The Beginning of Connie and Isaac: Blue Butterfly Series (The Blue Butterfly Book 3) (11 page)

THE MUSIC WAS
loud, and the alcohol once more flowing. Lush foods piled high on the table as all of West celebrated my win. The two remaining West soldiers, Woods and Tank, who had been on an assignment in Germany with two of the assassins, had returned, welcomed me to the fold and joined in the revelry.

Isaac, who had pulled me into the bathroom and kissed me like his life depended on it, had scurried away twenty minutes ago after mumbling something under his breath about his cock being hard enough to hammer the nails in his own coffin, and Mouse had applauded my victory by lovingly decorating my room with soft pink walls and fancy lights around the ceiling, her own stash of cash paying for my luxuries. She had been delighted when she’d witnessed my happy tears with her amazing makeover and I’d pulled her into a massive hug, her thoughtfulness drowning my jealousy over what had happened between her and Isaac. All in all, everyone was joyful. Everyone except me.

My mind whirled at what I had become. A killer. I stared at them all partying hard, their drunken dancing making my heart ache. To them it was a normal day, and victory was more important than someone’s life.

Rogue, spotting me in the corner, smiled at me sadly then came to sit beside me and handed me a tumbler of hard liquor. “It does get easier.”

I blinked, taking a large mouthful of the scorching liquid but needing its burn to calm the chill in my body. “How?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know.” He sighed and placed his hand on my knee, giving it a slight squeeze. “But it does.”

I looked at him, a deep frown on my face. “How long have you been here?”

He blew out a noisy breath, his lips rattling as he contemplated my question. “God, about six years now.”

My eyes widened on him. “But you must only be around seventeen.”

He nodded, unconcerned by my shock. “My father sold me to Frederik when I was eleven.” I stared open-mouthed at him, my face displaying every single bit of my disgust and disbelief. Smiling, he placed a finger under my chin and gently pushed my mouth closed. “Careful,” he whispered. “Keep your mouth open too long round here and a sentinel will be popping something in there that you really don’t want.”

My mouth fell open again as my eyes bulged, but when he winked cheekily I couldn’t help but giggle.

Woods, his nickname given for reasons I won’t repeat to you, grinned lazily at me when The Black Keys
Lonely Boy
came on the stereo. He swung his hips playfully to the sixties track as he danced over to me, a mischievous glint in his eye as he crooked his finger at me. I didn’t miss how Rogue’s body tensed beside me, but when Woods took my hand and yanked me up, slamming my body against his, I once again found myself laughing at his wicked play. “Dance with me, Shadow. I have four weeks of getting to know you to catch up on. You’re the
it
girl now. Everyone wants a piece.”

He grabbed my hand and twirled me, spinning me out before he pulled me back to him. He sang to me, each word accompanied with a huge toothy grin. His long blond fringe moved as eagerly as he did, and before long, every single West soldier was up and moving as one as Woods taught us the dance moves to the song. We looked like something from
Fame
as we spun and skipped across the stone floor in the communal area of the west wing, our heavy stomps echoing around the stark hallways.

We all came to a halt when Frederik walked into the room. The smile on his face made me shiver. “Are you having fun?”

We stilled, the music still playing loudly until Mouse slithered over to the stereo and turned it off, the silence suddenly deafening.

“Oh, don’t stop on my account,” Frederik continued before he swung his gaze to me. “I’ve just come to borrow Shadow.” My pulse was racing because of the dancing but it bottomed out when he narrowed his eyes on me. “Walk with me.”

Before waiting for me to acknowledge his order, he turned around and walked back out. All my friends winced, giving me worried glances. Bullet grabbed my hand as I walked past her on my way out. “Don’t let him bring you down, sister.”

I gave her a nod and hurried to catch up with my master. He glanced down at me. “I must say, I’m surprised and quite delighted in your victory.”

I blinked, nearly voicing an “Oh” before I caught myself and managed to be diplomatic as expected. “Thank you, Master.”

“I honestly expected you to fail, and that Ice would be another triumph for East.” We carried on through the west wing, passing my own room and making me wonder where we were going. “It seems my son has seen some potential in you that I neglected to see.”

I frowned when we came to a stop outside Isaac’s quarters, and Frederik turned to me. “I must ask, though… have you instigated a relationship?” He asked the question softly, as though his calm voice would force an admission from me.

I shook my head but I knew from the way my body stiffened that he’d caught my anxiousness. He drew in a breath, a faint growl signalling his annoyance. He smiled then opened Isaac’s door and gestured for me to enter.

I swallowed heavily then stepped inside, my heart beating wildly. I was terrified for Isaac. Even though he was Frederik’s son I knew it wouldn’t stop him punishing Isaac if he had found out how we’d become close.

What I didn’t expect was for my eyes to find Isaac standing in the middle of his room, his jeans around his ankles, and Becca knelt before him frantically sucking his cock as his fingers twisted harshly in her hair.

My whole body heated with a flush, and a deep sorrow settled in the pit of my stomach. My heartbeat pounded in my ears as my skin crawled. I couldn’t move, shock freezing every part of me. Isaac’s eyes found mine then flicked to his father before he pushed Becca away.

“Oh, please continue.” Frederik smirked. His tone and lack of surprise told me he knew exactly what was happening in here, and his reason for bringing me suddenly hit me. I stumbled back a little but when Frederik gripped my arm and yanked me forwards. I winced and tried to look away.

“I – said – continue!” he barked to a stunned Isaac and Becca.

Isaac stared at me almost sorrowfully, his staring eyes slowly blinking but Becca gleefully grinned, her eyes mocking me as she dipped forwards and took Isaac’s hard dick between her lips. Isaac gritted his teeth and closed his eyes, shutting me out as Becca sucked, her noisy slurps bringing forth a sharp gasp from Isaac before she moved back and let him come all over her bare breasts. At fourteen, I had never seen a penis before, and after witnessing the man I’d fallen in love with with his down another girl’s throat, I swore I never wanted to see one again.

“You may leave us now, Becca,” Frederik announced.

She frowned but nodded and picked up her t-shirt, smirking at me as she passed. I diverted my eyes, not giving her the satisfaction of seeing the dejection in my eyes.

“Can I help you, Father?” Isaac virtually spat as he pulled up his jeans and zipped them up.

“Hmm.” Frederik nodded. “Seems as though you two have developed a close relationship. I have an assignment for the pair of you.”

Isaac’s brows knitted together. “What?”

Frederik pulled two brown envelopes from his jacket pocket and thrust one at Isaac and one at me. “Yes. I think Shadow needs to see how you work, Isaac. After all, the girl seems totally taken with you. Perhaps this will be fun for you both.”

“But she’s just a soldier,” Isaac protested. “I’ll take a sentinel.”

Frederik growled and stepped up to his son, his rage potent as his chest heaved. “You’ll do as you are ordered!”

Isaac pulled in a breath, his jaw clenching with his own fury, but he nodded. “Of course.”

“You will leave tomorrow. Everything is ready for you.” Then he turned to me, a cruel smile on his face. “I think you’ll enjoy this one.” He walked away, but when he reached the door he turned back. “Oh, and Shadow, just because you’re leaving the Phantom headquarters doesn’t mean you can… go on an adventure alone. I know exactly where Mae lives.”

My eyes widened and my mouth dried. I gave him a furious nod, telling him I wouldn’t flee Isaac, even if the chance arose. I would never risk Mae’s life. I was there for her, after all.

“Good girl.” He chuckled. “Well, have fun.”

When he disappeared, I turned to leave. “Shadow!” Isaac called out, but I carried on walking, ignoring him.

Catching up with me quickly, he grabbed my hand and dragged me into the kitchen, slamming the door closed behind him to block out his father who was still strolling down the corridor.

“Get off me!” I hissed when he took my hand.

“You shouldn’t have seen that,” he mumbled as he dragged his hands through his hair. “The bastard!”

“Who?” I scoffed. “You or Master?”

He glared at me. “Don’t be pissed at me, Shadow. It was just a blowjob!”

I froze, staring at him like he’d just grown another head. “Just a blowjob?” I choked out with incredulity. “Just – a – blowjob?” I pushed at him, my hands slapping at his chest.

He snatched both of my wrists into one of his large hands and pushed me, the base of my spine pressing into the long metal preparation table. “Be careful, pretty girl. Be very careful.”

“You bastard!” I shouted as I struggled with him, but when he slapped me hard across my already bruised cheek, a strangled sob ripped from me, the last twelve hours finally bursting from me in a torrent of emotional despair. “I killed him for you!” I cried out. “I bashed his head in with a fucking rock until my face was covered with his brain and his blood. I had to gamble on not being frozen to death in the damn stream just to wash it from me. I did it for you! I did it all for you! And you… you repay me by…” I screamed again. “Just leave me alone. I wish I had let Ice fucking kill me! I saw my life in the end of his gun. It was pressing into my head.” I snatched my hand from his and poked my finger into the centre of my forehead. “Right there. Right. There. He aimed his fucking rifle at me and told me how sorry he was.”

My fists punched at him, my tears rolling off my chin in an outpour of grief that tore my soul out with them. He grabbed me by the shoulders and pulled me to him, his quiet shushes making me hate him more, every single one of his fake words of comfort driving a stake through my heart.

“Get off me!” I spat as I pulled away.

He glared at me, his fierce stare displaying all of his anger. “It was just sex, Shadow. Sex. You seem to be confusing sex with sentiment. Fucking, screwing, oral or even a finger in your arse. It’s just sex. A primitive action of enjoyment. Why are you so hurt by it? We’ve only kissed for fuck’s sake!”

I shook my head sadly when he rolled his eyes and leaned back on the counter as he opened his brown envelope. He obviously thought I was a silly girl, a girl who couldn’t control her emotions. But what he forgot was that I had been thrust into adulthood four months ago, the night he decided to use me to anger his father. Because I was sure that’s all I was; an act of rebellion, a “fuck you” to his father’s tyranny.

“Forget it,” I whispered as I turned and started to leave.

“Shadow!” Even through my anger and rage, even through the deathly hum of grief in my ears and the incessant humming in my head, I heard his chilling tone. His face had turned grey as his once fierce green eyes turned to a drab colourless mass. He stared at me with wide eyes, his mouth open as if trying to say something, but his shock leaving him stunned and mute.

Frowning, I pulled out my own instructions.

I had to read the target’s name three times before Isaac raced across the room and caught me.

Mark: Graham Anthony Swift

My father.