The Flesh Cartel #6: Brotherhood by Heidi Belleau Read Free Book Online Page B

at work, sees his two sons . . . experimenting together. Decides, like any good father, to discipline you. And perhaps to . . . how shall I say, ease your curiosity with a lesson you’ll never forget? Much like the father who makes his son smoke an entire pack of cigarettes in one go, you could say.” Nikolai’s nose wrinkled, just like Mat could feel his own doing. “Yes, I know, I find it all as distasteful as you do. But it is useful. And truly, who am I or you or anyone to judge another’s kinks?”
Mat thought real-life rape and torture were pretty goddamned judgeable “kinks,” but he kept that to himself. “So I’m supposed to, what? Sit there? Let him do what he wants? Let him . . .” Hurt Dougie. Rape Dougie. Right in front of me.
“Yes. Let him do what he wants, and do whatever he asks of you. And call him Father, or Dad, or whatever feels natural to you. And you mustn’t tell Douglas any of this. Best you don’t talk to him at all, or touch him, even to say hello, unless my guest directs you to.”
Mat had to fight the urge to get up and pace. Or punch something—someone. He grabbed his pillow instead, bunched it in one fist. “And . . . and what if I don’t? What if I tell Dougie everything and get between him and your pervert friend? What if I just choke the fucker out?”
Nikolai sighed. “We’ve already talked about this, Mathias. Your brother needs you to push him away. He suffers terribly every moment you don’t. And as for my associate? Well, he would leave very unhappy, which wouldn’t be disastrous to my business—I’m much too good at what I do to be written off by anything you could hope to manage—but it would certainly damage my future relationship with him specifically.”
So?
But Nikolai had something on Mat. Something that brought a gleam to his eye and made Mat shudder. When he spoke, though, he revealed it like just one more topic of conversation, rather than his ace in the hole. “Oh, and, before you get too cocky, I should tell you that this morning Douglas demanded I treat him more like I do you. He’s quite pampered here, and rather than celebrating that or even feeling simple relief, he resents it. Resents he isn’t a martyr like you are. I think his decision is terribly unwise, but I’m willing to try anything to help his progression. So if you misbehave in that room, whatever punishment you earn, you will suffer together. Do I make myself clear?”
The serum. He’d give Dougie the serum. Give them both the serum. Just the thought of it made Mat shake. If he couldn’t bear it, how would poor, soft, sheltered Dougie? Mat couldn’t do that to him. Ever. For any reason. Nothing this client could do to Dougie would justify it anyway. He cleared his throat, swallowing down the dread. “Yes,” he said. “Yes.”
Nikolai plucked an apple from the fruit bowl. “Yes, what?” he said, then took a crunching bite.
Mat grimaced, but said, “Yes, sir. I understand.” Because what if Nikolai was right? What if Dougie really did need Mat to push him away? If that was the only way Dougie’s suffering could end? And even if Nikolai wasn’t right, he’d be damned if he caused Dougie any more suffering. Life here was painful enough.
Nikolai smiled, pleased. Tossed and caught the apple. “Good. Go shower and get ready, then. Leave the worrying about your brother’s welfare to me from now on. I promise you I’ll take good care of him.”
Yeah, fucker. I bet you will.
chapter four
    W
    hen Mat emerged from the shower, there was an outfit laid out neatly on the bed. Jeans. A thin white T-shirt. Athletic socks. High-top sneakers. And—sick fuck—a jock strap and a bright red and gold varsity jacket. Mat had earned one of those in school—two, technically, one for wrestling and one for track and field—but his was a deep purple, well-worn and smelling of his first boyfriend’s cigarettes. This one was for football. Pristine. A prop for some sick fucker’s pedo