Page 52 of Santiago's Conquest (Four Dark Horsemen 1)

His head is thrown back, his whimper rocking between us, and I wipe away his blood on my pants. My hate is so strong in this moment I’m contemplating going back on my word and killing him.

Anyone who thinks kids should be punished for the sins of their father deserve no mercy or compassion.

Life entrusted Howard with a little girl who got fathered by a monster through no fault of her own, and he could have given her something instead of abuse and constant neglect.

He shouldn’t talk about love, because he doesn’t understand what that means.

If something so hideous happened to my mother and she got pregnant and decided to keep it, my father would have never given up on them.

He would have loved the baby, because it was part hers.

But not everyone has my dad’s heart.

Checking the time on my wristwatch, I realize we only have an hour and a half left before the wedding, so this torture sadly has to speed up. “Hold his arms out.” I address the guys, and Howard finds the strength to look at me, confusion crossing his face when my friends do as I ask. “Howard, I promised Briseis not to kill you, and I won’t.” He sighs in relief but freezes when I grin at him. “But you see, nadie lastima a mi mujer. No one hurts my woman. And those hands abused her time and time again. So let me make that point clear.”

Before he utters another word, I chop off his right hand, and his agonized cry echoes through the space, bringing such profound pleasure I still for a moment, drinking in the sounds. Then I quickly do the same with the left one, both of his chopped off limbs lying by his feet, and I step on them, enjoying the cracking under my shoes while blood oozes from his wounds. “Now, the wedding awaits us.” I shift my focus to Octavius. “Can you wrap and pack him in a way that won’t show Briseis the state of his injuries?”

Although all of us have basic medical knowledge, Octavius is the only one who finished med school even though he doesn’t practice medicine. The single purpose of his studies was to patch up victims should the need ever arise or help us all in case of emergency.

To build a long-lasting brotherhood, you need to think strategically.

“Yeah,” he replies, snagging a nearby rope, and Florian helps him out. “Keep an eye on him at all times during the ceremony.” Spinning around, I jog toward the bathroom, where my suit already waits for me, ready to get this over with.

A wedding ceremony filled with the tears of the bride-to-be for the injustices this life has delivered to her once again.

Somehow, I never imagined my wedding being anything else.

Chapter Eleven

“My whole life, I searched for the truth.

I didn’t expect it to be so cruel.”

Briseis

Flora’s Last Letter

My beloved Howard,

For hours now, I’ve tried to write you this letter. Countless crumpled papers lie all around me, each of them holding words that wouldn’t have been right for my last letter to you.

I finally decided it can’t be perfect or beautiful, because it’s devastating.

How can I spare you this pain if it fills my every bone? Words poured on this paper along with my tears, leaving smudged imprints.

We ended things months ago when I told the truth and you never replied.

I’m not sure if it’s important for you or not. I somehow understood you and was never angry about your decision.

The love inside me for you is strong; it excuses your every shortcoming, and this is a sign for me we wouldn’t have lasted anyway.

I love you, Howard. You are my first and only love. Despite what happened in my life, I’m grateful you’ve been in it and brought me so much happiness, even if it lasted just for a moment in time.

A smile breaks through the tears on my face as I write this to you, remembering our days and passion-filled nights.

It has been less than a year, yet it feels like a lifetime has passed.

I’m a naïve fool, believing in fairy tales and legends when they are nothing but myths. And I don’t know if you used me for your own amusement or truly loved me, but either way, I don’t regret us.

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