Page 41 of Depravity

“Where is your master?” I ask. I know this family is poor. At least, poor by Brethren standards. Not all of it is entirely their fault; they weren’t born to immense wealth and circumstance, and bad luck had left them here. It’s why Lord Upshaw was doing what he was, selling us out, selling the Blakes. He’d been passing on enough secrets to the Esau to become a problem.

And we weren’t willing to let it go on any longer. No, an example needed to be made. A line needed to be drawn in the sand.

“He, he…” She stammers, reminding me of my sweet wife only right now, she’s not sweet. She’s being a little bitch, isn’t she?

“He what?” I snarl.

“Safe room,” She whispers, lifting her arm and pointing to a spot that looks innocuous.

Clever man. My lips turn into a smile as I see it; as I see what is hidden in plain sight.

Without looking at her I take my gun, press it to her temple and quick as a flash, I pull the trigger. She makes the tiniest squeak, almost like a mouse and then she’s dead.

I put my fingers to my lips, whistling for my men’s attention, and then I point out to that exact same spot I haven’t taken my eyes off.

It takes barely a minute before they’ve blasted a hole through the fake wall. I’m not that bothered if they harm his family, but I’ll be pissed if Upshaw himself is killed. After all, my brother has need of him.

When the dust settles, we can hear the sound of crying coming through. I jerk my head, standing and watching as the last of their supposed refuge is pulled away.

“Good afternoon,” I say as the wretched family is now turfed out.

“You, you…” Upshaw says, staring at me as if I were an apparition and not a man at all. “Titus will hear of this,” He says.

“I sure hope he will,” I reply before turfing him out, separating him from his wife and daughter who are standing there, looking shell-shocked.

He starts shouting more, fighting as he’s dragged out through the main door and into the waiting van.

When my eyes land back on the wife, I can see she’s terrified. “Please…” She begins.

God, it’s tedious. Always the same old shit. Spare me. Help me. Have mercy on me. As if I would.

I click my fingers, and the guards grab her only she tries to jump, tries to get free, to get to her daughter. They backhand her, and she lands on her knees with her nose streaming out blood.

“Mother,” The girl screams, fighting too now.

“Get them out of here,” I order.

“Wait, please…” The mother begins again, “Not my daughter, please…”

I roll my eyes, turning my back, studying the place and wondering whether I should ransack it or simply burn it down.

“She’s untouched,” the mother screams again. “She’s untouched. You don’t have to do this. I know you’re a good man. I know it, please, spare her. I won’t fight you, I’ll do what you want, just spare my daughter…”

“How noble.” I mutter, looking back around. She’s willing to sacrifice herself for her child? Shame her actions have only put a higher price on the girl’s head, if it is true.

I reach out, beckoning for the girl to be brought to me.

She looks like a petrified animal, her auburn hair smattered with debris. Her eyes dart about, like she’s trying to figure out which one of us is the greatest threat.

My hand grabs her chin, forcing her to look right at me.

“Is it true?” I ask.

She gulps, just as a tear runs down her cheek. It’s poetic. Beautiful.

She’s pretty enough. A smattering of freckles on her face adds to the innocence, and her long hair makes her look younger and yet more seductive at the same time.

“Tell me, girl.” I snap.

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