The room tensed.
“Jasmine will oversee the Final Debt, but Bryan Hawk has overridden the request for the right of Fourth Debt and granted it to Mr. Daniel.”
Tension ricocheted out in a burst of savagery. “No way!” Jasmine glared at Cut. “Father, we agreed. You said she wasmine. I’ve proven myself time and time again. Give her to me.”
Cut steepled his fingers, unruffled by her disorder. “There’s a method to why you won’t carry out the Fourth Debt, Jasmine.” His attention fell on Marshall. “Finish, please, then we can carry on to the next point on the agenda.”
The next point?
My God, what else could they discuss?
I’d just learned I was the property of Jasmine with loopholes for Daniel to hurt me.
Didn’t I have a say in any of this?
Daniel snickered, capturing my hand and tugging it into his lap. “Guess we have a date, after all, little Weaver.” Raising my hand to his mouth, he kissed the back of my knuckles. “Including the matter of finishing the Third Debt.”
I convulsed.
Cut chuckled. “Oh, yes. Unfinished business.” His eyes narrowed. “Don’t think we’ve forgotten about that, Nila. You don’t wear the tally mark yet because it wasn’t completed. We’ll get to that a bit later, though. Give you sometime to adjust.”
My fingertip wearing Jethro’s initials itched. His mark still existed in this world while he didn’t. Would I continue to be marked in his name for debts extracted or would I wear DBH instead?
Steeling my heart, I scoffed. “Gee, thanks. So thoughtful of you.”
Daniel squeezed my hand. “Watch it.”
Every molecule wanted to extract myself from his slimy, grip.
Cole shuffled in his chair, barrelling through the air of hostility with a contemptuous look. “May I continue?”
Cut nodded. “By all means.”
Bonnie scoffed under her breath, the diamonds of her broaches gleaming like death rays.
Cole looked back at the contract. “The first part of the Fourth Debt will be explained at Cut’s discretion.”
First part?
“And the second part, hereby known as the Fifth Debt, will be carried out by Daniel Hawk due to the nature and requirements of the debt.”
Was there always a Fifth Debt or was that new?
I trembled to think of more pain but I was glad in a bizarre way.It means I have more time to kill them before they kill me.
“An able-bodied person must extract payment and...” His eyes fell on Jasmine, pity glowing. “...requires a journey not fit for someone in Ms. Hawk’s condition.”
My back stiffened at the look he gave her—the look I’d seen so many people give others less fortunate than them.
What was I talking about?
Lessfortunate?Jasmine had more wealth than she could ever spend. She came from a lineage that banded together and protected their own no matter the cost. Not having use of her legs was a downside, but it didn’t handicap her, nor did it make her a nicer person for her struggles.
Jasmine fisted her hands on the table. I didn’t know if it was from the misplaced condolences or anger at being denied.
Either way, I laughed under my breath, unable to stop my derisive frustration. “Don’t pity her.”
Cole glanced away guiltily.
