Page 27 of Patching Over

“Can we hasten up the parents’ demise?” Grim asks. “Tell me what you were thinking?”

“Well, I thought we could deprive them of food at least, work both of them over even though she’s a woman, then lock them in a small room before we end them.”

“She’s no woman if she was able to treat her daughter in such a manner,” Phoenix says.

Angel nods then adds, “We could bury them in a container with limited resources and let them die.”

“We’re here to reap their souls,” Rael states.

“Honestly? I think we should see what Madame Laveaux wants to say to them, then each brother who wants, take their best shot, then see if Rayleigh has anything she wants to say to them,” Banshee suggests.

“I’m concerned seeing them again might set her back, Brother,” I reply. “Otherwise, what you’re suggesting soundspretty fucking good. We can all play then let our Tonopah Valley brothers do their thing.”

“Bet there won’t be anything left to clean up,” Phantom teases, looking at the three men standing there. All of their Reapers are just below the surface, as if they sense they’re about to be let loose to claim a few more souls for the Devil.

“You’d be correct,” Grim says, smirking so evilly it gives me chills.

“Can I just say I’m glad y’all are on our side and not sound like a fucking pussy?” Kracken asks.

“We’ve heard that a time or two. Now, are we ready to get this party started?” Grim questions, looking at me.

With a nod, I hit the table with the gavel then state, “All Brothers who want in, follow us so we can get this shit dealt with now.”

It doesn’t surprise me that every brother who isn’t out on a run is down here right now. Once we finish with Enoch, Voodoo will snag Madame Laveaux so she can do whatever it is she feels she needs to, then we’re going to start on Rayleigh’s parents. Right now, we have them in separate cells with no food or water. I can hear their wails as they go through withdrawal. Sucks to be them right now because it’s only going to get worse.

“This is the piece of shit who left her for dead?” Angel asks, glaring down at Enoch, who is looking pretty fucking pitiful at this point. Old and new bruises cover his body, and the cuts some of the brothers gave him are definitely infected if the foul-smelling pus oozing from them is any indication. The stench of body odor as well as body waste has me wrinkling my nose in disgust.

“The very one. Took her from her parents in payment for a debt. Then, decided she’d make a great punching bag when she wasn’t able to accomplish what he thought she should while he left her alone with barely any food or water to speak of,” Kracken replies. “Oh look, I see you weren’t able to keep from eating everything. You were supposed to divvy it out, man.”

“Kinda wish we could have a bonfire,” Phoenix says, flames dancing off his fingers. “Oops, didn't mean it,” he continues, as one of the flames lands on Enoch, causing him to scream in pain as the flame remains concentrated on one area.

I’m absolutely fascinated by my brothers’ otherworldly talents at this point. Growing up in the mountains, there are so many superstitions and stories surrounding the area, I never realized some of them had a bit of truth to them. Plus, Madame Laveaux’s own reputation precedes her, which is one of the reasons I’m beyond respectful of whatever it is she does. I don’t have to understand something to recognize it’s real.

“Phoenix, you gonna move back so we can finish this fucker then move on?” Grim asks, a smirk on his face. His Reaper is even closer to the surface, causing me to hide my instinctive shudder. I can’t fully grasp willingly letting the Devil have my soul, but these brothers, despite some of the shit our club is involved with, help rid the world of evil.

“You guys just want to take a man’s fun away,” Phoenix retorts, calling the flame back before closing his hand and reabsorbing all of them.

“No, we don’t want to get stuck here in this godforsaken snow,” Shadow supplies, rubbing his hands together almost gleefully, as if he’s eager to get to work. “Can we do it now?” he asks me.

Nodding, I step back and let the Tonopah Valley brothers gather around Enoch’s nearly prone figure. He’s injured, weak from hunger and lack of water, so he’s unable to do anything tosave himself. Not that he was ever getting out of here alive to begin with. I watch in fascination as their shapes shift and their Reapers stand there, Grim reaching over to slit Enoch’s throat and end his miserable life. As one, we see what I’m guessing is Enoch’s soul begin to rise before three scythes cut through him, screams echoing in the small chamber. The floor trembles before opening and I can smell the sulfur and brimstone as well as feel the heat before Enoch’s physical body and his soul disappear from sight. Blinking, I see the floor has closed up again leaving nothing behind.

“Well, that’s gonna make clean up a fuckton easier,” Phantom says, looking down at where Enoch disappeared. “Just gotta get rid of the stench he left from pissing and shitting. We need to get some prospects, Pres,” he tells me almost as an aside.

“Got a few in mind, we’ll talk about it at the next Church. Voodoo, you want to get Madame Laveaux?”

“Be back shortly, brothers,” Voodoo says, walking out of the room.

“Let’s go see how her parents are doing,” I state.

“Looks like you’re both hurting,” Brew says, peering at the two individuals who are currently tied to two chairs, the brothers grabbing her from her cell so we can get this shit done.

The sickening stench of sweat, combined with urine, has my stomach turning. I swear to Christ, I’m going to start doing what I’ve heard coroners do before an autopsy. I’m going to smear some Vicks under my nose because this shit’s for the birds.

“Just need a drink,” Dave Matthews sputters out, his body trembling from withdrawal.

“More like you probably need a fifth at this point,” Jingles retorts, causing all of us to burst into laughter. The sinister sound causes her to whimper as tears begin falling down her face, but any sympathy I normally have for a woman in distress is absent.

I can see the brothers who captured them weren’t gentle as both are sporting multiple bruises. Normally, I wouldn’t deign to hurt a woman, but Laura Matthews isn’t a female, she’s a cold-blooded monster. “While we wait for our guest to arrive, I’ve got a few questions for you,” I say.

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