Page 59 of Praying for Thunder

“Sir?” The president laughed. “I’m going to have to beat those manners out of you, I see.”

“Onus,” Ani tried.

His neck cracked as his seething head rolled in her direction. “You were the last to see Rosa alive. Yet, you dare speak to me?”

My empty stomach threatened to heave. This was him. The man who believed I was his.

Onus observed my dire state. Then he asked Piercer, “What’s wrong with him? Have you not been feeding my son?”

Piercer joined his side, his mouth agape. Baffled, he gestured to my blond hair and blue eyes, peering around the room to see if anyone was going to call out the President’s denial.

Not one Hell Titan spoke up. I’d soon learn they didn’t dare, especially since the dangerous man had taken a liking to me.

Alone, Piercer finally admitted, “He’s had some scraps, here and there.”

Onus, so similar looking to Piercer, but even bigger, crossed his massive arms over his foreboding chest. “Huh.” He casually gazed about. “You don’t notify me that my son is alive.” He nodded, peering at the tips of his huge biker boots. “Then you choose to mistreat him.” He glared at his brother. “Is this what you are telling me?”

The VP adjusted his stance. “I…” He took a deep breath. “I didn’t think he was yours.”

Onus opened his arms while turning to the men behind him. Chuckling, he said, “Did you hear that? My brother doubts my sperm and ability to fuck a woman.”

Piercer immediately defended himself. “No. No, but… look at him.”

“I am.” Spookily calm, Onus went on. “And I am knowing Rosa was never without a guard.” He faced his men again. “Unless one of you fucked my whore.”

After recovering from entering a shitstorm they didn’t want, they all started talking and taking steps back. “No fucking way… No, Onus… Never touched her… Wouldn’t dare…”

The President faced his brother again. “You see? You are mistaken.”

“Yeah,” Piercer admitted as if a scorned dog. “Totally mistaken. I’m sorry.”

“Huh.” Onus grabbed his shoulder and tenderly shook, yet there was no sincerity. “I know that.” He released him and held his own hands behind his back. Chin lifted, eyes accusing, he asked, “What do you propose we do about your mistake?”

Piercer’s cheeks started to pale. “Do?”

Onus’ mouth making a ‘meh’ shape, he held his arms out to the sides again, mid-shrug. “Of course. No? So this doesn’t happen again, no?” He casually faced his men while talking again, “We can’t have patched Titans going rogue,” but didn’t stop until coming full circle, back to his brother, “can we?”

Every man agreed. “No.”

Crossing his arms, Onus tapped his pursed lips. “What to do, what to do. Hmmm.” He snapped his fingers while breaking into a smile. “I know!” His smile disappeared. “Kill your bitch.”

I was thankful they were speaking English so I didn’t have to hide my horror. “No!” I threw my arms around Ani.

Crying, she held me so fucking tight and kissed my hair. I think she knew…

“W-What?” Piercer then sneered at his brother. “You fucking selfish bastard—”

Onus’ composure snapped! “My son has been a bastard because of this fucking whore!” He retrieved a pistol and pointed it at her.

As she had done for myself and Dio, I put my body in front of hers. “Please! No!”

As if he had many personalities to choose from, Onus suddenly laughed. “Look at the strength he already exhibits!” He yanked me from the floor with one hand. Painfully holding me in the air by my dirty pajamas, he beamed. “Maybe you will actually be worth a shit.” He dropped me to my feet in front of another biker, who seized my shoulders. “God knows your brothers are worthless.”

Maybe seeing Onus had slipped into a decent mood, Piercer changed tactics. “Brother, let me keep her—”

He was wrong.

The cabin walls rattled. “That fucking whore stole my goddamn son!”