Page 47 of Havoc

I stood back up, and lifted the cane, inspecting it for any damage. “You’re right there, I did think of you as a mother because my own mother was useless, which makes the betrayal even more painful.”

“So, do something already.”

“Don’t want to talk about the fact you had no impact on this family anymore?” I teased. “Well, okay then, if you insist.”

I lifted the cane up and landed it down upon her thighs. Sonora screamed out in pain, and her eyes watered as she looked down at her legs.

“Oh, silly me,” I said. “You can’t feel it through those pants.”

I took out my pocketknife and cut the pants from her legs so I could see her flesh. It was pink from the cane but not at all the usual red I liked to see.

“That’s better,” I said as I raised it up again and landed it back in the same spot. Sonora screamed again in pain as she tried to hunch over and protect herself. I pushed her back with the tip of the cane on her chest until she looked up at me. “Now, let me see…what else can we talk about while I have you here, breathing.”

Lennon

The screams from downstairs were savage, but I knew Presley was only just getting started. Pierce and Caelan, my two most trusted workers, walked through the door at the same time as Hadrian and Chance. Chance’s eyes lit up when he saw me and he came over to give me a handshake and a quick one second bro-hug. “It’s good to see you looking healthy.”

“It’s good to see you out, my man,” I replied.

“Thanks to my little sis. Where is she?”

Did I tell him what she was doing to his mother right now? If another scream erupted, it’d be hard to stop him from figuring it out.

“Pierce, Caelan,” I said. They came over to us. “This is Chance.”

Chance shook both their hands.

“Head upstairs for a shower, guys. We’re going to be in for a long night looking for Hendrix.”

“Hendrix?” Chance asked. “He’s back?”

Pierce and Caelan both headed upstairs as I told Hadrian to get what he needed to fill everyone in, leaving me with Chance.

“I have a lot to catch you up on, brother.”

I led him over to the entertainment room and poured him a drink. He looked at it and sighed.

“Do you know how long it’s been since I had a drink?” he said, before throwing it back as if it would be bad if he didn’t finish it right away.

“Welcome home.”

“All right, enough with the pillow talk. Tell me…what the hell did I miss?”

~

I watched on as Chance drank the last of the decanter of whiskey and just stared off into the distance. Who knows how long you’re meant to let one take in the news of the century.

“Right…so we’re killing the bitch?”

He was referring to Sonora, his own mother, who I’d just explained had been behind Presley’s torture and terrible life. Chance had always been protective of his little sister, and now I could see it.

“Presley’s enjoying it.”

“That’s what the screaming is? I thought it was just some modern dance kind of music playing.”

I felt the laughter bubble to the surface as I sat back in the chair. “No, it’s Presley doing what she’s very capable of doing.”

“Right…well I guess, maybe I should help.”

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