Final Debt (Indebted #6)(78)

Bonnie swallowed, her breathing erratic, her chest lurching beneath my hold.

“I let him think he’d won, but really, I guided him to his death. I’d come prepared and I had my weapon of choice within my grasp. While he focused on rape and pleasure, I turned cold and ruthless.”

I tugged the scarf. “I hugged him, you’ll be glad to know that. I hugged your grandson as I jammed my metal knitting needle through his heart.”

Bonnie sucked in a noisy breath. “No…”

“Oh, yes. I took great satisfaction driving that needle through Daniel’s soulless chest. He didn’t see it coming. He was too arrogant to notice until it was too late.” My mind skipped back to the tent, recalling the last breath, the final topple of his corpse. “It was over so fast.”

Bonnie spluttered, “But, they—they haven’t found his body. You’re lying. He’s alive. I don’t believe you.”

“You don’t have to believe me. It’s the truth.” I smiled brutally. “Only you know what really happened. Cut suspects me, but he has no proof.”

“But how…” The muscles in her neck stood out, straining against translucent skin. “How did you hide his body?”

Even on her back, with death hovering over her, Bonnie remained frosty and aloof. If I didn’t hate her, I might’ve respected her. She was the same formidable force Mabel Hawk had been. The same invincible dowager.

I stroked her papery cheek. “I didn’t.”

She glowered. “Then it can’t be—”

“A Hawk did.” I twisted her scarf a little more.

More sweat dotted her forehead. Her fingers scrabbled at the obstruction.

“The Hawk who’s in love with me and is fully on my side.”

Her eyes popped wide, then glared with the hate of a thousand hells. “Jethro.”

“Yes, Jethro…Kite. The man I agreed to marry.”

Sharing my secrets even to a gnarly old cow lightened my heart. In two breaths, I’d admitted to murder and marriage. Not exactly two subjects that went hand in hand.

But they do in this case.

Without murder, Jethro and I would never be allowed to get married. We’d never be allowed to live.

The deadline of my own demise tried to shred my confidence. I might be the killer currently, but soon, I would be back to being the prey.

Spittle flew from Bonnie’s lips. “Impossible. Jethro is loyal. He knows his responsibilities—”

“Responsibilities?” I laughed in her face. “Your son shot him. That loyalty died the moment you had him killed in cold blood. We’re together. Against all of you.”

Bonnie shuddered. “Never. A Hawk would never work with a Weaver.”

“Lies. I know more of your history now. I know that Hawks gave Weavers leniencies throughout the years. I also know there was more than one generation who tried to stop this ludicrous debt.”

“You know nothing, you insolent child.”

My heart raced as I shook my head. Short black hair curtained my cheeks, giving the illusion we were already in a coffin, blocked off from the world.

“I know Jethro walked in and saw his brother dead. I know he helped me clean up. I know he—”

“How that boy is still alive is beyond me.” Bonnie interrupted me as if she couldn’t stand to hear more. Perhaps she did care, after all. “It’s an abomination of nature.”

My fingers tightened. “No, I’ll tell you what’s the abomination. That’s you. You’re the abomination. You twisted your family into criminals.”

I waved at the room, the majestic Hall, the entire Hawksridge estate. “This is more than most people will have in their entire lives. You have everything, yet you seek to destroy everyone.”

I rushed my parting words. “Once Jethro arrived, he helped me dispose of Daniel. We took him outside the fence of Almasi Kipanga. We left him on the plains…”

Understanding etched Bonnie’s grey-washed face.

“You know, don’t you? You know what happened from there.”

Her pallor turned sickly, her lips tinting blue. “They ate him.”

I nodded. “They ate him. Piece by piece. Chunk by chunk. Daniel no longer exists. Just like you will no longer exist.”

My arm pushed harder, pressing her against the carpet. “I’ve killed your grandson, but I haven’t finished.”

Bonnie tried to yell.

I clamped a hand over her lips. “Ah, no bringing attention to us. I haven’t told you the best part yet.”

She shook her head, trying to free her mouth.

“I’m going to kill your son. I’m going to ensure your mad family tree dies. Only sane Hawks will continue. I’m going to kill Cut. I don’t know how, but I will. The only one who will pay the Debt Inheritance is him.”

Her struggles became frantic.

I held her down, riding her like she was a bucking bronco. I waited for her to tire herself out so I could look her in the eye as I strangled her. Only…she never tired.

Her body moved inhumanely, twitching like the undead, knocking me off her with super strength. Her gaze locked with mine; she stiffened and bowed. Her right arm flailed outward and the ire in her gaze changed to terror.

My stomach tangled as her entire body scrunched up in agony.