Fourth Debt (Indebted 5)

I hugged my knife, stroking it with the thought of spilling Cut’s blood. “He was the best. His death won’t go unpunished.”

Flaw came closer, his boots silent on the emerald W carpet. “Words like that can get you into trouble.”

I ran my thumb along the sharp blade. “I don’t care. All I want is for them to die.”

He cleared his throat. “Can’t say I don’t understand or feel your pain, but it’s best to stop saying such things.” Inching closer to the bed, he held out his hand. “I was told to bring you.”

My head snapped up. “What?”

The last time someone had come to take me somewhere, the maid made me dress in breaches and cheesecloth, then delivered me to the worst poker night in history.

I tightened my grip on the dirk. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”

He scowled. “Don’t make this harder than it already is.”

I moved away from him, inching to the other side of the bed. “Tell me why.”

“Why?”

My heart cantered faster—almost as fast as Moth, the day Kes took me for a ride. I should’ve been nice to him. Kinder. Less suspicious.

I bared my teeth. “If this is to re-do the Third Debt, I’m not going. I’ll kill you first.” My threat wasn’t empty. I boiled with the urge to do it—to prove I was done being weak.

Flaw jammed his hands in his back pockets. The action made him appear personable and less threatening.

I didn’t buy it.

He’d been there that first night when Jethro stole me from Milan. He’d witnessed what they’d done to me in the months I’d been there.

“I haven’t been told anything. I guess you’ll just have to come and find out for yourself.”

“Tell Cut he can come for me himself.”

My eyes darted around the room. I had weapons here: needles, scissors, scalpels for sculpturing lace. If I could entice Cut into my nest, I could ambush him with tools I knew how to wield.

He wouldn’t stand a chance.

“Look—” He shrugged. “I was told not to tell you, but fuck it. They’re in the library. And they have guests. I doubt they’ll do anything of a…family matter…in front of an audience.”

No, but they keep such blatant evidence.

Their audacity at keeping mementos of my ancestors’ pain infuriated me. Once I’d killed them, I’d gather up every video and document and burn them. I’d demolish every evidence and set my ancestors’ souls free.

Why not turn it into the police?

I shuddered. The thought of men in suits—men who the Hawks might’ve paid to turn a blind eye for so long—watching video-tapes of my mother’s agony almost made me black out with a vicious vertigo wave.

Gripping the sheets, I let the dizziness subside before blinking my vision clear.

Flaw hadn’t moved; a relaxed employee who knew I’d have to obey eventually.

“Why should I trust you? What’s to stop you from lying?” He might’ve been Kes’s friend, but he was still a Black Diamond. And they weren’t to be trusted.

“Because I might be the last remaining friend you have in this godforsaken place.” His face tightened for a moment, filling with thoughts he refused to share. “You need more? Fine. I happen to know the guests are lawyers.” Holding out his hand, he said, “Happy? Now, let’s go.”

“Lawyers?” I shook my head. “Why?”

What on earth are lawyers doing here?

Flaw gave half a smile. “Instead of all the questions, how about you just get it over with?”

I didn’t want to move but I couldn’t deny he had logic on his side.

With one last glower, I swung my legs off the bed and padded toward him. The room wobbled from getting up so fast, but other than that, my bloodlust for Cut’s life kept me focused on an anchor.

Jethro is no longer my anchor.

I was once again a shipwrecked boat, drifting on an ocean of misfortune.

Flaw’s gaze fell to my knife. “You planning on taking that?”

“Do you have a problem with that?”

I waited for him to snatch it from me. To confiscate it. Instead, he pursed his lips. “I’m not the one on your shit list.”

“Not at the moment, you aren’t.”

He sucked in a breath.

Rebellion and power siphoned through my blood. I didn’t trust Flaw, but he wasn’t my enemy. Holding eye contact, I hitched up the hem of my slouchy cardigan, tucked the dirk in my waistband, and concealed it.

He didn’t say a word.

I was playing with fire. He was on their side. He could tell them I had it and leave me defenceless, but at the same time, I had to push and search for allies. Flaw had been kind to me whenever we’d crossed paths. He’d escorted me to my room late at night if Daniel caught me sneaking to the kitchens. He’d been there whenever I’d popped in to see Kestrel, laughing and seeming normal and carefree.

Anyone who was friends with Kes couldn’t be too bad—Kes wouldn’t tolerate it.

And I learned that the hard way.

He’s dead.

Just like his brother.

My heart panged. No matter how strong I forced myself to be, I couldn’t stop the lacerations of grief. It was like a rogue wave, lapping at my soul, tugging me under with its rip.

Flaw crossed his arms, challenge sparking in his eyes. “You know the knife won’t be enough.”