodand to protect theLegion. And, yes, all of that involves Luc.

With a hand gesture from Luc, two men dressed in black robes come for me. I could easily fight them and break their fucking necks. I don’t.

They grab me and pull me toward the throne. Luc stands up to face me, even though I’m taller than him.

“On your knees,” he whispers.

Not even a breath later I feel sharp pains at the backs of my knees. I grit my teeth not to yell out in pain. I’m on my knees. In front of Luc. Luc leans down toward me.

“Here I thought my brother was the fierce one,” he whispers at me. “You did what you were told to do. Want to carry that forever and act this way? I don’t mind having you beat senseless over and over.”

I grit my teeth even harder. Luc stands tall again and waves his hands, ushering everyone with him to leave thePerg.

Luc removes his mask. “Do the same. Time to talk.”

I hear the other guys taking off their masks. I remain on my knees and do not follow the command. I’m testing Luc to see if he’ll hit me on his own, instead of having his guys do it.

Come on, fucker. Come on. Do it. Attack me. Slit my throat. Put a fucking bullet in my fucking forehead.

I close my eyes to remain calm. My fucked up memory throws the sound of metal crunching with metal. My eyes open right back up. I jump to my feet, standing taller than Luc, and take my mask off.

“Good,” he says. “Let’s have a chat.” He walks around me. “Thetargetspent the night in the hospital. That came after being rushed there in an ambulance. Basic diagnosis is that he partied too hard with some strippers and his body got a little too jumpy. He’s obviously scared shitless right now. That’s where he needs to be. Thinking he dodged a bullet yet a little paranoid.”

The room is silent. I slowly turn. Luc walks to his left so he can see us all.

“Tyrant, Vic, I know you had nothing to do with thistarget,” Luke says. “But out of respect for yourbrood, I’ve included you in this meeting. You both can leave now.”

There’s hesitation and tension. It’s like a bomb going off. Tyrant isn’t exactly a fan of his brother. Can’t blame him for that.

Tyrant’s old man fathered Tyrant out of wedlock, during an affair, and Tyrant has been left as nothing more than a bastard. Except Tyrant is smart and a little insane.

When he and Vic finally do leave thePerg, Luc nods at Demo.

“You too,” he says.

“I was there,” Demo says.

“Get the fuck out,” Luc says in a calm voice.

Demo’s massive frame flexes. Given the chance, he could break Luc in half with one hand. Only this is about power. Not strength. Not money.

Power.

Demo exits thePerg.

I’m left alone with Luc. He grabs my right shoulder.

“We have him where we want him,” Luc says. “Either feeling great that he’s gotten a second chance at life or completely paranoid wondering if someone poisoned him.”

---