“Ah, if it isn’t little miss perfect, rushing in to save the day.” The words were cold, though the voice was familiar. Slowly, I lifted my gaze up to my sister as her shadow came over me. Whatever expression I had on my face made her sneer. In my shock, I’d forgotten she was in the room. When I looked at her, instead of finding her freaking out about our father bleeding out on the floor, she stood there nonchalantly—leaning against one of the chairs, eyeing her fingernails with disdain. In her other hand was a serrated knife. Its steel blade was coated in blood, the red liquid dripping off the tip onto the carpet. Each inaudible splash landed in slow motion in my sluggish mind.
Despite the rapid rhythm of my heart thudding in my ears, my movements felt slow, as if I was wading through molasses as I tried to piece together everything. I felt completely numb as Iglanced around. My sister didn’t bother to look at me, her focus completely on her perfectly manicured nails.
No emotion. No remorse.Nothing.
“What—”
“Don’t play stupid,” she cut me off with a harsh tone, finally showing some emotion. The same hatred I’d seen briefly before the wedding filled her expression, and she angled the weapon toward me. “You know very well you were always Father dearest’s favorite.”
“No, I’m not.”Was that why she’d done this? Out of jealousy?“He loved us both.”
Her perfectly sculpted brow arched. “No, darling sister.” Her tone was mocking. “Youwerehis favorite.Iwas an obligation. Not the daughter he loved, but the one he had to raise simply because I was his blood.” She emphasized the past tense portion of her statement. The reminder made the blood coating my hands, and now my legs where I knelt next to my father, feel ice cold and heavy. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I looked down at his prone figure.
“No,” I whispered, shaking my head slightly. “This … you couldn’t…” I couldn’t wrap my head around it, almost like my brain refused to believe she was capable of this. She’d always been mean-spirited to me, our relationship never being close or even good, butshewas the perfect daughter—not me. Jackie was exactly like our father. Her entire focus was on the family and ensuring its business thrived. Just like my father wanted. “Why?” was all I could say, my single word thick with emotion. I didn’t understand—I couldn’t—I would never have done something like this. It made no sense that she seemed to have no regret even with our father laying here in his own blood, like some discarded card in her deck.
Instead of answering right away, though, all she did was start to laugh, the sound manic and terrifying, and I knew itwould haunt me long after this horrific night was over. “Why?” she sneered, swinging the knife around with almost detached precision as she started to pace. “Because you’re just the sheltered little girl, the one with absolutelynofucking idea what the hell this family even needs, and yet, he hands the family off to you and yourhusband. Neither of whom has done anything to deserve it.”
Her voice grew angrier, harder. “I’ve given my entirelifeto this family. I’ve done horrible things for the Price name,” she growled at me. “And what haveyoudone? Bitched and moaned about wanting to run away to some fairytale happy ending like the spoiled princess you are. Then, when you finally had the chance—you botched it.”
Each word was accompanied by a jab of the weapon as she stepped forward. With the crazed look in her eyes, I wasn’t sure if she planned on using it against me. I didn’t move or speak so as not to anger her further. Her pacing finally slowed and her eyes flickered down to our father with disdain before focusing on me.
“Though I have to admit, this really is just too perfect.Waybetter than I even planned.” Her angry ranting melted into a sickly-sweet tone. Jackie’s signature smirk appeared, and my adrenaline began pumping harder at the sight of the cunning glint in her deep brown gaze.
Fight or flight. The reflex poured through me, a warning. Did I run, or did I stay? I had no idea how to fight, which looking back, was clearly a mistake. The realization only lent credence to her hate-filled words.
“Better how?” I bit out through clenched teeth. The cold numbness and the fear that had taken hold, transformed into sickening anger. Tears pricked my eyes, but I didn’t swipe at the wet tracks as they started to fall, not wanting to smear myfather’s blood all over my cheek. The thought made the red-hot poker in my chest twist and turn, intensifying the pain.
Jackie strode forward, and in response, I shuffled back. There was nowhere to go, though, not with where I was crouched on the office floor. Kneeling, she chuckled slightly and before I could move, she grabbed hold of my hand and lifted it forcefully. Her nails dug into my skin, holding it open as she shoved the handle of the knife into my waiting palm. No matter how hard I tried to yank my hand back, her grip never loosened, her now free hand forcing my fingers closed over the still-warm handle.
“Father’s precious angel, covered in his blood,” she murmured. “And now holding the murder weapon.” I attempted to shove her back, but she only moved a mere centimeter. “What are you going to do,Angel?Stab me? Just like you did our poor father?” she taunted. “You don’t have the guts to kill. Hell, I don’t think you even have it in you to maim. Pathetic, really.”
Enraged, I swiped the blade towards her, slicing it through the air as soon as she let go of my hand, except she was faster. Jumping up swiftly, she missed getting cut by the serrated edge but only just.
“Hmmm, maybe little Evangeline does have it in her,” she mocked. “Too little, too late however.”
“What the hell does that even mean?” I seethed, shoving off the floor so I could face her fully. The weight of the knife in my hand felt odd but slightly comforting in that moment.
“The family business? It belongs tome, not some hitman, and certainly not my insipid, weak little sister,” she spat.
“Gaven will make sure?—”
“Will make sure what?” she cut me off, scoffing. “I didn’t do anything. You’re the one who held the weapon, dear sister. All I did was find my father’s poor body, not to mention I stopped you from trying to hurt me too.”
Anger and betrayal swirled in my stomach, twisting my chest and heart into knots. I stood, trembling in both my rage and fear. She was going to pin this on me, force me out of her way by getting rid of our father and me all in one night. I knew Jackie never liked me, but I’d never noticed the pure vitriol in her eyes the way I did now.
“Gaven won’t believe you,” I hissed. My nails dug into my palms as I curled my fingers into tight fists, the urge to punch my sister in the face growing with each passing second. To make her pay for what she did to my father. To me.
She snorted. “Do you have any idea of the connections that I have? Forget the evidence. One whisper from me and it’ll be spread far and wide through the criminal underground whatyoudid to our father. I guess now you’ll finally get what you always wanted—a way out. Now that you’ll be taking the fall for murdering the head of the Price Family, you cannevercome back.”
Yes, I’d wanted an out, but not like this. Notthis way. Not with blood coating my palms and my father’s body at my feet.
“Besides,” she started again when I remained silent, “if you don’t take the fall, then I’ll ensure that Gaven does. I mean, that knifeisactually Gaven’s.” She smiled as she let that little tidbit of information sink in. “He’s gotten so comfortable here at the manor, but now that the big wedding is over, I’m sure he’ll notice it’s missing soon. Although I must admit, I had a hell of a time snatching it from him, but thankfully he was quite distracted by you.” Her narrowed gaze roved over me, making her meaning clear. He’d been distracted by me.
Her words sank into my mind. She’d been smart when she planned this. Of course, with Gaven now married into the Price Family, if our father was gone, he would be the head that much faster—with or without an heir. People would believe her. They would fall for this whole charade. She’d set it up well and sheknew it. That was why she’d been so calm earlier when arguing with our father. She knew it’d all be over soon. The thought made my stomach churn.
Gaven was a hitman; killing was what he was good at. It was what he was known for. No doubt, people had tried to persuade my father to choose someone else. It was likely why they’d attempted to stop the wedding in the first place. It didn’t matter that my father had planned to step aside; the moment Gaven Belmonte had become Gaven Price, the only thing standing between him and the entire Price Family Empire was my father. All the pieces fell into place, every well-played move from my sister. Even if I hadn’t meant to be here, I’d fallen right into her trap.
“You saved me the work of sneaking into your room and placing your fingerprints all over the blade,” Jackie said, drawing me out of my thoughts. “I do have to thank you for that.” She tapped her finger to her lips in an exaggerated movement. “Do you think Father’s loyal men would torture Gaven or you first? You are his wife, after all.” A sparkle of triumph filled her gaze, and my face crumbled at the thought.
