Page 56 of Sinful

But here I was now, walking the halls and having these fucks bow to me.

They weren’t bowed far enough. That’s all I knew. They should have been on their fucking knees with my knife to their throats.

“Welcome home,” another said when I walked past.

I remained wordless, irritated that I was even here in the first place. But it wasn’t because of my specter. I’d do this happily in her place. Here, she’d become twisted and broken. I didn’t want that for my girl. I was pissed because it shouldn’t have to be this way. My entire life, all I wanted was a normal family. A father who loved me, my mother, and Stitches. Maybe a little fluffy dog. I’d have played football or hockey. Went to a regular high school. Wouldn’t have a mental health history as long as my fucking leg.

Alas, I didn’t like dwelling on that shit.

But sometimes, it crept through my mind, so I’d give it a few moments in the spotlight before kicking it out as I did to everything else in my life that bothered me.

I pushed open the door to the punishment center and strode forward, dressed in all black like the demon I was.

“Dante, my son,” my father greeted me with a smile and his warm hand in the center of my back. “Right on time. It’s one of the finer aspects of your personality.”

“What needs to be done?” I asked, ignoring his bullshit and speaking in the monotone I’d adopted just for him and these circumstances.

I’d only been here a few hours and already I was growing bored.

My father chuckled as the man with the blindfold on whimpered between the two hulking assholes who held him.

“A lot of the same old nonsense. He owes me money. Tried to touch what didn’t belong to him. Punish him as you see fit.” He clapped me on the back and took a step back.

I stared at the man for a moment, falling into my old routine. It was like riding a bike. It wasn’t something easily forgotten.

“Get me a table,” I snapped to no one in particular. This place was dark magic, though, and seconds later, someone was scurrying inside with a table for me. They placed it in front of the man, who let out a soft cry through the gag in his mouth.

I stepped toward him and stopped on the other side of the table.

“Kneel,” I commanded.

The man shook violently and pissed himself.

I let out a soft snarl when he remained on his feet.

The guys holding him knew me well enough. They knew I wanted complete submission from the people being punished, which was why they hadn’t put him on his knees for me.

“Remove his gag and mask,” I said.

The deed was done, and I was met with the dark eyes and snotty nose of some fuck I recognized from long ago.

He’d been a regular in the Underground. I caught him staring at my mother more than once. I was certain he’d even tried to purchase time with her, but my father hadn’t approved the transaction because Jack didn’t have the kind of money it took to fuck the queen of the Underground.

“Jack, Jack, Jack,” I murmured. “We meet again.”

“D-Dante,” he whimpered. “Please.”

“Knees. Now,” I barked at him.

He sobbed softly and went to his knees for me. I paced in front of him, my monster free from the cell I kept it in.

“What did you do?” I demanded after a moment.

“I-nothing. I-”

“Do not fucking lie to me.” I turned abruptly and fisted his hair. “Speak only the truth to me.”

“I’m s-sorry. I can get the money I owe. I swear I can. I only need a few more days—”

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