Vow of Obedience ( Cavalieri Della 2)

Trefor’s body. I should find out what Lange did with it. I’ll get back Trefor’s remains and give him—

“Daddy, look out!”

I turn to look at the same time Lange does. Branwen’s spoken at last, and her voice is filled with fear.

And she’s spoken to me.

Branwen’s staring at something in her father’s grasp and I see her running in slow motion, her hands out to stop him.

She’s spoken to me. To save me.

Lange has turned to look too, so confident she means him. That she?

??d only ever call out to save him. There was a blade concealed in his belt buckle and it shines in his hand, poised to stab me in the guts. Branwen’s going for it, and ice water floods my veins as I realize what she’s going to do. Because she called out, I have a split-second to react and I’m not going to let her die for me. I’m the one who protects her.

I grab Lange’s wrist and tackle him to the ground. He roars in anger at being denied the chance to kill me by his own daughter.

That’s right, you fucker. She called out to me, not you.

I grapple with him on the ground and the gun goes flying from my grip. I’m not going to kill him. He can suffer with this knowledge until the day he dies. That one of his own betrayed him, and it’s all his fault. I try to wrestle the blade from Lange’s hands.

Then it stabs, hard. Right into Lange’s guts.

The knife falls from his grip and I get up and kick it away, then pick up my weapon. But Lange is on me like a tiger, trying to wrestle the gun out of my hand. I feel his blood all over me but he doesn’t seem weakened at all. I think I can hear Branwen screaming but I’m fighting for my life. I’m fighting for hers too.

Lange punches me in the guts and the gun goes flying from my hand a second time. I return the favor, sinking my fist into the wound in his guts, and he roars in pain. We’re on the ground, scrabbling with each other. He gets his hands around my throat and this motherfucker is strong.

An explosion shatters the air. Lange goes stiff, his eyes flying open. Over his shoulder, I see Branwen. She’s got the gun in her hand and she’s pointing it at Lange’s back.

“That’s for Cora.” She fires two more shots. “That’s for Trefor. And for momma too.”

Suddenly, Branwen looks at what she’s done. Her resolve crumbles and the gun falls from her fingers. I get out from beneath Lange and lunge for it, just in case he’s not done fighting.

But he doesn’t move. Blood is pouring from the bullet wounds, and he’ll be bleeding on the inside too.

Lange looks up at me with hatred in his eyes. “You’re fucking weak. I would have gutted you if it wasn’t for my slut of a daughter.”

I stand over him, my chest heaving. “You’re the one who’s weak, because you’re alone. You’re going to die in the dirt. I was thinking about my brother and how much I love him. About the burial I’m going to give him, surrounded by my blood brothers. I’m going home, and I’m taking Branwen with me. I was thinking about anything and everything except you. Because you’re fucking nothing. Branwen. Get in the car and drive away.”

She whimpers. “Daddy, I don’t want to leave you—”

“Branwen, baby. Please.”

On the ground, Lange’s eyes darken with hatred. That’s right, fucker. I’m her daddy now. She still hesitates, afraid for me, but this is going to be nasty and she doesn’t need to see it.

“Do as you’re told. Get. In. The. Car. And. Drive. Away.” Every word is a bullet.

I can hear her crying but she does as I say. There’s a wild rev of the engine, tires churning, and a shower of gravel, and then there’s no sound except for Lange’s labored breathing.

I ease myself down on the ground next to him. There are birds chirping in the trees. Leaves rustling in the breeze. It’s almost peaceful. “You’re dying, Lange. Better make peace with your God.”

“Makes peace with yours. You’re going to fucking hell for this.” The bloodstain is covering his shirt now and his face is chalk white.

“Not for this. You weren’t going to die. I was just going to leave you here to make your way back to Avallonis, and take your daughter far, far away from you.”

I might go to hell for other things I’ve done, and this won’t be the last time I spill blood.

“I came here thinking that I wanted revenge but Branwen changed me, without even saying a word. That’s how powerful your daughter is, and you never fucking saw it.”