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I had to steady myself. The anger was so thick it was beginning to take over. “Four years ago. She was taken from inside her house when Lucien was dying. Was that you?”
“You have no idea what she was like when you were in France,” she argued.
“Was it you?” I wasn’t going to let her railroad my interrogation.
“Yes. But you know she was fine. She was never harmed.”
My throat tightened. “But not this time. You and Anthony took the plan to the next level. You were going to kill her.” She wouldn’t meet my gaze. “Answer me!” I shouted.
“Yes. Hide her until we could take her out of the city. And then Anthony has resources. I don’t know what they are. Who they are. I don’t know the details. I don’t handle those things. He does that part.”
I exhaled. “What did you help with?”
“I pretended to be drunk. I listened. I eavesdropped on every conversation you had. I knew about Crew and Seraphina. So I asked Anthony if he would add him to the plan just to scare him. Just scare him away from Seraphina. Make sure he left and didn’t come back. He wasn’t supposed to get hurt.”
“Only kill Kennedy.” My jaw was locked in place.
“Your sister was in real danger as long as she was with him. If the Castilles ever find out about the baby, they will take it from her.”
“No, they won’t. I’ve handled all of that.” I glared at my mother with utter venom. “Your plan was vicious and hideous. You killed Crew. Kennedy is the one taking care of Seraphina.” I shook my head. “What were you supposed to get out of this? What did Anthony promise you?”
“That my children would be safe. That I’d have control of my money again. With her and Crew gone, I didn’t have to worry about you and your sister going down the wrong path. And everyone would thank me for taking out the queen.”
I laughed. “Power? Were you asking a politician to give you power? To make you the fucking queen of New Orleans?” I huffed. “As if you could dethrone Kennedy Martin.”
She nibbled on her bottom lip. “He did exactly what I wanted to do. Don’t you think that’s power?”
“To convince a man to commit a crime for sex and money? Doesn’t sound like a big power play, mom,” I hissed. “It sounds pretty common and petty. Not much more sophisticated than what the whores on Bourbon Street do.”
She raised her hand to slap me, but I dodged her open palm.
“I’m still your mother.”
“Genetically, yes. Other than that, you’re no longer in this family.”
“You can’t do that.”
“I swore to Seraphina that justice would be served.”
“You can’t kick me out of the family. You’re upset. But you know how the families operate. We do what we need to do to protect our own.”
I clenched my fists. “I’m doing what I need to do to protect my own. That no longer includes you.”
I got up to leave the room. I would have to deal with Anthony Gardner later. I would not let Crew’s death go unavenged.
“What are you going to do?” There was real fear in her eyes. Panic in her voice.
I paused in the doorway. “You have two days to pack up your things and get out.”
“Knight, don’t do this,” she begged.
“If you weren’t my mother, I wouldn’t give you another second. You should be thanking me.” I walked out of the house, slamming the Corban door behind me. The crest rattled in my wake.
Chapter29
Kennedy
The police dropped the charges against Knight. It was easier than I thought. They had acted on an anonymous tip. Since Knight’s bail hearing, there was no new evidence, and the case was weak already. My admission to our relationship and the closeness we shared with our personal and business lives, cleared him with just my statement. I walked through the doors, expecting to bring him good news. For once in days, there was something to be happy about. A brief ray of light. A sliver of hope. God, we needed some hope. I was shocked with what I received instead.
