Page 15 of Pope’s Purgatory

Birdie has a strange aversion to the property claim despite growing up in this world. Or maybe because of it. Who the fuck knows?

I turn to Cyanide. “These are your little sisters.”

There’s a flash of agony in his eyes before they go blank and he shrugs. “Gotta do what we gotta do. We’ll make it up to them.”

I fucking hope so because my life ain’t much without my little Birdie in it.

Taking a deep breath, I climb to my feet. “Diamond.”

“What?” Cyanide asks.

“Diamond will be the best one to use.” I glance at Malice. “Bring her in here.”

There are no words spoken between me and Cyanide as we wait, both of us lost in the thoughts of everything we know the next few days are going to bring.

When Malice walks through the chapel doors with Diamond, I climb to my feet and nod at him to pull the door shut. From the outside, people might assume we’re bringing her in here for a good fucking time with all of us. Appearances can be deceiving, and right now, that’s what we’re aiming for.

Diamond stands in front of me, curiosity written all over her. I step closer, her eyes widening when I leave no distance between us. Tucking my finger under her chin, I hold her face up so she can read the seriousness on mine.

“There’s going to be a time over the next couple of days that I call for you. When I do, I need you to follow me to the playroom without asking questions. When we get in there, you’re going to dance for me and you’re going to strip. You’re going to grind on me just like you would any other brother you’re dancing for, and when I order you to show me your cunt, you’re going to remove your panties and you’re going to do it.”

“What?” she whispers, her eyes showing concern as they bounce between me, Cyanide, and Malice.

I shake my head. “I can’t and won’t tell you why I’m asking you to do this, but I need you to know I’d never do it without a good fucking reason. Understood?” Her eyes tell me she does. “You have a choice to walk away right now, and I’ll find another girlto do the job, but I’m trusting you, Diamond, because you’re the one who has the most compassion out of them all.”

“Is this going to hurt?” she whispers, and I know she’s not just meaning herself.

“Oh, it’s going to fucking destroy, but I’ve been left with no choice.”

“Okay, I’ll do it.”

“For what it’s worth, I’m sorry I’m putting you in this position.”

Diamond shakes her head sadly. “Don’t be. You’re my President, and she’s your old lady. I know how much you love her, we all do, and I know you wouldn’t be doing this without a good reason. She’s the reason you’re doing this, right?” I can give her this much, so I nod sharply. “You’re protecting her, and I’m honored, and sad, to be chosen to help you do that.” She blows out a breath, staring up at me with guileless eyes. “Can I make a request?”

I don’t say anything, giving her the all-clear to ask.

“When this is over, is it okay if I take a break? You know, fr-from it all?”

This is why I chose her, because Diamond is one of the few club whores who adores my Birdie, and this is going to devastate her as much as it’s going to wreck Birdie to witness.

“Whatever you need. If you want to get away, you just pick where and I’ll pay for it. If you don’t want to come back, figure out what you want to do and we’ll figure it out.”

“You all are my family, but she’s going to leave a hole in this club, and I’m just going to be a reminder of that,” she states quietly.

“Look, D, let me pick someone else to do this.”

She shakes her head, her face resolute. “No. Let me do this. I’m the only one with the acting skills to pull this off thanks to allthose years in high school drama club. The other girls . . . it won’t have as much impact as it will from me and you, ya know?”

I search her face, looking for anything that would hint she’s expecting more out of this, but all I see is the same need to protect Birdie from whatever I’m trying to protect her from.

Diamond turns to seek out Cyanide. “I’m sorry you all are put in this position with whatever’s going on. I just want all of you to know,” her eyes find Malice to include him too, “you’re great men, and the women who get to be loved by you, well, they’re in for a pretty great ride. You set the bar high in my book, and I can only hope to find someone, someday, to love me that way.”

The three of us aren’t stupid. We’ve heard plenty of goodbye speeches in our lives, and when she ends it, Cyanide and Malice each give her a kiss worthy of that goodbye. I wrap her in my arms tightly, showing my appreciation for what she’s about to sacrifice in the only way I’m comfortable with.

War is ugly, and this one is already leaving scars on us all.

“It won’t be long and then we all have to pull off the biggest acting gig of our lives. Go have a few drinks. Devil fucking knows we’re gonna need them,” I order when I pull away.

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