me and Stan put the Castaway’s colours right in the heart of the Dread Cult’s territory.”
“But you didn’t. I did, and I took the punishment for it too. So enjoy your glory, and I hope you like living with a lie.”
“No one will know. Because you will keep your mouth shut, right.” Rob came towards her, and Faith felt the edge of danger in his voice cutting through her anger.
“Back off, Rob,” Stan said, placing his hand on his friend’s chest.
“Why? Your sister has been desperate for me to fuck her again. I’ll make it her going away present.”
“Get out, Rob,” Faith said firmly, but it did nothing to stop him coming towards her and grabbing her arm.
“I don’t think so. I’m going to give you a lasting reminder of me. It’ll be good, I promise.”
“No, it won’t,” she said. “Get out.”
He grinned at her now. “Oh, it’s going to be good for me.”
Stan stood still, rooted to the spot while Rob grabbed her and tipped her onto the sofa. His hands took her robe and tore it off her. For a moment, he simply stared at her, the tattoo plainly visible.
Then he laughed. “They branded you. Even better. Now I can tell the Castaways I took the Dread Cult’s property too. Tell me, Faith, did they claim you properly, like a real woman. Or did they have to force one of the poor suckers to do you.”
“Rob!”
“What?” Rob said, turning to Stan. “Go wait outside if you don’t want to watch me nailing your sister.”
Suddenly Stan dived at Rob, pulling him off Faith, who quickly covered herself up. The sound of a fist hitting flesh made her look up, and Stan had laid Rob out on the floor. As Rob struggled to stand, Stan told him to get out.
“Think what you’re doing,” Rob said.
“There’s nothing to think about.” Stan stood squarely looking at him, fists at his sides, ready to hit him again if he had to. “She’s my sister.”
“Right! Now she’s your sister. After all the years I’ve had to listen to you going on about how embarrassing she is to you.”
“Shut up, Rob!”
“Make me.” Rob got to his feet, ready for a fight.
Faith took a step forward and stood between them. “Get out! Both of you.”
“Get out the way, Faith,” said Stan, his face filled with rage.
“No. This is my apartment, and I want you both out of it.”
Neither of them moved, her frustration making tears prick her eyes. She hated this, they had never grown up, a couple of big kids, and she wanted them out of her apartment and out of her life. Deep down she knew this was just some quarrel that would pass, and they would be friends again in no time. She supposed she should be grateful to Stan for sticking up for her, but he had taken so long, and put her through such crap before, she couldn’t find any part of her that took him seriously.
Stan turned to reason with her. It was then that Rob took a swipe at him, and hit him so hard he went down. Faith stood looking appalled. Her brother might not have been doing this for the right reasons, but he had been her only defence against what Rob intended to do to her, and now he was out cold.
Looking up at Rob, she knew she was in trouble. Turning she dived into her room, but before she could shut the door he pushed his way in.
“Please Rob, let me go. You don’t want to do this.”
“No. I don’t. But you know what, now Stan is not going to stop me I think it might be a good idea if you and me took a little ride. I think the Castaways would be very happy if I gave you to them.”
“Why would they want me? Like you said, I’m nothing.”
“I know that, you know that. But now you carry the mark of the Dread Cult, so to them you are something. Get dressed.”
“No.”
“Then I’ll take you like that, save them ripping your clothes off. Your choice.”
“Rob, you wouldn’t.”
He came close to her again, his breath warm on her skin. Whereas once she would have felt a stirring of desire for him, now she felt repulsed. He