Page 23 of Promise to Break

The best killers are empaths. They know where and how to hurt because they feel so much. I may have anti-social tendencies, but I wouldn't if I'd been born into another family. The reason behind my each and every action is that of obligation.

I took that god complex upon myself because I had no fucking choice. And I don't feel bad after doing the things I do, either. Not because I don't feel it on a conscious level. I can imagine and feel the pain of the bullet or any other torture device on my skin. Franco took care of that. I don't feel bad because I send them into nothingness. A peaceful nothingness where no one can hurt them anymore.

Especially me.

My father was right about one thing. I was a very emotional child, so he used it. People might call me a victim, and maybe I am on some level. But am I really if I understand that any outrageous thing I do to others and simply refuse to care that my nature demands me to do just that? I know about pain, physical and emotional, and I still keep doing it. I am irredeemable.

"Stop your bullshit, Killer. Your father's batshit crazy, but we're here, and we're not leaving you." Liam looks at the kid. He's pissed, not because of the dead body, but because of what it represents. "We need to bring him down, Killer. We'll find the right time, mate."

I'm not the only one who has a reason to hate Franco Fierro. He was the one who chose Liam's wife, Raven. While I adore my tiny, beautiful birdy of a cousin, Liam hates her. I tried to pry into the why, but was unsuccessful. Unlike me, my friend can't escape his impending marriage. Franco was smart to make the Bourne family sign a contract that would cause them to lose his little sister to one of the soldiers of la Familia if he refused.

"Maddox—" I start, but one look from Kai has me shutting my mouth. He, just like Liam, despises Franco. The reason for Kai's hatred is so appalling I refuse to even think about it.

"Even I would never do something like that." Liam stares at the body. We don't say it, but we know it was fast. It was a clean shot to the head.

I sigh. "I want to bury him properly, nothing like the others. Go get the fuel. We need to bring this place down." I move the body, not waiting for their reaction.

Fuck, he was maybe seven years old, ten max if he looked young for his age. Franco must be sitting on his throne right now, awaiting my wrath just so he can discipline me. Sometimes, I show my empathy just to goad him into punishing me. It's the only way I can cope. If I had a therapist, they'd have a field day poking around in my head. Isabella tries, but not even her degree in psychology is enough to gage what my brain really harbors.

I lift the kid's body over my shoulder. It's the lightest body I've ever had to carry. His blood soaks into my clothes, telling me that the kill happened not too long ago. Kai doesn't even attempt to help me like he usually does in these situations and keeps his distance instead. I can't even start to imagine what he feels right now. If Newt's life wasn't at stake, he would kill my father. Fuck, I would do it myself.

I'm almost at the entrance to the warehouse when Liam calls, "Guys, I think we have a problem," prompting me to drop the body to the floor.

"Is it the cops?" Franco dared to do that to us once before.

"No, it's a dog. He's hurt, and there's a message clipped to his collar." A fucking dog? Liam made me drop this kid's body on the floor because of a fucking dog? My empathy doesn't extend to dogs, cats, or any animal of any kind. I don't like them near me.

"Fuck," Kai summarizes perfectly the moment our eyes fall on a huge German shepherd that looks at us with pain in its bright eyes.

"What are we going to do?" Liam asks. "We can't leave him here." Liam looks at the panting thing and back at me as if it's a done deal. But I don't need a dog. We don't need a dog.

Animals are pure, and being near them brings out emotions in me I refuse to acknowledge. Besides, it'll be a nuisance to deal with. It'll want food and hugs, and it'll lick our faces and toes for no apparent reason. And then it'll want to sleep with one of us.

I don't need a fucking dog.

Kai steps over to the animal and bends down to pet it. "We'll take it with us, but first, we have to take care of this boy." Kai decides to speak now of all times? Really? Are they fucking for real?

"You know this is a message for us, right?" Liam brings me back to the present as he takes the note from the dog's collar and opens it. "It could have been Maddox or Newton. Stay in line."

The words make my blood boil. So this is all because of last week's show. I asked Franco to release Kai from his obligations. I even told him I would pay Kai's dues. Franco didn't like me asking him to go easy on my friend. To Franco, others are only a pawn on a board, nothing more, nothing less.

"That motherfucker!" Liam's scream causes the dog to howl. "I'm going to kill that asshole." Liam kneels in a matter of seconds in front of the beast, trying to calm it down. It's already started. Fucking dogs.

I look at Kai for help, remembering that his family is all about dogs. "He won't touch them. It was a reminder that he has the power, nothing more, nothing less. But Kai, check on Newt. I'll go to the prison to check on the asshole." I try to think about the real problem we have and not about the adorable fur ball.

Killian, don't you dare.

I gather the poor kid from the floor again as the band Strapping Young Lad starts screaming "fucker" with all its might. Kai takes the phone from my pocket as he answers and puts it on speaker.

"I think this will be a valuable reminder for you, Killian. Don't ask me stupid shit anymore if you don't want the real people you care so much for to pay the price. The next time, Kai will pay with his blood. Do I make myself clear?"

"As a crystal ball."

"Good. Now take care of the kid."

Franco disconnects, and we're all silent for several moments. Then Liam looks over and searches my eyes. "What have you done, mate?" he asks because Kai's too busy glaring at me.

"He doesn't even know her," I growl.

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