Trigger warning!!! Please read with caution. If you do not want to read about graphic violence please do not read this chapter. Do not say I did not warn you, please proceed with caution I do not want to traumatize anyone if you do not not like to read about violence.



"I think your husband is planning on killing me and feeding my remains to the sharks he has hidden away in the dungeon he has on Eryx island". I stood beside Eirann, whom I hadn't seen in nearly 48 hours since ambushing him in his apartment. I could barely frown due to high winds as the temperatures of below 20 degrees and snow made landfall on my face. The cold froze me as I stood in an all-white long-sleeve bodysuit, a black oversized fur hat covering my curly tresses, and my manicured hands in warm white leather gloves that matched my white trench coat and nylon boots.

I make eye contact with Eryx as he stands off to the side, rambling about something to several armed men. He scrunches his nose up at how close I am standing next to Eirran, as an indicator he is not pleased at interacting with another man. I grin inwardly at his jealousy being displayed out in public, but I refrain from pushing even further down the rabbit hole he is already in. I take several steps away from Eirran, putting the appropriate distance between us that would not cause Eryx to march over here and cause a complete massacre.

Eryx nods as I read his lips, "That's my Cherie". I roll my eyes and before looking back at Eirran as he watches the interaction between me and Eryx. "Eryx is not going to kill you, Eirran, if anything I believe he sees as somewhat of an asset he can use to try to exploit your brother or manipulate him to do something for him in return. Eirran sighs and shifts, but his handcuffed wrists and ankles make it difficult to move without falling. "I do not see myself as an asset to anyone. I wanted out of the cartel and my brother made it extremely easy for me to make a decision".

I shake my head, "Sounds like to me you need to have a rather long, in-depth conversation with Davian about your thoughts and concerns". A grimace covers Eirran's face, "I am far past that portion of the relationship with my brother, besides I'm sure his wife wouldn't like that at all".I truly felt sorry for Eirran, being placed in a situation you didn't ask to be a part of. "Please don't give me the pity look I can see the sense of guilt in your eyes", Eirran responds seconds later. "It's not pity I feel for you. I was in your shoes at one point, not knowing anything about this lifestyle until abruptly the happy ending you thought you had never came true. Although things took a drastic turn last night between Eryx and me where I was practically lured into my trap, I was still quite irritated with him altogether.

"I think you probably knew portions of the truth, maybe to a certain extent you wanted to believe everything you once had or did have was a lie, but in reality, deep down in the depths of your soul. You knew the truth, you just did not want to believe it". Maybe what Eirran is saying is right. Suddenly I feel the energy between Eirran and me change, he looks away from me as I hear footsteps, before I can turn my head around, Eryx stands in front of Eirran, frowning, inspecting him closely with raised eyebrows.

Eirran rather than falter under Eryx's sinister glare, he meets it head on with his own. Eryx then suddenly begins clapping, seemingly intrigued.

"Oh, I see I have a brave one here, well let's see how brave you will be if I found out you have been lying, being a fucking spy for the Sinclair cartel."

Eirran shakes his head. "I am not a spy, have never been disloyal to anyone I don't plan to know". Eryx places his hands in his coat pocket before looking over at me.

"Cherie, come stand next to me". I hesitated for a moment, "Don't be shy now, please stand next to me, Verena". I walk over to where Eryx is standing as begin to shiver, unsure if it is due to the inclement weather or the way I am concerned about Eryx's behavior right now. Eryx then pulls into his arms, "I love you so much, you know why", he says as he wraps his arms around my waist. "Why", I ask seconds later, "Because I will do everything in my power to protect you no matter what".

Eryx then suddenly pulls away from our embrace, "But you must learn to not disobey my orders", he turns to look at Eirran with an impressed look in his eyes. "I believe you could have been a great asset to me if you would have come clean about who you truly were years beforehand, but instead, you decided to be deceitful. You gave me no other choice". Before I can reach out to stop Eryx, he pulls out a long machete and wipes it across Eirran's neck, blood splattering everywhere against my all white outfit. "Oh my fucking God", I watch in horror as Eirran's decapitated body drops to the ground with a thump.

"Cherie, we need to be leaving now, we have an important meeting with the Sinclairs", he says moments later as if he did not just unlived Eirran a few seconds ago. I take a step back from Eryx, "You promised me you wouldn't kill him and you did it anyway".

Eryx shrugs his shoulders as he wipes the blade of the machete with a black towel. "I never said that, so now that he's dead, I no longer have to worry about if he's playing both sides of the fence. I shall truly see if Davian truly cared about his now deceased brother, or was it all ruse to try to bring me down?".

I blink my eyelashes rapidly as Eryx takes hold of my hand, "What do we do now?". Eryx places his hands around my shoulders before kissing my forehead. "Play chess while our enemies continue to play a game of checkers".



This chapter was a bit hard for me to write because I truly liked Eirran, but I knew at some point I did not want to continue with the storyline. Eryx truly does not play when it comes to being lied to or deceived. Outside of family, his best friend, as well as his wife, Verena, everyone, and I mean everyone, is irreplaceable. It's like the survival of the fittest with Eryx. If you don't cut, he gets rid of you, plan and simple. He's cutthroat, blunt, and straight to the point. He wants vengeance now, and he is growing rather impatient with outside forces playing with him, his family, his wife, his money, and his reputation.

I tried not to make the scene so gory, but a death scene is never easy to write. Now I wonder how Eryx and Verena will play chess against the Sinclair cartel. Anyone take a guess down in the comments down below.