Incendiary (Inferno Book 5) Read online

  “Get yourself down there and clean it up,” I say, nodding toward the entrance of the deep, dark hole they’re both so afraid of.

  “I’ll do it,” Richter interjects immediately.

  I arch an eyebrow at him as he begins to quickly pull himself up over the top, then dangles his legs over the side. When he hesitates, I chuckle and reach for the back of his shirt, yanking him back onto the grass.

  “You’ve already got a chore,” I remind him pointedly before I look at the girl. “And you don’t. Now get down there and clean up what’s left of your mother. Take it all out to the clearing and dump it with Jocelyn’s bones. Those two were pretty much the same. Their remains can rot together.”

  I lift my arms over my head, clasping my hands together, giving my muscles a good, firm stretch as I watch the girl climb over the side.

  I could make this easy on her and toss the ladder down, but if she can do this without any extra help, then she’ll prove herself to be worth more than I already think she is.

  “And when you’re both done with your chores, wash up. Dinner will be in a few hours, and we have some things to discuss.”

  Chapter Four

  In my room, I have a picture of Taylee.

  None of my children have ever known about this because when it’s time for them to prove to me what they’ve learned, to show me that maybe there’s something good in them after all, I make sure that it’s on the top ledge of the closet.

  I firmly believe that some things are better left unsaid, and bedtime stories about their great-grandmother isn’t something I think would do any of us good.

  This entire fucking thing started because of the blonde, crazy bitch that loved me a little more than she should have.

  I was made to step into Trenton’s place, and it only became worse when I tried to tell the bastard what had been happening to me.

  He didn’t care, and if he did, he didn’t do shit about it. The old man let me down like I knew he would, but I felt like I had to tell someone.

  That’s when I learned how a family should be run.

  That’s when I realized that there could only be one head of the household and Taylee was too far gone to ever be able to run this line properly.

  But, sometimes, I like to sit in my room and stare at the picture of her. To remind me of my own roots, the ones that wound themselves around me like a vice and threatened to strangle me if I didn’t figure things out quickly.

  I let out a sigh as I set the portrait of her on my dresser and look into her vacant eyes.

  They weren’t always like that.

  There was a time that she was so full of life—so happy. I think that’s when she got pregnant with me and lost her mind at the same goddamn time.

  And I was made into the instrument of her anger, resentment—all of the sick fucking things she couldn’t keep to herself.

  I never did get used to it, and I knew that I wouldn’t be able to.

  So the last time she put her fucking hands on me, I turned into those roots. The very same ones that tried to drag me back into the abysmal darkness turned me into the man I am when I watched the life leave her vacant eyes.

  And with as much as I always hated her, I guess, in a way, I had hoped that these fucking children would have been a little more like her.

  It would have made things so much easier if I could see the Taylee in them—the disease festering inside of their brains, rotting it from the inside out like it did with her.

  I honestly believe it would have made me a more patient man.

  However, too much patience can lead to weakness and that’s what happened with Darby.

  I’ve learned my lesson from that misstep and now her children will pay the same price I had to but at each other’s hands.

  “You probably would have been so proud,” I murmur to Taylee as I use the tip of my finger to trace the outline of her face. “If you even knew what the hell was happening, anyway.”

  Taking a deep breath, I snatch the photo from the dresser, then head over to the closet and put it back in its rightful place.

  Maybe one day, one of these kids will be smart enough to find it and ask some questions. Until that moment comes, they can always just wonder about why I am the way I am and try to find as much justification in it as I did.

  Trials and tribulations are what build a strong character.

  And that’s why my family is goddamn special.

  The harder things get, the more they learn to appreciate things and bend to the will of the head of the household.

  I’m just hoping that, maybe, the boy is smart enough to realize that before it’s too late for him and I’m forced to start all over again.

  Chapter Five

  Skylar sits down next to her brother at the dining room table, and I chuckle as I pick up my glass of water and take a sip.

  If they’re trying to put on some kind of united front, then I’ll have to break them ahead of schedule.

  “Dinner is great, Daddy,” she mumbles quietly as she opens her napkin and smooths it across her lap.

  “Maybe you should have some before you start with the bullshit,” I reply as I set the glass down and suck my teeth. I pick up my fork and raise my eyes toward her, holding her stare until she turns red and lowers her gaze to the pan of lasagna sitting in the middle of the table.

  Richter clears his throat as he stands up and reaches for the spatula, breaking off a piece for his sister’s plate, then taking another for his own.

  “Put that back,” I instruct him in a loud tone.

  He looks up at me in confusion, half-hovering above his chair. My fork falls against the plate with a loud clatter, and I hold a finger up toward him.

  “Do I have to repeat myself?” I challenge him evenly.

  “No.”

  “Then put it back.”

  He steals a glance at his sister before he does as he’s told then sits down again.

  “Skylar, fix your own plate,” I continue after I clear my throat. “But fix his first.”

  “Dad—”

  “Shut your mouth,” I snap at the boy. “Pay attention to what you’re being taught and maybe one day you won’t need me around to help you pry your balls out of your fucking stomach.”

  His face burns red with rage as he angrily crosses his arms over his chest, but it’s what I want.

  Anger.

  It’s the most powerful emotion one can have and using it appropriately gets shit done faster than most other feelings can.

  “I’m not hungry,” he mutters, defiantly.

  “Yes you are and you’re going to eat your dinner,” I reply as I go back to my food. “And if you don’t, then I’ll assume you’re not hungry tomorrow either or the day after that. Hell, at this rate, I’ll just have to assume that you’re worth even less than I’ve pegged you for and you can go into the oubliette like your mother did.”

  I pick up my glass of water, take another sip, then set it down as I look at Skylar. She’s nervous, holding a plate of lasagna and not certain if she should place it in front of her brother or not.

  “Go ahead,” I say to her with a nod. “I want to ask you something once you’re settled and have a little food in you.”

  She puts the plate down in front of her defiant bastard of a brother, before she quickly makes one for herself then sits down.

  I watch as she cuts the smallest piece, then pops it into her mouth. She does her best to subtly elbow her brother in the ribs, so he starts eating, but he’s too busy staring daggers at me to even care.

  “Vaughn used to act like you do,” I tell him with a smirk.

  “Who?” he asks, his anger giving way to confusion.

  “Exactly,” I agree dangerously as I place an elbow on the table and lean closer to them. “Now, unless you want to be another who, I suggest you do as you’re fucking told.”

  Leaning back in my chair, I turn my attention back to my food, taking another bite of the meal before reaching for my napkin and
dabbing at my mouth.

  I think anticipation is the best part of any meal—regardless of what meal that may happen to be. But it’s the fear, the feeling being so palpable in the air, settling low over the two of them that makes what I’m going to ask her even more worth it.

  I wait until she’s finished half her plate.

  No good girl can be what her daddy wants unless she’s got some food in her belly. It’s what makes them have more energy for the things that need to be done.

  “Did you clean up the bottom of the oubliette like I asked you to?” I begin casually as I reach down and unbuckle my belt.

  Skylar nods without looking up at me and I smirk.

  “Was there anything left of her?”

  She turns her face away.

  From her brother.

  From me.

  From the fucking question I’m asking her.

  I slap my hand down violently against the table, rattling the silverware, glasses, and utensils, but it gets her attention back on me where it fucking belongs right now.

  Chapter Six

  A tear rolls down her cheek as she folds her hands on her lap, then takes in a shuddering breath.

  “Her clothes, some bones and hair,” she finally answers in a soft tone.

  “Really? I was expecting more than that,” I reply thoughtfully. “Alright, well, what did you do with it?”

  “I couldn’t lift it all by myself, Daddy,” she confesses, her voice cracking slightly.

  “It’s just as well,” I respond dismissively. “Darby was different than her mother. Hell, she was the only one of my children worth a damn, so maybe leaving some of her in there won’t be so bad.”

  “What about us?”

  I look at the boy.

  There’s the rage again—the anger that will make him into the man he needs to be in order to run this house properly.

  “You wanna hear it again?” I ask him evenly. “Darby was the only one of any of my children that was worth something. You know she died because of the two of you, right? So, I’ll thank you to mind your fucking manners when I talk about her.”

  The mood in the room instantly sours and I let out a heavy sigh.

  There’s only one way to get things back on track and if Richter isn’t willing to step up and be a man right now, then I guess it’s time to show him that his sister has been learning her own lessons behind his back.

  “Skylar,” I begin as I hold the boy’s level stare. “You remember what I taught you the night your momma died?”

  She nods without looking up from her hands.

  “Good. Now come over here and prove it.”

  Stealing a frightened glance at her brother, another tear rolls down her cheek as she slowly pushes her chair back from the table.

  The sound of the scraping is loud and unnecessary, and for that, she’ll have to do a little something extra.

  As she begins to walk around the table, I hold up a finger and shake my head.

  “Sky, sit back down,” Richter tells her as he reaches for her arm.

  I smirk at him.

  He wants to play a game of who’s dick is bigger and he’s going to lose.

  “On your knees, girl,” I tell her as I push my chair back a few inches from the table.

  “Sit down,” Richter tells her again.

  I roll my eyes and snap my fingers to get her attention. She knows what happens if she goes against my will, and unless she wants to be an only child, she’ll do as she’s told.

  Taking another deep breath, I watch as she slowly lowers herself until all I can see is the top half of her face.

  “Under the table. Get moving,” I say evenly as I keep my eyes on her brother who gets to his feet angrily.

  “I want to be excused,” he states through gritted teeth, and I chuckle.

  “Sit your ass down and learn how to be a man. Then, maybe, I’ll let you out of my sight.”

  I lift the tablecloth when Skylar finally gets to me and places a hand on my knee.

  Reaching down, I pull her up to her knees, making sure that he’ll be able to see what she’s learned, then look down at her and run a finger down the side of her face.

  Her eyes are red, glistening with tears, and in this light she reminds me more of Taylee than she does Darby.

  Down on her knees for her midnight prayers before coming into my room and asking me to love her.

  “Show Daddy what you remember,” I tell her quietly.

  Chapter Seven

  She fumbles at first.

  Reaching in for my stiffening dick, she accidentally manages to scratch my shaft as she wraps a trembling hand around it, then instantly looks up at me with fear in her eyes, but I chuckle as I shake my head.

  “You’ll make it all better in a minute here, Skylar. Now go on and show Daddy what you remember.”

  The table thumps as Richter gets angrily to his feet and attempts to leave the room, but as he makes his way by me, I reach out and grab him by the elbow.

  Roughly jerking him toward us, I shove him against the table, “You want to see up close? Fine by me. Pull that chair out and sit your ass down. You’re only excused when I say you are.”

  The low rumble in my tone seems to shake him slightly because he finally fucking does as he’s told. But when he turns his face away, I reach over and grab him by the scruff of the neck and force him to look at me.

  “I hate you,” he mumbles through tears and trembling breaths.

  “Good. I’ve never found much purpose in loving someone that gave you life,” I reply with a nod.

  My thoughts instantly turn to Taylee and the feeling of how much I grew to hate her starts to flow through me. I loosen my grip on him just enough to let him know that I’m willing to give him one last chance.

  “Now pay attention or I’ll fucking kill you after she’s done.”

  He angrily swats my arm away from him and lowers his eyes toward Skylar.

  “Go on,” I tell her for what seems like the hundredth time.

  I’m getting sick and tired of repeating myself.

  She should know better by now.

  But when she finally manages to pull my cock free from my boxers, I lean back a little in my chair and give her my full attention.

  I’m not here for the fucking pleasure I know I’ll get. I’m here to instruct, to teach them how families should be run, and hopefully be able to take a backburner for a while sooner rather than later.

  Skylar starts slowly.

  She takes the head of my dick into her mouth and gives it a gentle enough suck, before turning her eyes up toward me to make sure that I’m satisfied with how she’s handling it.

  I nod as I lay a hand on the top of her head and push it back down.

  I’m not in the mood for nice and slow because that’s not what I fucking taught her to do.

  I give her head a shove and when she starts to choke on my dick I glance at the boy. He’s watching like I told him to, and I think he may even be growing some hair on his balls watching his sister.

  “Good girl, Skylar,” I tell her in an even tone. “Just keep doing what Daddy taught you.”

  I refuse to let my enjoyment show in my voice.

  Above all else, I’m a man.

  One with needs and ever since Darby took her little tumble, I’ve had to get used to someone else’s mouth around my dick all over again.

  Skylar shows promise, but she’ll never be as good as her mother was.

  But she continues her sloppy little attempt to suck my dick as best as she can, stopping for gasps of air before swallowing it down as far as her throat as she can.

  My eyes turn back down to her when she finally pulls her mouth away and starts to stroke me with her hand. She’s better at that than she is sucking on it, but she’ll figure it out eventually.

  With a chuckle, I reach down and grab her under her arms and hoist her up onto the table.

  I give myself a quick tug before reaching for her shorts and yanking them off
.

  I have no intention on fucking her, but lessons can’t be taught unless directions are clearly given.

  “Good girl,” I whisper as she spreads her legs apart, and pushes her panties to the side.

  At least she’s remembered that much.

  To bare herself to the man of the house and be prepared for whatever he so desires.

  Reaching down for my dick, I start stroking myself as I inhale her gentle, pure scent.

  These Greene women always did smell differently than most.

  Reminiscent of an early morning dew freshly slick on blades of grass after a cool, autumn rain in the woods behind my home.

  It’s an intoxication unto itself, but I’ve managed to hold on to my bearings so far when it’s come to Skylar.

  For the most part, anyway.

  Giving myself one final tug, I push my hard dick back into my boxers and pull the zipper of my jeans back up, then glance at the boy.

  I can see it in his eyes.

  He looks almost ravenous.

  The familiar look I would see staring back at me from my bedroom mirror so many goddamn times after I taught his mother the very same lessons.

  He wants Skylar.

  He’s finally fucking ready.

  Chapter Eight

  I use my forefinger and thumb to spread her pussy lips apart, then glance up at the boy, exposing the tiny pink pearl.

  “You see this?” I ask, using the tip of my finger to gently rub her clit.

  She squirms slightly at the sensation, and I smirk.

  Maybe she wants Daddy more than she wants her brother, but that’s not on the cards tonight.

  I reach over and smack Richter on his arm to get his attention away from Skylar and he rubs his arm as he finally tears his eyes away from her splayed in front of me and nods.

  “Do you know what to do with it?” I question as I continue to gently run the tip of my finger against it.

  Skylar sucks in a breath and wiggles on the table, getting my attention for a mere moment.