Page 86 of The Devil's Hunt

“Prepared me?” she scoffed, pulling her hands away from mine. “How do you prepare someone for something like this?”

Mila’s eyes bore into mine, a maelstrom of emotions swirling within them. I could see the hurt and the fear battling for dominance behind the mask of composure she tried to maintain.

“You should have told me,” she said at last, her voice a whisper.

“I know, baby.”

“And if I refuse? If I refuse to be fucked byyourbrothers? Then what? We can’t be together?”

“If you refuse, I’ll support your decision, and I will do everything in my power to protect you. Even if that means dying for you.”

“Dying for me?Fuck, Archer. Protect me from what?”

“From my father and the other leaders of The Brotherhood.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Kai and Theo’s fathers and all of our grandfathers are still alive.”

“What the fuck is going on, Archer? Why would you need to die for me? Why do you need to protect me from them?”

“The Hunt and The Ceremony are given to us as a reward for the difficult sacrifices we make for The Brotherhood, with the understanding that if we choose one of our Chosen to be our wife, they must make certain sacrifices. That’s you. Your sacrifice shows us that you are willing to give yourself to The Brotherhood and become one with meandus.”

“Haven’t I sacrificed enough for you yet?”

I could see the hurt and anger simmering just beneath the surface of Mila's usually calm demeanor. I knew I had unleashed a storm that threatened to engulf everything we had built together, but I also couldn't deny the truth any longer. The weight of my loyalty to TheBrotherhood bore down on me, a heavy burden that threatened to crush me under its immense pressure.

I reached out tentatively as if trying to bridge the growing chasm between us. "Mila, you have sacrificed more than I could ever ask for. I never wanted this for you, and if you tell me no, I will fight for you. I will gladly die with your name on my lips.”

Mila's gaze was fixed on me. "So you’re telling me I have no choice in this?”

“You do have a choice. There’s always a choice.”

“Sure, I can either be fucked by three men or walk away at the cost of your life. That’s no fucking choice, Archer. I’ll always choose your life.”

“There’s no walking away from The Brotherhood. Not when you know what you know.”

“They can’t keep me here.”

“That’s not what I’m saying.”

“Then speak fucking clearly, Archer.”

“If you choose to walk away, you will be passed along from member to member, starting with the elder leaders. They won’t stop until you're broken completely.”

Mila recoiled, her eyes widening in horror at the implications of my words. The reality of the choice before her seemed to finally sink in, the weight of it bearing down on her like a leaden shroud. She sat there, staring back at me, her jaw clenched in determination.

“Fuck the patriarchy,” she stated, her voice firm despite the tremor betraying her resolve. “I refuse to let a bunch of old men make decisions for me. I will not be used as a sacrificial lamb for your Brotherhood. The whole patriarchy, with its archaic rules, can go to Hell.”

I watched in awe as Mila's resolve hardened before me, her spirit shining brighter than ever before. The fire in her eyes ignited a spark within me, a newfound admiration for the woman who stood her ground against years of tradition and oppression.

She turned to face me. “I belong to you, Archer—no one else. The Brotherhood does not own me. They don’t own you. I will dowhatever it takes to be with you. If that means I have to play a role, then I’ll play it. If they want a queen, then I’ll give them a queen. And then I’ll burn their fucking kingdom to the ground.”

“Mila,” I breathed, my voice filled with equal parts pride and love. “I’m constantly amazed by you.”

“Now, tell me everything you know about Alexander Benson and my father.”

And I did. I started from the beginning. I told her about her father’s business dealings that he hid from her and everyone behind the stocks and bonds company, Grey Industries. He had been dealing guns long before she was born. He had always been our ally until he wasn’t. Until trafficking guns wasn’t enough for him. Trafficking humans was more profitable. His greed forced him to adapt and make deals with The Collectors—with Alexander Benson. The Collectors ran him into the ground with their demands, and he thought he could play both sides. I told her about how we had been fighting to end human trafficking and the hold that The Collectors had on the city. They ran a super highway from city to city. Their reach was endless. And no depravity was too low for them. I told her about my role in The Brotherhood and the lives I took willingly. I made no excuses for the killer I was. She saw me at my worst, and she didn’t run.

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