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I reach the cage door, my hand trembling as I unlock it. The maid, the one who made my life a living hell, lies at my feet. I step over her, my focus solely on my mother. Bending down, I try to reach for her, but the stench overwhelms me. I turn away, clutching the bars as I wretch, my stomach clenching painfully.
When the vomiting finally stops, I take a deep breath, forcing myself to hold it. I grab my mother's arms and drag her from the cage. Her face, her body—she's unrecognizable. I pull her out to the middle of the floor, my hands shaking. Gently, I arrange her arms across her chest, just like they did for my brother in his coffin. The memory pierces through me, the pain of losing both my brothers tearing me apart.
A scream builds inside me, raw and primal, and I let it out. I'm crying, howling, the agony consuming me. Nothing can fix this. Nothing.
The smell of smoke reaches my nose, snapping me back to the present. I’m running out of time. I look down at my mother, my vision blurred with tears.
"I'll see you again in the next life," I whisper, my voice breaking.
I turn and leave the basement, the weight of loss and desperation heavy on my shoulders.
I take slow, deliberate steps out of the building. Each step feels like a weight lifting off my shoulders. The windows are starting to glow, the fire spreading rapidly between the rooms, engulfing everything in its path. My mother's body burns in that mess, burning, disintegrating, wiping out the past.
Makeup ruined, dress askew, I stand outside and watch the fire consume the building. Flames lick the night sky, the heat intense against my skin. The women and girls—now as free as me—gather around. Their faces are a mix of fear and wonder, their eyes reflecting the dancing flames. The night is cold, but this fire, this destructive, purifying fire, is the warmest, most comforting thing we've ever felt.
We stand there, a silent circle of witnesses to our own liberation. The brothel, the symbol of our suffering, burns down, and with it, the ghosts of our pasts. For the first time in a long time, there is a glimmer of hope.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Diarmuid
WATCHING NIAMH IS terrifying. She’s surrounded by the best people possible, but that does little to calm my nerves. As we dock, a helicopter waits, ready to airlift her to my home, where a team of doctors will be standing by. I want to return with her and Selene, but Victor has requested that I follow him back to St. Gertrude’s Church. I know I should leave immediately, but I can’t tear myself away until both women are safely on the helicopter.
The crowd watches as Niamh is carried, wrapped in foil and blankets. Her lips are an alarming shade of blue, and her skin looks deathly pale. Selene has been crying, but now she stands strong, clutching Niamh’s hand.
“I’ll get back as soon as I can,” I promise Selene. Her wild eyes and trembling hands make my stomach churn.
“You need to see a doctor, too. Where are you going?” she asks, but it’s a question I can’t answer.
“I’m fine,” I reassure her. “Don’t leave her side.” I make Selene promise.
I press a kiss to Niamh’s forehead and another to Selene’s lips before stepping out of the helicopter and signaling for it to take off. The rotor blades churn the air into frantic bursts, and everyone watching clutches their hats and pearls as loose debris and dust swirl around like an angry god’s fury.
Slipping out my phone, I make a call to my security team.
"Double the security. Don't let the girls out of your sight," I say firmly into the phone.
"On it," comes the swift reply before I hang up.
With a dip of my head, I slide into the idling limo. As soon as I settle into the back seat, I let my head sink against the headrest, trying to assess the damage to my body. My hands are a bloody mess; my left hand has some flesh missing and won’t stop bleeding. My face aches, but it's nothing compared to the ache in my heart when I saw Niamh going overboard. At least she’s safe now.
The limo pulls away smoothly, but my mind is anything but calm. I can’t help but wonder how safe I am. This whole ordeal has shaken me to the core. My thoughts drift back to the moment Niamh fell, and a shiver runs down my spine. I close my eyes, taking a deep breath, trying to push the haunting images away.
My body feels heavy; the exhaustion from the past hours is catching up with me. I flex my hands, wincing at the pain. Blood oozes from the torn skin, and I know I need medical attention, but that can wait. For now, I need to get to St. Gertrude’s and find out what Victor wants.
Niamh’s pale face and Selene’s tear-streaked cheeks flash before me. The responsibility of their safety weighs heavily on my shoulders. I can’t afford to let my guard down, not now. The thought of them in danger is unbearable.
As the city blurs past the tinted windows, I focus on my breathing, trying to calm my racing heart. How did we get here? And, more importantly, how do I ensure we never end up in this situation again?
Wolf is dead, and that gives me some relief. He can't hurt anyone I love again. The thought brings a bitter sense of solace. But then, my mind drifts to Amira and her damaged face. In the frantic departure from the ship, I hadn’t seen her. I know she picked Wolf, but she’s still my responsibility. If I survive this meeting with Victor, I will search for her.
I stare out the window, the cityscape flashing by in a blur of lights and shadows. Wolf's demise should feel like a victory, but it’s hollow. The scars he left, both physical and emotional, run deep. I clench my fists, ignoring the pain, and think of Amira. Her betrayal stings, but it doesn’t diminish my sense of duty towards her.
“Driver, how far to St. Gertrude’s?” I ask, my voice sounding weary even to my own ears.
“About ten minutes, sir,” comes the reply.
Ten minutes. Just enough time to gather my thoughts and brace myself for whatever Victor has in store. My hands throb with every heartbeat, a reminder of the violence that seems to shadow my steps. I reach for a first-aid kit stashed under the seat, managing to wrap my left hand in gauze. It’s a temporary fix, but it’ll have to do for now.
