Page 56 of Devils Cut

Amanda threw her head back, laughing loudly. "Oh, girl! You know how to fish!" We both laughed, our voices blending together in the smoky haze of the bar.

Amanda elbowed me, her eyes flicking to the clock that read 4:55 PM. "You're up, Tempest," she said, a mischievous gleam in her eye.

"Guess it's showtime," I muttered, making my way to the sink and washing my hands with cold water. The apron I had been wearing came off, and I hung it up on a nearby hook. My pulse quickened as I walked towards the stage, feeling the weight of Corvus' gaze on me, like a predator stalking its prey.

The moment I reached the stage, I grabbed the mic and scanned the crowd, their faces a blur of anticipation and lust. They wanted a performance, and that's exactly what I was going to give them. I chose "Under the Milky Way" by Peter Raeburn, not bothering to change the way it was sung – it was perfect just the way it was.

Let's see if they like this, I thought to myself, smirking as the opening notes filled the air. As the music swelled, I felt an electric charge run through my veins, empowering me to seize control of the room.

"Sometimes when this place gets kind of empty, sound of their breath fades with the light," I sang, my voice sultry and haunting, weaving a spell over the audience.

I could feel Corvus' stare burning into me as I continued, each note dripping with raw emotion.

"Under the Milky Way tonight," I sang, my voice soaring as I reached the climax of the song. The last note clung to the air like a desperate plea, still echoing in my ears as I opened my eyes. My gaze was inexplicably drawn to the door as if pulled by some dark force. That's when I saw him – my stepbrother, his twisted face filled with hate and malice, staring at me from just outside the doorway.

"Fuck," I muttered under my breath, feeling my body tense up, locking in place. The sudden rush of fear made my knees weak, threatening to send me crashing to the floor. The world around me became distorted, sounds garbled and muffled like I was submerged underwater.

"Tempest!" Corvus' voice broke through the haze, his face suddenly in front of mine. "What is it?"

“He’s here,” I stammered, trying to regain control over my rapidly spiralling thoughts. "My brother."

“Your fucking brother?” Corvus' eyes flashed with confusion. Without another word, he lifted me into his arms, cradling me against his chest like I was his most precious possession. He carried me to his office, kicking the door open with his foot.

"Princess, you gotta tell me what's goin' on. What happened? Who is your brother?" Corvus demanded as he sat down in his chair, still holding me in his lap. The urgency in his voice made it clear he would do anything to keep me safe.

I swallowed hard, trying to steady my breathing. "My stepbrother... he's the reason I had to run away. He's... dangerous, Corvus. More than you can imagine."

"Fuck," he muttered under his breath. His grip around me tightened as if he could shield me from the world by just holding me close. "What did he do to you?"

Closing my eyes, I tried to shut out the memories that threatened to overwhelm me. "Every scar on my body, every nightmare that keeps me awake at night – they're all because of him."

"Jesus fuckin' Christ," Corvus growled, his anger simmering beneath the surface. "You should've told me sooner, princess. I'll make sure he never lays a finger on you again."

"Corvus, I don’t want to drag you into this mess,” I admitted, feeling the guilt creep in.

"Hey, look at me," he commanded, tilting my chin up so our eyes met. "You're mine, okay? You're family now. And we protect our own." The rage in Corvus' eyes burned like an inferno, igniting a fire within me that I thought had long been extinguished. I felt the weight of my past crashing down on me, but with him by my side, maybe I could finally face it head-on.

"Corvus," I whispered, my voice barely audible as I said, "he is the reason I ran. But he's found me. I think I always knew he would find me.”

"Where was he?" he asked, his jaw clenched tight.

"Front door," I replied, my voice shaking. "Just outside it. I saw him when I looked up after singing."

"Alright." He took a deep breath, trying to keep his rage in check. "We're gonna find this motherfucker and make sure he can't hurt you again."

The laptop's screen flickered to life, casting an eerie glow on Corvus's face as he leaned forward, his fingers flying over the keyboard. I held my breath, feeling a cold sweat break out across my skin.

"Fuck," Corvus muttered under his breath, pulling up the cameras that pointed at the door. The man's face was hidden by the door frame and the angle of the camera, frustratingly out of sight. Corvus slammed his fist on the desk and swore again, switching to another feed.

"Outside camera," he growled, eyes narrowing as the image shifted. There he was, my stepbrother, looking down the whole time. He walked up to the entrance, peered inside for just a moment, and then took off like a bat outta hell.

"Son of a bitch," Corvus cursed, clenching his jaw so tight I could see the muscles in his cheeks tense up. "Princess, listen," he said, turning to me with a fire in his eyes that sent shivers down my spine. "We're going home, and you're gonna explain it all to me. I need to know what the fuck we're dealin' with here."

"Alright," I agreed, reluctantly. In my gut, I knew there was no escaping my past. It had caught up to me and now threatened everything I held dear.

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I sat on the couch, my heart pounding in my chest. Corvus crouched in front of me, his dark eyes searching mine as he held my trembling hand. "Okay, Princess, you gotta tell me everything," he said again, his voice firm but gentle.

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