Page 46 of The Brat: Prequel

Watched her do it? Do what?

I frown at the wall and carefully scoot closer to the door so I don’t miss a word.

“If I hadn’t killed Papa, then none of this would be happening!”

My eyes widen at the confession.

Camille killed Papa?!

She told me Svetlana did it!

“He manipulated you,” Inessa bites off. “He shouldn’t⁠—”

“He’s the reason I got out of that place alive,” Camille corrects. “I can hate him for what he asked of me, Nessa, and yet, he killed Svetlana because she was a threat—” Every feminist bone in my being shudders at that revelation. But while Svetlana deserved better than to be murdered, the moment she said ‘I do’ to my father, her end was close. “—then made sure that no blame could be laid at my door.

“He could have gone back on his word. Could have used it as a pressure point to get in with the O’Donnellys, but he didn’t. If anything, he’s worked hard to be their ally.

“Victoria’s the reason for that.” She sucks in a shuddery breath. “By that point, I’d already forced Brennan to agree to marry me so I could escape Abramovicz’s clutches and I ran here.” I gape at the wall. She forced Brennan to marry her? What the actual fuck?! “But that only happened because Maxim facilitated my escape.

“I-I’m so ashamed, Inessa. I sold Victoria out. How could I do that?!”

That he commodified me and backed her into a corner is something to get mad about at a later date. But I’m no fool. I know what and who Maxim is. He’s an opportunist. Maybe I recognized that in him from the very beginning.

Birds of a feather flock together, after all.

Unable to stay hidden any longer when I need answers, I stomp into the living room. “You killed Father?”

“Vicky!” Inessa cries, jerking to her feet then hovering before plunking back down again. “What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be going to mine today!”

“I left some books here.” I disregard her to focus on Camille, who’s as pale as the cream sofa she’s sitting on. The tremor in her hands, the way she’s clinging to herself…

Man, I haven’t seen her like this in a long time.

Before Brennan.

“Da. I killed him. I’m sorry, Victoria. So sorry. I didn’t mean… He threatened… He wouldn’t let… I couldn’t marry Abramovicz and I’d arranged to… He was going to make you marry him. That’s why Abramovicz took— And…”

Each sentence is split up by sobs that wrack her shoulders, that seem to be purged from her very soul. Man, if Brennan sees her like this and blames me, I’m an actual goner.

This whole thing is a mess. I thought I knew the truth. That Svetlana was Father’s murderer, and when Karine told me it was common knowledge in the Bratva that Maxim killed him, I figured he’d lied and taken the credit.

Now, Camille did it?

Jesus. This is turning into an Agatha Christie novel!

Inessa leaps up to wrap an arm around our oldest sister’s shoulders but, as much as it hurts me to see her like that, I ask, “So you arranged for me to be Maxim’s instead?”

She shudders. “I’m so sorry, Vicky. I’m so, so, so sorry.”

Rather than accept her apology, I flop onto the sofa opposite hers. “Do you know what pisses me off the most?” At her flinch, Inessa glares at me. Ignoring her, I continue, “That you didn’t tell me then. That you didn’t tell me in all the years since. And the only reason I found out today is because I’m sneaky.

“I shouldn’t need to sneak around to find out the truth about my future, Camille. You should have told me⁠—”

“How could I tell you that I’d brought that man into your life?”

I scoff. “That man. The man I want?”

“You don’t mean that.”