Final Debt (Indebted #6)(54)

Cut moved behind Nila, folding his arms around her in a rotting embrace. Locking eyes with me, he whispered in Nila’s ear.

I couldn’t hear, but the change in Nila faded her heartbeat by heartbeat.

Christ, I wanted to stop this. Hadn’t he done enough?

My tongue pulsed against the gag, doing my best to curse and yell.

Her spine rolled, her cheeks whitened, her hands opened and closed by her sides. When Cut finished whispering, she bit her lip and shook her head.

He murmured again, his breath disturbing her short hair.

Once again, she shook her head, gritting her jaw against the sudden sickness rolling from her. Not sick from a malady but sick to the stomach with hate and disgust.

What did he say to her?

What happened at Hawksridge with the dice?

Cut whispered harder, his voice hissing like a snake. Again words were non-existent but his tone was insistent. He pointed a finger at me, his lips forming rapid threats.

Don’t listen to him.

Whatever he does to me, I’ll take it.

If it means you’re safe, I’ll do anything.

Nila looked up, her dusky skin as white as the clouds far, far above us. She studied me. Decisions fluttered then shredded. Conclusions formed then discarded with revulsion.

I sensed her battle but wanted to howl when she finally nodded.

Don’t…don’t…

Whatever it is…don’t.

“Fine.”

Cut smiled. “Good girl.”

My eyes bugged as Nila willingly spun in Cut’s embrace, facing him in the cage of his embrace. Her back blocked what her hands did, but the muscles in her spine rippled beneath her clothing.

My stomach knotted as she sucked in a breath; her hands moved to Cut’s belt.

No. Fuck, no.

I tripled my efforts, my head roaring, my ribs screaming.

I growled and grunted and groaned. I sounded like a wild beast fighting for its life.

No!

Her elbows moved as her fingers flew over his belt and fly, undoing both effortlessly. I hated her skills with zippers and buttons. I hated her gorgeous hands and strong fingers and how they disappeared into Cut’s trousers.

My voice garbled around the gag, swearing in every dialect as Nila swallowed a moan and touched my father where she should never have to touch.

Cut’s eyes darkened as her hand wrapped around him.

My gut clenched, appalled and outraged he’d forced her to do something so wrong.

“Good girl,” he murmured as her hand worked up and down. I didn’t need to see what happened to have foul images splash across my mind. She touched him. She f*cking stroked my father’s cock.

The chair creaked and splintered as I shook—fighting, fighting against the ropes.

Nila stiffened as Cut whispered loud enough for me to hear. “That’s it. Make me hard. The drugs from last night might’ve left your system, but I’ll make you scream while you pay my part of the Third Debt.”

Fuck, he was going to rape her in front of me?

He was going to emasculate me and kill me all over again by stripping Nila of her rights as a woman.

I won’t.

She can’t.

Throwing myself to the side, the chair legs buckled. Gravity latched on, slamming me sideways to the floor. Pain radiated through my shoulder, but I didn’t care. My feet kicked, trying to unravel the rope from around my ankles. I stretched, slowly inching the twine down the chair legs.

I gave everything I had.

I ignored the splitting headache. I forced bruised muscles to gather power beyond normal limits. I turned rogue as Nila continued to stroke Cut.

Stop!

Don’t touch him.

Cut smiled, wrapping one arm around Nila as she did what he commanded. But his eyes never left mine. They gleamed with triumph. Knowing this would break me worse than any bullet, better than any guillotine.

Soil smeared against my cheek as I rolled on the floor, doing my best to get free.

You won’t get away with this, you bastard!

Flashbacks of Emma, Nila’s mother, being in Cut’s embrace merged with the present. She’d tolerated my father. She’d played him better than he knew. But I’d known all along her true thoughts. I’d felt her repellent dislike for him, even while she smiled affectionately and let Cut believe she was in love with him.

She’d done what Nila had attempted to do; only Nila fell in love with me. Emma never fell in love with Cut. And that’d only layered to his fundamental issue.

No one loved him. No one cared.

People respected and feared him, but it wasn’t the same as being completely devoted through affection. And he knew that.

Nila cried silently as her hand worked harder. What had he threatened? Why had she agreed to touch him?

I knew Nila. It wouldn’t have been anything toward her. Her own pain she faced far too easily. No, he would’ve threatened me—even though he’d said I wouldn’t be used in this debt. Bastard. Utter f*cking bastard.

Nila!

The shout warped unintelligently around the gag as Cut dropped his face into the crook of her neck and inhaled.

Her shoulders quaked; tears making her tremble and shake.

I would’ve killed countless innocent people if only I had the power to stand and shove a dagger into Cut’s heart.

Tears stung my eyes at being so f*cking helpless.