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He snapped out of it after a second, sitting up straighter in his chair to fold his hands atop the table.
“I want you to know, Ava Jade, if you betray my boys—if you harm them—I will hunt you to the ends of the earth. You may think you know the meaning of pain, but you’re wrong. You will hurt and you will bleed. And when I’m finished with you...you will die.”
I let that sink in, his promise etching into my bones.
It was violent and a clear threat and yet…
I respected him for it.
An ache formed behind my breastbone, and I swallowed back a burning in my throat. The memory of my own father dredged back up from the depths where I’d banished it. I had to admire Diesel for his willingness to do whatever it took to protect his sons.
I loved my Dad, but if I’d had a parent as viciously protective as Diesel, I might not have turned out the way I did.
“I understand,” I replied with a nod.
“Good.”
He rose from the table and lifted the two chalices from the tray at his side, carrying them both over to me.
He set them down in front of me on the table, one next to the other.
“Both have two ounces of good whiskey,” he paused. “In one of them is a fast-acting poison.”
My pulse quickened.
“You decide which one you want to drink. I will drink the other.”
“You would poison yourself?” I asked dubiously, my mind racing.
He regarded me with cat-like eyes. “Yes. If you choose correctly. The poison is strong. The side-effects...unpleasant. But the likelihood of it being lethal is low.”
Low, but not zero. Fucking awesome.
“What the fuck is this supposed to prove?” I asked, unable to help myself. “Blind obedience?”
“Sometimes obedience is necessary, even if it poses great risk to yourself.Ifyou pass these trials, I need to know you’ll do what is asked of you no matter if you don’t agree. Even knowing it could cause you bodily harm. For the good of the many.”
“And how isthisfor the good of the many? It’spoison. This is some idiotic Princess Bride shit.”
He smirked at that, but I wasn’t joking.
“It’s tradition,” he added before indicating the chalices again. “Choose.”
I narrowed my gaze on the chalices, grinding my teeth.
This is fucking stupid.
But...I realized a little belatedly, he’d just told me what this trial was meant to prove. If I didn’t drink, I failed the trial. My refusal would prove my inability to follow an order.
If I didn’t drink,Diesel would win.
Couldn’t fucking have that now, could we?
I settled myself knowing that if Diesel killed me his sons would never forgive him. At least, Grey wouldn’t. I didn’t think Rook would be too happy, either. Corvus would probably get over it.
I could handle a little stomach cramping, right?
“Can I check them?” I asked and Diesel nodded.
