“Xavier, this is what happens when you disobey. Your mother is already gone. Why not just take the hush money and live a good life with me? Why must you fight me?”
——
I watched the video in horror, my father lying on the ground, writhing in pain, blood pouring from his mouth. The phone slipped from my trembling hands as I collapsed in shock.
I had given her a kidney. I had risked my life for her. And in return, she had destroyed my entire family.
There was no time to grieve. I scrambled to my feet, shaking uncontrollably. I shoved away the officer trying to help me and stumbled out of the station.
I still had the evidence that could expose Alaric Dreadmoor. I was so close to making him pay. But I couldn’t risk it, not with Selene Duskmoor. She would do anything to protect him. Anything.
I rushed home as fast as I could.
There was Selene, sitting in my living room, sipping wine like nothing had happened.
I stormed in and knocked the glass from her hand.
“Selene, what did you do to my father?!”
“You monster! You covered for a killer and tried to wipe out my entire family!”
I slapped her. I couldn’t control the rage. But she caught my hand and shoved me back onto the couch.