Fourth Debt - Pepper Winters Page 0,11
friend you have in this godforsaken place.” His face tightened for a moment, filling with thoughts he refused to share. “You need more? Fine. I happen to know the guests are lawyers.” Holding out his hand, he said, “Happy? Now, let’s go.”
“Lawyers?” I shook my head. “Why?”
What on earth are lawyers doing here?
Flaw gave half a smile. “Instead of all the questions, how about you just get it over with?”
I didn’t want to move but I couldn’t deny he had logic on his side.
With one last glower, I swung my legs off the bed and padded toward him. The room wobbled from getting up so fast, but other than that, my bloodlust for Cut’s life kept me focused on an anchor.
Jethro is no longer my anchor.
I was once again a shipwrecked boat, drifting on an ocean of misfortune.
Flaw’s gaze fell to my knife. “You planning on taking that?”
“Do you have a problem with that?”
I waited for him to snatch it from me. To confiscate it. Instead, he pursed his lips. “I’m not the one on your shit list.”
“Not at the moment, you aren’t.”
He sucked in a breath.
Rebellion and power siphoned through my blood. I didn’t trust Flaw, but he wasn’t my enemy. Holding eye contact, I hitched up the hem of my slouchy cardigan, tucked the dirk in my waistband, and concealed it.
He didn’t say a word.
I was playing with fire. He was on their side. He could tell them I had it and leave me defenceless, but at the same time, I had to push and search for allies. Flaw had been kind to me whenever we’d crossed paths. He’d escorted me to my room late at night if Daniel caught me sneaking to the kitchens. He’d been there whenever I’d popped in to see Kestrel, laughing and seeming normal and carefree.
Anyone who was friends with Kes couldn’t be too bad—Kes wouldn’t tolerate it.
And I learned that the hard way.
He’s dead.
Just like his brother.
My heart panged. No matter how strong I forced myself to be, I couldn’t stop the lacerations of grief. It was like a rogue wave, lapping at my soul, tugging me under with its rip.
Flaw crossed his arms, challenge sparking in his eyes. “You know the knife won’t be enough.”
“I know.”
He cocked his head. “Then why bother?”
Running my hands through my hair, I twisted the black length to drape over my shoulder. “Because they won’t expect it. And the element of surprise can make a tiny knife become a sword.”
He chuckled. “Deep. Sounds like Confucius or some other metaphorical bullshit.”
I shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. I know what I mean. I know what I’ll do.” My tone slid to ice. “And I suggest you stay out of my way and keep your mouth shut.”
He laughed quietly. “Hey. As long as you stay away from me, I don’t have a problem. Always knew things would change. Ever since Kes told me what Jethro planned to do on his thirtieth, I knew my lifestyle was up.”
I froze.
He’ll never age another day.
Jethro’s corpse would forever remain twenty-nine—immortal and unchanging.
“What? What was he planning?”
“He didn’t tell you?” He crossed his arms. “I thought you were deep as fucking thieves. That was the reason all of this grew out of control.”
Breathing hard, I swallowed sadness. “No, he didn’t tell me.”
Flaw softened. “Sorry.”
I swiped at my face, dispelling any sign of tears. “So, what was he planning?”
He’s dead. But he’s still here…holding me…guiding me.
Learning more about Jethro, even though he was gone, was awfully bittersweet.
Flaw looked behind him at the open door. His face shadowed, and for a moment, I thought he’d refuse to say, but then he lowered his voice. “Once everything was his, he planned on ripping up the contracts. Ending it.”
My eyes grew wide. “Forever?”
“Yup.”
“He would have that power?”
Flaw turned rigid, his thoughts obviously on topics he didn’t enjoy. “Of course. He was a Hawk. They made the contract. They had the power to absolve it. Jethro planned to split up the estate equally between his brothers and sister and ban Cut and Bonnie from the grounds.” He rubbed his chin. “I only know that because Kes told me in a couple of years they might not require the Club to transport shipments because the shipments would stop altogether.”
“He didn’t want to smuggle anymore, either?” Wow. All this time I’d grown close to Jethro, yet we’d never shared our future together. Never lain in bed and murmured about what we wanted or dreamed.
Because our future was bleak.
Death for me. Heartache for