I needed space to think and fortify. I needed time to prepare and commit.
Daniel will be the first to die.
Darting from the library, I careened around a corner and slammed to a halt.
My chest rose and fell as I plastered myself against the wall, spying on the scene up ahead.
I remained hidden as Jaz ran fingers under her eyes, swiping away tears.
Only, she wasn’t alone.
A man crouched before her, his hand on her knee, talking quick and low. She nodded, looping her fingers through his. Their heads bowed together; she grabbed the lapel of the man’s Black Diamond jacket.
Her pinched, ghostly face animated with hissed whispers.
They didn’t notice me as Jaz pulled the man closer and spoke into his ear.
I slipped deeper into shadows as the man nodded.
He said something that made her convulse and a fresh wash of tears flow.
Then my heart stopped beating as the man gathered her into a hug.
The man...
It was Flaw.
Chapter Three
Nila
DIARY ENTRY, EMMA Weaver.
I found out what happened to Bryan’s brother today. I don’t think he meant to tell me, but I’ve learned how to manipulate him so occasionally he slips. I wouldn’t normally write that, but tomorrow...it’s all over. I’ve seen where they’ll do it. Bonnie took great pleasure in having me weave the basket that will catch me. I’m beyond thinking about how sick everything is. I tried my best. I pretended to care for Cut. I made him believe I was in love with him. I willingly shared his bed and portrayed the besotted woman around his family. But it was all a lie. You hear that, you evil son of a bitch? If you’re reading this, then good riddance. At least you can’t touch me anymore. You told me things I doubted you would’ve if you knew that every time you touched me, I wanted to slaughter you with my bare hands. You wouldn’t have let me into that frosted heart of yours if you knew that every time you slipped inside me, I gave myself over to the devil, all for him to fulfil one promise.
You won. But one day, you won’t. One day, your sins will catch up with you and it will all be over. My daughter is already twice the woman I am, and she’s still so young. If you go after her, it will be the last thing you ever do. I swear it on every religion, every sanctified God. You will die, Bryan. Mark my words, you will die—
A noise sounded outside my room.
My head wrenched up. My breath came hard and fast. I ached with the pain my mother had transcribed in the Weaver Journal. Somehow, she hadn’t used ink—she’d used her desperation and frustration. Her emotion throbbed from the pages, fisting around my heart. It made me angry, so damn angry that I wasn’t there to save her.
She’d done what I had.
She’d made Cut fall for her—just like I’d gone after Jethro—to control him.
Only, unlike Jethro, Cut hadn’t been so easily broken.
He’d still carried out the Final Debt. He’d killed the woman he was in love with.
And all for what?
The noise came again.
My pulse skyrocketed. With shaking hands, I closed the journal and slid it beneath the covers.
After the lawyers’ visit, I’d headed to the kitchens and stockpiled food. I didn’t know how often I’d be locked in my room in this new world without Jethro.
He’s dead.
