Page 63 of Eternal

“We were bleeding money. He funded the program to keep it afloat. He saved us from going under.”

“You really are that fucking stupid, aren’t you?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Did you ever ask Paul where the money actually came from?” I shake my head. “He set you up using a shell corporation, so if you ever tried to turn on him, you’d be the one to go down for it. It wasn’t his money, Simon. And if anyone digs, do you know what they’ll find?”

“No.” His eyes are wide.

I lean in closer. “Sigma House funds.”

“I didn’t.” He struggles against the leather restraints. “I wouldn’t.”

“The Council won’t care.” I let him go. “To them, you’re already a traitor, stealing from the House to keep your little medical trials afloat.”

“But I didn’t. You know that. You have to tell—”

“Why would I do that?” I cut him off, leaning in to bring us face-to-face so I can stare at him directly in the eyes.

He thinks he’s fooling me with his show of innocence. But I see him.

“I know why Paul helped you. Worse, I know how you helped him. It wasn’t just the seat on the board he gave you, was it? You needed test subjects, and we both know three years ago, she was your patient.”

“This is about his daughter?” Simon’s eyes widen. “This has nothing to do with the money, does it?”

“Incompetent men shouldn’t try to play God, Simon. You fucked up. Stealing things that weren’t yours to take. I think it’s time you learn about something I like to call karma.” I look over at Kole. “Go get them.”

He nods, heading to the door. The initiates are outside waiting, thinking they’re being ushered into a trial, but that will have to wait.

First, they need to learn a lesson.

“You won’t get away with this.” Simon clenches his teeth. “I know what you’re doing. This is about her.”

“It is.” I smirk, watching him. “But it’s about the House too. You and a whole list of others are about to learn that lesson.”

“They’ll figure it out.”

“Probably.” I walk over to the table and grab a large metal implement that has Simon’s eyes widening. “But by the time they do, they’ll be in your position, so it won’t matter, will it?”

“Wait—”

Simon’s words are cut off when I shove the tool into his mouth. It scrapes his teeth and hooks on the back of them so I can crank his mouth open.

Spit dribbles out with his attempt to speak, but they turn to screams when I clamp his tongue with a pair of pliers.

The door opens again, and Kole walks back in with our three initiates. Trent and Shane are still on their first trial, so they look a little queasy at the scene before them, but Jase is on his third and unphased.

I watch Jase as he circles the room, untouchable for the time being. Just because his father made the deal for Teal, it doesn’t mean I have a reason to make him suffer for it yet. For all I know, he could be an innocent party in this mess.

That’s something for me to decide another day. Right now, I have bigger problems to deal with.

Kole stands at my side with his arms crossed over his chest once we’re all in the room. “Quiet.”

The whispers between the initiates stop, and they all focus on me.

“What is the Sigma Sin cardinal rule?”

“Take from the House, we take from you,” they all answer in unison.

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