The name came to me as surely as if she wore a name tag. This was the elusive grandmother—the ruler of Hawksridge Hall.
Her lips pursed as if my presence offended her. Her papery hands with vivid blue veins remained clutched in her lap. Her white hair glowed as she sat regally, poised better than any young debutant, not an elderly crone. The chair she sat in matched her bearing, looking like a morbid throne with black velvet and twilled claw-foot legs.
A staff member stood beside her with a parasol, drenching the dame in shade from the noonday sunshine.
It hurt to think the sun beamed upon such a place. It didn’t pick favourites when casting its golden rays—whether it be innocent orguilty—it shone regardless.
I looked up into the ball of burning gas, singeing my retinas and begging the sun to erase all memory of today.
Bonnie sniffed, raising her chin.
Cut stepped forward, clasping his hands in glee. “Hello, Ms. Weaver. So kind of you to join us.”
“I didn’t exactly have a choice.” I shuddered, no longer able to fight the terror lurking on the outskirts of my mind. Claws of horror sank deep inside me, dragging me further into panic.
Cut grinned, noticing my ashen skin and quaking knees. “No, you didn’t. And you have no idea how happy that makes me.”
Turning his attention to his son, he said, “Let’s begin. Shall we?”
Chapter Fifteen
Jethro
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I NODDED.
What else could I do?
If I refused, Kes would step in. If I refused, I would be killed.
My eyes fell on my grandmother. She hoisted her nose higher in the air, waiting for me to start. Cut had deliberately brought Bonnie to watch—to be there if I failed.
I have no intention of failing.
I’d managed to stay cold the moment I stepped into Nila’s quarters. Even when she’d looked into my eyes and snuggled into my chest, I hadn’t warmed. I intended to remain aloof and removed until it was over.
It was the only way.
Cut stepped back, squeezing his mother’s shoulder.
Bonnie Hawk looked up at him, smiling thinly. He was her favourite. But just like her son, she couldn’t stand her grandchildren.
Jasmine. She stands Jasmine.
That was true. If there was anyone who’d excelled in this family and played perfectly in the role she’d been given, it was Jaz.
Cut said, “Begin, Jet. Pretend we aren’t here if it will make you feel any better.”
I held back my snort. I never wanted to forget that they were here. If I did, I’d lose any hope of being icy and slip. I’d find a way to take it easy on Nila and avoid certain parts of this debt—just like I’d done with the First Debt and not freezing her the way I should have.
Today, there would be no leniency. Today, Nila must be strongenough to face the full brunt of what my family would do to her.
Stop avoiding the truth.
What you will do to her. You alone.
In that instant, I wanted to hand the power over to Kes. Make him do it—so Nila would hate him instead of me.
