Page 107 of King of Pride

The same belt. The same man. And the same punishment Augustus remembered from five years ago, when Maverick had beaten him nearly to death.

Only this time, Maverick looked even more furious.

Maverick kicked Augustus hard, sending him crashing back to the floor, then brought the belt down again.

And again.

And again.

The sharp cracks of the leather echoed through the house, followed by Augustus’s screams, but Maverick didn't stop. His face remained cold and furious as he continued, every strike fueled by the image of Rose crying.

Fifteen minutes later, another panicked voice suddenly rang through the doorway.

“Stop! Stop!”

Albert Bishop, their grandfather, hurried into the room.

“Are you going to kill him?” he demanded furiously.

Maverick didn't even look at him.

Albert rushed forward and tried to position himself between Maverick and Augustus, shielding the younger man with his own body.

“Enough!”

Maverick still didn't stop.

The belt continued to crack through the air until finally his arm began to slow. His hand was aching from the repeated strikes, and the leather belt was stained with blood. Augustus’s shirt was covered in red streaks, his body barely moving beneath him.

Only then did Maverick finally stop.

He took a step back, his chest rising and falling heavily.

His face was thunderous, his eyes bloodshot with fury, and his hand was smeared with blood from gripping the belt.

Yet he showed no sign of pain.

Albert had already retreated several steps, staring at him with a mixture of fury and fear.

“You’re a fucking devil!” he shouted. “How can you hit him like this? You’re a monster! You’re a madman. You still haven't gotten your brain fixed!”

Maverick slowly lifted his eyes toward him.

The look in them was so cold and merciless that Albert instinctively took a step back.

“Keep your dog in check,” Maverick said, his voice dangerously calm. “He tried to lay a hand on my wife today.”

His fingers tightened around the bloodied belt.

“The only reason I’m not killing him is because I don’t want my wife to watch me go to prison.”

Albert's anger flared again.

“He is your family!” he shouted. “How can you do this to him over some woman you just married? All because he made one mistake? Are you going to beat him to death?”

Maverick stared at him for several seconds.

Then he gave a cold, humorless laugh.