Final Debt

The key was hidden.

“Wait here.” Leaving the men, I ducked into the woods and searched for the tree I needed. Cut had taken me the night he’d told me of my birthday present and inheritance of Nila. He’d marched me through the darkness, filling my head with tales of what would happen and how proud he was that soon I would show him how worthy I was and finally take the place I was born for.

My eyes searched the green gloom.

Where is it?

It took longer than I wanted, but finally, my strained eyes caught sight of the symbol of a diamond and an outline of hawk wings signalling I’d found the right one.

Climbing a few feet up the coarse bark using gnarly roots and limbs, I found the knot left behind after a branch fell away and reached inside for the packet. Jumping down, I undid the fastening and tossed out the key into my palm.

A few others jangled free, landing with a hint of rusty metal. The extras operated parts of the machinery inside. Machinery I had no intention of using or ever switching on again.

Fisting them, I turned on my heel and stomped out of the brush past Cut, Kill, and his men and toward the brittle barn doors.

My breathing turned harsh as I inserted the key into the tarnished padlock.

The mechanism turned as smoothly as the day the lock was bought, the doors creaking on their frame as I shoved open one partition. The stench of dead rodents and rotting foliage mixed with time-stale dust hit my nose.

Barring the entry with my body, I turned to face Kill.

The biker came forward, delivering my father.

I held out my arm. “Give him to me.”

“You sure?”

“Very sure. I want to be alone for the next part.”

Kill passed over my father without another word. He didn’t try to talk me out of this. He didn’t have any obligation to remind me that this was murder, not revenge. That I would become as bad as those I hated if I went through with this.

Kill was not my brother or my conscience. He’d done all he needed to. His obligations were complete.

Cut didn’t struggle as I latched my fingers around his bound wrists. However, his eyes glowed with golden rage. His emotions poured forth, swamping with hatred and killable fury.

“Are we done?” Kill asked, crossing his arms over his leather jacket. “Will you be okay with your own men or do you want back-up?”

Shoving Cut into the barn, I ran a hand through my hair. “No. That’s it. Your task is finished. You’re free to return home, and I’ll make sure to repay the favour whenever you need.” Holding out my hand, Kill shook it.

“We’ll wait until you’re done. I’ll station my men at the forest edge, just in case. Once they know you’ve finished, they’ll leave.” He cocked his head, eyeing the building. “How long will you need?”

His question weighted with hidden curiosities he wouldn’t get answers to. What will you do? What’s in there? How badly will he die?

I swallowed, dreading what my night would entail. “Until dark. I need until dark.”

Kill grinned. “Six hours, it is.” Moving away, his large boots created indents in the soft woodland. “Pleasure knowing you, Hawk. I doubt we’ll see each other face-to-face again, but we’ll stay in touch.”

We’d come together for mutual advancement, and now, we would go our separate ways. It was for the best.

I waited for Kill and his men to disappear from the clearing before turning my back and entering the barn.

The moment I traded trees for tomb, I shed all resemblance of who I was.

I left behind my humanity.

I tore Nila from my heart.

I embraced the motherfucking ice my father had taught me.

This would kill me.

But it had to be done.

I stepped into the darkness and prepared to murder.

“HE WON’T BE able to live with himself.”

Jasmine shook her head, wheeling toward me. “Yes, he will.”

I sucked in a breath, looking toward the window. The same window where the bird of prey had delivered Jethro’s note to meet me in the stable.

God, was that only a few days ago?

It felt like an entire lifetime.

I begged for a feathered messenger now to tell me everything was done, finished; that Jethro would return to me and nothing else could keep us apart.

Jasmine’s wheels whispered over the thick carpet of my quarters. The soft bubble of the fish tank and gentle tick of the clock all screeched over my nerves.

Springing from my mattress, I paced the large room. On every surface scattered half-sewn garments, scribbled drawings, and hastily cut fabric. My Rainbow Diamond collection existed in all stages of creation, but I would burn every scrap if it would bring Jethro closure and erase everything that’d happened.

“Nila, stop. You’re worn out.” Jasmine stopped by the chaise, narrowing her eyes at my frantic pacing. “Sit down, for God’s sake.”

I glared, disobeying.

Flaw had done what he’d told Jethro. V and Tex had gone with the maids to spare guest rooms and Flaw had taken me quietly back to my quarters. He’d fetched a banquet of fruits, snacks, and vitamin rich food, and summoned a servant to help tend to my bruises in the shower.

I wanted to refuse the food, knowing Jethro was just as weak as I was. I wanted to decline the shower because why should I be comforted while Jethro had such a trial to endure?

But Flaw hadn’t let me argue.

He’d crossed his arms and stood in my room while I showered away African dirt and dried sweat from the pain of my broken arm. Struggling to wash, I was grudgingly grateful for the sweet-smiling maid who helped me dry off with a fluffy towel and dress me in the black shift I’d worn when the weeping scabs on my back from the First Debt healed.