Page 58 of Bought to Break
Sorin approached. ‘There was a problem in the hold. I was called away.’ He looked over at Kane, who was walking slowly away from them. ‘I’ve had enough. He treats her like she’s nothing. It’s a mockery of our unit’s bond.’
Viktor sighed. ‘Do you not think he has a point?’
‘No,’ Sorin said darkly. ‘I meant what I said before. What the rest of them think matters little.’ With that, he strode forward to intercept Kane.
Viktor followed.
‘Kane!’
Kane’s footsteps faltered as they advanced, his body stiffening.
‘What did you say to Lana just now?’ Sorin ground out.
Kane was silent and didn’t face them.
‘Come now, Brother, no banter? No witty retort?’
Kane turned slowly, and where Viktor had expected to see his usual expression of bored disdain, instead he saw two things he’d never seen on his Brother’s face before. Fear and … guilt?
Sorin’s face drained of colour, and Viktor, his stomach leaden, suspected he looked the same.
‘What have you done to her?’ Sorin all but whispered.
Kane’s mouth opened, but nothing came out. He shook his head and tried again. ‘I–’
Viktor didn’t wait. He ran for the stairs, leapt down them in one and raced along the corridor. He stopped when he reached the closed door, Sorin on his heels, breathing hard, and slowly opened it, terrified at what scene might await them. At first, he didn’t see her, but then he noticed a bundled form on one of the cots.
‘Gods,’ Sorin breathed. Viktor followed his gaze and saw a crop lying on the floor.
‘Do you think he …?’
‘Lana?’
She didn’t respond, but he could see the even rise and fall of the blanket. She seemed to be asleep. Viktor crept forward and raised the sheet, hoping against hope that he wouldn’t find her bruised and bleeding beneath it.
The skin of her back, arse and thighs was unmarred, and Viktor sighed in relief. ‘He didn’t beat her.’
‘It doesn’t matter whether or not he did, you fool, the fear is enough.’ Sorin picked up the crop quickly, strode to the porthole, thrust it open and cast the offending object into the sea. ‘We agreed after her first punishment that we’d only ever use our hands because of what she suffered in that village. No canes, no crops nor switches – nothing. Where did that thing even come from?’
Viktor clenched his fists. ‘Kane must have brought it. But why?’
Sorin sat down heavily at the desk in the corner. ‘I owe Kane my life, same as you, Brother, but we owe Lana more. If we must make a choice between the unit – between revenge – and her, I know what I will choose.’
Viktor nodded. He was in complete agreement, he realised without surprise. A few weeks ago, he could not have fathomed leaving the Dark Brothers – not for anything. They had saved him and provided a path to avenge Greta, little Hari, and baby Gilly’s deaths. But while he would always remember his wife and children, they were from a different life. He had been another man then. It was time to make a new start and perhaps find some measure of happiness. He saw now that he had chosen Lana the moment he’d seen her in that stable.
But what about Kane? Viktor had known that Kane would strike out at Lana. He had spent longer alone and, as far as Viktor knew, had never known the bonds of love outside the Dark Brothers like he and Sorin had – but enough was enough. They couldn’t wait for Kane to understand whatever his feelings were. They couldn’t stand by while he hurt Lana.
‘We’ll sort out what to do after we take the Islands,’ Viktor decided. ‘Until then, she shouldn’t be alone with Kane. He can’t be trusted.’ Viktor hated to say the words aloud, but it was true. Kane was a threat to her.
‘Agreed.’ Sorin turned to leave.
‘Where are you going?’
‘Kane needs a lesson and I’m going to make sure he learns it well. Stay with her.’
He nodded once and Sorin left quietly.
Viktor took in the visage of the exhausted girl in front of him. She rolled over slightly, and he could see her face still wet with tears from crying herself to sleep. Sorin wasn’t usually the one to mete out punishments where Kane was concerned, preferring to leave it to Viktor, but on the rare occasions Sorin used his fists against his Brother, Kane’s face in particular was always the worse for it. As he stared down at Lana’s sorrowful appearance, Viktor hoped Sorin didn’t hold back one whit. For once not fighting the impulse to console her, he lay down carefully on the cot, trying not to wake her, and drew her to him.
