Page 511 of Coal Hearts

“They’re dead?” A few Masters leapt to their feet. “Who the fuck killed them?”

A few eyes turned in my direction.

I stiffened as Victor met my gaze.

If he suspected me, I didn’t think I’d be currently sitting unmolested and sipping my coffee. Not unless he had another trick up his sleeve. Another television demonstration or soap drama of five guards holding guns to my head.

Then again, in the mood he was in...he might not care I’d dispatched a few men who didn’t follow his sacred rules.

The bump on my temple throbbed, amplifying my constant headache all while my stitches itched. It took a lot of discipline to sit still and act innocent.

Giving me an exasperated smile as if I were the only one Victor believed to be worthy, he sighed heavily. “Kyle has yet to be found, but Charles and Gary were recovered at dawn. Their cadavers were caught in my fishermen’s nets and showed evidence of being bounced around in the cave system. I warned you!” Victor pointed at each of us. “I warned you about the dangers of my island. Yet you all ignored me, just like you ignored me on how far you were permitted to go.” His navy eyes filled with rage again. “I told you to hunt and shoot. To allow democracy and good sportsmanship to crown a winner. But no! Most of you didn’t even bother to fire! You just grabbed a jewel and did whatever the fuck you wanted!”

Waving at me, Victor added, “The only one who followed the rules was my newest member! And he shot not one but three! Without even counting how many bruises he caused, it’s obvious he is the clear winner because the rest of you are fucking illiterate and arrogant, and I’m quickly running out of motherfucking patience.” He paced again, growing more and more irate. “Henri earned the right to keep his ownership over Ilyana and, thanks to no one else playing the goddamn game, he also claimed my Rachel and Roland’s Mollie. And you know what? I’m going to honour that claim because someone has to be rewarded for good behaviour, and it certainly isn’t you lot!”

Ah, shit.

My pulse picked up as Ily’s shoulders tensed.

What did that mean?

I’d shot Rachel and Mollie to keep them safe.

Nothing more.

I didn’t want them.

I didn’t want to think what Victor would make me do to them and how the fuck I could refuse...

Ignoring most of Victor’s speech, Ferdinand wrinkled his nose. “You’re saying Charles and Gary drowned?” He crossed his arms. “I want an autopsy. If there’s no water in their lungs, then—”

“An autopsy?” Victor snickered. “Yeah, sure, I’ll call the morgue director straight away.” His humour vanished. “A fucking autopsy? Where do you think you are? Snivelling society where murder is investigated? This is my world. My island. I gave you rules. I warned you of the dangers. Some of you didn’t listen and are now dead. Good fucking riddance.” He sucked in a breath. “An autopsy!” Rolling his eyes, he added, “Oh, and while I have your attention, because no one asked me what I want, I want a fucking apology from those who are responsible for the five jewels I lost yesterday! But we don’t always get what we want, do we?”

Wait...five?

I froze.

Ily swallowed a moan.

We both glanced around the ballroom.

No other jewels waited by their Master’s feet.

No other slave but her.

If seven were receiving medical care and five were now dead...that left eighteen.

Even as the number blazed in my mind and Ily caught my stare, I sensed where this was going.

What Victor would do.

How he’d react to losing his precious toys, even if he had given them the option to jump and turned their collars off for the day. How many jumped, and how many were murdered?

He’ll replace them.

At the soonest opportunity.

Victor stopped pacing and clasped his hands together. He stood on the podium where that Kirk fellow and some girl called Suri had put on a porno.