Tonight was a strength in numbers, but I also knew it was a necessity. They had a loose cannon on their hands, and it was time to reel him in.
Glancing in the mirror, I looked back at the house. I spotted a curtain twitch, but I caught sight of her. Our woman was intrigued by us.
Didn’t she know that when we put our minds to something, we always get what we wanted? Right at the top of the menu was her.
I couldn’t wait for her to cave, for her to belong to us in every single way that mattered. My dick was already hard in anticipation.
Tonight had set about the groundwork. Now I just had to wait, and one day soon, I was going to get her alone.
By the time graduation came, she wasn’t going to be a virgin anymore.
Chapter Six
Emily
Tears filled my eyes as the pain from his grip intensified.
“I can’t hurt you. They’ve got you under their protection. You must think you’re so smart.”
Years of practice told me to keep my mouth shut, so I did. Staring into my father’s murderous eyes, I knew he wanted to kill me. To wrap his fingers around my neck and to squeeze the oxygen right out of me. What he didn’t seem to get was I wanted him to.
How fucked up was that?
If he killed me now, his life would be forfeit. Someone would know what he did, and he’d be the one running scared.
Instead, I stared right back at him, defying him. I’d always done this. Even as tears leaked from my eyes, the clear indication that my pain was at an almost intolerable level.
I counted in my head, wanting this to be over.
I’d begged before. He’d laughed at me, hurt me some more, and told me for every time I begged, he’d hurt me more. So, I never said a word. I kept my pain to myself.
“Dad,” Peter said.
“Fucking slut!” He raised his hand to hit me but the blow never came. “Why the fuck didn’t you tell me?”
“Tell you what?”
His fingers were around my throat, cutting off my air supply.
“You fucking bitch!”
He was pulled away by Peter and I gasped for breath, hating that he’d been stopped.
Sitting back up, I stared at my dad. “Just do it,” I said. “Fucking kill me. Get it over with.” I didn’t know where these words were coming from, but the moment they started, I couldn’t stop. “I didn’t tell you because you didn’t have the right to know, and I still wouldn’t tell you. You’re weak and you would’ve used it against them. You’re not worth it.”
He raised his palm, ready to slap me, but I held firm. I wouldn’t let him see me flinch, not again.
“You better get the fuck out of my sight,” he said.
I got to my feet, but I didn’t run as I walked down the hall and went to my room.
I closed the door, flicking the lock into place. It wouldn’t save me, but for now, it offered me enough protection to believe I was safe for a short time at least.
After a quick shower and change, I dried my hair as the doorknob jiggled.
“It’s me,” Peter said.
There was no way I was going to open the door. My dad couldn’t hurt me at the Monsters’ request, but I was guessing they didn’t say anything about my brother. Knowing my dad, he would make sure there was a loophole.
“Are you okay?”
I didn’t answer.
“I know you don’t trust me, and I’m okay with that. You’ve been through a lot. I … killing someone, it’s not easy.”
I took a deep breath. He was wrong. I killed that man and felt nothing. No pain. No anger. I accepted what I’d done, and what was more, I was happy with it. Gael was still alive.
“If you ever need to talk about it, I’d be happy to be the one to help you. I know you’re a fighter, Emily.”
It sounded like he put his hand to the door, but I wasn’t stupid. That one action could be the difference between letting him know I was weak or staying strong. I opted for strong.
Hands clenched at my sides, I waited.
Nothing.
I took a deep breath, wanting this to be over.
“Goodnight.”
I listened to his footsteps and I collapsed to the bed. This wasn’t what I needed today. I touched my neck, feeling where my dad had held on to me, determined to make me pay for what I hadn’t really done.
Gael, Caleb, Vadik, and River, they’d been here, in my house. They were offering their protection. Why? I wasn’t born yesterday. I knew what it meant to be owned by them. Part of me was already owned by the Monsters, as my dad was a minion. It didn’t make any of this easier. In fact, it made it a whole lot harder.