Page 35 of Pope's Penance

But it’s all just that ...

An excuse.

I keep Birdie isolated at the house because I’m a fucking prick who doesn’t give a shit about how anyone feels except her and my kids.

“Where the fuck is my sister?”she snarls, her fists clenched at her sides.

Leaning back in my chair, I fold my arms across my chest and smirk.“Hello to you too, Kyrie.”

“I don’t greet people I don’t like.Where is my sister?”

“Valkyrie Josephina,” Manic drawls in warning.

I tilt my head.“You know, I’ve gutted men for showing such disrespect.”

Valkyrie tilts hers in the opposite direction.The smile that suddenly covers her face would no doubt scare a lesser man.“You know I’m not scared of you.Do you want to know why?”

Oh, I have a pretty good idea, but instead of saying that, I wave a hand for her to continue.

“Any harm to me also harms her.It wouldn’t be me you’d see in your nightmares, Apollonos.It would be my twin sister.And if you thought the last seven years were bad, do what those demons in your eyes are demanding you do.We both knowyouwouldn’t feel anything for doing it, but Birdie?She definitely would.”Valkyrie leans so close to me I can see a few monsters in her eyes, too.“Now, for the last time, where the hell is my sister?”

I sigh because the woman is right.No matter how much she disrespects me, I won’t harm her.She’s lucky that Birdie is my goddamn conscience right now.

“Birdie is fine.”

“That’s whathe’dalways say, too.I need to see her.”

“I’m not him,” I growl.

“Then stop holding her hostage,” she screams, her voice cracking on the last word.“He did this, too.Kept her to himself.Never let me see her.Barely got to talk to her.When I asked, he always said she was okay.Newsflash, dickhead, I didn’t believe him either.”

Being compared to the monster who broke my Birdie has my skin crawling.It’s a strange feeling wanting to peel back my flesh to see if the rot goes bone deep.

Would the word villain be carved upon my skeleton?That’d be one hell of a warning for whoever brushes the dirt away from my carcass a million years from now.A neon sign that blares,‘Do not use in a séance, for you’ll wake a demon.’

I may be corrupt and without a soul, but there’d never be a moment I would lay a hand on Birdie in a way that would hurt her.Not unless she begged me real pretty-like.

My body unfurls slowly as I climb to my feet.A hint of fear flashes in Valkyrie’s eyes, but she doesn’t step back like most would when confronted with my size.She only tilts her head back to glare up at me, her eyes sparking with angry demands.

Before I walk past her, I lean down so only she can hear my next words.“Next time you feel like being disrespectful, try it out on the man standing behind you.Something tells me he wouldn’t mind bending you over his knee a time or two.Because, Valkyrie, if you choose to bring it to me again in front of my club, I’ll cut your fucking tongue out.”

When I peer at Manic, his jaw grinds back and forth while retribution lights his eyes.He won’t do it now, but there’ll be a time he makes me get in the ring with him.

I grin wickedly at him as I walk past and smack him on the shoulder.“Someone needed to give you a push.You can name your next kid after me to thank me.I’m fucking outstanding.”

It’s not until I’m at the door that I realize no one is following behind me.Valkyrie and Manic are arguing quietly.As interesting as it is to see who will come out on top, I didn’t just threaten my sister-in-law for shits and giggles.

“You can fuck it out later.Let’s ride,” I yell.

Manic flips me off and Valkyrie gives me the stink eye, but they both lock their shit down and hurry after me.

“I don’t know how my sister ever put up with you,” Valkyrie snarls as she stomps past.

“Because I’m a big ol’ teddy bear, sugarplum,” I call out to her back.

“More like one of the electronic bears with a warped tape and wonky eye,” she replies.

Huh.Pretty fucking proud of her right now.

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