Page 29 of Burning Truths

Eventually the hole is finished, the foundation reaches us, and my patience for this nonsense has gone.

“What did you call us here for, boy.” one of the twins speaks.

“What is the meaning of this meeting?” the other twin adds.

Fully facing them I let my careful mask drop. “Remember who you speak to, thing one and two. I have no patience for games or riddles. I call, you come. That’s exactly how this goes.” I pull my shoulders back.

West comes to stand at my side with G two steps behind us in a show of support.

“Were done following the rules of the Foundation. The Stone family are the rightful heirs to which we claim tonight.” West says.

“In light of traitors in our midst, we think it’s time to remind the Foundation exactly what loyalty demands of you.” I finish.

We are so in tune with our thoughts that we mimic the creepy twin sisters.

“Do you take us as fools?” Professor Jackson says.

G moves to the front. I wave him to the side, I am not concerned with the old man that has no filter.

“We don’t really give a shit if you are or not. We’ve let you decide for us for too long and now we’re putting an end to it.”

“You’re useless little spoiled brats who’s father never taught you the value of hard work. Doing what must be-”

Addingtons words are cut off with a fist to the mouth by Oakley herself. Flexing her fingers she looks up at us.

“He was getting on my nerves.” she states with a shrug.

The foundation members grow uneasy. G circling behind them forcing their footsteps forward giving them no free space to move. Havoc and Haven stand to the side, Havoc leaning on an oak tree, while Haven’s eyes are locked on her phone screen. Jerking my head, I signal Oakley to pull Addington towards me.

“Ally.” I call out.

Ally peeks at me through wet eyelashes from my left. Big doe eyes stare up at me with hesitant curiosity.

“You asked what I wanted from you.”

She nods.

“Show me the loyalty you swear by.”

West’s brows furrow but ultimately he does nothing to stop me. Addington starts to laugh but Oakley lands a few more hits to shut him up. Blood flows from his nose and the corner of his mouth but still he stares at his daughter. His own flesh and blood.

“You think she has the balls to kill me?” he laughs.

Another hit.

“Who said she’d be the one killing you?” I question.

Tilting my head I extend my hand palm up. Without looking over, Oakley places a cold steel blade in my hand. It’s not the same one she had earlier and I’m betting it’s because that’s her special knife but a blade is a blade and they all cut the same.

Ally gulps, “I’ll do it.”

She reaches for the knife but I snatch it out of reach. Crowding her space I tip her chin up with the tip of the steel end.

“Make one wrong move and I’ll fucking cut you from stem to stern.” I snarl.

Her head bobbles. Sweat building between her brows.

“We didn’t come here for a power play made by children.” Jackson grumbles.