And just like that, every person in the room knew, without a word spoken, why they were here.
“Zane, darling,” she called out, her voice syrupy and sharp. “What a surprise to seeyouhere. I thought you’d be too ashamed to show your face after that interview?—”
“Ms. Scott,” Thomas interrupted smoothly, offering his arm as though she were a guest of honor instead of prey. “I was just in the middle of explaining the evening's activities. I’m afraid we’re on a rather strict time schedule.”
Beverly allowed herself to be guided toward the center of the ballroom, chin high, shoulders squared. She clearly believed she had the upper hand, that she’d been invited here to be adored, or at least feared. That she was going to embarrass her son in front of all these people. That she was untouchable.
Thomas almost pitied her.Almost.
“Tonight,” he announced, his voice rolling through the silent room like thunder wrapped in velvet, “we’re playing a game. A hunt, as I mentioned.” He turned to Beverly, his expression perfectly serene.
“A hunt? At night? Like a fox hunt?” she asked, her confusion edged with disdain.
“More like a snake hunt,” Asa said, his voice cold enough to crack glass.
“Who hunts snakes?” Beverly sneered, curling her lip as she looked around the room.
“We do,” Noah said evenly, realization settling into his tone. “In fact, it’s sort of our expertise.”
“Odd,” she said, blinking rapidly, her forced smile beginning to falter. “And where is this snake?”
“Why, it’s right here.” Thomas’s smile widened. “It’s you, Ms. Scott. You are our snake.”
Beverly laughed, too loud, too brittle. “Excuse me?”
“The rules are simple,” Thomas said, raising a hand and ticking each off on his fingers. “You’ll have a ten-minute head start. The property is fully secured, you can’t leave, so don’tbother trying. There are weapons hidden throughout the house and grounds, which you’re welcome to use in your defense…if you’re able.” He tilted his head slightly, the gesture both polite and chilling. “If you survive until dawn, you walk free. If not…”
He shrugged.
Beverly laughed again, higher, shriller. “This joke isn’t funny. You soundinsane.”
“Weareinsane,” Asa said, stepping closer, eyes like ice. “And you’re on the clock.”
“This is absurd! I am not amused,” Beverly snapped. When no one laughed, she took a half step back. “You can’t be serious. I’m leaving.”
“We’re always serious,” Avi said, voice lazy, a smile playing on his lips. “Well, until we’re not. But we’re always serious about killing.”
“And you’re most definitely not leaving,” Asa added. “Well, not of your own volition anyway.”
“Ms. Scott.” Thomas’s tone cut through the growing murmurs like a blade. The room went utterly still. He studied her face, the twitch of her mouth, the shallow rise of her chest. She was sweating now. Her foundation was starting to crack, mascara bleeding faintly beneath her eyes.
“You’ve spent decades tormenting your son,” he said, voice low, each word deliberate. “Using his brother’s death as a weapon. Destroying his self-worth piece by piece. And weeks ago, you ambushed him on national television with lies designed to humiliate him.” His smile vanished. “That was your mistake…yourfatalmistake, as it turns out.”
Beverly looked around the room, finally realizing no one was laughing. No one was moving. Dozens of eyes followed her every twitch, gleaming with a single, shared hunger.
“This is illegal!” she shrieked, voice breaking. “You can’t just?—”
“We can,” Noah said calmly. “And we are.” He turned to Thomas. “What was it you said, Dad?”
“Ten minutes.”
“Right. Ten minutes, Ms. Scott.” Noah’s tone was conversational, his grin sharp. “I suggest you start running.”
Beverly stumbled backward, her skin draining of color. “Zane! Zane, you can’t let them do this!”
Zane stepped forward. Felix and the twins moved with him, a wall of quiet fury. When he spoke, his voice didn’t shake. It was calm, even. Steady.
“You told me I was dead to you. That you wished I’d died instead of your precious Gage. You said I was a disappointment. A pervert. Your biggest embarrassment.” Zane’s hands were shaking, but he didn’t look away. “You’ve said worse. Done worse. For my entire life.”
