Daniel nodded. “Fine.”

“You’ll sort everything out?”

“Don’t worry about us.” Daniel smiled, squeezing my thigh with biting fingers. “We’ll have a fantastic time on our own, won’t we, Nila?”

I flinched. My mind raced with scenarios on how to stop my future from unfolding. I didn’t know how long the drive would be, but the minute we arrived at our destination, I was ruined.

There was no one to tell him no.

No one to interrupt if he tried to rape me again.

And he will try again.

My left hand disappeared into my hoodie pocket, fisting around the needle.

I have to be ready to do whatever is necessary.

If that meant becoming a killer with a tool of my trade, then so be it. Cut wouldn’t be there. Perhaps this was the perfect opportunity to slaughter Daniel and put one demon into his grave.

Cut leaned into the Jeep, grabbing Daniel by the scruff of his neck. The symbolism wasn’t lost on me. He held his son like an animal would hold its troublesome young.

“You are not to touch her, understand? Put her to bed and guard her. Let her rest. And by rest, I mean prepare for what’s in store.”

Letting Daniel go, Cut wiped his hands on the front of his jeans. “You touch her, Buzzard, and you won’t be in fit shape to claim the Third Debt. Got it?”

My heart galloped.

Cut was the one person I wanted to die a gruesome death, but he’d just saved me from his vile offspring. Was it jealousy at not getting first dibs? Or some sick chauvinistic protection?

Daniel scowled. “No fair. You said—”

“I said we’d make her pay the Third Debt when we arrived. However, that means we share.” Cut’s eyes glittered. “I find out you didn’t share, Hawksridge gets locked in a trust and goes to Jasmine’s heir.”

“Fuck!” Daniel glared into the night, seething.

I’d never known a stricter, more delusional parent. Cut had shot his two sons. He willingly did whatever he had done to his own brother to inherit my mother. He had his ludicrous laws and absolutely no scruples.

Yet, he controlled Daniel so effortlessly.

Daniel puffed in retaliation then softened in respect. “Okay, Pop. You got it.”

“Good.” Slamming the top of the Jeep, Cut ordered, “Move out.” Shutting the door, he stepped back.

The vehicle instantly became stifling. Daniel breathed hard, his temper curling around me like rancid smoke.

“Fucking arsehole. Rules. Always bloody rules with him.”

“Yes, and you’d do well to remember those rules.”

His eyes shot to mine. “Fuck you, Weaver.”

An African man slid into the driver’s seat while an accomplice took the passenger beside him. The clank of metal from his rifle struck the top of the car.

A gun?

Why the hell did he need a gun?

The guard in the passenger seat swivelled around, his black skin turning him almost invisible in the dark interior. The perfect assassin. “We’ll get you there, Mr. Hawk. Not too much unrest this month. Should be safe.”

My eyes flew wide.

Danger.

From all corners.

If I somehow survived the Hawks, I’d have to beg for a miracle to return to England. I was stranded in a foreign country with my archenemy clutching tightly to my passport.

Daniel inched his hand further up my thigh. “Good to hear. I want to get to camp and put my darling Weaver to bed, so she’s fully rested for her busy itinerary.”

In a swipe, I shoved Daniel’s grip off me. “Don’t touch me.”

Daniel cursed under his breath.

The African man glanced in my direction, eyeing me once before turning back around. “Right you are, boss.”

The driver turned on the ignition, sending silence screaming with the rumbling engine.

Daniel inched closer, deleting the negative space between us with threats. “If I want to touch you; I will fucking touch you.”

I squeezed my eyes as Daniel slapped a possessive hold on my leg, sliding quickly up, up, up until he cupped my pussy. The memory of him doing something similar when Jethro first took me to Hawksridge had bile rising in my throat.

Daniel breathed hot in my ear. “You’re all mine now, cunt. Away from my sister. No brothers to interfere. Just me and dear ole’ dad.”

His fingers pressed on the seam of my jeans, right over my clit.

I shuddered in revulsion. “Pity for you, dear ole’ dad just cut off your balls.” Fire blazed in my heart. “You were told not to touch me. You’re nothing more than a glorified messenger boy. Do you honestly think Cut cares about you?” My laugh echoed with ice. “Really, Daniel? He loved Jethro and Kestrel more than he loves you and he shot them in cold blood. If I were you, that would make me think twice about my worth.”

His fingers dug harder. “Jet and Kes were nothing compared to me. Always weak. Always running off to play together while I watched and learned.”

“Did you ever think they would’ve accepted you if you’d been a little nicer? Been a brother to them rather than a lunatic?”

Daniel snorted. “You know nothing. Jet was always a pussy, and Kes thought he could save him. We’re Hawks. We’re meant to be indestructible not need to be fucking fixed. Why would I want to be friends with rejects like that?”

My heart cracked as Kes and his warmth and kindness filled my mind. “Maybe if you had, you’d be redeemable and not so one-dimensional.”