Page 24 of Cruel (Brutal Academy)

He and Hunter weren't killed with a barrage of bullets. Lila stood right behind my twin, gun in her hand too. She was so fucking hot. Of course she'd made it through and brought all those women with her. If anyone could do it, it was her. She was beyond incredible.

I turned back in time to see an asshole in a suit walk around the corner behind us. I knew he was an asshole, because he was my brother Caleb. I won't lie, the temptation to shoot him then and there was strong.

He was surrounded by a couple of ridiculously burly bodyguards, who would definitely kill me if I killed him. Fuck that, I wasn't in the mood to die today.

"I see you found your girlfriend," he said smoothly. His eyes grazed all the women before settling on Lila.

"Your powers of observation are on point as always," Zeke remarked. "Observe this. We're leaving and we're taking these women with us." He was never impressed with Caleb's arrogance and posturing.

"I don't see any women," Caleb replied mildly. "None I know anything about. I'm merely here on business. What a surprise to run into all of you."

"See no evil, speak no evil." Zeke looked unimpressed. "Typical Caleb. You never were good at taking responsibility for anything you did."

Caleb raised an eyebrow. "You have no proof I have anything to do with this. If you walk out the door, I won't stop you."

"What, not going to offer us a share of the profits?" Asher said dryly.

Caleb raised his other eyebrow. "Would you take it?"

Asher barked a laugh. "Fuck no."

"Asher is trying to think up a reason not to put a bullet in your head," Zeke said.

"He's right," Asher agreed. "But we've wasted enough time here. These women have been through hell already."

I glanced back at Lila. She held her gun like she had the same internal conflict as Asher.

On one hand, Caleb had a part in what happened to her. On the other, killing Caleb might put the rest of the Brantley family offside and she may need them if we were ever going to form an alliance.

"If I was you, I'd look for things to smuggle that aren't people," I remarked. "I have a feeling it won't end well for you next time."

"Don't threaten me," Caleb said coldly. "I have connections you could only imagine. Several who would be more than happy to slice your throat while you sleep."

"Back at you," I told him. I wasn't going to be intimidated by him. "Can we go now?" I asked Zeke. "I've had enough of this family reunion for one day."

Zeke nodded. "Let's go." He gestured for Hunter and Slade to lead the way out the door, but kept his eye on Caleb the entire time. So did I.

I didn't trust that he’d let us walk away with hundreds and thousands of dollars worth of what he considered merchandise. The only reason for him to do it was because if he tried to stop us, that would be his admission of his involvement with the operation. He'd rather lose money than get his hands visibly dirty.

I had no doubt in my mind at some point he'd make us pay for this. When he did, I'd be ready. If Hunter didn't decide to strike out at him first. With any luck, he'd piss someone else off first. I more or less loved Caleb, kind of. I didn't really want to be the one who killed him. I doubted he shared the same sentiment about me.

I walked backwards, following the others while keeping an eye on Caleb's bodyguards. I couldn't tell what they thought of all of this. They were like a pair of stone walls, dressed in expensive black suits. No one would ever mistake them for what they were. Trained hitmen who worked as my brother's protectors. They wouldn't hesitate to kill if he told them to.

Lucky for everyone involved, especially me, he didn't. I stepped over the threshold and outside into the shade between buildings.

No one stopped us, but people passing paused to stare before hurrying on. It probably wasn't the first time they saw strange happenings here. It probably wouldn't be the last.

"My only regret is not being able to watch Caleb explain to all those buyers that they're here for nothing," Asher remarked.

"You can go and watch if you like," Zeke said.

Asher grinned. "No thanks. My imagination is pretty good. Now, how are we going to get all of these women out of here?"

"If anyone suggests we go into the back of the truck, I will shoot their balls off," Lila growled.

"No one was going to suggest that," Slade assured her.

No one suggested calling the police either. Everyone was well aware Caleb was already telling all the men in suits to vacate the building. Or making up some excuse for being there. By the time the police arrived, the place would be cleaned up, dead bodies removed. Same with the sheds where we'd all been held. Even if the police believed what the women told them, they'd have no proof. Nothing they could pin on anyone. Apart from Hades, everyone involved in the operation was either dead or distancing themselves.

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