Third Debt (Indebted #4)(18)

Cut shook his head, almost in awe. “I wish that drug had been around years ago. I’m so happy to have you on my side after all this time. Not to mention, Bonnie is delighted that you no longer harass Jasmine from her studies.”

I smiled, taking another drink. “Yes, we both know it was time for me to grow up.”

Finch suddenly flew overhead; his russet feathers a rainbow of orange, brown, and taupe.

Cut sighed, running a hand through his white hair. “There is one thing I need to bring up, before we can put the past behind us.” His body tightened. “You can probably guess what I’m about to say.”

Could I?

I wracked my brains.

What had he hated about me the most? My inability to obey? My endless problems? Or was it the fact I’d slept with Nila with nothing barred and somehow lost a piece of myself that I would never get back—no matter how numb I was?

“You’ll have to enlighten me. I have no idea what you mean.”

“I must admit, you were beyond stupid. If those pills hadn’t worked, I would’ve put you down for that infraction alone.”

My eyebrow raised. “Oh? This will be interesting. Don’t torture me with suspense—what did I do?”

He grinned. “I’d hoped you would be able to tell me why. Explain in your words what the f*ck was going on in your screwed-up mind. But I guess that won’t happen now that your insanity is cured.”

Insanity.

That annoying little word. Out of everything, it still had a smidgen of power over me. I hated that label. All my life, I’d been called insane, broken. My father had sent me away as a young boy to undergo counselling and get psychiatric help. The conclusion came back stating I was demented, mentally unsound.

Every day of my childhood, Cut reminded me of my flaws. I’d come to hate those words. Despise those words.

Cut laughed again, dragging me back to the present. “Can I ask if you did it because you truly didn’t think, or were you more clever than I gave you credit?”

A slight headache began. “I honestly have no idea what you’re getting at.”

What the f*ck?

Until I had a guess, I wouldn’t say a word. I’d learned how to hide, and those habits were hard to break.

Cut laughed—a full belly chuckle dancing with pride.

My heart swelled. I’d never get tired of having him be proud of me.

“Your balls are iron, Jet. I’ll give you that. I always hoped having your own pet Weaver would fix you.” Leaning forward, he clasped my knee. “I like this man before me. I’m honoured to call him my son.”

Shit...wow.

Clearing my throat, I raised my glass to him. “Appreciate that, Father. More than you know.”

Reclining back in his chair, Cut said quietly, “Let me give you a quick history. You’ve seen the tapes of what I did to Emma, so you know what is required of you. In turn, you know what isn’t required of you.” He tilted his head. “The men of our family are weak when it comes to their Weavers. They f*cked them—same as you. They fell prey to their charms—same as you.” His voice darkened. “However, unlike you, your forefathers saw what the Weavers were doing by enticing them into their beds. Nila is just like her ancestors. She was using sex to get to you—using her body to screw up your mind, and it f*cking worked.”

My glass was empty. I wanted another.

Cut grew angry—the same mask I recognised slipping into place. “I have no issues with you f*cking her. But what does make me rage is you did it without protection.”

I froze.

Conveniently, my mind had buried that titbit beneath all the other crap I’d been dealing with. No protection equals…

“Every time you sank inside that little whore, her face screamed victory. For her it wasn’t lust or love for you, Jethro, it was happiness at being the winner. She used you and it worked.”

Memories of her claiming to win made their way through my druggy fog.

He’s right.

Cut continued, “If your plaything is attractive, it only makes sense to use her for pleasure. As I mentioned before, Hawks are weak in that area and the Weavers somehow carry that knowledge in their bones. Didn’t you think there’d been accidents? Birth control wasn’t around at the start of this contract. Did you stop to wonder if there were half-breeds born of both Hawk and Weaver bloodlines? Impure abominations?”

My heart went from slow to interested. “No, I hadn’t.” I honestly hadn’t contemplated much of our heritage or history. Would that void the contract then? Firstborn carrying both genes?

I guess not, because it’s still in effect.

“What happened to them?”

Cut smiled cruelly. “Same thing that happened to their mothers.”

The alcohol I’d consumed oozed through my blood.

He leaned forward. “When Nila returns, when the time comes to extract more debts, you’re free to do whatever you want with her. I’ll put an end to any illegitimate offspring, and as long as you teach that whore her place, then I give you my vow that on your thirtieth birthday, I will gladly hand you the keys to everything I own. It will all be yours, Jethro.”

Finch majestically landed on the back of the couch, his beak sharp and deadly. Cut stroked the bird as if no threat echoed in his words.