Cruel Kings by Skye Knight

27

Noah

I watched Milla getting half-dragged, half-carried out of the reception hall by Luke and her friends. Laughter and lude insults followed her all the way to the door.

I glanced at my brothers in triumph. They stared back at me with disbelief. I’d told them about publicly shaming her in front of all our guests but they didn’t expect the best part of today’s play.

Dousing her in pig’s blood was the extra touch I added.

I knew shaming Milla wouldn’t have much effect on her. People like her and her mother were too shameless to be affected by what anyone thought of them.

The spectacle of her drenched in pig’s blood did the job right. All the people in the crowd would remember the stunt for a long time to come.

Camilla Brown might be one of my father’s heirs now but it wouldn’t amount to much for her. Everyone in our circle would remember she meant nothing to his sons, the real successors. I made sure she’d be subjected to ridicule for the rest of her life.

“I’m going to be sick,” Corey muttered, stomping off the stage.

Caleb gazed at me with a grim expression, saying nothing. He followed Corey and disappeared into the crowd.

The stench coming off the floor of the stage was overpowering. Before the party got ruined, I decided to get some of the cleaners to attend to it immediately.

I didn’t want anyone leaving just yet. They all needed to gather with their whiskeys and champagnes to talk about what happened. I needed to make sure Milla and her mother’s position in our elite circle was completely destroyed.

Walking off the stage, I got hold of a valet and quickly ordered him to clean the mess and bring the band back. This party needed to last for at least a few more hours.

Making sure things were going right, I walked out of the room to find my brothers.

Corey and Caleb had been against the whole thing from the start. They were both starting to let their feelings for Milla get in the way of doing what was needed.

Then again, they’d always been that way.

There was only a gap of an hour between the time we were born. Even so, Mom always reminded me that I was the eldest and the one to always look after my brothers.

Caleb and Corey, on the other hand, were doted on and treated like babies. Mom allowed them to grow up being big softies, knowing I’d always be around to protect them from bullies and anyone who wanted to harm them.

After checking the rooms on the ground floor, I decided to check their rooms.

The sound of music and loud voices floated up the stairs. A grin lifted the corner of my lips. The party was still going strong.

The door to their bedroom was open. They still preferred sharing a room rather than staying in individual rooms.

Walking in, I found them changing out of their formal clothes.

“What are you doing?” I asked. “The party’s just starting.”

“What do you think?” Corey muttered. “We’re getting our girl back.”

“She’s your girl now?”

“She always was,” said Caleb, pulling on a leather jacket.

“How many times did she let you fuck her?” I shouted. “Is she that good? Good enough to get you pussy-whipped?”

Caleb chuckled darkly. “You tell us, brother. She’s one of the very few women you’ve fucked and you’re panting for more.”

I swallowed the rage flaring inside me. Camilla Brown was nothing but an adversary now. Anything I took from her was part of the battle she’d decided to fight.

“Look at you, Noah,” said Corey, getting in my face. “You’re afraid of her.”

“Have you lost your mind?” I asked coldly.

“You’re the one who’s gone crazy,” he replied. “You know better than anyone what kind of a girl Milla is. For fuck’s sake, she was a virgin when we took her. And she’s been quiet so far about everything because she doesn’t want to screw with her mom’s happiness.”

“You’ve always been obsessed with her,” said Caleb in a grave tone. “She’s better than you at everything. Academics, keeping calm in bad situations, and being smart about every aspect of her life. You’re threatened by her because you think Dad likes her more than you. You’re scared he’ll hand off the reins to the company to her. Not you.”

“You did this to destroy her future prospects,” said Corey, fixing me with a glare. “We’re not stupid, Noah. We know why you performed that shit in front of everyone.”

“I did it to protect us,” I spat. “Don’t let your emotions get in the way of what’s important. Dad made her a legal heir to everything. What happens when Milla and her mother take over everything? The two of you don’t realize this yet, but there’s more to life than fucking women and riding on stupid motorcycles.”

“You should try it sometime,” said Corey. “Might get rid of that stick you’ve always got lodged up in your butthole.”

Caleb sniggered, sitting down on the edge of the bed to pull on his boots.

“Where are you going?” I asked as Corey threw away his loafers.

“Where do you think?” Caleb questioned back. “Didn’t you see who took Milla away? What if he does something to her? We’re getting her back before he takes advantage of the situation.”

“Luke is dangerous,” I said. “He’s already tried to kill you once. There’s no need to risk yourselves for her. Let him hurt her. Why should we care?”

“You won’t be able to bear it if he touches her,” said Corey. “Neither can we. At least, we can be honest about that."“We’re not leaving our girl in his hands,” said Caleb.

Our girl. I hated the way they said it. Possessiveness dripped from their voices every time they mentioned her.

“So, you’re just going to barge into Beckett Manor and drag her out?” I asked in a scathing tone.

“That’s the plan,” said Caleb, throwing a helmet at Corey.

“You’d betray me for her?”

“How’s this betrayal?” Caleb asked in a grim tone. “You did what you wanted. I think you’re the one who’s a sneaky bastard. You never told us you’d make a Carrie out of Milla.”

“She deserves it.”

“No, she doesn’t,” said Corey decisively. “Stop fucking with her. She’s our dad’s legal daughter now. She owns a share of everything he has. That’s a fact. No amount of hazing and abusing her would change that fact. Learn to deal with it instead of acting like a brat.”

“Corey’s right,” said Caleb. “Do you think this will stay under wraps? People will talk. Sooner or later, Dad will know. He’s going to get pissed. You know why? Because you did a stupid, immature thing.”

“You didn’t make a fool of Milla tonight, dear brother,” said Corey in a grave tone. “You made a fool of Brian Amhurst. His eldest son couldn’t handle having a stepmother and lashed out at his stepsister. That’s what they’d say. I hope you like it when the price of our shares falls tomorrow.”

My eyes widened a fraction. Corey’s words were like a sharp slap to my face.

My only intention had been to destroy Milla’s reputation. I was so focused on hurting her, I hadn’t considered the consequences on our company.

Fuck, I cursed internally. I’d messed up big time.

“Like it or not, Milla’s become a part of this family,” said Caleb. “She’s no longer the lone kid in the front row of your classroom. You can’t bully her publicly without being affected too. What you did tonight will impact your reputation too.”

“You gave proof of your immaturity tonight,” said Corey. “People will remember that too.”

Caleb clapped a hand on my shoulder and walked past me. Corey strode after him, leaving me alone in the room.

A heavy breath exhaled out of me.

I was the one who’d let my emotions get the best of me. My brothers were right. Tonight’s act would impact me in the worst ways too.

“Fuck!” I bellowed, kicking my leg.

So far, I thought I was the hunter, preying on Milla’s weaknesses. I was so fucking wrong. 

I couldn’t believe how my brothers were right this time. What was happening to me? When did I become such an idiotic moron?

“Milla...” Her name on my lips felt like a prayer and a curse.