BRAN
He was dropped into a kneeling position on the ground and his knees stung from the hard impact it made with the dark linoleum floor of his living room.
The urge to get up and fight redoubled when two men dragged Maria into room. Her arms and legs had been bound and when they dropped her on the ground just as harshly as they'd dropped Bran, he saw tear-streaks on her face and a bright red spot on one cheek.
Had one of these men hit her?
Bran saw red.
The minute he was free from the chains, he would rip them in two. Extricate their limbs from their bodies bit by bit and enjoy their cries of pain. Even in death, they would remember to never lay a hand on anything that belonged to him.
"Hello, daughter," Ariti said to Maria, walking over to her and dragging a finger down her face. She shook away from his touch but that didn't deter him. "This isn't the reunion I hoped for, but you have never looked more healthy so I can't complain."