Page 123 of Depravity

She sniffs, her mascara now smearing her cheeks. “The maid,” She stammers. “She said she wanted to help. That she could get rid of her for me, that she could help me.”

“And what did you have to agree to in exchange for that?” I asked.

She blanched, “I..” She mumbles something so quietly I can’t make out a word of it.

I pull the trigger again, this time taking out a nice little Louis XIV cabinet. It splinters as if it were made of paper and Giselle screams, covering her ears.

“Fucking tell me.” I order.

“They wanted me to kill Magnus.” She whispers.

Of all the things I expected, this was not it. I stare at her for a second, trying to figure out if that’s just some sort of sick joke.

“Magnus?” I repeat.

She nods. “They said it was for the future of the Brethren. That in doing so, I would then become head of the Blake family alongside you as my husband. That we’d be given great honours too…”

I snort as it all sinks in. All those nasty little pieces. She sold Brynn out for her own greed and power.

“You stupid little fool.” Quinn says.

I drop my gaze, looking at him. So, he wasn’t involved then. He’s not tied up with the Esau. Too bad that fact won’t save him.

I raise my gun, pointing it right at his forehead. His eyes widen. “Conrad,” He pleads. “I wasn’t part of this. I would never have condoned such a thing. I’m loyal to you, to the Blakes.”

“The Blakes?” I repeat as my lips curl. “My wife is a Blake now, and you made her life a misery. You and that bitch ofa daughter. You bullied and belittled her, and treated her like shit.”

“Please, if I’d have known…”

I pull the trigger before he can finish that sentence. I don’t give a fuck what he has to say, what futile words come out of his mouth. He disrespected her. He hurt her. Hehasto die.

I look over to where Giselle is bleeding, whimpering and repeating over and over that she’s sorry. As if that fixes it. As that undoes the years of damage, the abuse, the treachery too.

“You’re coming with me.” I declare, and her eyes light up like I’m about to put a veil on her head and marry her. Fuck me, she’s insane, isn’t she? “I want Brynn to witness your death.” I state. “I want her face to be the last thing you see before you depart this life for hell.”

As we reach the main doors I catch sight of a shadow, a figure. I raise my gun, but pause when I see who it is; Paige. She’s sporting a black eye and a split lip, no doubt her husband did that.

“He’s dead,” I state. “Quinn is dead,”

She stares back at me, like she’s waiting for me to pull the trigger and kill her too.

“Go home, Paige,” I tell her. “Go back to your parents. Your marriage is over, so you’re free of him. Free of them.”

Someone deserves a happy ending in all this, might as well be her.

Giselle hisses like she’s about to throw herself on her stepmother and start ripping out her eyes, so I tighten my grip and drag her out. Nasty bitch won’t be hurting anyone else from now on.

Iwake in a sweaty, confused state. For a moment I have no idea where I am, and then it all comes back. The fire, Conrad, my father – my breath hitches at the memory of what he did, what Xavier did.

I know Conrad won’t be happy. I know it’s going to make him so mad.

My body jerks, but as I try to move, I realise that I can’t. That not only will my legs not move, but my arms aren’t moving either.

What the fuck is going on?

My heart starts to beat faster. I blink rapidly, trying to work out why it’s so damned dark in here.

I don’t understand where I am.

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