Page 78 of Ashes

“Malachi, as you know, tried to kill himself in your home. We hoped he’d be on the mend by now, but because of his mental issues, it’s not worked out that way. His brain was without oxygen for a little too long, and it’s caused him to start having seizures and hallucinating. Last night, he hallucinated that we wanted him to hurt himself. So he broke free and managed to get hold of a scalpel then he tried to cut his tattoos off his face because he was convinced he’d be released from here if he did.”

Horror spread through me at Sully’s words. Bile threatened my throat.

“Stitches wouldn’t do that. He’s fallen into darkness before. It was never like this. Whatthe fuckdid you do to him?” I shoved Sully again as Ashes ignored us and went to Stitches and held his hand. I recognized that he was speaking to Stitches, but I didn’t register his words.

Sin moved behind me but didn’t try to stop me.

“Dante. Please. We will detain you—”

My fist met his face in a satisfying crack. “Detain this, bitch.”

I was just about to kick the fuck out of him when a strong hand landed on my shoulder and gripped me tightly. I knew that fucking touch.

“Enough,” my father’s deep voice boomed out.

It took everything I had within me to back away from Sully and his bloody fucking nose, but I did.

I whirled on my father, the hatred boiling hotter within me.

“You’re letting this happen to him, you sick, twisted fuck.”

“I do not control Malachi’s illnesses,” he said softly to me, his dark eyes emotionless. Like always.

The man was just a voice except when it came to harming people. That was where his sickness was. I fucking loathed him and wanted nothing more than to skin him alive while listening to him scream the entire time. It was a sweeter, kinder end than his fucked-up soul deserved.

“No, you just control the cunts making it worse,” I said fiercely.

He inclined his head at me. “I understand your frustration, Dante, but we’re trying to help your brother. I’m here to approve treatment for him so he can return home and to his studies. Do not think for a moment that I want him stuck here, imagining things. Malachi needs to get better. He can’t do that if you’re in here with your friends attacking the staff.”

I swallowed hard. “I want him released immediately into my care—”

“Unfortunately, Son, that’s not your call. It’s mine, and I say he stays.”

I glared at him, doing everything in my power to resist flattening his ass. I knew my father. If I hit him or lashed out at him, Stitches would be punished as a means to punish me. Or worse. That was just how the prick operated. He controlled people through the power he wielded. Through his abilities to harm those closest to us.

“What have I done to offend you, Father?” I whispered. “For you to hurt my brother like this?”

He reached out and cradled my face. “Your brother is sick. He’s sicker than you, Dante. He needs this treatment if he is to return home. If I wanted him dead, don’t you think I’d have done it already? You remember who I am, don’t you, Son?”

“The fucking devil,” I whispered.

He smirked at me, making me want to spit in his face. “Ah, and you’re the prince of my darkness. Now return home and let the professionals deal with Malachi. If I catch you here again, you will be punished.” The way he said it let me know he meant Stitches. He knew how to hurt me.

He leaned to speak into my ear as I stiffened. “That pretty, little thing down the hall really is magical, isn’t she? It would be a shame if she became my new toy. Nowfuckingleave and think about what youknowI want from you.”

My breath caught in my chest as he pulled away and gave me a look to let me know he wasn’t playing. But I knew that already. My father never played. If he made a threat, he followed through. We were cut from the same cloth, he and I. We were both disgusting monsters.

I glanced at Stitches in bed, my eyes burning.

“D-don’t fucking hurt him,” I choked out. “He’s my only family.”

My father let out a soft, dark laugh. “I’ll make sure he’s in good hands. Don’t worry, Dante. Malachi will return home soon enough. Then we’ll talk about you finally joining the family business.”

The family business.

The flesh trade.

Sex. Body parts. Lives. Fucking souls.

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