“Then the warehouse explosion,” Zeke butts in. “But that didn’t work, so they had to improvise, and that’s why Hugo took her…” He nudges his head towards his sister. “He wanted Damien to disperse the drugs and boost Avery’s voting odds.That would’ve tarnished D’s reputation—we never would’ve been able to get that drug under control if that had happened.”
“Satori would’ve looked like the savior.” Kade’s tone is disgusted.
“Okay, but even after all of that? I mean, Alex makes a good point,” my wife adds.
“DeLuca…” I choke. “She was obsessed with my dad because of what he did to them… She wanted our family to pay. She wanted me, and it got me out of the way… That would’ve killed two birds with one stone.”
DeLuca’s use of that analogy plays through my head, making me shiver.
“Okay, well that worked. Theyhadyou. What the hell was Satori expecting?” Alex stands up angrily.
“Well, that answers something else. There’s one thing Satori didn't account for…” Kade points to Ashia. “Her.”
My breath stalls. The heat that’s been building under my skin rushes to my heart, beating so fiercely that it seizes.
“What do you mean?” she asks.
“He’s a misogynistic asshole. He didn’t think you’d actually run DH, but the men highly respect you. So, when you proved that you could handle operating the organization, it fucked up Satori’s plans. He knew there was no way they would take you out of it or side with him instead.”
“Thatdoesexplain the bomb in your car,” Zeke points out, and I snap.
“Wait, just fucking stop!” I try to catch my breath, but each inhale burns more than the last. “So, what you’re saying is that Satori fucking Macher is the one that messed with our security…from the beginning? He’s the one that’s watched oureverymove?” I’m shaking so erratically that I can feel my bones jitter. Mania is coursing through my veins, sending electricity to every limb. “He let that piece of shit in to poison my wife…He told Hugo who our moles were? He set up that fucking trap?” My mouth trembles in rage, chattering my teeth in an overstimulating sensation. “He told Hugo how to kidnap my wife?”
I explode without another thought. My movements aren’t my own, and the darkness comes back in an instant. Before I realize what’s happening, I’m across the room and in front of Kade, gripping his throat in my grasp. He isn’t little anymore. I lift him with one hand and push him against the picture windows, pressing my gun into his temple so harshly that it will probably bruise. He must be at least six inches off the floor, because I’m now eye-level with him and practically spitting in his face.
“He’s been a part of everything?!”
“I didn’t know, D!” He chokes out, gasping for air like a desperate fish. “I swear to God! I didn’t know! I knew Satori was unstable after the attack, but nothing like this! I swear!” He coughs, and the skin bobbing under my grasp spurs me on. I tighten my grip, absorbing his pulse and allowing it to feed my own. His nails start to claw at my skin, scratching my arms deeply, but I barely feel it.
He can say he didn’t know all he wants, but there had to have beensomeidea. Kade has worked for Satori for years, practically been his lapdog. He rejected working for me to stay withhim, and now look at what’s happened…
Ilet them in.Igave them a place here.
Rage locks my grip, and I barely notice how red Kade’s face turns through my crimson haze. Muffled screams ghost over my ears, but I can only hear my heart hammering. My mind turns dark and clouded, returning to a hole I thought I had closed. Whispers hiss between each heartbeat, sneaking their way back in.
Traitor…
Chapter 25
Ashia
“Damien!” He moves at lightning speed, making it over to Kade before I can even gasp. Carter and Alex bolt up and dive in to try and pull him off, and while I want to jump in, too…I’m stuck. Damien isn’t himself right now, and while my head screams to help him, something in my chest warns me to stay back. The guys try their best to yank Damien away, but it’s like he’s set in stone. He’s completely unmoving, utilizing his God-like strength to keep his target in his grasp. I look over to my brother, desperate for him to help, but he just sinks into the chair, lacing his fingers behind his head like this isn’t a huge deal.
I gawk at him in disbelief.
He finally looks up from the floor to meet my panicked eyes, yet he’s as relaxed as ever.
“I say let him die.” He shrugs.
“Zeke! Do something!” I beg, knowing that if Damien were to kill Kade, there would always be another ghost following him.
He rolls his eyes and stands, continuing to act like this is any normal Sunday morning. I look over at Damien again before snapping back to Zeke, and the adrenaline starting to course through me makes my knees weak. Like the fear in my eyes kicks him into gear, he runs up behind Damien like a mad man and leaps, wrapping his arms around his torso and neck. I cover my mouth to keep myself from screaming, but I can’t tell how affective it is past all of the commotion and loud noises.
“Come on, D! We need fucking proof!” my brother yells.
“We have proof…” I barely hear Damien seethe, sounding more like a demon than a man. The temperature in the room plummets, causing bumps to rise over my skin.
Kade’s arms fall limp, and that’s when Zeke acts out of pure desperation. He rears his head back, only to drive it forward into Damien’s, causing a loud thump to burst through the chaos. I yelp, unable to help myself as they all fall to the ground. Kade lands harshly, gasping for breath and clawing at his neck. He’s looking around the room with blank eyes as he tries to crawl away from my husband, looking at him like a monster…
