Page 133 of Blood & Lace
“Son—” Coughs of blood splattered on the worn-out ground.
“Don’t call me that, you’re nothing to me,” Onyx said. He glanced behind and our gazes met. "I can do this on my own."
I wasn’t going anywhere even if Onyx told me to get out. I wasn’t leaving him there with the worthless scum. I wasn't going to interfere unless he asked me too.
"Think of us as moral support," Damian said. He pulled out a fresh cigarette and lit it, gesturing for Onyx to continue.
My husband actually smiled at that before turning back to the older man.
Régis chuckled. “What the fuck is this? Moral support. They aren’t like me and you. We’re blood.” He licked his lips and showed off his bloodstained teeth. Like he was in on some secretnone of us knew about. “You can’t erase that. I raised you. Whatever this is, we can work it out.”
“No, Mom raised us, you were gone on business meetings, and when you were around, you weren’t. Don't sit here and paint yourself as something you're not.” Onyx pulled a knife from under his dress. “Tell the truth about what you did to Adam.”
“I have no clue what you're talking about. All those stories were just that. Ramblings from a child desperate for attention.” Régis attempted to sit up straighter. “He was jealous of you, Louis. Always has been and probably still is. Look at you, you have everything while he has nothing.”
Onyx took the back of his knife and slammed it against Régis’s temple. The sound of the weapon connecting to his skull echoed around the room. The chair rocked with the force of the blow.
“Fuckgodam. Louislisten.” Régis’s words slurred as he turned his head side to side. He thrashed lightly in the chair as he began to puke. No one said anything as Régis’s head hung low, his chin resting on his chest.
Nash moved, and I put my arm out to stop him.
“He’s not done,” I said.
My brother stared at me before relaxing back against the wall.
Time ticked by before my husband was pulling something else out from under his dress. What wasn’t he hiding under there? He waved it under Régis’s nose and the older man nearly jumped up. The chair jostled before settling down. His wide eyes were even more unfocused than before as he looked around.
“No.” His voice was pathetic as everything finally dawned on him.
Onyx waited and repeated the cycle, punching Régis every single time he gave the wrong answer. He’d wait if Régis passed out, and if not, he’d hammer him for the truth again.
“Just admit it!” Onyx slammed the knife down. It cut through flesh and muscle, stopping halfway in his thigh.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck. All right!” Régis and the chair crashed down to the ground as he gasped for air. He shook from head to toe. “I took in that ungrateful bitch and her kid. She had the audacity to come to me, crying about being pregnant. I had to marry her once my family found out. Was she thankful that her once piss poor lifestyle was over and she got to adorn herself with pearls and clothes that cost more than most people’s rent?” He spat out a wad of blood. “No, she started acting like all the other people around me. Used me for money and gave me nothing in return. But you know who understood the situation?” His smile was vile, teeth covered in blood. “That brat of hers. He was more than willing to spread his legs when that whore wasn’t willing to.” Régis looked over at me as if I was the key. “You’ll know what I mean. We’re blood.”
Onyx’s face went pale, and I moved without thought. I kicked Régis in the face. His head snapped back with an audible crack. I didn’t worry about him as I pulled Onyx toward me and covered his ears. An audible groan came from Régis, confirming he wasn’t dead just yet.
“Bella?”
Gray eyes peered back up at me, and I smiled down at him.
You’re nothing like him. You will never be him. You kill bastards like him.
I wanted to say everything but said nothing. Instead, I pulled him in close. I pushed my fingers through his hair and tugged. Fuck everything and everyone, it was just me and him. I grabbed his hand and brought it to my neck, letting it dip past my shirt to feel the collar he’d gifted me around my neck. I had to have it loose so it stayed hidden, but it was there nonetheless.
Onyx’s eyes widened as he tugged on it, dragging me closer. The color came back to his face and a slow smile curved his lips.
“You know you’re not supposed to wear it out of the house,” he whispered.
I licked my lips, loving the dangerous tone in his voice. He kissed me and it felt like everything in the world was right. I dragged him closer until our bodies were melded together.
Damian cleared his throat, ruining the illusion we were alone. “You two got this?” He gestured to the soon-to-be corpse on the ground.
I nodded.
“Don’t worry about cleanup. Prince said you can owe him one,” Nash said as he followed Damian out.
“Thanks,” Onyx finally said.
