Page 3 of Breaker

“Cruelty doesn’t suit you, boy,” Fallon says.

My laugh is sharp, cutting my throat. “Cruel is exactly what you taught me to be.”

Except with them. Not even Reaper could be as cruel as Fallon intended. How cruel he instructed. We were supposed to train her in the harsh way we were. Take her loyalty. Pull it from her as violently as Father did ours. Yet every moment we faced the task, we craved more than her loyalty.

We craved her.

Both of them, and it made all the years, and all the plans become meaningless.

“For god’s sake, boy. Both of them?” he asks.

My eyes snap to his. He searches my eyes, his brows knit, as if everything they mean to us is written on my face. Like he can see everything we’d hoped, everything we’d dream.

“You fucked Gavin’s daughter as well?” He curses quietly under his breath, disgust marring the word and turning it even more foul. “So now my soldier, myson, is a sexual deviant.“ His eyes turn cold and my gaze drops. “Viper is depraved in his lust for flesh, but I expect better from you.”

I want to ask what the fuck he means by calling Viper depraved, but I swallow my words when I see him watching me, waiting for me to react.

To defend Viper.

To give away something he probably suspects.

He mumbles another curse under his breath. “I had hoped the rumors weren’t true.” Reading my expression, he shakes his head, the disappointment on his face obvious. “You think the other families haven’t heard what my soldiers did? What I’ve had to defend? Gavin has footage of you in his club the night before you were ordered to take them.”

Fuck. Of course, Father would find out. Reaper insisted we go to the club, have them, let Gavin see how weak he was, and has been this entire time. That we could take anything, at any time, and did we ever.

I just don’t think he expected the girls would take from us, too.

Shoving his hands in his pockets, Father’s head cocks to the side, his eyes boring through my skin, into my very soul. He rocks back on his heels and the move reminds me so much of our days back at the school that my stomach does a flip, making memories of our time there resurface. “Not only did you fuck up my orders and piss off the entire Devin family, an important family, mind you, you caughtfeelingsfor the daughter of the man who tortured my son.”

My gut twists as my eyes drop to his glossy black shoes. I’m glad I can’t see my face in them. I don’t think I’d like what I see.

“I taught my soldiers that flowery, pretty emotions are a weakness.” Fallon’s tone turns hard. “I taught my soldiers, my sons, respect. Honor. Tell me, Breaker, is there honor in caring about our enemy’s daughter?”

My teeth gnash together, and I refuse to answer.

The rage that my silence creates simmers under his skin, turning his features sharper and colder. Good. He doesn’t deserve my respect.

He never has.

I’m a fool that I gave it to him.

Fallon leans in, crowding me, but I don’t back down. “I also taught my sons to protect one another at all costs. And yet you keep failing me and each other.”

Pain stabs through my chest. It was a low blow, but I keep myself in check, not lashing back like I want to. He blames us for Hunter’s death.

I guess denial is easier than guilt.

“We did as asked,” I say.

“And you went against my orders, not just once but twice!” Fallon screams, his harsh voice slicing through the quiet foyer so sharply, I wince.

“We accomplished what we set out to do. We have Delilah’s cooperation, and—“

He steps back, smoothing his hands down the front of his suit, gathering himself, and I exhale slowly, unfurling my fists. “I never once instructed you to take the Julian girl. I never once told you tofuckRune’s daughter.”

I lick my lips, trying to settle my stomach. How is it father can make my guts churn with fear, make me feel this sickening shame for something that I know deep in my gut isn’t wrong?

“Does Gavin’s daughter know?” he asks coldly. “The truth?”

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