“I need you to be a good boy, Kaden, and I need you to look after your brother.”
I nod as she runs her fingers through my hair. It catches in a knot and pulls on my scalp but I don’t mind. Sometimes I don’t see her for weeks.
“Remember what I’ve taught you. No matter what they tell you, no matter what they teach you, nothing is as important as compassion, love—humanity. You’re going to lead one day... Make the world better, not worse.”
I don’t understand why she’s talking like this... Like she’s not coming back. She grips my shoulders and pulls me in.
“I'm sorry,” she whispers, her throat clogged with tears.
Something heavy swirls in my belly and it makes me feel sick, and sad.
“Now, Helena,” Dad calls as he storms past the door.
Mum jumps and releases me. She swipes at her face again, collecting more tears. I stand still, confused as she straightens out her light green gown and pulls her cardigan further over her shoulders. Lightning flashes, lighting up the room and a bang of thunder sounds out with a loud clap. I’m trembling in my bed. Does she have to go? She knows I can’t stand the storms. The loud bang doesn’t wake Vince and I guess I didn't expect it to. Vince loves storms... even though he’s a lot smaller than I am.
Mum strolls slowly towards the door and I watch her from my bed. She twirls around one last time, blows me a kiss and switches out the light...
That was the last time Kade saw her. His father had taken her straight to her death.
Music from the party still filtered through the windows of the Sario Manor. Kade hadn’t cared for music since he was a little boy. To him, the noise was an unnecessary tool to make people more comfortable around each other. His lips curled at the thought of people standing around with drinks in their hands, but no music to accompany them.
Kade stormed down the hallway, adjusting his suit jacket so it sat comfortably on his shoulders. One by one, he did up the buttons and sauntered into the kitchen. Like Kade expected, Vince sat perched on the bench, sipping on his drink and groping an uncomfortable Thirteen, the newest kitchen slave. As Master Kade surged forward, Thirteen’s eyes went round, but she didn’t dare back away from Vince, not until Kade gripped her shoulder and shoved her against the pantry.
“Brothe—”
Kade swung hard, connecting with Vince’s jaw. His chest rumbled with a growl as he gripped the collar of Vince’s shirt and dragged him across the bench before dropping him against the cold stone floor. Kade hit him once more, his knuckles smashing into Vince’s nose. He didn’t stop until he saw the blood on his knuckles. Finally, he released Vince and straightened his posture, towering over his bleeding little brother.
“How many times do I have to tell you to leave my things alone?” Kade panted, wiping sweat from his forehead with the sleeve of his shirt.
Vince spat blood against the tiles and grinned, wiping blood that trickled from his nose with the back of his hand. “So, did you do it?”
“Of course I did, but I wouldn’t have if I knew the order came from you!” Kade lied. He never touched Nine, but he had to make Vince believe he did.
“How was it? Is she as tight as she looks?”
Kade launched forward and punched Vince again, this time hitting him in the mouth. Vince groaned, rolling onto his side and clenching his face.
“If I have to tell you again, Vincent, I’ll fucking kill you.”
Kade turned around and Thirteen flinched against the pantry. Her body trembled. There wasn’t a hair on her body that wasn’t shaking fiercely. Kade felt a pang of sympathy in his stomach—not because he pushed her, no. That was easy. He felt sorry because he knew Vince had to take his anger out on someone and Kade was certain she was the closest pussy he hadn’t tasted, or destroyed.
Kade left her to deal with Vince. If he was preoccupied with Thirteen, then he’d leave Nine alone. Besides, Vince always did prefer small, pretty blondes.
As he meandered from the kitchen, he saw Portia leaning against the wall in the hallway, keeping her head down. Portia was Kade’s favourite Unfortunate. She did what she was told and was beyond loyal to Kade—excluding the day she didn’t tell him Nine was in the bush. As a result of her loyalty, he’d never taken anything from her and kept her safe from Vince’s prying hands or the hands of other Fortunates. She took care of the entire kitchen and made sure all of the Sario events ran smoothly. Kade unbuttoned his shirt and extended it to her.
“This needs to be washed immediately. Collect the rest of my clothes in an hour’s time.”
“Yes, Master Kade.”