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He blinks but doesn’t say anything, letting me finish.
“Santos was passed out. I hit him with the butt of the gun to make sure he stayed that way and tied him up. I needed to make sure my sister was there before I got rid of him. I smelled the blood first. That distinctive metallic smell that I knew too well. She was on the bed facing away from me. She was so still. To anyone else, she could have been sleeping.”
“He hurt her,” Calix says softly.
“She hurt herself. Took a razor blade and slashed her arms.” It’s why finding Lollie the way I did affected me so badly. It was like history repeating itself.
“She was still alive. She hadn’t cut deep enough. I rolled her over and tried to stop the flow of blood as she told me all that she’d gone through. She begged me to let her die. That I owed her that much. I stared down at her, saw the angry brand Santos had put on her, and I knew she was right. She would never be free. I kissed her goodnight just like when we were little, and she closed her eyes, then I shot her.”
Vomit stirs in my stomach, but I push on. “When I stumbled back out to Santos, I beat the shit out of him. I took all my anger and let it fuel me, not caring that he was already unconscious. When I had enough, I shot him, only to find I was out of bullets. Everything that came next is what I told you. I called Andrew and struck my deal.”
“The brand you have wasn’t from Santos?”
I shake my head. “Andrew had a tattoo artist do it for me before he killed him to keep his silence. He wasn’t strong enough to go up against Santos without help, and I handed him over on a silver platter, so he did what he could to set me free.”
“I don’t understand why you pretended to be Sophia.” Rémy sounds confused, but Calix looks at me with knowing eyes.
“You knew, didn’t you?”
“Knew what?” Maxim asks, looking between us.
“That if by some miracle Santos survived, that tattoo would be the only thing that might save her.”
“Selene was expendable. But Sophia, God, he was obsessed with her. Besides, it helped me when it came to the families. They think I’m Sophia, the rightful heir. Selene was just a traitor.”
“No, you’re fucking not.”
I shrug. “It doesn’t matter now. I did what I had to do. In a weird way, Sophia got to live a life through me. The brand ensures I carry her with me, and I never forget to lead with my head, not my heart. That’s why you guys scared me so much.”
“We’re not going to betray you, Sugar.”
“I know. I trust you.”
“Why take over as the head of families, though? Why put yourself through that? It’s like swimming through shark-infested waters with a slit throat,” Calix asks.
“I thought that was obvious. She’s protecting you.” Rémy laughs.
“What?” Calix looks at me with wide eyes. “Sugar, no.”
“It’s okay. Really, it is. I can make a difference, and this way, you can get some peace, and Zale will be safe. Nobody needs to know he’s an heir. I want him to grow up surrounded by love, not vipers. He deserves that.”
“And what about what you deserve, Sugar? Fuck.” He stands but sways.
Maxim jumps up and catches him before he falls. “Do I have to remind you that you were shot in the fucking head just over two weeks ago?”
“Let’s get them both home. We can figure everything else out later. You got him?” Rémy asks Maxim as he scoops me up.
“Yeah, I’ve got him. Let’s get out of here.”
I look over Rémy’s shoulder at the place where Santos’s home used to be. I watch with a smirk as Calix shrugs Maxim off, only to open his pants, pull out his cock, and piss on the ground of my once-prison. It’s a fitting end and brings a smile to my face before I bury my head under Rémy’s chin and let him carry me home.
EPILOGUE
FOUR MONTHS LATER
Iuncross my legs and stand, walking toward Calisa, who holds out the file for me. I scan over it before looking up at the heads of each family I have gathered in our new meeting place.
“We’re sure this is the last of them?”
