Final Debt

by Pepper Winters

  “I’m not, either.” I pressed my forehead against his silky neck, just like I had whenever my condition got too bad and needed space from life. “I don’t want to say goodbye but at least this way, he’s still with us.”

  Swinging my leg over his immense side, I kicked him and followed the others.

  “This is the place.” I pulled on my reins, bringing Wings to a stop.

  For an hour, we’d trekked through woodland and glens over chases and riverbeds of Hawksridge Estate. The moment Kes's Will had been read, I’d known what his instructions would be.

  We’d had such happy times here. Away from our father and obligation. Away from even our sister. Just us and the wilderness.

  “It’s stunning.” Nila came up beside me. Moth’s breathing caused plumes of condensation in the chilly winter air.

  Jasmine encouraged Claret to move further up the ridge, looking down the valley to where a small village rested in the distance. Hawksridge Hall couldn’t be seen from here. That was why Kes and I had liked it.

  Sitting at night, wrapped up in sleeping bags and roasting marshmallows on a fire, we used to watch the twinkling lights of the village and conjure stories for what each person did.

  We pretended we lived hundreds of years ago. Discussed and argued what sort of career we would’ve had. I was adamant I would’ve been a horse farrier or black-smith. There was something about hammering hot metal until it submitted that appealed to me. Kes, on the other hand, wanted to be a carpenter. Not because he liked to create things from trees but because he reckoned women preferred a man who knew how to use his wood.

  I laughed under my breath, remembering his quips.

  “You’re such a moron.” I fired a flaming marshmallow his way.

  Kes ducked, swatting the gooey mess into the ground. His shaggy hair glistened with moonlight, while the horses munched contentedly on grass behind us. “Whatever, Jet.” Holding up his hands, he smirked. “These puppies were on Selena’s tits last week. She told me I had good hands.”

  I rolled my eyes. “She’s probably never been touched by a guy before and had no one to compare you to.”

  Kes scoffed. “I might only be sixteen, but I know how to please a girl.”

  Sighing, I reclined in my sleeping bag, looking at the stars. “Well, she’d be lucky to have you.”

  Kes shuffled closer, the crackle of the bonfire wrapping us in safety. “Same with you. You’ll meet someone who doesn’t just think of shopping and teenage girl idiocy one day. You’ll see.”

  Lightening the mood, I snorted. “Perhaps, I should become a carpenter, too, so I know how to use my wood.”

  We burst out laughing.

  My heart filled with history as I left the past and returned to Nila. “Kes will be happy here.”

  Nila nodded, her eyes glassing a little.

  More horse hooves thudded over the hill as Tex and Vaughn finally caught up. They’d handled the trek well, allowing their horses to follow us.

  Twisting in my saddle, I opened the bag and collected the urn that held my brother’s ashes.

  Jasmine moved closer, her lips twisting against the urge to cry. I smiled, reminding her to be happy and not dwell on what we’d lost. “Do you want to say it?”

  “No. You. I think you should be the one.”

  Taking a deep breath, I unscrewed the lid of the copper urn and held it aloft. “To our brother. Every wind that rustles, we’ll remember you. Every leaf that falls, we’ll think of you. Every sunrise, we’ll recall the times we shared. And every sunset, we’ll value all that we’ve been given. This is not goodbye; this is a ‘see you soon.’”

  My hands shook as my chest compressed with sadness. Nila wiped away a tear and Jasmine swallowed a sob. Their emotions swelled with mine, threatening to avalanche with despair.

  Needing to say a private goodbye, I kicked Wings forward and shot into a gallop. The ridgeline spread before me as I let my horse fly.

  I let him gallop as fast as he could.

  I let him carry me away.

  And, as the thunder of his hooves blotted out the black hole of grief, I tipped the urn and sprinkled Kes’s last remains.

  The grey dust clouded behind me, whirling in the breeze, spiralling in the wind.

  Goodbye, brother.

  The wind picked up, encouraging the grey cloud to plume and soar down the valley, becoming one with the countryside.

  My family had owned this estate for almost six-hundred years. It held many souls. Had seen many events. And witnessed many evolutions. My brother would remain its watcher and warrior—guarding Nila and my new family forever.

  As Wings slowed, I looked at the sun and smiled.

  The urn was empty.

  Kestrel was gone.

  From bone to ash.

  From blood to dust.

  His body had vanished, but I knew he still lived.

  And we would meet again.

  We would laugh again.

  We would be brothers again.

  “WHY DID WE come here?”

  Jethro grabbed my hand, leading me from the Ferrari and through the car park at Diamond Alley. “You’ll see.”

  Four weeks had gone by.

  Four weeks of adjustment and simplicity.

  I’d had my cast removed and my arm had knitted together, erasing Cut’s crime. My father and I had discussed the revelation of Jacqueline many times, and V and I were both keen to track down our triplet and stare into the eyes of a lost relation.

  Every day brought different experiences. Kes was gone. It was hard to get used to—especially as he deserved to enjoy the changes we slowly wrought on Hawksridge Hall—but time ticked onward, dragging us forward without him.

  After staying with us for a few weeks—to clear the air and spend time together as a new puzzle-fitted family—my father moved back to London to oversee a busy part of the year with fabric deliveries and demands.

  Vaughn stayed most weekends, chatting quietly, slowly letting go of his animosity about a past he couldn’t change. Instead, he focused on a future so much brighter.

  During the week, my twin spread his time between his penthouse and Hawksridge. He and Jaz spent a lot of time together, and Jethro and V talked more and more.

  I’d caught them chatting over cognac beside a roaring fire in the gaming room. The room no longer tarnished with gambling debts and almost-rapes but a place where my lover and brother found friendship.

  Tinsel hair brushing dark hair, discussing the world’s problems and hopefully seeing eye-to-eye on most subjects.

  I’d also seen them chuckling over something juvenile in the dining room, slowly switching from enemies to friends.

  I’d stop and watch, hidden by shadows, and allow residual fear to flee. The gaming room was no longer the room where the Third Debt was almost repaid, the octagonal conservatory no longer where the First Debt was extracted, and the lake no longer where the Second Debt had been delivered. They were blank canvases ready for new memories.

  Hawksridge slowly shed its antiquity of brutality and pain, relaxing into a gentle ceasefire.

  And now Jethro had brought me to another place I’d already been.

  Diamond Alley.

  The fascinating warehouse where I’d met Kill for the first time.

  Arthur ‘Kill’ Killian had returned to Florida after the final battle and the day I almost lost my head. We had a future because of him. We had a life to look forward to because of what those men did that day.

  Knocking the same door we’d passed through last time we came here, a small pang hit my heart. Kes wasn’t with us today, and he wouldn’t be any other day, but his presence never left. Jethro didn’t bring him up often, but I knew he thought about him.

  The nine-digit password was accepted and the door opened.

  Immediately, Jethro handed me a pair of sunglasses and pulled me into the large diamond building. The incredibly bright spotlights warmed my skin like a tropical sunshine while tiny rainbows danced on t
he black velvet sorting pads of the tables.

  The diamond collar I wore hummed to be amongst its kinsmen and I willingly clung to Jethro’s hand as he dragged me down the corridor toward the door I’d once thought was a janitor’s closet.

  He didn’t say a word as he opened it and entered the code to the large safe and spun the dial. Once the armoured entrance hung open, Jethro bowed. “After you, Ms. Weaver.”

  I grinned. “I can imagine Cut is turning over in his grave seeing Weavers stay happily in his Hall and touch his diamonds on display.”

  Jethro hadn’t told me what’d happened in the outbuilding, and I hadn’t pried. That was his trauma and triumph to bear.

  Bonnie had been buried on the estate, in the catacombs beneath the house. Her sarcophagus had already been crafted as per the custom of burial rights for rich lords and ladies.

  At first, I hated to think of Bonnie beneath my feet as I roamed the Hall, but after a while, I didn’t mind. I’d won. She hadn’t. It was her penance, not mine, to witness life move on for the better while she rotted below.

  Daniel’s body had never been found. His bones gnawed on and flesh devoured by predators. The Hawks had taken so much from the African soil. Karma had seen to pay that debt with his flesh.

  “I don’t think he would’ve minded as much as we think.” Jethro moved toward the safety deposit boxes. “In the end, he truly was sorry for what he’d done. Without him revoking the conditions on his last Will and Testament, all of this would’ve been lost. We would’ve spent years in legal battles trying to claim our birthright and Hawksridge would’ve been torn to pieces by the state.”

  I looped my fingers, listening quietly. Whatever passed between Jethro and Cut that day was their own affair, but I was glad Jethro got closure. Cut hadn’t died with hate in his heart as I’d expected. He’d died with an apology and sorrow. I hoped he was at peace, wherever he was.

  Standing in the middle of the safe, I waited as Jethro pulled out the long gunmetal grey drawer.

  My heart beat faster.

  I know what’s in there.

  The last time he’d shown me the original black diamond, he’d hinted at what he was. He used the stone as an example of his condition—absorbing light and emotions rather than refracting and preventing them from entering. The analogy was perfect for him.

  Moving closer, I placed my hand on his forearm. “I should’ve guessed that day. I should’ve known what you were and convinced you to run away with me.”

  He chuckled. “Running was never an option, Needle. But you’re right. Those drugs really fucked me up. I’d hoped you’d guess and slap me out of it.”

  I smiled. “I seem to remember I did in the end. I marched into your bedroom and forced you to listen.”

  “You’ll never know how much your strength helped. How your tenacity to make me feel broke my unhappiness.” His lips touched mine as his hands pulled out the black pouch.

  “This is for you.” He pushed the soft material into my grip.

  I jerked backward. “What? No. There is no way I can accept that!”

  He grinned. “Yes, you can. By accepting me, you’ve accepted it already. It’s yours and I want you to open it.”

  “Jethro…”

  He placed the ribbon in my fingers. “Open it.”

  My hands shook as I opened the velvet. My eyes narrowed. I expected one large stone tenderly nestled in padding. However, something didn’t look right. Inside rested more parcels wrapped in delicate tissue paper.

  Jethro crossed his arms, smugness decorating his face. “Go on. Keep going. You haven’t opened it all yet.”

  Placing the pouch on the table, I plucked out the first packet. My fingers trembled harder as I pushed aside crepe paper. As soon as I unwrapped it, I almost dropped it. “Oh, my God.”

  Jethro didn’t say a word as I pulled out the most stunning bracelet I’d ever seen. “This…it’s…you made this from the single black diamond?”

  The one stone that’d started it all. The priceless gem that’d raised his family to riches and tainted glory so long ago.

  Jethro nodded. “Yes.” Taking the dangling bracelet, his fingers traced the filigree pattern where gold licked around clusters of black diamonds, steadily growing bigger to one large rock in the centre of the design. “Give me your wrist.”

  Speechless, I held out my arm.

  Jethro very gently secured the jewellery. Of course, it was the perfect size. “You had this made for me?”

  “How could I not?” He kissed me again. My heart transformed into feathers wanting to take flight. “You’re the reason I’m alive and happy. I want to give you everything, Nila.”

  Running his fingers over the uniquely shaped diamonds, he added, “This cut is called a kite. It’s rare—not many jewellers remember the art.” He smirked. “I thought it was rather fitting to use in the design.”

  I couldn’t stop staring. “More than fitting. Now I have a Kite in my heart and kites on my wrist.”

  “For the rest of your life, I hope.”

  Not letting me answer, he looked at the pouch again. “There’s more. Open the next one.”

  I couldn’t pull my eyes away from the one he’d already given me. It was too much. Far, far more than I ever expected. The blackness of the stones sucked the light, glowing like an otherworldly charm.

  Unable to speak, I pulled free the next crepe paper present. Tears glossed my eyes as I revealed what rested inside. “Jethro—”

  Before I could kiss him or pounce in gratefulness, he dropped to one knee before me.

  Stealing the black diamond ring, he grabbed my shaking left hand and smiled tenderly. “I’ve asked you to marry me twice. And each time you’ve said yes. As far as I’m concerned, you became a Hawk the moment you answered my first text. But I couldn’t steal you away for the rest of your life without doing this properly.”

  I gasped as his voice broke. “Nila ‘Threads’ Weaver. Will you do me the absolute honour of accepting this ring, this man, this future? I offer you everything that I am and will become. I promise to adore you with every heartbeat and will forever protect you like I should've done from the day we met. Will you agree to be my best-friend and partner for the rest of our lives and continue to be so selfless with your love and kindness?”

  He cleared his throat, forcing himself to continue. “In return, I promise to always love you, always protect you. I’ll be the anchor you need and will never do anything to hurt you again.”

  I dropped to my knees before him. Knee to knee. Heart to heart. “I do. I accept and I promise you the same thing. I will never lie to you, hurt you, or keep things from you. I will always be there when you need me most.”

  His lips crashed against mine. My fingers dove into his salt and pepper hair. Everything I’d been through was in order to deserve this. Him. The greatest trophy, gift, and reward I could ever have dreamed of.

  With his lips on mine, Jethro slipped the engagement ring onto my finger. Snug, perfect, never to be removed just like my collar.

  I’d turned from seamstress to diamond heiress with the amount I now wore. The huge stone glittered menacingly in a cushion cut with baguettes on either side.

  I didn’t want to guess how many carats the ring held.

  Breaking the kiss, Jethro murmured, “There’s something else in there. Something that isn’t for you, but I want you to see it.”

  My eyebrow quirked, but I reached upward and plucked the pouch from the table. With the weight of my new engagement ring, I fumbled with the crepe.

  Once it was unwrapped, I couldn’t stop the tears this time. I huddled over the necklace where a teardrop black diamond had been fashioned with gold scroll work and the wings of a hawk and a needle with thread in the fixings. It wasn’t just a necklace; it was a joining of our two houses. A gift for someone who would be treasured above any diamond or estate. A priceless necklace for a priceless child.

  “You made this for our daughter.”

  Jet
hro sucked in a breath. “How did you—”

  I smiled, liquid glassing my vision and heart. “I know because I know you.” Stroking the diamond, I breathed, “You want a daughter over a son?”

  His arms banded around me. “Nila, I want whatever you give me. But a daughter, if she’s firstborn, will be the end to everything. The debts will never take place again. She’ll be part Weaver, part Hawk, and I wanted her to have something to symbolise what a new beginning she will represent.”

  “I love you.” I grabbed his cheeks. “I love you so damn much.”

  His entire body melted in my hold, his adoration for me glowing in every facet. “I know. And I’ll never ever deserve it.”

  Climbing to his feet, he helped me upright. Tugging me into an embrace, he kissed me softly. “There’s one other place I’d like to take you to, if you’d let me?”

  My body curved into his like a comma. “I want to go wherever you want to take me.”

  His gorgeous face lit with a sexy smile.

  Thoughts of sealing our engagement with more than just a kiss crossed my mind.

  When Jethro had bundled me into the car this morning and driven off the estate, I thought it was to complete a few errands or to stand beside me while I visited my assistants at Weaver Enterprises and give feedback on an up-and-coming design line.

  Our life had become somewhat normal with work and businesses to run. I loved the normalcy but loved the magical alone times, too.

  I would never have expected something as spellbinding as this to happen.

  It is spellbinding.

  We’d made promises in the heart of Diamond Alley to love, honour, and treasure each other for the rest of our lives. What else existed if those vows weren’t classified as a spell? A forever kind of spell. A spell that would keep our souls joined even after death.

  My eyes fell on the large diamond on my finger.

  I couldn’t stop looking at it. Flashing the black gemstone, revelling in how thoughtful and incredible my future husband was.

  I ran a finger over the glossy surface. “I’ll never be able to thank you for what you’ve given me, Jethro. More than just an anchor. You’ve given me a home in your heart and made me belong.”