Fourth Debt (Indebted #5)(67)

I closed my eyes. I didn’t want to imagine the rest of the torture devices. There was too much joy in creating so much pain. I couldn’t stomach it. I’d seen photos of the Brazen Bull—of stuffing a poor person inside a bronze statue and lighting a fire beneath. The victim roasted alive, while the smoke of their charred remains escaped through the nostrils of the bull.

I shivered.

His fingers caressed my cheek. “Don’t worry. I won’t use it tonight. Only show and tell, remember?” Snickering, he placed the Pear of Anguish on a side table and picked up a wicked pincher device.

Cut said, “You’d do well to behave, Nila. One misstep and they become part of the toys used. Got it?”

I glowered, not stooping to his level with a response.

Jethro…

Keep my thoughts on him.

Whatever they planned to do tonight would be bearable as long as my mind found a way to be free.

Daniel waved the next piece in my face. “Any clue?”

I shook my head, hating him more every passing second.

“It’s called a Breast Slicer.” Daniel opened the pinchers which were formed into two wicked spikes. “This would be stabbed into the outer edges of a woman’s tits, impaling her.”

My nipples twinged as blood raced faster.

“Then they’d be ripped out as fast and as hard as possible.” He demonstrated with a quick jerk. “No more tits.” Fondling the awful item, he laughed. “Women had it pretty hard in medieval England. Wouldn’t you agree?”

That one I did agree with.

I nodded.

I expected more tormenting, but Daniel grew bored.

Tossing the Breast Slicer to clang against the Pear of Anguish, he looked at Cut. “Can I start, or do you want me to do something else first?”

What’s going to happen?

Whatever it was, he’d given me fair warning. It would be only fair to use that knowledge for my benefit. My mind charged ahead with gruesome plans. If I remained untethered, I might be able to use the Breast Slicer on him and then ram the Pear of Anguish down Bonnie’s throat. Cut would have to wait—or I could skewer him with a poker from the black marble fireplace.

Cut steepled his fingers. “You can start, Buzzard.”

Daniel clapped his hands. “Hear that, Nila? Permission. Fucking sister has done a good job at keeping you out of bounds, but tonight she’s not invited.” He grinned. “She’s also not invited to the secret surprise we have for you. That will just be you, me, and Cut. Jasmine thinks she’s won. But she won’t be coming with us.” His golden eyes darkened. “And that means there won’t be anyone to stop me.”

Loathsome repugnance ran through my body.

He’s talking about the Third Debt.

“Get on with it, Dan,” Bonnie muttered.

Daniel prowled around me. “Don’t rush me, Grandmamma. I’m enjoying myself.” He gathered my long hair, playing with it.

I couldn’t unglue myself from the rug.

“You’re very pretty, Nila. I can see why Jethro thought with his cock rather than his brain.” Braiding my hair, he inhaled me. “But unlike my broken brother, I can keep a level head around you.” His entire body reeked of greed and gluttony—not on food or money—but power over another’s life.

My life.

His hands dropped from my hair, ensnaring my wrists. “Because of that, I don’t trust you. And tonight, it’s all about obedience.”

I gasped as he yanked my hands behind me, binding them with a rope I hadn’t seen. I squirmed in his hold, wanting to escape whatever would come next. So much for my plan of killing them.

“Don’t do this.” My voice was heavy with fury. Don’t take me away from Jethro when he’s only just come back to me. To have such love and hope granted and then stripped away was the height of cruelty. I loathed my fate. I despised my karma.

Daniel laughed loudly, his baritone bouncing off the den walls. “Don’t worry. You have full control over tonight.”

“You keep saying that. What does it mean?”

Spinning me in his hold, he stroked my cheek. “I mean that you’ll have a choice of what happens.”

“If I have a choice, then I choose for this to end. Right now.”

He chuckled. “Not that simple, Weaver.”

My wrists fought against the twine. I forced myself to ignore the discomfort and rapidly building fear. My unhappiness didn’t matter to Daniel. He only saw what he wanted—a girl to torture and daddy’s approval to do it.

It’s all over.

Jethro had come back from the dead. But it was too late.

Cut placed his goblet on a side table, standing upright. “Are you ready to begin, Nila? Ready to pay the Fourth Debt?”

What answer could I give? I reverted to illiteracy. I forgot how to talk because speech never saved me. Only actions would, but I couldn’t do that, either. My arms were fastened tightly.

Daniel pushed me forward. Cut caught me but I refused to look him in the eye. Instead, I looked over his shoulder—back ramrod straight, chin tilted with defiance.

Cut’s golden gaze glowed. “I’ll take that as a yes.” Chuckling, he stroked my diamond collar. He bent closer, his breath echoing in my ear. “It’s a new era, Nila. And I can’t wait to share my secrets with you when we get to where we’re going. Tonight you’ll pay the easier part of the Fourth Debt. And later…you’ll pay the rest.”