That was another reason why I wanted to be alone with him. I wanted to look him in the eye, drop my defences, and truly strip my father of his secrets so I could understand him for the first time in my life.
And that was why I didn’t know if I’d be able to go ahead with what he deserved. because what if I found his secrets redeemed him? What if I felt something that changed twenty-nine years of believing a lie?
“Jethro...” Nila’s voice dragged me back from thoughts and tiredness. My vision wavered, dancing with figments of hallucinations from lack of sleep and stress overload. The hallucinations weren’t anything major, just the odd flutter of a curtain looking like a blackbird or a ripple of sunshine resembling a bumblebee or butterfly.
Innocuous things but non-existent things nevertheless.
Sleep.
I could sleep soon.
Pinching the bridge of my nose, I inhaled deeply.Keep it together. A few more hours and I’ll be free. We’d all be fucking free, and I could rest safely for the first time since I could remember.
The minute this was over, I would visit my brother. I would tell him things were taken care of and it was safe to come home.
I missed him so fucking much.
Time to return, baby brother.
Time for me to show him I had his back like he’d had mine all my life.
“Kite...I do trust you. But you need to rest.” Nila’s fingers landed on myhand. “Please, whatever you’re thinking of doing, it’s already eating you alive.” Pointing at Cut imprisoned in Kill’s arms, she murmured, “You’ve won. The Debt Inheritance is over. Let the authorities deal with him.”
I chuckled darkly. “Authorities? Nila, weownthe authorities. No one would dare testify or incarcerate him. If you want justice, this is the only way.” Cupping her chin, I smeared a strand of cotton from the hood away from her skin. “Trust me when I say this is what needs to happen. Don’t try to stop me again.”
Nila dropped her gaze. Her heart raced, her emotions bubbling like the hot springs beneath the Hall, but she obeyed me. She stepped back, giving me the freedom to leave.
I sighed, thanking her silently.
Cut didn’t say a word—not that he could. The minute he’d submitted to my custody, I’d returned the favour of a reeking rancid gag and duct-taped his mouth closed. His nostrils flared, white hair cascading over his forehead in a tumbled mess.
Daniel was dead. Bonnie would be soon. Cut would be the next to expire.
Nila stepped back as Jasmine wheeled closer to me and grabbed my hand. “I won’t try to stop you, but don’t feel like you have to—”
“Don’t you start, Jaz.”
“I’m only worried about what—”
I laughed coldly. “What it will do to me? Jaz, you know yourself what will happen if Idon’tdo this. I’ll never forgive myself. He’s delivered enough agony to those we love. Don’t you think it’s time he felt his own medicine?”
Kill didn’t say a word, gripping my father tighter in his arms.
Nila bit her lip, looking down at Jasmine, waiting for her reply.
Jaz sat stiffly in her chair. I let my condition fan stronger, singling her out in the crowd. She felt the same fear Nila did. Fear that I’d never be the same if I did this. Fear that it would forever haunt me.
That might be the case, but I owed this debt. To the miners who’d helped free me. To Kill who’d had my back. To Textile for the death of his wife. To everyone involved in the Debt Inheritance.
I wasn’t doing this for me. I was doing this forthem. And it was a sacrifice I was willing to make.
Jaz smiled softly as my eyes met hers. Her emotions quieted, fading into one singular calling: closure.
I nodded, letting her know I understood her conclusion. “Thank you.”
She smoothed the blanket over her useless legs. Legs that’d been payment for me. Disability given by our father who would now answer for his crimes.
Tonight was the night everything ended.
