Final Debt (Indebted #6)(77)

One-hundred and four.

One-hundred and five.

One-hundred and six heartbeats.

“You’re not stupid, child. You know you’ll pay for this the moment Clarity returns. There are worse things than death. Haven’t you learned that yet?”

“I know.”

“Then get off me and I’ll make sure they don’t maim you too much.” Her smile was evil personified. “However, wait another moment longer, and I’ll personally tear you limb from f*cking limb.”

The curse fell from her red painted lips.

I smiled, cocking my head. “Not yet. I want answers first.”

“I’ve given you plenty of answers.”

“No, that was convoluted history seen through your twisted eyes.”

She snorted.

“I want to know why you are the way you are. Why you’re ludicrously set on an ancient vendetta. Are you just mad and passed that defective gene onto your son or did you grow into this despicable creature?”

“You stupid, stupid girl. I’ve helped keep this family together. There is nothing wrong with loving blood over others.”

“Even murder?”

She grinned, showing yellowing death and bad breath. “Especially murder.” She raised her head off the ground, bringing our eyes closer together. “Especially your bloodline’s murder. You owe us.”

“What did we ever do to you to deserve such barbaric treatment?”

“You know what!”

“No, I don’t. I will never understand because there is nothing rational to understand. It’s just a sickness inside you that needs to end.”

She coughed, her ancient lungs rattling. “You don’t know a thing about me.”

“Tell me. I’m giving you the opportunity, right now.” I glared. “I want to know. This is your last chance.” A contorted smile spread my lips. “Call it your last confession. Purge your sins, Bonnie, because I’m sending you to your grave—secrets told or not.”

No fear shone on her face, only black rebellion. “I have nothing to confess.”

“Bullshit.”

I don’t have time for this.

I wanted to know Bonnie’s tale. I wanted to try and understand why someone would go to such lengths. But I wouldn’t sacrifice my only opportunity to kill her.

“You don’t want to talk? Fine. I changed my mind.” Gritting my teeth against another influx of pain, I grabbed her scarf—the pretty silk decoration to match her despicable outfit—and tugged it tighter around her neck. “Want to know what I promised myself when I first came to your home and was told what would become of me?”

She pushed at my hands, sending a shard of agony down my break as I slowly tightened the scarf. Her eyes bugged wider and wider.

“I made an oath to be the last Weaver stolen. At times, I didn’t know how I would honour that vow. But now…I do.”

She begged for air, her lips gasping. I wasn’t throttling her…yet, but the fear of strangulation sent droplets of panic across her overly powdered face.

The stench of rose water and summery perfume gave me a headache, but nothing would stop me doing this.

I lessened my hold a little. “Now, before I go too far. Do you want to know what I know or would you rather die clueless?”

Are you sure this is wise?

My arm throbbed as I doubted my actions.

Daniel’s death wasn’t only my secret. Jethro would be implicated, too. I couldn’t risk his life if Bonnie told—

Told!

I laughed out loud. Who is she going to tell? She’ll be dead within moments...

Something corrupted inside me. Something I didn’t want to acknowledge. Straddling Bonnie, I was cold-hearted and focused—more Hawk than Weaver and ready to bloody my hands for revenge.

“No, you have nothing of value to tell me. Get off me, you heathen.” Bonnie tried to buck me off, but her ninety-plus years meant it was like pinning down a fluttering leaf.

I bent further. “I know where Daniel is.”

She went deathly still.

“Do you understand?” I bared my teeth. “Do you get what I’m telling you?”

Her gaze narrowed, disbelief shadowing them. “You’re saying you killed my grandbaby?”

“I’m saying he hurt me and paid the price.”

Bonnie shifted, trying to kick beneath me. The grey tinge staining her face slowly spread over her cheeks and throat. “You’re lying.”

“I’m not.” I laughed softly. “What if I explained a bit more? What if I told you a bed-time—? No, a kill-time story. And prove I’m telling the truth?”

No reply.

Digging my knees, imprisoning her skirt tighter, I wrapped her scarf around my fist. “He won the coin toss against Cut. He got first right to rape me. Rape. A word so abhorrent, a family should disown any offspring who would ever do such a thing. And yet, you encourage them. You like your sons and grandsons to take what isn’t theirs to take.

“Well, Daniel would’ve made you proud that night. He hurt me. Kicked me. Knocked me out for a few moments. But he didn’t understand how powerful the will to live is, or the single-minded determination sheer hate can deliver.

“He did take me—just a little—and I let him. Does that shock you? That I didn’t fight the final part when he invaded my body just enough to taint my soul?”