Page 18 of Cruel Crown

I patted Ren’s chest before I pushed him aside. “Don’t worry, mate, you’re still my number one guy.”

“Fuck you,” he groaned, running a hand down his face. “Someone explain to me what’s going on?”

The first thing I did was take a seat, making myself comfortable. Bastian dropped his backpack and headed for the wet bar.

“Make yourself comfortable,” Ren added dryly.

“Why were you in Italy?” I asked, knowing why but wanting to confirm it.

“Your fucking bitch called,” he answered. “Who did this to you?”

“My bitch,” I replied bitterly.

Ren raised a brow and then watched Bastian as he took a seat.

“You don’t mind if I charge my shit, right?” Bas asked but did it anyway. He then turned to look at us. “If you’re wondering why I’m here, I kinda own his ass.”

Rolling my eyes, I explained most of what went down in the jungle to Ren, and in return, he told me about his little trip to Italy. He didn’t hide the fact that he hated being in debt to Daphne.

“The Estacado girl was in bad shape. She kept begging Daphne to kill her. She couldn’t even look at me. She was afraid of me.”

Do you know what I felt? Nothing. Absolutely no fucking remorse over her. She was just a job and a casualty. Bastian, on the other hand, cursed, then threw back his drink.

“Why do you care?” Ren bit out. “This is all your bitch’s fault.”

Bastian scowled and glared at him. “If I were you, I’d be a little more fucking grateful to her. Anyone else would have fucking killed you, no hesitation. And if they didn’t, they would have killed your pretty little girlfriend.” Ren growled, but Bas kept going. “And if they felt like playing, they would have made you watch as they took everything from her, leaving nothing but a shell behind. Daphne paid with her blood for you, so be fucking grateful.” He then turned to me. “Everything we touch dies or ends up broken. Are you sure you want in?”

“What does he mean by ‘in’?” Ren sat straighter and looked at me.

I ignored him.

“What do you mean she paid with her blood?”

“You do not disobey Damian without consequences.”

“What did he do?” I asked through gritted teeth.

Bastian rose and refilled his drink.

“He called a meeting gathering all the members, then he chained her up to a pole and had her whipped.”

Trying to remember who had been in the room that day in Moscow, I found myself asking, “Who did it?”

Bastian looked at Ren. “I did.”

“What?” I seethed, but he ignored me.

“That first lash was easy. I mean, how hard could it be, right? By the third lash, her skin was red. Seven lashes and her skin began to tear. You see, inside headquarters, she’s not my friend nor my mentor; we are both soldiers. I was doing what was expected of me. Eleven lashes later and her blood was starting to surface. Fifteen and Damian said I wasn’t using enough force. Seventeen and her back was covered in blood, her knees and legs shaking, little whimpers leaving her mouth, but she wouldn’t beg for me to stop, so Damian ordered to add five more since this was obviously not enough punishment for her. At twenty, she cried out when the pain became too much. At twenty-two, she couldn’t take it anymore. The only reason she was still standing was because of the cuffs, and sometime before twenty-five, she passed out. I threw away the bloodied whip and walked away with everyone else, leaving her there pretending like I didn’t give two fucks about her, so what she did for you wasn’t in vain.”

I wasn’t the only one who was breathing heavily. If I thought I hated Damian before, it was nothing compared to how I felt right now. Daphne would pay, and if the only mercy I could offer her was to watch me cut off his head, that would be more than enough than she’d ever given me.

Gideon

Past

Location:Mediterranean

She was crying right before my eyes, and all the anger I had inside of me just disappeared. The moment she stepped foot inside of my property, I knew. Crazy how much power one person could have over you.

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