Lennox steps in front of Kane. “He’s a boy. Give him a task he can accomplish.”
Kane doesn’t allow his uncle to protect him as he naïvely asks, “Where are the knives?”
He’s tortured people before, gotten rid of the evidence when his anger took over while working for Niko. He never felt remorse for the position they found themselves in, but he’s grossly misunderstanding what’s being asked of him.
Rowan smiles under his mask as he stares at his biological son, awaiting the horrified expression he craves. “They are no use when he’s already dead. However, you may use protection to prevent creating a defective bond when you return to your wife.”
Kane’s mind is already slowed due to mourning, so he blinks, waiting for something to clear up his confusion because the only protection he can think of is a condom. A condom and a dead body shouldn’t be used in the same sentence.
Sasha becomes impatient, whining, “I’m hungry.”
“A little longer, sweet thing,” Rowan comforts her as he stares at Kane. “After the entertainment, you’ll be fed.”
There are two choices in front of Kane.
Kill everyone in this room. Consequently, lose Delilah forever. Grieve another person with the guilt of being the one who ruined every member of his family.
Stick to his plan. Convince Rowan he’s one of them and then, when they’re all comfortable like he was, ruin them like they have him.
Lennox knows what is being asked of Kane, how the deathly cold violation haunts a person. It’s why he can’t stand the feeling of skin-to-skin contact, so he whispers to his twin, “I’ll take the punishment.”
“No,” Rowan snaps. “He’s either strong enough to join us or too weak, so he needs to go back into the box.”
The box is what the prisoners called solitary confinement. The pain of the ninetieth day Kane spent in the box would make him agree to anything. He stupidly seals his fate as he curls his fingers over Lennox’s shoulder, then squeezes. “This is mine as much as it’s yours. Don’t be jealous because I escaped becoming a reflection, unlike you.”
Sasha is bored, hungry, and annoyed as she continues watching them. She takes a small foil package from her pocket, throwing it towards Kane in an effort to make him hurry up so she can eat. It slides across the stained concrete, stopping a few inches from his boot.
He looks at the ring outline pressing against the sealed packaging, knowing there’s no escaping what he has to do, but he moves slowly, delaying the inevitable sin he’s about to commit to the dead body.
When he was younger, he heard people say you shouldn’t speak ill of the dead. Those who have left deserved respect. Isadora always fell silent when the topic would come up. Now he understands why as he picks up the condom.
Lennox attempts to offer him some dignity as he walks over to the corner where Sasha is seated. Rowan remains in front of him, waiting for him to lower his zipper and defile a rotting body.
Don’t watch me, Kid.Kane sends up a prayer to heavens he doesn’t believe in.Fly away, my beautiful butterfly.
He slowly tilts his hips to the side before he undoes his zipper. He’s not hard though.
“Are you shy?” Rowan laughs, stepping closer to place his hand on Kane’s shoulder. “We’re all family. There is no need to feel nervous with kin.”
Kane’s breathing escalates as he stares at his reflection while a hand that does not belong to him wraps around his length. Rowan moves slowly, stroking him, rubbing his thumb under the crown while Kane begs his body not to react. Blood flow to the appendage increases, taking his autonomy with it. There’s no intrusion, but like the ninetieth day, he’s being violated again while he’s frozen in place, waiting for it to be over.
The reflection morphs into Asher, who tells him,“This is Delilah’s fault.”He closes his eyes to escape it, yet the voice is in his mind, so there’s no way to block it out or drown the false accusations.“Look what she’s doing to you again.”
She didn’t do anything,he silently argues back.She’s innocent.
He’s stronger than he’s ever been as the wet rubber replaces the hand working over his length.
“There, dear nephew.” Rowan pats his shoulder, pushing him forward. “You’re ready now.”
Sasha rolls her eyes at how long he’s taking, stamping her foot on the bottom rung of the bar stool. “I’m. Hungry.”
