Page 35 of True Bastard
“What do you mean?”
“You know what I mean, Firestride,” Morpheus said, his voice vibrating with an authority I could never challenge. He leaned back in his chair, a shadow falling across his face, making his eyes seem even darker than usual. “She’s the collateral. She’s the leverage. And Jessup needs to know that we’re serious about collecting his debt. Having her there, seeing what we do to him... it will seal her obedience. It’ll show her who’s in charge. It’ll remind her of her place.”
It was a brutal lesson, but in this world, brutality was often the most effective teacher.
Yet, I felt a knot tighten in my gut.
The idea of Kyllian witnessing what we were about to do to Jessup... it went against everything I was beginning to feel for her, a dangerous tenderness that had no place in the Brotherhood. But Morpheus’ word was law. “She’s not going to break. She’s got more fire than any of us,” I countered, the lie slipping easily from my lips. I’d seen her defiance, herunyielding spirit, and the thought of that spirit being crushed by the sheer horror of it all... it sickened me.
Morpheus’ lips curved into a chilling smile, a predatory flash that sent a shiver down my spine. “That’s good because while the club questions Jessup, she’s going to be there, by your side. I want him to see her complete obedience and submission. And if she doesn’t break, then I will allow you to keep her and make her the first old lady in the Brotherhood.”
The implication was clear.
My control over her, my burgeoning feelings, were irrelevant.
He wouldn’t trust her until she understood the Brotherhood’s unforgiving justice.
“Also, while you’ve been fucking your bitch into submission, that sick motherfucker struck again. This time a woman named Keely Johnson. Some stripper who worked at the Prancing Pussycat.”
I frowned. “Kyllian worked there.”
“A connection?”
Leaning back in the chair, I admitted, “It’s thin for sure, but we can’t ignore it. Want me to look into it?”
“No, I’ve got Nano on it. He’s digging into this Keely’s past. We’ll know soon enough. Also got word that the Death Dogs have settled in Wyoming, near the border of Nebraska.”
I stiffened. “Do you think they suspect anything?”
Getting to his feet, Morpheus stretched to his full height and grinned. “Guess we’ll find out soon enough. Won’t we?”
“I don’t understand. I promised I wouldn’t say anything. Why am I down here?” Kyllian asked as she looked around the basement, turning when the door at the top of the stairsopened and the officers in the brotherhood walked down them. Morpheus led the way.
Seeing Kyllian, he smirked but didn’t acknowledge her as he said, “Grab our guest out of the freezer, Inferno. It’s fun time.”
Facing her, I moved her toward the back wall and ordered, “Stay here. Don’t move. And keep quiet.”
She slowly nodded as Cerberus walked over to stand beside her, smiling. “Good afternoon, Kitten. I’m Cerberus. I will be your tour guide for today’s events. If you have any questions, just ask.”
“What are you talking about?” Kyllian’s voice was a thin thread of panic, her eyes darting between Cerberus and me, like a trapped animal seeking an escape. The air in the basement hung heavy, thick with the stench of stale beer and something metallic, something that hinted at the brutality to come.
Cerberus, with his unsettlingly calm demeanor, stepped closer, his smile never reaching his eyes. “Just a little lesson, Kitten,” he purred, his voice smooth as aged whiskey. “One I truly hope you pass for your sake.”
My stomach churned.
This wasn’t the plan.
This was a twisted escalation, a deliberate acceleration designed to break her, to shatter the last vestiges of her defiance. Morpheus’ gaze, sharp and assessing, flickered over Kyllian, a predator weighing its prey. He saw her fear, her dawning horror, and a cruel satisfaction settled on his face. “Firestride,” he said, his voice a low rumble that resonated with unspoken authority, “make sure your guest understands the consequences of her entanglement.”
Morpheus’ unspoken threat lingered heavy, oppressive. She was his leverage, his tool, and I was now forced to orchestrate her torment, to become the instrument of her degradation. Thethought sickened me, yet the Brotherhood’s code, etched into my very bones, demanded obedience.
Standing before her, I ordered, “Kitten, I need you to listen to me. Do everything I ask. No questions. Just obey.”
The heavy metal door of the freezer creaked open, a blast of arctic air carrying with it the faint, chilling scent of something long dead.
Cerberus chuckled as he leaned against the wall, watching the two of us.
“Kneel,” I ordered.
