Page 120 of Ink Deep Devotion

Anders raises his ax and runs a finger down it, looking directly at the two guards behind my father. They both gulp.

“You’re the Viking.” One guard retreats a step. His gaze locked on the ax, envisioning the carnage it has made.

“Bölvigr,” the other whispers as his fingers tremble against his gun.

Anders grins,“Bölvigr. Bringer of suffering. I remember when he called me that right before I killed him. I’m not sure I like the nickname.” His smile turns manic.

The guard retreats another step back.I curl my fist. This man is supposed to be loyal to my father; he's paid to protect him, but here he is quivering and retreating.

“If you know me by that name, then it means you knewhim.” Anders makes a guttural sound like a growl.

“I…I didn’t know him.” The guard lowers his gun, eyes flashing with mercy.“I heard about what you did. Message received!” he shudders as his words drool with fear.“Everyone heard what you did.”

“Where did you hear it?” Anders tilts his head. His eyes begin to sparkle as if they were hands wrapped around a rope that was pulling a snare closed.

The guard looks to his friend, then Anders answers,“In a whore house, I’m guessing, which means you knew him personally.”

“No! I didn’t like what he offered.”

“But you did nothing to stop it.”

“It wasn’t my problem.”

“It never is.” Anders raises his ax and points it at the guard, who freezes,‘I’ll be seeing you again.”

“Enough!” Dad’s face reddens in contempt over his guard’s fear.

“I’m curious, Greggy,” Anders says.

“It’s Michelson!” My father bellows.

“Did you know what Adams was doing when you wrote his contracts?”

“Of course not. I have lines.”

Anders chortles,“Blurred, right?” he swings his ax in a circle before he lowers it.“Let me guess, you didn’t ask; just took his money and wrote the deal.”

Glancing back at my dad, I find he looks less shiny and more tarnished than ever before. I know he isn’t a good man, but although his actions are evil, his intentions still have small seeds of good. I know he works for terrible, horrendous people, but he’s still my father. He’s still trying to make sure I have a future, albeit a caged one. Deep down, he just wants me safe and protected.

“If I ask every detail, I’d never have clients.” Dad’s eyes cast down towards my feet.

Damian tucks me into his side.“When the funeral is finished, Mila will be going back to Empire to finish her classes. After that,” he turns arctic,“she and Dash will be married, as stated in the contract you wrote and signed. Don’t try to take anything from my cousin, or I will take everything from you. Do you understand me, Greg?”

Damian’s gaze sweeps over the house, then to the guards. But never me. He’d never threaten me because I’m already gone, promised to another. I can’t be bartered again, and that’s a warning to my father not to try.

Dad’s gaze drops to me, the wrinkles around his eyes appearing deeper and more pronounced.

“It’s okay, Dad. I trust them. Please, I need to see Dash.”

Slowly, Dad nods, and Damian ushers me to the door.“Mila,” Dad shouts,“I only ever want is best for you.”

Anders snickers.

“I do,” Dad rebukes.“Sometimes the safest thing is to be caged with a monster because outside that cage, the beasts of this world run wild.”

???

There in the distance, my broken prince stands, each of his uncles blocking him in like crutches again. He doesn't want their support, but he needs it to stand.

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