Page 70 of The Filth Kings

“I came from a place where selling your soul was of importance to be somebody. I was a nobody, a man without purpose or direction. None of my upbringing I care to share…but I will say this…” He paused for what felt like an eternity.

I sat frozen in place and watched him, the man that raised me. He revealed himself in a way that I never imagined. I watched and listened to him closely. His eyes met mine with sorrow and regret.

“Love between two men was a stain back in my day. It wasn’t something you could just be open about like in today’s society. I embraced femininity, fell in love with it. I just regretted who I fell for. I saw a tormented soul in Impurity. I thought that I could change his dark ways but grew addicted to the money and power that came with him. So, I accepted and overlooked a lot, until I laid eyes on your mother. She was the first woman that I was attracted to and could see myself with as a disguise. Impurity told me and Mr. Herringbone that we should both find love interests. Mr. Herringbone refused to find someone to disguise his sexuality, but being the humble man that I am, I found someone but was not supposed to fall in love. I fell in love but was conflicted. If I left him, the money flow would stop. So, I continued until you were old enough to start wondering about certain things. You always been a curious little girl. You used to ask so many questions when I would leave home for days. It all became too hard to juggle so I decided to walk away. I was tired of Impurity controlling me. His abuse and the things he forced me to witness made it hard for me to sleep at night. When I finally left him alone, I was partially happy. I still thought about the women that he continued to kidnap in Arkville. He kidnapped them because he was always in denial about his sexuality. He hated it, there were times he would get super violent after sex. It’s like watching porn then becoming disgusted after you get out of it what you were watching it for…He hated that he couldn’t get an erection with women, so he’d blame them for not being attractive enough. A lot of it was his psychological being messed up. Jalissa was the only woman he could have an erection with, the only woman that made him feel straight. For a while, he left me alone and let me live but when he got rid of her, his urges grew stronger. He demanded for me to come back but I told him that I couldn’t be a part of all the disgusting things that he had going on?—”

“Why did you go back this time?” I asked through my own set of tears.

“You…I went back because I know Impurity. I knew that he would take desperate measures to get me back. My company took a hit, your mother’s coffee shops hasn’t brought in much revenue. As a man, I will provide for my family. I saw the determined look in your eyes and knew that you wouldn’t stop until you got answers. I knew that it would lead you right into the arms of Impurity. I would die before I let him get you, so I went back. I thought it was too late when I did go back because he had Jalissa chained to his bed. It wasn’t too late because he still wanted me. He wants me, him, and Jalissa to be together. He’s grown more deranged; he kidnaps men too. Human trafficking is at an all-time high as well because of Impurity. With all of his connections in higher places, no one will stop him. This is why I feel like it’s best for me to stay here at Detavio’s place until he’s dead.” He casted his eyes down at the plush carpet.

“None of it stopped you from spending the money that you had access to…Did you think about the innocent women then?” I gritted out.

He kept his eyes casted downward; he shook his head no as reality settled inside of me.

“Did Detavio know?—”

“He just found out the other day when he killed one of Impurity’s lovers. Mr. Herringbone served as Detavio’s assistant. He hated Jalissa since the very beginning. He offered millions for her to disappear. Impurity still doesn’t know that either. Before Jalissa gave birth to their first born, Herringbone was doing everything in his power to get Jalissa to disappear. He’s always been hateful and evil to anyone that Impurity took a strong liking to or fell in love with. He wanted to be number one. I never understood the dynamics of their relationship.” He shook his head.

I realized that Detavio looked different when he came down to the pit and acted different because he just found out about his father just like I’m finding out about mine. He was conflicted and didn’t know how to digest everything.

“So… Our lifestyle came from Impurity. The money and everything we have…” I gasped as my mind scattered all over the place.

“Where’s Mom?” Panic settled inside of me.

“She’s upstairs. I don’t want you to be upset with her,” he gritted out.

“Why would I be upset with her! I’m confused as fuck! I don’t understand why she would want to settle for a man that can’t love her fully?—”

“I do love her fully! This is all too complicated for me to get you to understand! You will not try to make her feel bad or ask her questions that don’t need to be answered anymore. I’m living in my truth, I just kept it hidden from you.”

“No, you kept it hidden from your peers, the employees that look up to you! You are just as guilty as Impurity. You know the sick things that he has done, you never got help or tried to do something?—”

“What the fuck could I do! Please tell me, and don’t mention the police when half of the government turns a blind eye because they profit and make a percentage off of half of the sick shit that he does! Down to the bodies that come up missing when they are shipped off to foreign countries as modern-day slavery! You know nothing! There’s nothing you can do! Nothing I can do but play along!”

“Why is Detavio okay with killing his father?—”

“He deserves to die.” Detavio retorted from behind me.

Chills crept up my spine, his footsteps grew louder with each step.

“The Decebal empire will crumble after its king is dead. The person that will kill him is none of your concern, Angel. Be a lady, and bow out gracefully.” Detavio spat with venom.

He tossed me my cellphone; it landed on the side of me. Next, he dropped my keys along with my clutch purse that I had when I left the club before being kidnapped by him.

“I—I can’t leave my mother here with either of you.” I looked away from my father.

“She doesn’t deserve to be mistreated or hurt.” I added.

“That’s my wife, I will always protect and make sure that she’s okay.” My father tried to reassure me.

“You can stay or go to my brother Monster’s house.” Detavio added.

“Why would I leave my mother here with you, when my father looks like he hasn’t showered in days!” I spat out with disgust laced in my tone.

“I have clothes, and so does your mother. I haven’t eaten or got any rest until I laid eyes on you, Angel. It took me two days to gather the courage to tell you about all of this. I didn’t want to see the look that you got on your face now. Your mother is fine, you can go up and see her whenever you like. Detavio has us inside of a master suite on the East wing.” My father confessed.

That made me feel a little better. I thought Detavio would have placed my parents in another pit underground.

“You were ashamed to face me because of the women and men that Impurity has harmed!” I accused.

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