Page 657 of Coal Hearts

“For soft, I used my fingertips. For hard, I used the tawse.”

“Ah, one of my favourites. Did you know that split leather strap was still used in classrooms when I was a boy? I got swatted a few times in my youth.”

I laughed. “I didn’t know what it was until that night.” Lowering my voice, making it seem as if I confided a secret, I added, “I loved that Ily’s anguish came from not knowing what I’d deliver. It was genius to blindfold and ear-plug the jewels before playing. Ily had no idea if my fingers would pet or the tawse would punish. It turned me the fuck on watching her body sway toward mine hoping for soft only to flinch when I chose pain instead.”

“Ah, Henri.” He patted my cheek. “If only I didn’t have a son on the way. It would’ve been an honour to have you as my heir.” He dropped his hand, his face almost wistful. “Tell you what...I’m not getting any younger. If I don’t live to educate my son in all the ways he will rule, would you be open to it?”

I froze. “Y-You want me to teach your son?”

“As his guardian...yes. His godfather if you will.” His eyes grew serious and tinged with sadness. “You have no one. I have no one. No one else I’d rather ask anyway. So...what do you say?”

A pang in my chest.

A complex mixture of loathing and...loss.

I was a monster’s bastard.

I’d been raised far different than most children.

I suffered the ramifications of that curse daily.

And the thought of Victor’s child going through what I did?

Becoming what I am...

Swallowing hard, I said, “You never told me. Did you do it?”

“Do what?” He quirked an eyebrow.

“Kill my brother.”

His face turned dark. “Alas, there have been minor complications, but I’ve been assured he’ll be dead within the month. Perhaps after our Halloween celebrations, we can go on a trip together? Just us? I can take you to one of my mines. I’ve had some renovations done to house merchandise to sell online.”

Nausea splashed onto my tongue. “You’ve started doing what your colleague suggested? The one from Vietnam?”

“I have.” He nodded. “It’s not as easy as I thought. There are still glitches and techniques I need to learn to get around the pesky flags of such large transactions. I’m even considering hosting my own shop on an encrypted network, but...it’s all very promising.”

Clapping his hands, he looked past me to his butler subtly trying to get his attention. “Oh dear, I’m late for a meeting. Have a think about the theme for Halloween, and you never answered me.” He caught my eyes. “Will you be godfather to my son?”

The thought of being responsible for Victor’s kid?

Agreeing to raise his offspring, even while I planned on killing him?

Even hypothetically agreeing to something like that felt like the biggest commitment of my life.

I rubbed my mouth, delaying one last time before adding yet another stain on my soul. “You’re so sure it’s a son, Vic. But...what if it’s a daughter?”

His mood instantly soured. “I’ve ordered an ultrasound for Dr Belford. Our surgery wasn’t equipped for birthing, but soon, it will be. She’ll tell me what it is in a month when the machine arrives.”

“And?” I needled. “If it’s a girl?”

His gaze turned deadly, his infamous temper appearing. “Then I guess I’ll be a hundred grand richer. I’ve heard rumours that’s what female babies fetch.”

The urge to be sick surged through me.

In a single sentence, he reminded me, all over again, that for all his friendliness and suavity, he was the vilest son of a bitch and deserved to die.

Laughing, I slapped him on the shoulder. “You truly are something, you know that?”