Page 116 of Speak No Claim

For the first time in my life, I shut my eyes, finding some faith somewhere deep inside me, silently praying he wouldn’t kill me.

Not because I was scared of death, but because I wanted to live for her.

When all of a sudden, my father's panicked voice filled the seedy air, declaring, “I’ll sacrifice myself for the sins of my son!”

My eyes shot open as if the council had actually shot me.

“Have mercy on my boy and kill me instead!”

I didn’t just sit up. I abruptly stood, blown away by what just happened. The members let go of me, and I ran straight to Hennessy, holding her up into my arms before she passed the fuck out. I cradled her, leaning her head against my chest, trying to get her to come back to me.

It was only then that her uncle came out of nowhere, rushing into the woods where we were. In one second, he glanced around, then ran to Hennessy.

“Give her to me!” He reached for her.

“Fuck you!” I snapped, holding her closer to me. “You’re the reason we’re in this fucked-up bullshit in the first place! You couldn’t leave well enough alone, could you? Now look.” I gestured to her as she came to.

“Onyx, please stop…” she weakly bellowed, trying to get out of my embrace.

I growled, keeping her in place.

We were all at a standstill. The council was even in shock. It felt as if years flew by us in a matter of seconds.

“Oh my God…” Hennessy spoke out, breaking the deafening silence.

I looked down at her. It was only then that I realized what she figured out on her own.

For some reason, I thought back on my prayer when she finally understood the truth without anyone having to utter another word to her.

We locked eyes. Hers were filled with so much agony it was hard to see and experience it with her, but I was thankful someone did. Pain like that needed to be shared. You couldn’t carry it alone. It was as if she reached into my chest and yanked out my heart.

It was now beating in the palm of her hand.

Then she ripped it apart, the moment she realized, “Deja is my father’s daughter, isn’t she?”

I didn’t have to confirm. You could see it written all over my face.

Hennessy

“Isn’t she?” I insisted, needing to hear him say it.

No one spoke until my uncle's pleading gaze landed on the council, who hadn’t stopped looking at Mr. Devereaux. I think they were in as much shock as we were that he just sacrificed himself for his only son.

It was the last thing I ever expected, proving where his loyalty lay, despite his blood oath to his sacred Brotherhood. I knew how much this meant to Onyx, and with the expression on his face, he was dying inside.

Tío didn’t surrender, adding, “She already knows the truth. Don’t you think this has gone on long enough? How many more lives need to die before⁠—”

“As many as we need!” one of the council members yelled.

My gaze fell upon Onyx again. I pushed against him, needing to stand. To my surprise, he let me. Finding my balance, I faced the council.

I stood tall, proud, and with conviction. Not thinking twice about it, I stated, “What if I pledge my oath to the Brotherhood?”

Onyx didn’t just fall back. He stumbled from the impact of my vow. “Hennessy, don’t you fucking dare!”

I whipped around. “Haven’t you been paying attention? I do whatever the fuck I want.” With that, I turned back, facing them once again.

I was tired of all the death, of all of the secrets… it was obvious what happened to Mrs. Devereaux and my father now. I didn’t have to be told to know that they sacrificed themselves for their children, or maybe they were tortured and murdered for their affair.