I press my lips together. “Okay…” I give Ray my hand.
Ray holds the knife over my palm. “The first cut represents loyalty to your Brothers above all else. Do you agree to remain loyal to the Brotherhood as long as you live, Brother Harry?”
I nod.
“Verbal answer, please.”
“Y-Yes, I d-do.”
He brings the knife to my flesh and drags across it, leaving a shallow gash.
I grit my teeth against the sting, but it’s not too bad.
Ray repositions the knife. “The second cut represents respect to your Brothers above all others. Do you agree to show respect and deference to your Brothers—in return for the same—for as long as you shall live, Brother Harry?”
“Yes,” I say, my voice stronger this time.
Ray makes another quick cut perpendicular to the first. It hurts less this time, maybe because I’m used to the sting from the first cut.
“Brother Corey, the candle.”
“Yes, Brother Ray.”
Ray gives Corey the knife and takes the candle. He holds it over my palm. “And now we seal your oath with the Candle of Promise.” He drips the hot wax onto the cuts on my palm.
I cry out as the hot wax touches my sensitive flesh, and Max immediately clamps a hand over my mouth. Ray continues to drip the candle wax over my palm, outlining the X the entire way.
Finally, he finishes and he puts the candle back on the ground. Max lets go of my mouth and reaches into Ray’s bag, pulling out a roll of gauze. As he wraps it around my hand, he mutters, “All honor to The Club, all glory to The Club.”
Once my hand is fully wrapped, Ray wraps an arm around my shoulder. “Welcome, Brother Harry, to The Club. Corey, please present the vestments.”
Corey grabs Ray’s bag and pulls out a black trench coat. He hands it to Ray.
Ray holds out the coat. “Brother Harry, this coat and the mark on your hand sealed in wax represent your loyalty and respect to The Club. Please wear it whenever possible.”
I take the coat. It’s heavy. Leather, I think. “This must have cost you a fortune, Ray.”
“Never mind that. It’s yours.”
I take the coat and put it on. It’s not really my style, but it does cut against the autumn breeze nicely. I’m no longer shivering.
“Thank you,” I say.
“Thank you, Brother Harry,” Ray says. He grabs my hands. “And now that you are an official member of The Club, we’ll get to business.”
“Business?” I ask.
Ray nods solemnly. “Hector Dimpsey, to be specific.”
I widen my eyes. “What about him?”
Ray’s eyes glow with malice in the candlelight. “What would you do to him if he were here right now? Just him, all alone? No Kingsmen in sight?”
“I’d beat the shit out of him with my brothers.”
Corey and Max laugh, but Ray silences them. “Good answer.” He grins and strokes his chin. “But beating him up, even within an inch of his life, would only cause him pain temporarily. A few days, maybe a week if we really do a good job. You have to think bigger.”
“What do you mean?”
