Page 160 of Terror Tuesday

“That’s wonderful, man,” Ryan says, then grabs the back of his neck in a swift movement.

There’s a sudden tussle as Aiden grabs his feet until Valen’s suspended in the air. Ryan helps to carry him to the back edge of the boat. Henry howls like it’s the funniest thing he’s ever seen—and I agree.

My sons shove the boy down until his back arches and his head hangs only inches above the icy waters. Ryan grips his throat, then glances over his shoulder at me. Taking my time, I wander over to them and squat near the kid’s face.

“So…Valen Von Dovish…We struck a deal for my daughter. You wanted her appointment and her hand in marriage so as not to kill me, is that right?”

“Fuck, yes! Can we just— I want her, okay? I love her. I don’t know what I did wrong.” His green eyes are wild as he clutches Ryan’s arms, attempting to scramble up to a sitting position. But Ryan holds him down, closer to the water’s surface.

“Nothing. You didnothing. And you won’t either,” I instruct him.

Ryan dips his head into the frigid waves for a few seconds as he thrashes against my sons. His fingers reach for us, trying to resurface. When Ryan pulls him up by his shirt, he gasps for air, and his eyes grow wide as he takes the three of us in.

“You’ll treat her right, like a queen. And I, her father, don’t give a shit what the society says. She’s not to be shared.”

He shakes his head rapidly. “I’d never?—”

The ends of his words are cut off as Ryan dunks him again. “Just for funzies,” he says, winking back at us. I give a nod of approval.

He brings him back up.

“If I hear differently… If you make her cry, I’ll have no issue strapping your feet to concrete blocks and having another fishing trip with just the boys.”

“I wouldn’t… No sir. No way?—”

Ryan dunks him again, this time letting him soak under the water until his skin turns blue.

I feel bad for the kid. Olivia would hurt too much if we killed her appointed now. But at least he understands who he has to answer to if he ever fucks up. “Bring him up.”

Ryan and Aiden do, then toss him onto the seats in the back. Valen shivers violently until Henry hands him a beach towel with a loud guffaw. He’s laughing so hard, tears stream down his face.

“Dude! Theygotyou. Best prank ever!”

Ryan smiles and grabs another beer, tossing one to his brothers, then hands one to Valen. “You good?”

Valen swipes the towel over his face, takes the beer, and nods. “Y-Yeah.”

“Great!”

Great, indeed.

I tap my beer can to his and slap him on the shoulder. “Welcome to the family.”

forty-seven

“What happened?”I yell as they lumber back inside. Ryan and Aiden have their arms around Valen, helping him up the steps to the back deck. He’s got a towel around his neck, and his sandy hair sticks straight to his forehead.

He’s soaking wet.

“Alice! Grab some more towels!”

“It’s fine, baby,” Valen says with an expression that says nothing isfine.

“Dumbass fell off the boat.” Aiden gives me a winning smile and pats Valenhardon the back, shoving him toward me.

“Is that what happened?” I ask, pulling off his black puffy coat. His body trembles as if he’s frozen, skin lacking its usual pink luster.

He nods and swallows. “Yep. First time on a boat.”