Chapter Six

Amon

That's what I'd wanted to see—Larissa fighting back. I stared at the one-way mirror before turning to my sister. "See, I told you she was tougher than she looked."

When I looked at Nadine I couldn't help mentally shaking my head. Why she wanted to dress like an old maid was beyond me. She was still young, only forty, but she preferred wearing plain brown dresses and men's shoes. She even kept her hair short. Not for the first time, I wondered if she might be a lesbian.

"But you still have to convince her to kill the Morellis. She loves them," Nadine reminded me.

"I'll start the injections this week."

She cocked an eyebrow. "The mind-altering drugs? I thought that was only experimental. Aren't you afraid you'll kill her?"

"No, and even if I do, I'll send them her body. It'll just be more fun if she survives."

"I would've sent an assassin to kill them and been done with it."

Anger swept over me. "Look at me! I've suffered because of what their father did. I want him and all the Morellis to pay. I want them to suffer one by one. They created a monster when Father's warehouse blew up, and I will do the same to someone they love."

Rare tears filled my sister's eyes. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you. You know I'll do anything you want. I love you." She reached out and curled her hand in mine. "I want revenge as much as you."

I immediately began to calm. "I know. Sometimes I forget you've suffered as well." I stood, reached inside my pocket for my handkerchief, and wiped the corner of my mouth as I looked at Larissa one last time before leaving. "I can see why they would care so much for her." I frowned as my gaze moved to her head. Her hair was beginning to grow back. "Don't cut her hair again."

Nadine's eyes narrowed. "Why, she's nothing to us? Someone to use against them. Don't start caring for the bitch."

The anger inside me began to build again. "You forget yourself, sister. I'm the man of the family, and you, like everyone else, will follow my orders." I straightened as much as my crooked frame would let me. "Care for her? Never," I spat. "She's only a means to an end. But do you think the Morellis will want her back with her head practically shaved? No. Even if she was ready tomorrow, we couldn't send her out looking like this." I waved an arm toward the mirror.

Nadine downed her head. "Of course, brother. I wasn't thinking. Please, forgive me."

"Put her back in her cage." I didn't say anything more to Nadine. Let her stew, and then she might think about what her actions cost me. She needed to learn, and I expected complete obedience from everyone.

"Yes, brother."

I sighed, knowing I would forgive her. She was my sister and all I had left. We were doomed to live this life with only each other. I supposed it was our penance for our father's sins. God knew he had plenty. Not that I cared. I was just angry that he hadn't watched his enemies a little closer. If he had, maybe he would've known what was coming. Because of him, we lost almost everything.

After the explosion, Nadine took what we had left and brought me to this decaying castle that smelled of death and despair. A friend of our father's owned it, and it was the only safe place Nadine could think of to bring me.

She'd nursed me back to health. Never once complaining. She also made sure we had some of our father's fortune left. It wasn't nearly what we had been worth, though. Later, I used some of the money to buy the castle—which she objected to. She'd wanted to return to the States when it was safe. I refused to return until I could get revenge. I would get it all back eventually, though. I had a plan.

I left the building and walked across the breezeway into the castle. My wing was on the ground floor, so I didn't have to negotiate going upstairs. Right now, my leg throbbed, the pain shooting from my ankle to my hip. A constant reminder that I wasn't the man I used to be. My lips compressed into a thin line. I would make them pay.

Once inside, I sat on the sofa, reaching for the remote. I turned on the large screen in front of me with one click and leaned back with a sigh. I could see the training room from any angle. I watched as Nadine forced Larissa to strip. I could see the pleasure she took in embarrassing the girl. When Larissa hesitated just a fraction, Nadine jerked on the leash. Yes, I could see she was enjoying herself tremendously.

My gaze slowly moved over Larissa. Damn, she was beautiful. Small breasts, but I liked them like that. The nipples were perfect and surrounded by a dusky rose color. Before the explosion, a woman like her would've been fawning all over me. She would've willingly spread those long, sexy legs so I could sink deep inside her, and when she came, she would've cried out my name—just like they all did. I might have kept someone who looked like Larissa a little longer than I did the others. She would've begged me to fuck her.

I rubbed my crotch, knowing it would do no good. I hadn't gotten an erection since the explosion. I was a mangled mess down there. I couldn't even take a piss, except through a tube. It was humiliating. So, if my sister wanted to have a little fun, I would let her.

The actual training would begin tomorrow. It would be interesting to see if Larissa would live through it. This was the first time I'd been excited about anything in a long time. It was all I could do to fall asleep later that night.

By the time the next day arrived, I was practically rubbing my hands together in anticipation. I still looked calm on the outside. I rarely let my emotions come through.

I called down and had Nadine get her ready on the table. I wanted to see the fear in the girl's eyes. I imagined it was the same way Brandt Morelli would look when she slit his throat. Or maybe his sons' throats. We could make him watch.

When I walked into the training building, my sister already had Larissa strapped down, and an IV started, like the good sister she was.

Larissa looked at me as I entered the room. "What are you going to do?" Her voice cracked with fear.

I didn't answer, knowing it would only heighten her anxiety. "Prepare the injection."

Nadine bowed her head slightly toward me. "I have it ready. Everything is set."

"Good, I knew I could trust you, sister." Only then did I look at Larissa. "Start the series of injections."

Larissa wiggled against the straps holding her down. "No! No! No! Don't do this. Please, I'm begging you, please don't do this."

I walked closer to the table, brushing my fingers through her short-cropped hair. "If you live through this, you will be mine completely. You will do anything I want."

"I'll never be yours," she spat. A tear rolled from the corner of her eye.

I knew better.

I watched, transfixed as the medicine went into the IV line. Nadine wasn't a nurse, but she'd read about how to start IVs and give injections. We had a few girls brought here, mostly prostitutes, so she could practice.

The first two had died. The third one became a crazed lunatic and had to be put down. Her constant screaming got on my nerves. The fourth one was locked in the dungeons. Nadine had perfected her technique with the last one. She would do anything we wanted. I was hoping Larissa would turn out as well.

"It burns!" Larissa screamed as she fought against the drug.

I ran my hand down her cheek. "Just let it happen. Don't fight it."

She turned and glared at me. "I fucking hate you!"

I only smiled, then pulled my handkerchief from my pocket and wiped the corner of my mouth. Anticipation began to build inside me. I couldn't resist dropping my hand lower and squeezing her breast, tugging on the tight nipple. What I wouldn't give to be able to fuck her.

But they took that away from me.

She tried to move away from my hand, but her movements were sluggish. Her eyes began to glaze as the demon drug filled her world. It would be interesting to watch her succumb to the effects of the medication.

Nadine frowned when I looked up.

My lip curled. "Don't worry, sister. We both know I won't be fucking her. It doesn't mean I can't wish it was otherwise."

A red stain crawled up her face. "My apologies, brother."

"Put the headset on her," I ordered. I'd created a series of videos where the Morelli brothers and their father laughed and talked about how gullible Larissa had been and how glad she was finally out of their life. They would fuck other women in great detail.

A.I. was a fantastic tool.

Soon, she would hate the whole family as much as I did. Larissa would be my revenge, my killing machine. The Morellis wouldn't know what hit them.