Page 19 of Blackwood

“Nothing worth repeating. Just him and Vince with their,‘Zeke’s almost out, yay the bitch’ll finally be alone’crap. You know, the usual.”

“That’s not usual, Bells. That’s sick.” My fingers return to the keyboard. “Try to get some sleep, sis.”

“You too,” she says around a yawn she tries to hide. “Hey, Zeke?”

“Yeah?”

“Happy early birthday.”

♥♥♥

11:59 PM

She’s out. Finally.

Moonlight spills through the window, silver streaks slice across the marble like a prison dressed in pearls. The breeze slips through the cracks, soft but useless.

This room still feels like a cage. Polished. Quiet. Rich.

Still a fucking cage.

Bella is curled up on her side, fists balled like she’s ready to fight in her sleep. Even unconscious she doesn’t let her guard down.

I glance at the clock glowing off my laptop screen.

Midnight.

Eighteen.

“Happy birthday, Zeke,” I mutter and close my eyes.

♥♥♥

1:03 AM

Voices. I’m up in a flash, knife in hand, laptop kicked aside, chair still jammed under the knob. I press my ear to the door. Carlos and Vince.

Of fucking course.

Vince’s voice drips through the wood, smooth and slick. “…and I’m ready for tonight,” he says, like he’s ordering dessert. “Every time she walks by, I see her on her knees. Crying. Trembling. That perfect little mouth all swollen and obedient.”

He groans. “I want her broken. Bleeding. Knowing no one’s coming. My balls have been blue just thinking about it.”

Carlos laughs, “Glad we could work something out after the incident.”

The incident? Oh. He means Dylan. This motherfucker just called my little brother an incident.

Vince hums like he’s sipping wine. “Wasn’t ideal, but it worked. One less mouth to worry about. Did Krolek get in touch about replacements?”

Carlos snorts. “Yeah. Met with his guy, Piotr, last week. Got a new shipment lined up by end of the month. But you let me worry about that,” he laughs. “No more Zeke in the way so you can just focus on Bella. Paperwork’s clean. Deal’s done.”

“Good,” Vince says, sharper now. “Once he’s gone, she’s mine. And I want him to know it. Want him to leave this house knowing what I’m going to do to her.”

“Hell Vince, let’s give him a sendoff. Strap him to a chair. Make him watch while you break her in. I’ll even hold her down for you.”

I don’t remember opening the door. Don’t remember stepping into the hall. But I remember the words.

Strap him to a chair. Break her in.