Page 114 of The Heir

The car slowed, and I realized May was staring Damien down with open animosity. I bumped his elbow, drawing his attention away momentarily.

The door opened and Joplin exited the car first.

“Gentlemen,” Damien, waved.

I followed Joplin out and paused, my gaze climbing the walls of what looked like a warehouse. When I turned, I saw a small airplane in the back and realized what it was.

“Damien needs a word.” Joplin announced, before moving off toward the airplane.

“Indeed,” Damien mused, before cocking his gun.

Donnie exhaled and shifted. In my head I did a basic math equation. May would charge him. He was the threat and the hot-headed one, which meant he would be the first target, I’d have a fraction of a second to get that fucking gun out of his hand…

What then?

The sound of the other vehicles rolling up ruined any hope of getting away.

“I don’t like to spend unnecessary time when I want answers. So, let's speed things up a bit, and get on with it, shall we?” Damien asked, looking around like he honestly expected objections. “Good. Take your clothes off.”

“Yeah. No,” May scoffed.

Damien raised his weapon and Donnie stepped in front of May.

“Do it, asshole,” Donnie hissed over his shoulder.

“Man, fuck that,” May started getting loud.

“Do not make me go home and tell Trista something has happened to you,” He hissed through clenched teeth.

May snorted and hesitantly started peeling his clothes off. Damien glanced toward me, and I took a deep breath and followed suit.

Once he had us all naked, I started to appreciate each breath a little more, certain my last would come at any minute. I glanced up and Damien was staring at me.

“Who is the heir?” he folded his hands in a patience stance, the gun pointing absently at the ground.

I looked at Donnie and May, clueless as to what he meant. The lights in the distance shut off. A few moments later the next row went dark. The shadows started to grow around us, until someone shot out of them and shoved Donnie to his knees. He landed hard, a startled cry coming from him as he flew.

“Who?” someone barked from behind me.

May dropped to his knees proactively and I slowly followed suit.

”Which one of you is the heir of the Steel Disciples? I won’t ask again, boys.” Damien checked his watch like he was bored.

A taunting laugh started to my right and my heart sank. Damien rounded on Mayhem like he’d been dying for a chance to make an example out of something, I could see it in his eyes.

“You think you’re clever?” Damien asked, his accent flaring.

“I think you got rejected last night and since your dick didn’t get stroked, now you’d like to substitute your ego.”

Damien made a muted sound that never developed into a laugh.

“I like this one,” he announced, using his gun to gesture to Mayhem.

“Is that what your daddy used to tell you?” May pressed.

“My father?” Damien, canted his head, “He was a soulless fuck that could’ve left you blubbering and questioning your faith without effort.”

“A man of true talents,” May mocked, his tone getting more disrespectful with every passing minute.

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