Page 123 of Reaper Flame

I shot Rocky a glare. He needed to leave me to handle Hiram. I knew him best.

“We’re here to make a deal,” I said, starting the bargaining process. “What do you want for Mieko?”

“Don’t insult my generosity, Kitten,” Hiram sneered. “I’ve humored your rebellious phase while you’ve run around with a silly gang, but enough is enough. You were made for more than this. These men can’t even cover up a simple murder and, now, you dare to show up empty-handed! With me! This is not how I taught you to behave.”

“I don’t follow your orders anymore,” I reminded him. “You released me, or have you forgotten?”

“Both of us know that contract was another one of our games.” Hiram’s easygoing expression turned into spine-chilling malice. I’d seen that face many times before in his workshop, right before he put a victim out of their misery. “Have you ever felt truly free, Kitten? You can’t lie to me. I think you’ve always known you’d return to me. That’s not an accident. It’s because you know it’s where youbelong.”

“Candy belongs with us,” Zander said venomously. “She is a Seven.”

“We’ll see about that,” Hiram clicked his fingers. “I have a surprise for you, Briarly.”

At Hiram’s signal, two of his deadbeat followers pulled back the pool cover. As it fell away, a bloated body floated to the surface face down. The filthy water made it hard to make out any distinguishing features. Vixen’s bloodcurdling scream rattled through my core. She raced to the pool edge, grabbing the body and pulling it towards her.

Please no!

“Let this be a lesson to you all,” Hiram purred victoriously. “This is what happens when people break a deal with me, Briarly.”

Vixen gasped, dropping the ankle of the body and shuffling backwards. She stood shivering. “It’s Bryce.”

Bryce may as well be a piece of trash floating on the water for all Zander cared. He didn’t flinch, barely glancing at his father’s corpse. Hiram’s lip curled as he studied Zander’s reaction. This is not what he’d been hoping for. The twisted fucker will have been holding out for fireworks, but Zander hadn’t lit a match.

“You’ve made your point,” Zander said with indifference. “What do you want for Mieko? Name your price.”

“Like father like son,” Hiram replied, searching for a weakness in Zander’s cool exterior to exploit. “Only a Briarly tries to put a price on everything.”

Darkness stirred behind Zander’s eyes. “I’m nothing like my father.”

“You’re right,” Hiram said with a chilling smile that looked like he was readying to attack, like a lion about to tear his prey apart. “You are far worse. Your father lied to me about his offshore accounts, but you? You broke the last deal we made and stole myproperty.”

“I’m not an object you can trade!” I stepped in, shaking with fury. “I’m with the Sevens because Iwantto be.”

Hiram’s eyes narrowed. “You don’t know what you want.”

“IknowI’d rather die than come back with you.”

He pretended not to hear me and shook his head. “I remember when you used to be so loyal. That gang has corrupted you. They have made you lose sight of what is important, but our bond cannot be broken.”

“You’ve already lost her, Hiram,” Zander said with a smirk. “She’s one of us now.”

“I will give you one final chance, Briarly,” Hiram said, holding up a single finger. “I will overlook your indiscretion to make a final deal.”

Zander didn’t break eye contact with Hiram, asserting his dominance. Showing him how he had no fear. “You have nothing I want.”

“You’re wrong.” Hiram pulled an envelope out of his suit pocket. “I can give you something you’ve been searching for. I have the answers you always wanted. This envelope contains the truth about your mother. I can tell you what your father did. I can tell you where she is buried.”

“You’re lying,” Zander hissed, but a vein pulsed aggressively in his neck. Hiram had got under his skin like a toxic poison. He’d found Zander’s vulnerability.

“Oh, Kitty. Didn’t you tell him about the deal you struck with Briarly Senior?” Hiram was enjoying this. He relished having the upper hand. “Your little friend was reluctant to tell me at first, but I made her talk.”

“You didn’t kill Bryce because of offshore accounts,” I muttered, putting the pieces together. “You killed him so you’re the only one who knows Bryce’s secret.”

Hiram knew money wouldn’t motivate Zander, but the truth about his mom? Well, that was something with immeasurable value. Hiram smirked and pulled a lighter out of his other pocket.

“Details, details!” Hiram flicked on the flames and held the envelope above it, waving it back and forth. A single jump of the flame would keep the truth buried forever. “Are you really going to lose your only chance to bury your beloved mother for a girl who keeps secrets from you?”

“Is he telling the truth, Candy?” Zander asked, his voice a low rumble.

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