Violent Ends

Making his way to Landon’s room, he entered to see him still watching television.

“You know, if you keep this up, you’re not going to be able to fight us and we can just leave you here to rot.”

“Love you too, brother.” Landon held up his chained wrists. “Still a prisoner so I can’t tell you congratulations.”

“How did you find out?”

“Tamsin, who else?”

“She’s a sneaky little shit, isn’t she?” Gideon said.

“Yep. She’s been keeping me up to date on everything. From the dinner happening tomorrow night with the Savona family. I also know that the son of a bitch we call a father is going to try and marry me off as well.”

“I wish I had better news for you.”

“It is what it is. Let’s face it, Dad’s never been the one to let us live in peace. I should have seen it coming. With … Sarah … gone, I’m suddenly no better than a female pawn. Someone he can marry off so he can further the Denton name.”

The pain was there still, but it wasn’t as … intense.

“You know if you prove you’re not going to kill yourself, you’ll be let out of the handcuffs and allowed to live.”

“I can’t guarantee that.”

“You don’t sound in pain.”

“I’m dealing in my own way. Make no mistake, I miss her.”

“I don’t doubt it. Dad’s making mistakes.”

“Oh, you mean with hurting you and then threatening your woman? Emma’s got balls. I did always think there was more to her than what she let us see. You must admire her. Going toe to toe with Dad, that took some balls. She fucking you?”

“Fuck off, Landon. He’s going to kill her.”

“He won’t.”

“I know he will. He wants her dead because she humiliated him.”

“What are you going to do?”

“See what game he’s playing. I can’t do this without you though.”

“I’m not in the mood to tear this family apart, Gideon. Right now, I’m only just holding it together.”

“But you are.”

“I can’t guarantee that I won’t hurt myself or him. He wouldn’t let me go to her funeral. You know he doesn’t even come to see me. Mom does. She tells me to snap out of it. Dad doesn’t visit.” Landon shrugged.

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. If I’m ready, I’ll help you with whatever you have planned. I won’t hurt my brothers though, Gideon. That’s the trouble you’ve got. Who will follow anyone else but Dad?”

“I’ll figure it out.”

“You do that.” Landon looked at the screen. “This is so fucking funny.”

He moved from the chair to sit near the bed.

He wasn’t carrying any weapons on him, so he watched the show. Landon rested his head against his shoulder, and he allowed his brother to get the comfort he needed.

Chapter Eleven

Tamsin hated the dress.

It was so revealing.

Black, of course, and she’d been forced to wear high heels. They were hell and killing her feet. When her mother tried to put makeup on, she’d drawn the line and made it so incredibly difficult for her, her mother had given up.

She tried to walk down the corridor, but the shoes were a death trap. Kicking them off, she picked them up and entered Landon’s room.

The house had been tense since Gideon and Emma arrived.

Knowing what Emma had done, the threat she’d delivered to her father, Tamsin felt so happy with her. Emma had moved into position of being her bestie. It wasn’t like she was going to have anyone else be her bestie. The only people she was allowed around were her family.

Landon sat against the wall, hands still cuffed, and he’d lost too much weight.

“I remember a time you’d show off those impressive muscles of yours. What happened to them?”

“I fail to give a fuck because the love of my life is dead.”

“Fair enough. What are you watching?”

“I don’t even know anymore. Why are you dressed like that?” Landon asked, finally looking at her.

“My mom wants me to look like a whore for the perv they intend to sell me to. What do you think?”

“I think he’ll only find you attractive if he has some weird pedo vibes,” Landon said. “What is Dad thinking?”

“I don’t know, but if you saw him in action just lately, you wouldn’t like him.”

She turned toward the door as she heard the bell, letting her know that their guests had arrived.

“I can’t believe Mom is even allowing this.”

“She’s broken, I think. She’s lost that backbone that kept him in line.” She shrugged. “I’m not going to make it easy for them though.”

“Good. You need to take a stand, sis.”

“Oh, I will, believe me. Fifteen I may be, but this mouth is like a woman’s. It won’t shut up.”

“You’ve got a plan.”

“I’m thinking if I talk all night long and not shut up, it could help my cause. Who wants a constant talker in their life?”

Landon laughed. “Sarah didn’t talk all that much.”