Page 56 of The Vicious Defender

"Whose game?" I demand, shaking him by the shoulders to wake him up from this hazed trance he's in.

"Xander's," he mutters. "It was always his game."

"Stop rambling, you lunatic," I growl.

"It's the truth. He's been playing us all. He's the real king, Tallulah. He was born for it. But his crown is stained with blood. Just like his hands. He'll kill us all if he has to."

"He wouldn't," I argue.

"He would. If he could get away with it. Which he can." Dad groans, pacing the hallway. "We're all fucking doomed now."

"No, we're not," I say resolutely.

"How can you say that?" Dad growls. "I can't put my faith in Xavier, he's stabbed me in the back too many times."

"Then don't," I hiss, raising my head proudly. "Put your faith in me."

"What?" Dad looks up. "Are you mad?"

"Probably," I shrug. "But I can't lose hope. Not yet. We need a plan. We have to save Xavier."

"No," Dad snaps.

"I'm doing this with or without you, Dad," I hiss.

"Tallulah, don't be foolish," he snaps. "Xavier is a lost cause. Even if he gets back alive, and that's a big fucking if, there's no coming back from what he did."

"What's that?" I hiss.

"He took Xander's... life," he mutters.

"Xander's still alive and well, from what I know."

"You don't get it," Dad growls. "You don't get it at all."

"Then fucking explain," I snap.

"I can't. You wouldn't understand. All I can tell you is... Xander won't stop tormenting any of us until his brother is dead. Xavier is his target. That's a fact. Nothing can change his mind."

"Well," I whisper. "We'll have to try."

"Why?" he asks bitterly.

"For our family."

Dad laughs, a sad little sound. "What family?"

I take his hand and fight the urge to dig my nails into his skin. "You. Mom. Mathilda. Me."

"Tallulah, stop. It's too late." He shakes his head. "I'm sorry, mija, but it really is too late."

"Not until I'm dead," I say. "Even if it means I have to kill Xander myself."

Chapter Twelve

XAVIER

I'm lying in apool of my own blood, but that's not the worst part. The worst part is, it's not even the first time.

Source: www.allfreenovel.com