Page 51 of Sin and Salvation

Pathetic. For all my time in Maxime’s not-so-tender care, I had always managed to keep my tears to myself.

“Good. You’re learning.” Crow rested the hammer on the chair between Rastus’s legs, dangerously close to the family jewels. “We knew you were a distraction. I don’t give a damn about that. What I want to know is what Maxime is planning to do next.”

Rastus just stared at him, and Crow idly thumped the hammer. “I don’t know! He doesn’t confide in me. I’m only there when he calls me in, when he’s threatening me. He repo’d my car and was getting ready to evict me from my apartment, so I agreed to hunt down my si—Venus, and—”

“I don’t care about your apartment or your car.” Crow sounded patient, like a parent dealing with a child throwing a tantrum. “I want to know what Maxime has planned.”

"He…” Rastus swallowed hard, the tears spilling over. “He wants Venus.”

“Clearly.”

“He sent out some guys to take care of you, but that reporter got pictures, they’re all dead—”

“We know.”

Crow raised an eyebrow, tapping the hammer again, and Rastus tried to lean back, which wasn’t too far. “Seriously, I don’t know anything!”

Crow swung the hammer before he’d stopped speaking. It connected with Rastus’s knee, the soft, wet sound of flesh splitting, the sharp, tooth-aching crack of bones splintering filling the room.

For a moment, that horrible sound rang in my ears as Rastus opened his mouth wide in a silent scream, cords standing out in his neck like cables.

Then the real screaming began as he finally filled his lungs.

This turned my stomach, no matter how much I hated him. I didn’t think I’d ever be able to get that sound out of my head; no matter how long I lived, I’d always know what it sounded like to hear a knee completely explode.

“What is Maxime planning?” Crow demanded again, but I was turned around hard by a strong arm.

“Come on,” Aeron said, his face set. “You’re not staying here to witness the rest.”

He gestured at Brody, who quickly slid the iron door open. Aeron dragged me through and the door slammed shut behind us again, cutting off fresh screams from Rastus.

I didn’t argue as Aeron led me away.

ChapterTwenty-Five

Iwaited until we were in the elevator, rising past the third floor, before I spoke.

“I wasn’t upset because it was him.” I wrapped my arms around myself tightly, watching the numbers rise. “It was just… the sounds. I guess that makes me a cold-hearted bitch.”

Aeron stood close enough that his jacket brushed against me. His spicy scent filled the tiny, enclosed space.

“I don’t think it makes you cold, sugar,” he said. “It’s natural to hate him after what he did.”

“Some would say I owe him more than that because he’s my brother.” I shook my head slightly. “But I don’t even see him as a brother anymore. It’s just a word. When I see him, all I can think of is when he gave me to Maxime. He didn’t look back once, even when I screamed for him.”

Without prompting, Aeron slid an arm around my shoulders, squeezing me tightly. I was grateful that he wasn’t looking at me. Sometimes his eyes seemed to see a little too much, and if I felt his gaze, I wouldn’t be able to get out the feelings that made me wonder if I was as bad as Rastus or Maxime.

What kind of sister was perfectly fine with leaving her brother in the basement to be tortured? I was already anticipating a shower and a change of clothes, like Rastus’s pain was absolutely nothing to me.

I leaned against Aeron’s side and confessed these thoughts, stumbling over my words.

Even if he had sold me, we were still blood… didn’t that deserve some small consideration?

The elevator opened on the penthouse and Aeron pulled me out of the vestibule. Instead of walking off, he took me by both shoulders.

“Stop beating yourself up over his choices, Venus. He’s no brother of yours. He lost that right when he pawned you off, knowing what was waiting for you.”

I stared up at him, hoping my lower lip wasn’t quivering.

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