Page 8 of Sweet SIN Slaughterhouse

“An upside-down cross was cut then cauterized on her torso.” As I provide more details, his head continues to shake.

“This shit between your dad and brother needs to end, tonight!” he seethes. Blaise has been known to do things that are against the establishment, rebel against what we have built. The burned edges of the paper fit his MO. But leaving a dead body, carved, and the body belonging to Tash, it doesn’t feel like him. But whomever it is has access to the estate, which gives me a small list to go off of, considering most are family.

Papa startles me, slamming his fists against the hardwood desk. “If this bullshit gets out, it’s going to make us look like we can’t keep our own fucking house in order. And if our members think that, then why would they stand by us as leaders?” His points are valid, I can’t and won’t argue them. And it makes me wonder, if it isn’t my brother then who was able to casually walk through the gates with a dead body inhand? My mind races but my thoughts are quickly interrupted.

“She was our best fucking person to have in front of the pharma companies.” Papa’s eyes close, and his next words come out, exasperated. “I’ll call them in the morning. Reassuring that nothing changes and, you, in the meantime, find someone comparable to Tash to get in front of them. We can’t have them taking this as an opportunity to renegotiate.”

I give a curt nod. “I will, Papa. Leave it with me,” I reassure him. If anyone knows my brother best, it’s me. And Papa is right, Blaise’s resentment is going to start making us look weak.

And we are anything but that.

“I’ll handle the body myself, don’t call a cleanup crew,” I advise, as it’s less chatter that way. Papa ponders, then agrees. “Thanks, baby Sin.” His voice is softer now. It’s late and his eye bags are getting heavier.

“I can’t wait for all this shit to be yours. I won’t fucking miss it.”

I laugh. “You will. I’ll be getting calls daily from you, don’t even try to deny it.”

He laughs in response, smirking and shrugging his shoulders.

“Go home, sweet girl. Call if you need help, I’ll make sure Tash’s kid is taken care of. Placed in a good home with plenty of resources.”

Smiling, I walk back over to him and bend slightly to kiss his cheek before whispering, “Thank you… and don’t expect a call. I would hate to interrupt whatever Rylee has planned for you tonight.” My tone is playful and suggestive.

“Why do you even think about that?” His face contorts, regretting the question. “Don’t answer that, I don’t want to know what runs through that mind of yours. Now, get going.”

Laughing still, I skip out of his office cheerfully. “Night, you horny love birds,” I shout into the rest of the house. Faint laughter from upstairs trickles down into my ears and I smile in satisfaction.

I have a strange need to push boundaries. I like it, it’s fun and lightens the mood. Something we all need as I go home, tasked with burying a fellow member, and friend.

5

SID

Placing a cig between my cherry red lips, I flip my silver lighter and ignite a spark before putting the box back in the cuff of my white tee. Analyzing the situation before me, I mentally try to sort out how I’m going to handle Tash, who's still lying dead and naked on the hood of my Bentley.

“Sid, what are you doing?” My eyes light up, but not because I’m excited, because he cannot see what I’m doing.

“Daddy!” I chirp, careful to not draw suspicion as he casually saunters from across the street, where he, Mom, and Greta live.

Stepping away from the car, I meet him at the end of my driveway. His hands are in his pockets as he looks at me with disapproval. A girl smokes and gets judged, but if she is a cold-blooded killer, no one bats an eye. Society makes no fucking sense sometimes.

“Things are moving fast. Can you handle it?”

I suck back another delicious hit of nicotine then blow it out into the night sky. Keeping my eyes on the twinkling stars, I respond confidently, “I’ll be fine. This,” I pause holding my arms out, “is all I’ve ever known. We’ve been preparing for this my entire life.”

“Yeah, well, your mom said preparing and actually doing are two different things.” It’s sweet. He isn’t worried. But he’s helping my mom feel better by checking on me. My daddy is the best man I know, and will ever know.

Lowering my gaze, I give him reassurance to take back to Mom. “I’ll be okay. And I won’t be alone. You’ll still be by my side, same with Papa. Plus, we both have our vices, right? That shit always helps.” I chuckle, thinking about the tunnel, my slaughterhouse.

“Don’t let your brother fuck with you.”

Smirking at his comment, I say, “Daddy, he won’t. He only has fun doing that to you.”

A loud sigh follows from my dad and I can feel his blood boiling. He and Blaise have a love-hate relationship, but it’s fine. Growing pains. All families have them… I think.

Walking away, he grits, “I’ll leave you to it then.”

He’s mad. But over the years, restraint has been learned and Blaise lives to see another day.

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