Read The Guardian of Secrets: And Her Deathly Pact for Free Online

you could go on for years, and I don’t like the sound of that… I want Merrill Farm now—and everything that goes with it. I deserve it, and I’m going to have it.”
    He stopped talking, scowled again, and looked Peter over from head to toe.
    Peter gasped and then stuttered, “What are you saying?”
    “You people are so fucking stupid. Do you think that just because you’re fucking lord of the manor and took me in, gave me food and a bed, that I’d feel obliged to you for the rest of my bloody life? I’ve worked my arse off for you. Married your daughter, taking her off your hands so that you could fuck that slut in the village… What, you think I don’t know about her?”
    Peter took a couple of steps backwards. Joseph sensed his fear and watched him, reading his mind through the ever-changing expressions on his face. The old man probably couldn’t believe what was happening. He was probably trying to decide if this was a prank, he thought. He was a stupid, stupid man for signing over the farm. He didn’t know him, didn’t have a clue about the real Joseph Dobbs. Stupid and naive, a pathetic combination.
    “Don’t look so shocked, Peter. I know everything that goes on in this village because it’s my village. I’ll own it soon… and everyone in it.”
    “Joseph, have you gone mad?”
    “No,” Joseph said, shrugging his shoulders. “In fact, I’ve never seen things so clearly. For instance, I realised tonight that I hate you and your daughter almost as much as I love poker. Celia got a bloody good seeing to earlier on. It was long overdue. She just doesn’t know when to keep her trap shut… She’ll keep it shut now, though. By God she will!”
    Clearly forgetting his fear, Peter took an angry step forward. “If you’ve harmed one hair on my daughter’s head, I’ll kill you! Now shut your mouth and put that spade down… I said to put it down—now!”
    Joseph looked at the spade in his hand and put it on the ground. He turned his back on Peter as though to leave and then spun around without warning, throwing his first punch and catching Peter squarely on the chin. Peter stumbled backwards on shaky legs that threatened to crumple beneath him and stared at Joseph in disbelief.
    “You’ll kill no one, Peter. I’m doing the killing tonight, and when I’ve finished with you, I’ll fuck your daughter again over your dead body, just for the hell of it.”
    Peter moved, screaming as he lurched forward with the full force of his body behind him. His clenched fist flew through the air and brushed the side of Joseph’s head. He stumbled, losing momentum, and Joseph struck the first blow with the blunt iron spade.
     
    Peter stared stupidly into Joseph’s eyes and fell to the ground. He lay motionless on the bloodstained straw, looking around him through misty eyes, desperately searching for a weapon of his own. Blood poured down the side of his face and into his mouth. He was seeing double; everything was moving: Joseph, the ground, the walls, and even the straw that surrounded him darted back and forth. He looked up to see Joseph’s hazy outline bending over him and at that moment knew he was going to die. For an instant, time stopped and a thousand thoughts and images filled his head: My Celia… My God… Celia, what have I… done to you? Sorry…
     
    Joseph smirked, raised the spade, and rained it down on Peter’s head until only pulp was left. Joseph’s breathing was fast and heavy. Adrenaline coursed through him, making his heart pound and the pulse in his neck race. He abruptly dropped the spade on the floor and stared at Peter’s still, lifeless body. He kneeled down beside it and took the bank notes and coins from his pockets, along with his wedding ring and watch. He’d already hitched the horses to the cart, and he’d also made sure that Celia was locked inside the house. He was pleased with his performance; it had been quick and easy. Peter never went to bed without