Page 154 of Depravity

I know he has plans. I know he’s going to ensure that things are put in place, that rules are changed. There’s been too much disruption, too much instability in the last few decades. That has to stop, we can’t have all that infighting between us. And more than that, we need to ensure that Magnus’s rule lasts. That he’s not simply eliminated and replaced like the last two.

Magnus meets my gaze, and I see that same determination in his face. God, I can’t wait to see Titus kneeling at our feet. I can’t wait to witness it; his submission. He’ll have to do it publicly, of course. The Brethren won’t accept anything less. But we’ll offer him a nice quiet little life, a reprieve for him and his wife. Of course that won’t last long. He’ll be exiled and dealt with once the heat is gone and everyone forgets he exists.

And then there’s Grace. Grace is a nice little bargaining chip too.

I had no intention of auctioning her at Oblivion, but it’s a nice little powerplay and one that’s worked to my advantage. Idon’t give a fuck what happens to her, Antonio can have her as far as I’m concerned. He can fuck her, torture, hell, he can marry her if that’s what he decides. The girl is nothing in the grand scheme of things, because Titus is what matters. Everything hinges on that man.

“Let’s go,” Magnus says gruffly.

It feels like déjà vu. It feels like both of us are out Reaping together, and I guess, in a way, we are. This will be the final one, the final joint venture for us. After tonight, Magnus will no longer be a Reaper.

Maybe Devin will become one now that there’s a gap.

I shake my head, dismissing that idea. My poor younger brother doesn’t have what it takes to be a Reaper. He’s a killing machine, that’s true. But he’s undisciplined, out of control. The fact that none of us have heard from him in weeks despite Magnus offering him a deal says it all.

Although he could just as likely be dead in a ditch, the Esau could have got to him.

I clench my fists, praying that’s not the case. It’s not unusual for him to go MIA anyway, and he does have a list, people that need to be dealt with.

Ahead, a shadow looms. I look up, realising that I’ve paid little attention as we’ve stalked our way towards this house. I could have had my head blown off, I could have come face to face with a gun and I wouldn’t have noticed.

Good thing I didn’t. But strange, too.

I narrow my eyes, looking about as something crawls up my spine.

Something is wrong here.

Magnus senses it too. We all do.

There’s no guards, no fighting, nothing. What sort of safehouse is this?

Antonio kicks open the French doors, and silence is what meets us.

Oh, we can see there’s been a fight. It looks like a hurricane has blown its way through this house. Broken glass and shattered furniture litters the floor.

“What the fuck?”

I don’t know who says it. Which one of us voices it.

Antonio starts barking orders, but he barely gets the words out before someone is yelling, screaming.

We race down the hall, race to where the sound is coming from and we come to a stop, me, Magnus and Antonio.

Ahead there are two figures, tied up, bound to two chairs.

“Get the lights,” Magnus orders and one of the men hastily hits the switch.

I see the mother first, I see Elaine. Elaine fucking Ratcliffe. She’s in a nightie. Her nipples are poking through the flimsy fabric and she’s shivering from more than just the cold. Rope has been wrapped around her body, wrapped around both their bodies. Hers and her daughter’s.

My eyes move to take in Grace. She’s got her head hanging low, using her long pretty hair to hide herself.

What the fuck is this? Who is this?

“Where is Titus?” Magnus growls. “Where the fuck is your husband?”

“He’s gone,” Elaine says, her voice trembling.

“Gone where?” Magnus snarls.

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