That will be the end of my brother.
I refrain from touching the metal piece I hid under my tactical long-sleeve shirt.
“Don’t interrupt me,” Petar orders, and his head of security nods before locking us into the chamber.
My eyes have started to swell; it’s hard to distinguish the rows of weapons on the walls. I must be in a different room from my usual one.
Petar doesn’t waste any time. He marches to my left and lifts a knife from the display. The metal glints in the harsh overhead light. I swallow hard, but I fear the knives less than the cold water and electric therapy he’s used for me so far.
I have to be smarter than him.I amsmarter than him.
Petar stands in front of me, his legs spread and chest heaving with the force of his anger. And all I can summon is pity.
We look so much alike, yet we took wildly different directions in life. The same brown hair on his skull, the same brown eyes looking at me like I’m nothing. His tree-trunk legs and massive chest have been honed into a weapon by our father. Just like he did to me. I’m the one they called a beast, but the wild animal between the two of us is in front of me, poised to destroy me.
“I should have known you came back for a reason.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I rasp, shifting with a grimace. The bastard must have broken a rib or two, and my nose pulses, the flow of blood out and onto my lips constant and bitter. It’s hard to move and breathe.
He growls, but doesn’t attack.
The longer I keep him in here, the better my chances of ending him. I have to believe my girl is taking care of everyone else inside that house. My brother’s life is mine to take.
I frown when he still doesn’t make a move. It’s the wrong thing to do. It betrays my thoughts, how I long for him to attack me in anger. Emotions make him sloppy.
Petar smirks, lifting the tip of the knife in my direction. “I’m going to take my time. Wait until that ragged breathing evens out, then strike.”
I laugh, mockingly. “Of course you would. You’re scared of me!”
“You’ll pay for your insolence.”
He’s too fast and I’m unprepared. The knife spears my left shoulder as he launches it in a perfect throw.
“Fuck!”
Pain radiates into my arms, nerves firing. I’m blinded by it as a second knife embeds itself into my other shoulder. I keep my lips shut together, but can’t hold the half groan of pure agony. Tears spring from my eyes. I’m heaving. Blood coats the front of my shirt, but I refuse to die at the hands of this monster.
“How long do you think it will take to bleed you to death? How many knives?”
“You’re a coward,” I croak in response. “Hiding behind your knives. Behind the hose and the cattle prod. Even weakened like this, I can take you.”
I punch him in the kidney with weak fists and he steps back, out of reach. He laughs, the cruel and sinister sound echoing in the sterile chamber. Months ago, I’d have felt fear, but now, rageis still running in my system. The only fear I ever feel anymore is for Lucie’s safety, and I have to believe she’s okay. My brother truly is the coward I called him. I can see it in the shift of his gait, the way his fist clenches around the handle of the next knife he wants to throw at me.
I’m not cowering, my girl isn’t dead, and Diane escaped. He has no power. I might be the one in chains, but he’s the true prisoner.
He slowly prowls towards me and I don’t hesitate.
I launch myself at him, using my kneeling position to jump at his waist and take him down. His head hits the concrete floor and the knife clatters to the floor, too far fro him to reach.
I climb on top of him. My arms are weak, the injuries I’ve withstood too intense for me to do any real damage to his face as I punch him. I go for the nose. That shit hurts like a bitch.
I would know.
Petar howls as a sickening crunch reaches my ears. Blood spurts from his nostrils, and my knuckles turn red. The colour feeds my hate, my need to annihilate him.
“You thought you could touch what’s mine,” I seethe.
But Petar still has most of his strength. Adrenaline in my system isn’t enough. From somewhere on his thigh, he unholsters another blade, the metal entering the soft skin in between my ribs. I cry out.
