Tess (A Dark!SteveRogers AU)

Chapter 3

"I am going to shoot you where you stand!" Tess stormed into the house and punched her brother square in the nose. After being given the news by Rollins, she was fuming that a decision had been made about her future, and without her consent. "Trading me off like damn cattle! I'm your sister!"

Brock held his throbbing nose, the blood now streaming from it. His sister could pack a punch and hold her own. "I didn't trade you; I simply struck a deal with Rogers..."

"That still counts! You don't get a say in what I do with my life!"

"Yes I damn well do because I run this show! Dad would've done the same!"

Tess stared at him with a rather steely gaze. If he wanted to bring their father into it then so be it. "Dad actually cared! You just want rid of me! He's gonna be turning in his grave!"

Brock muttered something to himself and then came over to his sister, glaring at her. "You think I wanted to make deal with Rogers? I wanted to put a bullet between his eyes as soon as I saw him, but I couldn't!"

"So why didn't you!"

"And risk having all of us die in a shootout? I ain't sacrificing my boys".

"But you would your sister!" Tess spat in disgust.

"For the sake of ending all this? Between the Rogers and us? Yeah, I would". His eyes were cold on hers as he backed her against the wall. "You do as your told Tessie, and you're gonna marry Rogers, and you're gonna like it".

The rage was rising within her. Tess Rumlow could be fiery when she wanted to be. She differed from other women, purely because all her life she'd been around men who had taught her to be strong willed. They saw her as one of the boys. From the age of six she'd fired her first gun. She could drink any man under the table, her innocence also having been long ruined. She didn't claim to be a lady and certainly didn't care how people saw her.

Promiscuous and wild.

She oozed confidence, sometimes a little too much for Brock's liking - then again, his little sister had learnt to pretty much run before she could walk.

"Brock, you can't seriously expect me to marry that man - he's just as bad as the rest of 'em, some say even worse." She'd heard about Steve's reputation and had seen the damage he could cause firsthand. He'd killed her father after all.

Her brother now simply looked at her with a shrug. "Well then you'll have no trouble taming him then".

Tess looked at him. "What the fuck is really going on Brock? Because you wouldn't just end this whole thing with Rogers just to stop more of our boys getting killed? What have you done?" She demanded. "You fucked up again?"

She could see right through him. He was her brother after all.

Brock looked at her, but didn't answer her question, keeping her firmly against the wall. It was better she didn't know the real reason.

"Pull up those big girl panties of yours and accept that this is happening. You marry Rogers within the next few days, and you so much as scream and shout about it then I'll have him marry you sooner". He told her, "You're gonna be a wife. Do all the things a wife should. That's your life Tessie, and I wouldn't try to go against his word - because if you do then you'll regret it".

"You wouldn't let him lay a finger on me".

Brock snorted at this. "Don't you understand? Once you marry him then you're his to do as he sees fit with. You never know, beating some sense into you may do you some good".

"You don't mean that" Tess spat

Releasing his grasp on his sister, he headed over to the table where he'd been drinking his way through some whiskey, pouring himself another glass. It would be a miracle if Steve Rogers did manage to tame his sister, but as much as he hated the thought of not being able to do anything if he did lay a hand on her, he simply had to accept the situation like she did.

"It's done Tessie". Was all he said. "For once in your fucking life just be a good girl and do as I tell you to".

"You bastard..." She hissed, feeling the tears prick the back of her eyes. "I hope burn in hell for this".

Brock simply drank, hearing the slam of the door as his sister stormed out of the house, Jack now coming in and sighing. "She made me tell her".

"I knew she would, it's fine".

"Guessing we're gonna be dragging her to the alter then?"

"If that's what it takes Rollins, then I'll tie her to her bed for the next couple of days just so she can't run".

Jack looked out of the window. "You do realise she's ridden off?"

Brock nodded. "Give it five minutes and they'll be bringing her back. I told the others to make sure she didn't leave. Can't risk her running before we give her away".

"Are you sure that giving her to Rogers is the right thing though?"

"They've got the men, we're agreeing trade. Schmidt won't touch us once he knows we're in league with the Rogers".

Within minutes, Tess was dragged into the house, kicking and screaming by a few of Brock's men, "You can't do this Brock!" She yelled as they bound her to her bed with him watching.

He simply walked over to his sister and stared down at her as she fought against the ropes that bound her wrists to the wrought iron bed posts.

"I can do it Tess, and I'm gonna, just like you're gonna marry Steve Rogers. You're opening doors for us; you have no idea just how much this union's gonna be beneficial for everyone. Don't you care about that?"

"Right now, all I care about is wrapping my hands around your neck and killing you".

Brock just stared at her. "Not unless I kill you first..."