Dance Around - Susi Hawke Page 0,13

none. The crimes you have committed pale in comparison to what you allowed Chaz Pennington and your other men to do to this fine young man."

"I didn't lie! Isaac was part of it from the beginning. Check the Swiss bank account I gave you. His name is on it, no one else’s, and it contains every penny of the dowry they paid for his claim to Chaz." Sal's cocky defiance was long gone. Blubbering like a baby, he buried himself in more lies. "I swear! He was going to leave as soon as the brat was born and live the high life as a free omega. Having a kid was a small price to pay for the month of group sex he enjoyed and a million-dollar paycheck. If he said otherwise, he's full of shit."

Sir Alfred's face was red and downright murderous as he jerked to his feet. Pointing a finger at Sal, he followed with a single word. "Silence!" Sir Alfred took a deep breath and shook his head. "Salvador Dominguez, for your crimes against our people, you are sentenced to death. We had planned a public hanging, but your recent outburst has given me a better idea." He lifted his head and looked around until he saw Nash. "Mr. Moreno, would you be so kind as to lend me your expertise? I imagine you'd enjoy a chance to avenge your mate, yes? The prisoner is yours to dispatch as you wish."

Nash did us all proud, walking over and extending a clawed hand. Without comment, he ripped Sal's heart out of his chest, spitting in his face the moment before the fucker died. He held the heart up and turned to Sir Alfred. "Thanks for the privilege. But now I must ask you to forgive me, Sir Alfred. I'm afraid I'm not quite sure what to do with my garbage. Normally, I'd grind it under my heel, but your floor is far too nice."

The merman made a piercing screech, and Sir Alfred smiled. "There is your answer, young man. Jorah has kindly offered to handle your organ disposal needs. Simply walk toward the pool and toss it his way, but don't get too close. The other things in the water are best avoided."

Fuck me but if Nash didn't look every bit the proud Portuguese strutting his happy ass towards the pool. Stopping a few feet shy, he tossed Sal's heart to Jorah with an underhand throw. Jorah leaped agilely into the air. His jaw unhinged like some sort of a damned snake, and he caught the heart midair and swallowed it whole. Diving into the pool, he swam a few laps before finally pulling himself back out and sitting on the edge again. It was both the freakiest and coolest thing I'd ever witnessed.

Nash visibly gulped at the display, then calmly walked over to Isaac and pulled him into his arms. The two blue men disappeared with Sal's body, closing the doors behind them as if they had never been there in the first place. Sir Alfred snapped his fingers, and a cleansing ball of flame rolled around the gold circle before disappearing with another finger snap. He sat down again and tilted his head while Morty whispered in his ear.

After a few moments, Sir Alfred nodded and looked our way. "Whoever wishes to speak, form a line behind the circle and step into it one at a time to be heard. You've caught us on a good day, gentlemen. We are inclined to hear what you have to say, and I also feel as though we owe Isaac Powell-Moreno a boon. I simply ask there be no filibustering or overly long speeches. I'm feeling peckish after viewing such a righteous execution, and my dinner awaits."

While my brothers and their mates gave their impassioned pleas to the council, hopefully covering everything we'd planned, I zoned out. Partially because my brain was overloaded from everything I'd witnessed, but I kept going back to Sir Alfred reminding Gil he couldn't appear before them for another nine years. His pilots might not have been here previously, but Gil definitely had. Not only that, but he'd kept it a secret. I'd always known Gil had layers, but apparently, I had no clue about anything when it came to him. It wasn't the first time in the past twenty-three years, and I knew it wouldn't be the last, but I couldn't help but wonder if I wasn't the world's biggest idiot.

When the council meeting