“Ky.” I worried when I saw that glint of rage return and burn brightly in his eyes.

But Ky could not be soothed or tamed. “I’m gonna fuckin’ kill them!” Jumping from the bed, he marched to the door and stormed into the hallway.

Clutching the linen in my hands, I dragged myself off the bed, struggling for breath at the discomfort of my face. I wrapped the sheet around me, covering my bare skin, and quickly shuffled to the bar after Ky.

Seeing him storm down the hallway and throw open the door, I picked up my pace and entered just in time to see Ky scattering “hang-around” men and tables out of his way. I followed the trail of destruction. In his sights were Tiff and Jules, being heavily guarded by Cowboy and Hush.

“You motherfuckin’ sluts!” Ky shouted at a frightening volume, attracting the attention of everyone in the lounge. Their terrified eyes fell on a seething Ky pounding toward them and they tried to back away in obvious fear.

“I’m gonna fuckin’ kill you!” Ky threatened. Suddenly, AK grabbed Ky from behind, holding him back, his hand barely missing their faces.

“Get the fuck off me, brother!” he roared at AK as Smiler jumped next to Ky, helping AK maintain his grip.

“Calm down, brother. What the fuck did the lickin’ twins do to you? Bit your cock or some shit?” Viking asked, looking back and forth between Ky and the women.

Ky stilled, then boomed out, “What did they do! They fuckin’ just attacked Lilah! Pinned her to the bed and had their fingers all over her tits and pussy as she screamed!”

This time, the entire room quieted and all the Hangmen stilled, realizing the seriousness of the situation.

Ky tried to break free from AK and Smiler, screaming, “I’m gonna fuckin’ kill you both, you ugly fuckin’ sluts! KILL YOU!”

Tiff was petrified at Ky’s anger, her bottom lip trembling, but Jule’s face contorted into an expression of bitterness. She lifted her chin in defiance.

“She fuckin’ deserved it!” Jules said, a cutting edge to her voice. My breath faltered at her words. “We’ve been servicing your dick for years and never once have you talked about making one or both us your old ladies. Not fuckin’ once, even though you used our pussies anytime, anywhere, anyhow! But then she comes along, hell, all three of those cult bitches turn up, and all your fuckin’ brothers drop their mouths every time they pass by, like y’all are under a fuckin’ spell. And you…” She nudged her chin at Ky. “You calling out the blond bitch’s name while buried in my ass, wishing I was her, every single time! She’s like some fuckin’ voodoo witch or some shit, making y’all pussy-blind and her goddamn fuckin’ puppet!”

I suddenly felt sick at her words. She’s like some fuckin’ voodoo witch or some shit… her goddamn fuckin’ puppet. I did not want to imagine Ky with those two women, taking them in such seductive ways. In fact, if I was being completely truthful, I did not want to think of him with any other woman but me, full stop. But I knew no man could ever truly love a Cursed Woman of Eve. And no woman of Eve could ever have the love of a pure soul. Prophet David made sure I understood that truth from being a child; memorized the scripture, in case I ever forgot my role in this life.

Ky smiled a sardonic and humorless smile. Jules observed him with wary eyes as Ky hissed, “Because y’all are fuckin’ dirty, haggard sluts! Lilah’s fuckin’ pure and wouldn’t fuck a man just for the sake of fucking a Hangmen, getting cash for coke and ice and whatever else you can vacuum up your nose or rub on your skanky gums! Nah, bitch. I weren’t ever gonna make a whore like you my old lady. You’re good for a fuck ‘cause there ain’t no limits, but you ain’t good for anything else, you dumb, stupid bitch.”

Jules paled and Tiff, who was now crying, pulled Jules back to her chest. But Ky could not stop. He was livid.

“Y’all were cheap fucks, nothing more. I tolerated you for pussy on tap, but you touching Lilah just fuckin’ broke me. I want to hurt you. I want y’all to fuckin’ feel the pain Li did when you pinned her to the bed, hitting her perfect face and tearing off her fuckin’ clothes, YOUR DIRTY FINGERS RUBBING AT HER MOTHERFUCKIN’ CUNT!”

“Brother, calm down,” AK said, struggling to keep hold of Ky, the ring from Ky’s loud sneer still playing in my ear. “And fuckin’ talk to us. What the fuck’s just gone down?”

But Ky would not listen to AK. The situation was spiraling out of control, and I did not want more violence. I did not want violence being carried out, anymore, in my name.

It was my curse. Driving men mad with lust, the devil playing his game with his pawns for his own sick amusement. And Ky was becoming another victim, sacrificing all he knew and the people around him to defend me.

So attempting to be brave, I decided to step into the bar to stop the madness, my foot pressing a creaking floorboard. At the sound of the aged wood beneath my feet, a sea of eyes turned to meet mine. The brothers all tensed as they caught sight of me.

I had not seen my injured face but could guess its distressed state. I could feel its state. The brothers had also never seen me without my headdress, my blond hair out on display, my temptress looks in full effect. And I was wrapped in linen.

I was every inch the harlot.

AK shook Ky, murmuring something in his ear. Eventually, Ky ripped his attention from the two trembling women, almost buried in the wall, and focused on me.

“Lilah! What the fuck, baby,” he said in exasperation, pulling his arms away from AK and Smiler. They now had no choice but to let him go. Ky came barreling toward me, scooping me straight up in his arms, no time for me to protest.

His lips brushed against my forehead and his strong hold made me feel safe.

Ky’s hold was almost painful as he gripped my legs. Somebody coughed from behind, and when I looked to the side, Letti was walking through with Bull, Tank, and Beauty not far behind. They must have been at the back of the room.

“Let me take care of them, VP,” she said in her strange accent. Bull’s tattooed face shone proud as he hovered behind his wife, his mammoth arms crossed tightly over his chest. “You’ll never have to see them again. They won’t dare come back. And thank fuck for that, ‘cause I was getting real sick of their rancid pussies always out for the men. I ain’t had any fun in a while, so messing with their faces’ll make my damn day. They fucked up touching Lilah. They’ll never fuckin’ get near her again.”