Page 56 of Kael

Before we could react, the front door was kicked in.

Wood splintered. The sound cracked through the silence like a gunshot.

Miyori screamed. Maya gasped. Zia grabbed her phone and exited quickly—I don’t think anyone noticed. Indigo was on her feet in a second, knife in hand.

I moved before I could think. My pink gun was up, aimed at the shadow in the doorway. It was flanked by at least ten other shadows.

"Who the fuck are you?" I snarled.

The smoke cleared.

A woman stood in the shattered doorway—tall with dark hair, sharp cheekbones, and cold eyes. She was dressed in black, covered in soot and blood, looking like she'd walked through hell to get here.

Maya's voice came out thin and shocked. "Priest's supposed-to-be-dead wife."

The woman smiled. It wasn't warm; it looked manic.

"Lilith Genovese. That's who I was. That's who I still am," she said.

Then she laughed, and I felt as if the Grim Reaper had entered the room.

Chapter 34

Bria

The woman walked in like she owned the place.

Behind her, men flooded through the shattered doorway—black tactical gear, automatic weapons, faces covered. They fanned out fast, surrounding every woman in the room, barrels already leveled.

"Drop your weapons," she said, her voice light, almost playful.

Nobody moved.

Lilith—Priest's supposed-to-be-dead wife—tilted her head and snapped her fingers twice. The sound cracked like a bone. "I said drop them. Now."

Indigo's knife hit the marble. Zia's weapon followed. I held my pink gun half a second longer until Maya's fingers dug into my arm hard enough to bruise. I let it go.

"There," Lilith cooed, smiling too wide. "Good little bitches."

She walked through the room slowly, heels clicking, eyes jumping from face to face like she was counting toys. No recognition at first—just restless, too-bright eyes.

Then she stopped in front of Miyori.

"You," she said softly. The word came out almost fond. Then her face twisted.

The first slap split Miyori's lip open. Blood hit the floor in a bright arc. The second blow landed across the same cheek,harder. The crack of bone was loud in the quiet. Miyori's head snapped sideways. A thin line of blood ran from her nose.

Rage exploded out of Maya as she lunged forward.

I moved with her, adrenaline surging, terror instantly giving way to pure instinct. If she fought, I fought.

A gun barrel jammed against Maya's temple before either of us reached Miyori.

"Don't," the man said.

Maya froze, breathing hard.

Lilith laughed—a high, broken, delighted sound—and hit Miyori again, using her knuckles this time. The impact split the skin over Miyori's cheekbone. Blood poured down her jaw, dripping onto the front of her dress. She kept swinging short, vicious blows, each one landing with the frantic energy of someone who had waited too long and no longer knew how to stop themselves.