Page 40 of Degradation (The Brethren Lords #3)

Devin

I s this a joke? Is this a fucking piss take?

I wasn’t even watching over the bitch. I wasn’t even on duty. I should have gone out, should have left the facility, then they couldn’t have pinned this shit on me.

I narrow my eyes, listening to Commander Malik as he drones on about following orders, about the repercussions of fucking up. Like he’s one to talk, we both know he’s been sneaking off after hours, shacking up with one of the kitchen maids.

“Who says it was me?” I snarl. Whoever it was, I’ll be sure to make them understand the consequences of such lies.

“She did.” Malik replies. “Called you the monster guard.”

I pause, choosing not to react to the name. But that little bitch has clearly pointed her finger at me. Does she think she can outsmart me? Does she think that, what, I’ll be got rid of? I clench my fists, fighting the urge to lash out.

No, there are better ways to deal with this. To deal with her.

“I requested to serve the Chapter Lord.” I grit out. “Not play babysitter to some cheap whore.”

A few of the other officers nod, understanding obvious in their eyes. None of us want to be stuck in this stuffy old Palace all day.

“Gunther will have an absolute fit if he finds out his wife has been free to wander as she likes,” another officer chimes in. “He’ll punish all of us for such a fuck up.”

The others nod in agreement again, like they’re all little dogs uncapable of thinking by themselves.

Malik shakes his head slightly. “None of us need that.” He mutters. “You’ll be docked a week’s pay, Blake. If you keep your head down and your sheet clean for the rest of the quarter, we’ll strike the reprimand from your record.”

I grunt back, like I give a fuck about the money.

Money means nothing to me; I’m not some low level nobody who needs to scrimp and save.

I was born wealthier than most of these people’s fortunes combined.

No, I’m not here for the money, I’m here for the honour, the prestige – at least, I was, because it turns out the reality of this duty does not come even close to what I imagined in my head.

Oh, I knew there’d be shit days, boring days, days where we had to wipe people’s arses, but I expected some drama, some excitement.

The only drama here is when that bitch does something to aggravate our great leader, and he then drags her down to us for a punishment. I smirk at the thought, at the knowledge that next time she fucks up, I’ll be waiting. Next time she pisses him off, I’ll be the one ready to make her cry.

I’ll make her sorry. I’ll make her rue the day she decided to fuck with me.

Stupid little whore, she clearly has nothing better going on in her life, but I’ll give her the drama she so clearly craves, I’ll give her pain too.

I’ll have her twisted up so badly she’ll be a bleeding mess by the end of it.

And then she’ll learn her place.

Then she’ll realise not to pick fights with someone who could snap her like a twig.