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A cold shiver runs through my veins.
I know what that means. I know why my father detests the business. He learned the family business from his father, my grandfather, who ran a lucrative sex-trafficking operation among the other family assets. Julian August went down to the docks to inspect one of his father’s shipments and fell head over heels in love with a Slovenian woman with a dazzling smile and ice-blue eyes. Daddy defied his father’s wishes to marry my mother and shut down the skin trade in Emerald Beach.
It sounds as if Brutus wants to start it up again.
“It’s time you faced reality, brother,” Brutus bites back with a mocking tone. “In case you haven’t noticed, we’re losing ground in the city to other gangs – gangs who don’t obey our laws. Your refusal to deal in skin just means others step in on our patch and make us look weak.”
“And we wouldn’t want to appear weak.” My father’s voice takes on a silky tone. I sense Brutus is marching himself into a trap.
“Exactly.” Another bang. I picture Brutus punching the desk for emphasis. “This is going on whether we’re a part of it or not. If we control the sex trade, you can set the rules, but right now it’s a fucking circus out there, with Nero as the ringmaster. I’m trying to preserve the reputation of the August family. We need to show that we’re still the kings of this patch. I made the deal with my own money – it was between me and Nero. It has nothing to do with you.”
“It has everything to do with me. You’re my own brother, my tribune, and you sought to undermine me. A true leader listens more than he talks, and I’ve been listening to you for some time now. Do not presume to know more than I do about the reputation of this family.” My father pauses. “You’ve forced my hand. I’m sorry, brother.”
“You should be sorry. You—” There’s a couple of thuds, and Brutus cries out. I’ve heard this often enough to know what’s happened. A couple of my father’s soldiers have appeared from nowhere and seized Brutus. There’s a crash as one of Daddy’s objects breaks in the struggle.
“You swore an oath of loyalty to me, and you broke it.” Daddy sounds so sorrowful. I imagine my father steepling his fingers together, his brow knitted in concern. “As punishment, you will wear the sacer.”
I almost cry out in surprise. In all the years I’ve listened from inside the bookshelf, I’ve never heard Daddy give out this punishment. The sacer is Daddy’s seal branded on the skin. It marks Brutus as an accursed man. This means anyone can kill him for any reason and they will be spared the consequences. Even law enforcement knows the meaning of the sacer, and they won’t investigate those killings. Daddy giving Brutus the sacer means marking his own brother for death.
“You wouldn’t do that to your only brother,” Brutus sneers. He sounds so certain, like a kid testing his father’s temper.
“You’re right about one thing. I cannot afford to appear weak,” Daddy says. “You’ve sown dissent among my ranks. My soldiers must know what happens to those who disobey our laws.”
There’s a scuffle, a couple of thumps, the sound of books being thrown to the floor.
“That’s your problem, Julian. You’re too concerned with law.” Brutus’ voice grows high-pitched as he struggles against his captors. “All this sacer nonsense, stopping the beast fights, letting the most lucrative businesses line the pockets of the other families. You really do believe you’re the great Emperor Augustus, just and fair. You’re so busy meting out punishments for every transgression you’ve forgotten that you run a criminal fucking empire. You’re not special. You’re not immortal. You’re certainly not morally fucking superior.”
“I know perfectly well who I am, thank you. Do me the honor of taking your punishment like a man.” Daddy’s chair creaks as he leans back. “I have spoken.”
Over Brutus’ protests, my father orders his soldier to fetch the blowtorch. The flame hisses and I know he’s holding the tip against a brand – the sword and laurel wreath that represent our family. To Brutus’ credit, he only lets out a grunt as my father accepts the brand from his captain and presses the sacer into his brother’s skin. Brutus is now an accursed man. Everyone in our world will see the mark and know that Brutus’ life no longer has worth.
“Your rule is over, Imperator,” Brutus spits as he’s dragged away. “You think one little burn and you’re in control of this city? You don’t know what’s waiting for you. You don’t—”
The office door closes, and Brutus’ cries become too faded to hear. My father’s chair squeaks. Alone now except for me, his breath comes out in ragged gasps. I wait without speaking while he collects himself.
When he swings open the door, I’m shocked at the sight of him. The ice in his eyes has cooled, and his mouth is crooked. The weight of what he’d just done to his brother, to a member of our family, weighs heavy on his shoulders. He thrusts a hand inside and helps me out, pulling me into his lap like I’m a little girl again.
“Why did I do that to Brutus?” he asks me.
“Because he betrayed our family.”
“Exactly.” He rests his forehead against mine. The sadness in his eyes is absolute. “Never forget that only those you love can truly betray you.”
My father pulls me into his arms, crushing me against his chest beneath the ferocity of his embrace. I think about Brutus’ words, and I feel cold settle in my veins as I realize the lesson Daddy intended me to learn tonight.
Only those you love can truly betray you.
If I never love, then I can never be betrayed.
Claudia
I wrap my arms around Eli and hold tight, so tight. I press my body to him, trying to press the blood back inside myself, as if his warmth alone is enough to staunch the wound.
My ears ring from the shots. Eli rubs my arm where a bullet grazed my skin. His fingers are bloody. I can’t feel the wound. I can’t feel my arm. I’m dimly aware of a warm, stinging sensation in my abdomen from the bullet wound Eli hasn’t noticed yet.
The warmth grows hotter and hotter, radiating across my stomach, but it isn’t painful, not right this moment. I have time to bask in the light of Eli’s return.
The pain will come soon enough.
