Page 106 of Depravity

Antonio shakes his head. “Man was a liability.” He states. “Some things are better taken to the grave.”

My eyes narrow, and I wonder not for the first time what Antonio’s secrets are. He definitely knows far more than he’s letting on, at least to me. I look over at my brother, and he’s barking orders to ensure everything is set up the way we want it. That this scene will be left as a nice little warning for those still opposing us.

Does he know? Does he see who Antonio truly is? Magnus is not so naïve as to think Antonio is backing him out of the goodness of his heart. No, he must know his motives. And yet, he hasn’t shared that with me, has he? No, he’s blocked me out, kept me at arm’s length. Me, his own brother, his own flesh and blood.

A wave of jealousy hits me, anger too. How dare Magnus treat me like this when all I’ve ever done is sacrifice for this family. He treats me like I’m a joke. Like I can’t be trusted. Yet our future lies in my hands, with my child, not his.

I clench my fists, realising that Magnus can be Chapter Lord but soon enough, my child will inherit everything. Afterall, Magnus has no offspring of his own and Devin, well, Devin is Devin. Fuck knows what he’ll do with his life. For all we know he’s already put a bullet in his head to silence all those voices he’s always whispering about. No, I am this family’s future. Me.

“Please…” the screams of the wife break me out of my thoughts. I look around to see her now grabbing the leg of the nearest guard. “It wasn’t me, I haven’t done anything.”

“But you did.” I state, getting her attention. “You were married to him.”

“I did as I was told.” She gasps. “I did what any good Brethren Lady does. I married the man my family chose. I didn’t know about, about, any of this.” She stammers before clutching at her two small, ashen faced children. “I haven’t done anything wrong. They haven’t done anything either.”

I bat my hand, bored of her hysterics. “Put her in the van.” She’ll be off to Oblivion. That will be her fate. I guess we’ll see then how good she is at following orders, won’t we.

The guard grabs hold of her and starts dragging her away. She screams more, this time pleading for her children.

They stare back at me, their eyes wide, as if they’re looking at the devil himself. Well, I guess for them, they are. I pull my gun, wondering whether the simplest answer to this would be best.

But they are Brethren. That means something.

The girl is pretty, the boy, well, it’s hard to tell. They must have only just started school. Too bad for them that their parents were pieces of shit. I can’t let them go, but they can serve another purpose.

“Take them to the House of Eden.” I order. Yes, that feels fitting. Appropriate even. Lord X tried to fuck the Brethren over, now his children will be brainwashed and groomed into providing heirs for those unfortunate enough within our ranks to be unable to produce their own.

“Conrad,” Magnus says, walking up to me.

I turn, facing him, realising we haven’t said a word to one another in hours. Not since I arrived.

The air seems to bristle, and I can feel the irritation coming off of him. Is he pissed at me, or this entire situation? We never anticipated this would be such a fight. But then, we never anticipated the Esau’s would have been nearly as entrenched into our world as they are.

“Any news?” He says, tersely.

“News?” I repeat. What news is he wanting from me?

“The girl.” He snaps, losing his patience as if I’m a bloody mind reader. “Is the girl pregnant?”

God, how much do I want to say yes. How much do I want to beat my chest and prove that I’m just as worthy as he is.

“Not yet.”

The disappointment shows in his face as his lips turn into a sneer. “Do you even know what you’re doing? How hard is it to impregnate a twenty-one-year-old?” He growls.

I turn on my heel, deciding not to bother with replying. My job here is done now, I can head home. I can go enjoy the placidity of my wife.

“Where are you going?” Antonio says as I walk past him.

“Home.” I snap, loud enough for everyone to hear. “Home, to fuck my wife.”

Drip.

Drip. Drip.

Drip.

I let out a groan as I realise it’s rain. Rain on the windows.

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