Page 65 of Broken Discipline
“It seems that my little Bruce had an agreement with his cousin, Upchurch. Bruce would leave Upchurch in charge of his assets, to providemorefor the kids. But that money disappeared. Automatic processes have already sold his business, and that flat sum goes to the twins instead.” She folded the paper and put it back in her purse. Next, she pulled out a letter opener, the handle bedazzled with red rubies, the gold blade flashing like a molten crown.“You didn’t trust Upchurch to take care of your brats, did you? You thought you’d take it into your own hands. Make sure the brats got exactly what they deserved.”
My eyes burned with rage. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Edith stabbed the blade down, piercing my fingertip and I screamed so loud, the soldiers adjusted their weapons.
“Where is my son?” Edith asked.
“I don’t know,” I cried, the tears streaming down my cheek.
“Does Finn know where he is?”
“I don’t know!” I screamed. She stabbed the blade down again, barely missing my hand. A cough choked through my throat.
“Did Finn kill Bruce?”
“I—” I looked around frantically, trying to figure out what answer would get her to leave my family alone. I had never seen proof, but I knew in my heart what had happened.
And where was Finnnow?
“No,” I lied. “No, Edith. He didn’t do anything. He’d never do something like that.”
At those words, Edith laughed, then shook her head dismissively, like I was trash stuck to the bottom of her stiletto.
“Honestly,” she forced a smile, “I figured you’d be useless. Bruce never had good taste in women. Easier to dispose of them that way, you know? God only knows the man went through his wives like he changed his clothes.” She rubbed her forehead. “But I knew you would be trouble.”
I scrunched my brows together, pain throbbing in my hand, but I forced myself to stay still, to ignore her taunts. She pinched my next finger between hers, examining it like a blank canvas. My head pulsed.
“No, no, no!” I shouted.
“This is just a test, you know,” she said as she winked, “to see if Finn cares about you enough to go against a board member of the Marked Blooms Syndicate.”
The letter opener gleamed in the light as she used the sharp end to tap my knuckles. I kept my fist clenched closed, my fingernails digging into my palms. Blood oozed onto the armrest, the cushion damp with crimson.
“I can impale your hand, but I’d rather workupto that,” she said. “Now, be an obedient daughter-in-law and open your hand.”
A shot burst through the window, nailing one of the soldiers in the forehead. The soldier fell on his back, and the other shot back at the assailant. Two more soldiers burst from the back and Edith cowered behind me.
A guard stood in front of us, and the other two soldiers grabbed Edith’s arm.
“Mrs. Astley, come with me,” he said.
“And what about her?” Edith asked. “She’s tied to the chair.”
“We’ll get her later.”
They disappeared down the hallway and the front door blasted open, an array of bullets crashing through the door. The last soldier fell down. I closed my eyes, pleading for it to be Finn.
Nothing happened.
I opened my eyes. Finn’s cloudy eyes stared down at me, his gray uniform clinging to his chest.
“Finn?” I asked.
His eyes were damp, his fists shaking. Clutching the gun, he quickly examined the rope on my arms and ankles. He yanked out his knife, tearing through the bindings. Blood spilled over his hands. He kept his mouth closed as if he was afraid to say anything. Tears filled my eyes. Finn had killed them to protect me.Again.And he seemed relieved. Like he would shoot every person in the world if it meant saving me.
The deeper we got into this conflict with Edith and Upchurch, the more Finn had to risk. And if that meant he had to go against the Marked Blooms Syndicate, I knew he would sacrifice it all for me.
But at what cost?
