The first week had been rough. One of the hardest.
Silently, they had agreed not to talk about it.
Clearly, Regan had been excited to have them, but no one had expected the special attention and violence he’d displayed towards Bryson.
It was obvious to Kaydon that they were not his first tenants in this basement.
But one thing he was sure of, they would be his last. Kaydon just needed to wait for Bryson’s signal.
A key turned in the room’s lock, and the deadbolt creaked open. The sound of steel scraping against the floor filled the space.
Kaydon and Seth stood up.
One guard trailed Bryson’s entry.
Eyes hard, Bryson twisted out of the man’s grasp, stepping into his open cell.
Kaydon watched as Bryson stared down the man locking his door; watched him keep up the glare until the door shut. Kaydon’s eyes followed the trail of the door’s path carved into the concrete.
Bryson’s shoulders sagged and he sank to the floor. He gave Kaydon and Seth a weak smile before turning onto his side and curling into himself.
Kaydon didn’t remember exactly how or when it had happened. One day, Regan had just taken Bryson out for one of his little play sessions and left Seth and him behind. Bryson had come back, pupils black, body stiff. They didn’t ask each other what happened. What was the point of making one another relive it?
But Kaydonhadwanted to ask.
After that, Regan didn’t come for Seth or Kaydon anymore. He only came for Bryson.
Kaydon watched the rise and fall of Bryson’s back. He was going to be sick. Kaydon rubbed his fingernails up and down his forearm.
He was happy that Seth was being kept safe.
But Kaydon would have given anything for it to be him with Regan and not Bryson.
Warmth spread across his arm where he was itching.
Looking down, he saw crimson blood pooling up where he had broken skin. His arm was raw and red. If the pain hadn’t stopped him, the blood should have. But he didn’t want to stop. He wanted to bleed. Bleed for his brothers, even if it was at his own hand.
God knows he deserved it.
And it felt good.
CHAPTER 4
LOCATION UNKNOWN
Bryson heard the key entering the lock before the click of the deadbolt signaled an arrival. On his feet, Bryson felt his body easily push any tiredness away as Sabin walked through the door.
He was tall with broad shoulders, a grin plastered on his face peeking through an unruly black beard.
“Boss has something special in mind for you today,” Sabin said.
Bryson didn’t say anything.
He never spoke to them.
Instead, he just stood there, eyes never leaving Sabin’s. These days there were a lot of things he didn’t know, but one thing Bryson knew for sure was that Sabin didn’t know shit about what Regan had planned.
Bryson hated all the lackeys. Hated going through the motions, hated playing the docile prisoner. But he couldn’t risk jeopardizing Kaydon and Seth’s safety. And right now, their safety hinged on one thing.
