Page 136 of Silk and Sirens

“So you know how I’ve been slowly taking out your allies?” I said calmly. “How I’ve been weakening the hierarchy by killing strategically. Subtly.”

Her eyes snapped to mine, nails digging into my skin.

“How most of the people you think you’ve infiltrated have already suffered extensive damage, more so because I put my moles inside. People loyal to me.”

“Enough of this, otherwise I’ll have Renley⁠—”

“Renley’s gone.” I caught her wrist, yanking her hand away from my face. “And right now, everything you own is going up in smoke. It’s over, Selene. I’m done.”

Her brows pulled together for a fraction of a second before her upper lip curled into a cruel, satisfied smile. “You really believe that?”

She gestured with her chin towards the railing, silently urging me closer. But I didn’t take the step forward. Didn’t take the bait.

“That’s enough,” I said, my voice sharper now. “All these years you used me. Hurt me. Held my sisters’ lives over me like a choke collar.”

Something hard dug into my back, forcing me to stumble a step.

“Finished?” she asked, strolling towards the edge with infuriating composure. She glanced down over the side as if admiring the view. “It’s a gift, child. You really should come appreciate it.”

The gun at my back kept pushing, forcing me forward so I could follow her gaze. I did and froze, because far below was a dark, broken shape crushed against the jagged rocks.

Tristan.

My father.

He was a mangled heap, his suit shredded, eyes pale in death. His mouth hung open in a silent scream, revealing the gruesome absence of his tongue. But for some reason, I felt nothing. Tristan was a man who’d failed me so completely that even his death left no mark. Or maybe I was just beyond saving.

“Cute, really,” Selene whispered as she circled me like a shark. “Your father actually came to me offering his life for yours.” She let out a soft, mocking chuckle. “I’d say he loved you … but he was the one who knew you’d become my favourite little whore and did nothing to stop it. Although, he did try once before. But not for you.”

My eyes burned when I turned to face her fucking smirk.

“He came to negotiate for Mira’s freedom.” She reached out and tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear, the gesture almost tender. “I can’t tell you how satisfying it was to have the great Tristan Murdock come to me. Do you know what I did?”

At my silence, her fingers reached down to grip my chin, nails digging in.

Her voice, when it came, was so soft it was barely heard above the wind, the sea and the incoming storm. “I had her killed.”

My breath rushed out of me in a sharp, painful gasp. My hands trembling as Selene continued to hold me, her thumb stroking over my chin with twisted affection.

“And do you know what?” she continued, venom curling through every word. “She begged for her life. Just like the pathetic little doll she was. She died knowing her father didn’t try hard enough and her sister had left her behind.”

“You’re going to run,” Mira mouthed, the tears in her eyes making them seem bigger.

The man holding me had his hand shoved beneath my skirt, rough fingers digging into my thigh as I sobbed and twisted, trying desperately to make him stop. “Mira …”

“Look at me,” she continued, our gazes locked. “You’re going to run, and you’re not going to look back.”

I glanced up at the man whose lap I was trapped on, his smirk making my stomach lurch with terror. Even now, bile burned up my throat, threatening to spill. But if I vomited, he might hit me again.

“Will you come?” I mouthed back, my cries making it hard to breathe.

She nodded, but it was jerky, forced. I didn’t trust it.

“Promise,” I whispered, the hand on my inner thigh gripping hard enough to bruise.

Her lips trembled, her tears finally spilling over. “Promise.”

I nodded, my chest rising and falling in rapid, panicked bursts.