Page 104 of Intolerable Bishop

“This is not a democracy. You perform your final task, or there is no need of you in this order. You will be cut down.”

“So be it. I won’t be rapin’ an innocent just so you can get yer rocks off watching,” I growled, and Lawrence’s gloved hand cracked me across the face. The blow rocked my head to the side, but I stood my ground.

“You will do it. Do not disgrace your family name,” Da said, taking the mask off like that was supposed to intimidate me.

“No.”

“Then you’ll die.” He pulled a gun from inside his robes and pointed it at me. I smiled. No fear. Never. Again.

“Then I’ll die,” I said. This was it the moment of trust.

“Wait,” Ethan’s voice called out, and everyone turned to look at him as he walked forward, taking off his mask and pushing the red hood back.

Ma if you can hear me, please let this work.

“Stay out of this. He’s not your child,” Da snarled.

“True, he’s not, but he is one of Nash’s knights and has proven to be extremely loyal and useful. I vote that we have him do a task that betters the council in some way.”

“This is helping the council. Myles needs to prove he will do anything asked of him at any time. If he cannot perform this task, then how do we know he won’t refuse something else?”

“I hear your argument. But we choose the final task, which means you have the power to change it. Have him do something that will not only prove his loyalty to the cause but will also send a message to those who threaten our doors,” Ethan said, folding his hands in front of his robe. “Raping this girl and killing her fulfills one goal, not two.”

Lawrence touched Da’s arm, and he lowered the gun but glared at me with murder in his eyes.

“I’m listening. What do you have in mind,” Lawrence asked.

“If I’m not mistaken, there is a certain family in Ireland who broke a deal with you and therefore not only humiliated the McCoy name but also the power of this council.”

I swallowed hard as the three men looked back and forth between themselves.

“You’re right, there is,” Da said, his face softening from murder but shifting into a cold and evil glint. “Alright, I’ll change the task if the majority agrees,” Da said, and all but a few raised their hands. “Fine, it’s settled. I’ll assign you a new task, but if you refuse this, then I will shoot you through the eye right now.”

“Aye, I understand.”

“Good. Then, your new task will be to go to Ireland and wipe out the McBride family. I want that bitch Fiona’s head along with her father’s on a pike.”

AUGUST 13 – SATURDAY 3:00 PM

Ren

Lip knew that something was up with the way he clung to Myles’s neck. It was breaking my heart, and I knew that not too long from now, it would be my arms wrapped around him, not wanting to let go.

“What’s wrong? Ya loved it here last year,” Myles said as he coaxed the teary-eyed Lip from around his neck.

“I don’t want you to leave,” Lip said, and I swallowed the lump in my throat.

“Ya know I have to go to school, too, and yer too young to come with me. But I promise that I’ll visit all the time.”

Lip looked at him skeptically. “Every day?”

Myles laughed. “Naw, I can’t be comin’ every day, but I’ll try for every week. How’s that?”

I had to cover my mouth to stop from bursting out laughing as Lip crossed his arms like a little tyrant negotiator. “Can Ren come?”

Myles glanced up at me and then nodded. “Aye, we’ll try to make that happen, but I won’t promise every week.”

“Fine…I guess.” The dramatic sigh and eye roll did me in, and I snickered and had to cover it up with a cough. “I’m fine,” I said as they looked at me. Lip wrapped Myles up in a hard hug all over again. “I love you,” he said, and I was back to tears.