Page 141 of Heartless Heathens

“Yes.” He narrowed his eyes at me like he didn’t believe me, like he was trying to find the lie.

“Let’s play a game then.” He was looking past me like he was waiting for an Escura to object.

“A game?” My voice came out shakier than I intended.

“A game. Let’s put your faith to the test.” The smile only reached his eyes and his lips remained pressed into a flat line.

“What are you cooking up you psycho?” Corvin probed, more concern than playfulness in his tone but he ignored him, pulling me by the hand and leading me further into Arlan’s home.

My home now.

“You want to prove that you trust me?” He softly pulled a strand of my hair between my fingers like it was a cigarette and drug it down until it slipped out of his hold.

I wanted to tell him that I didn’t know it would hurt him. How could I have possibly known that I meant anything to him? Because I’d meant nothing to the man who raised me, the closest thing to family that I knew.

“I do.”

The muscle in his jaw bulged. He clenched his molars down so tight I thought I’d be able to hear his teeth crack.

“Your death then, I’m ready to collect.” He released his grip from my hair and looked me up and down.

“The game?” I whispered, not letting him show how my hands trembled in anticipation.

“Let’s see how far your trust goes.”

It was like he was looking for something inme, but the truth was that it was the easiest way to see intohissoul. Without another word he walked out, leaving me with Felix and Corvin. They eyed me curiously. Worried looks on both their faces but the three of us knew that I’d made up my mind and Sonny was calling the shots here.

This was Mordor.

He stormed back in holding a large rope and dragging a tall stool along the marble floors.

“Say you won’t leave me again,” he said while walking past me, setting the stool down in the middle of the room.

“You know that I won’t Sonny.” I stepped towards him, but he climbed up the stool instead.

“What the fuck are you up to?” Felix asked, walking towards us but Sonny pulled the gun out of the back of his pants.

“Stay the fuck away,” he told him, and Felix put his hands up in the air. “This is between me and her.”

He glanced over at me like he was hoping to see me shake from the threat. The idea was almost laughable but I didn’t let him know.

He couldn’t live without those two.

“Say it.” I glanced over to see Corvin taking a seat and crossing his arms over his chest like he was anxious.

“I won’t leave you.”

He put the glock back in his pocket once Felix stepped back, hands still raised but content enough that the situation was more psychotic than dangerous. He wrapped the rope skillfully around his hands, fashioning a noose and hanging it over the beam on the ceiling.

“Up.” He gestured to the stool after getting down himself.

I didn’t hesitate, despite the way Felix’s gaze burned into me.

“Put the rope around your neck, Romina,” he demanded but both Escuras began to question him, Corvin standing and Felix approaching again.

He pulled the gun out of his pants once more as their voices escalated, arguing over each other and he pointed at one of the twins.

“Stop!” I told both Escuras and they went silent at my plea. “It’s okay.”