Page 10 of Cruel Knots

A black haze hovers over me, threatening to drown me.

“They’re over here,” I hear the fucking tyrant speak.

The sound of heavy soles hitting the grassy ground reaches my ears. Opening my eyes, I look up at Lucia’s brother.

There isn’t a shred of remorse in those cold, dark eyes. I can’t believe this man is related to our angel and her father.

“Good,” says Callum as he slowly circles me and my brothers.

This is the first time we’re meeting him. He’d been away from home over the past couple of years, managing Mr. Baldwin’s business in Europe. Lucia didn’t speak of him much and as long as we knew her, we never really cared for him.

I expected Callum to be the same as his father and sister.

Mr. Baldwin is the kindest man we’d come across during our time on the streets. He sheltered us in his home and allowed us to stay even though we were strangers to him.

Lucia was the same as him, treating us with nothing but warmth and kindness.

Where are they now? I wonder as Callum bends down to grab Damien’s collar and yanks his head up.

“Let my brothers go,” Damien mumbles through bloodied, bruised lips. “They have nothing to do with this. Kill me if you want to but let them go.”

“Ah! So, you do know what it’s like to care for a sibling,” says Callum.

“Please, let them g—” A cruel punch falls on Damien’s cheek before he can complete the sentence.

“I’ll not spare the dogs who dared to touch my sister,” Callum barks as he shakes my brother’s limp body.

A flash of silver suddenly catches my eye.

My blood turns to ice as I realize what it is. Callum is holding a switchblade in his hand and it’s dangerously close to Damien’s face.

“Lucia likes us,” Damien says haltingly as he coughs up blood. “She wouldn’t want you to hurt us.”

“My sister told me you were trash that she picked up off the side of the road because she was bored,” says Callum. “You and your brothers mean nothing to her.”

“That’s not true,” Damien argues.

Callum’s hold on my brother’s hair tightens. “Lucia is my sister. I know what’s true about her and what’s not. She doesn’t want you boys hanging around her anymore.”

“Fine, we’ll go,” says Damien. “Just...let us go.”

Callum lowers his face to my brother’s. “What’s the hurry? I’m not done with you yet.” He places the knife’s tip against Damien’s cheek and slashes.

A cry escapes my lips as his blood spurts on the grass. “Stop it!” I scream.

Callum chuckles, his dark eyes gleaming with malice as he holds my weakly resisting brother in his clutches.

Using all my strength, I push myself on my feet and hurl my body at Callum.

“Stay away!” Callum bellows, lashing at me with the knife.

The weapon cuts across my face, making me stumble backward. One of the men surrounding us kicks me behind the knees, sending me to the ground.

The night rings out with my brother’s screams as Callum carves his face. Blood coats the maniac’s hands as he smiles at the sound of Damien’s tortured shrieks.

Sobs escape me as I flail on the ground helplessly.

I glance toward Mikhail. He’s too still and silent. Damien’s screams should’ve at least made him open his eyes and look up.

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