Final Debt (Indebted #6)(9)

His eyes snapped to mine. “Shut up, Weaver.”

“No. I want to know. You’ve got me all to yourself, Daniel. Cut said I could ask anything I want. Alright then, my first question is about you.”

His mouth hung open as if he couldn’t believe I’d just willingly entered into a conversation with him.

That’s right.

See me.

Hear me.

Feel me.

Then perhaps you won’t try and hurt me.

It was wishful thinking, but maybe, just maybe, it might payoff.

Just like it did with your brother.

“Is this some sort of trick?”

I shook my head. “No trick.” Pulling on his hold, I forced him to stop in the centre of the camp. A large fire pit charred the dirt while hacked up logs acted as seating. “You like it here. Why?”

His eyes darkened, but he answered. “Because it’s away from Hawksridge.”

“You don’t like that place?”

“I never f*cking said that.” His temper smouldered.

I backtracked, trying to read between the lines. “You prefer this place over Hawksridge though…why?” Sudden understanding dawned. “Because you think of this place as yours and Hawksridge as Jethro's.”

His hand lashed out, wrapping around my collar. “Wrong, bitch. Hawksridge is mine. Jethro is dead. Remember? Shot. Cold and buried.”

I kept my secret while my heart warmed, rolling around in the truth.

He’s alive.

Looping my fingers over his wrist, I held on while he imprisoned my throat. “It’s yours now—if you behave and follow what Cut tells you, of course. But something makes me think you’ve always been happier here.” I cocked my head. “Why is that? Because it’s away from Bonnie, perhaps? It can’t be because Jasmine doesn’t come here. I don’t see you interact, but she’s harmless.”

As if.

Jasmine terrified me.

He didn’t answer, shoving me back and wiping his hands.

I tried again. “Jethro was hurt because of his condition. Jasmine was disabled for something I don’t understand. Kes was tolerated because he kept the peace. But you…you…” I gasped. “I know. You were the mistake. The third son—the unneeded backup to an inheritance that already had two heirs.”

Daniel suddenly exploded. His palm struck my cheek. “Shut the f*ck up. I’m. Not. A. Mistake.”

I gasped against the pain, fighting an ocean of heat.

He could hit me. But he couldn’t deny it. The way he argued throbbed with past history and conviction. How many times had he been called that? How many times had it undermined his place in the family and turned him into this evil creature?

Holding my cheek, I muttered, “I didn’t say I thought you were a mistake. I asked if that was why you prefer it here.” I rubbed my flaming skin. “You’re his child. Same as all his children. It wasn’t right to make you feel any less than them.”

“Stop with the f*cking psychoanalyzing. You don’t know what the f*ck you’re talking about.” Imprisoning my wrist again, he hauled me toward a large canvas tent.

I went with him—what choice did I have? But I did have a deeper understanding of my nemesis now. His childlike hatred. His out of control temperament. He might not have a soul to implore but once upon a time…he did. He was just a kid. An unwanted kid who did everything he could to be accepted.

The similarities with Jethro didn’t escape my notice. The only difference was Jethro allowed himself to finally change, improve…see his own self-worth.

“It wasn’t Cut who told you first, was it?” I couldn’t stop my runaway mouth. But this might be my only chance at understanding Daniel enough to defeat him.

He didn’t turn to look; his footsteps moved faster. “Shut up. Before I make you.”

“It was Bonnie, wasn’t it? She’s the one who told you you were a mistake.”

What are you doing?

Our pace increased and my eyes sought out escape paths. Climbing the few steps onto the wraparound deck, the fabric tent wasn’t a temporary abode. It’d been swallowed by the ground and had become part of the landscape with outdoor chairs, a veranda, internal reception room, bedroom, and bathroom.

Breathing hard, Daniel ducked and dragged me from mud to carpet, moving forward into a large bedroom with alcoves. Immediately, my gaze dropped to the bed.

I swallowed my heart.

Daniel chuckled. “If you want to ask questions, get your f*cking facts straight first. Yes, I always knew I would get shit having two brothers in front of me. Yes, I wasn’t planned and Cut had great pleasure in telling me that my life is a f*cking gift and to be thankful. But that isn’t the reason why he’s such a bastard.”

Wishing I could put some distance between us, I whispered, “Why?”

Daniel stepped closer, pressing his chest against mine. “Because she didn’t love him. She never loved him—no matter what he did. And that f*cking screwed him up.”

“Who didn’t love him?”

“Rose.”

“Who’s Rose?”

“Peter’s wife.”

“Peter?” My mind raced, grasping at half-remembered recollections.

Daniel growled, “Fuck, you are stupid. Cut’s brother. That’s why Bonnie never liked us. We weren’t supposed to exist. Get it? Cut stole Peter’s wife behind his back. He got her pregnant.”