Page 73 of Mistress A-0002

“No!No!”

I ignored Melissa’s breakdown to continue. “Master Twenty-two, you have been found guilty on all counts and have been condemned to death. You will be brought out to the execution stage where you will be beheaded in front of everyone for yourcrimes.” I turned to Hale. “As of this very moment, Jett LaRoe is no longer a Master of the Garden of the Gods. He now belongs to you. How would you prefer he die? By executioner or by you?”

“He’s mine?”

I paused as he stood.

“His life is, yes. How do you wish to proceed?”

Screams went up as Hale raced forward again. The guards jerked to attention but didn’t move as most looked to me. I shook my head, watching as one caught Melissa as she flew forward to make her way to Jett. He jerked against the chains, trying to run, but other than moving a few feet, he was trapped.

“It wasn’t me! I swear it wasn’t?—”

Jett barely got out the scream before Hale’s fist connected with his mouth. Jett flew back at the table from the blow, but Hale was on him, bringing the solid wood crashing down beneath them as he drew back, punching the young man’s face with everything he had.

The blows were solid and bone-crushing as he tried driving his hit through his face. Muffled screams were cut off by Hale’s fist, and blood was already beginning to pool on the small area of the floor underneath Jett LaRoe’s head as it continually snapped back from the power, knocking against the concrete. With every impact of Hale’s deadly blows, the floor itself seemed to shake. Melissa’s screams were echoing through the room as the guards worked on removing her fighting frame, but they were having a hard time as she twisted and clawed at every part of them she could reach.

“You killed my brother.” Hale grabbed some of the loose chain from one of Jett’s arms, wrapping it around his neck to pull on like a necklace. “Now I’m going to kill you.My brother.”

A deep purple took over Jett’s semi-conscious face as Hale tightened the chain until the surrounding skin was sickeningly bulging around the sides. Blood vessels were rupturing in theyoung man’s eyes, turning the white completely red as he continued crushing his windpipe and trying to decapitate him with the chain.

“My brother! M-My?—”

Hale’s yells merged with Mistress Two’s as they finally managed to get her through the threshold of the main doors. Jett’s eyes were still opened, but the life behind them was gone as Hale kept putting all of his strength into tightening the chain. I stepped back, grasping to Master One’s shoulder as I passed by. Melissa’s screams were fading as I walked over and stood behind Hale, but they didn’t stop.

“He’s gone. Hale.”

“Seb—” He reared back, smashing his bloody knuckles once more on Jett’s unrecognizable face. “He’s dead. My brother. He’s—I can’t. I can’tdo this.”

I helped Hale stand, turning him to face me. “Youcando this. You were raised to take the lead if you had to. We never thought the day would come, but it has. Look into my eyes.You have me.One day at a time. The Gardens are here for you. We’re all here. What happened to Sebastian was a tragedy. It should have never taken place.”

“How did it happen, Elec? How!”

It wasn’t a question. It was a demand. I went to try to calm him, the words not coming as I realized…silence. Had they calmed Melissa? Had she given up the mask of distraught mother and headed for her apartment?”

The buzzing from my phone had me waving over Shane as I turned back to Hale.

“Listen to me, I have to finish here. I want you to go with Master One. Shane will get you a drink until I can talk more. We’ll find out exactly what happened. We’ll get to the bottom of it, okay? You have my word.”

Hale sobbed, looking over as Shane approached. I pulled out my phone, swallowing hard as I took in the subject line to the email that had come through.

I believe you wanted this.

“Main Master?”

I shoved my phone in my pocket, trying to keep the shocked expression from my face. Had I thought they’d answer my petition? Had I prayed?

“Take Hale to his new apartment and sit with him until I can make it over there. I….” My hand flattened over the outside of my jacket where my phone rested. My heart was racing. I could barely feel my legs due to the adrenaline. Shane went between looking where I held over my phone to my face. He wasn’t stupid. He knew something wasn’t right, and I was pissed that I wasn’t hiding it better. I felt nervous. Sick. Impatient with rage despite I hadn’t seen what I was sure was waiting for me.

“Let’s go.” Shane’s hand came to Hale’s back to lead him away, but his eyes didn’t stop searching the emotions that wouldn’t stop overwhelming me. “You’ll join us shortly?”

“Yeah. This shouldn’t take long.”

He nodded, turning them and continuing to look back as they and the rest of the crowd headed for the main doors. The moment they were through, I spun for the back exit, met with startled guards as their attention shot to me.

My pace was fast, and I was already pulling up my phone. Before I could click on the email, buzzing took over. The anonymous number had me holding tighter to my cell as I answered it.

“This is the Main Master.”

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