Page 163 of Stormhold

“Because it’s evil. This city is evil, everything about it is evil,” he screamed the same words he did that day in the tunnel. “It was my mission to clean it. Mine, but you fucking ruined it.”

“You tried to kill Mother,” I shouted, the vein in my forehead throbbing. “You fucking killed Alessio! You fucking had Timothy Walters fucking shoot you.”

A maniacal laugh escaped his lips. “So what? They were simply a means to an end, and don’t remind me of that fucker who almost ruined all my plans.”

Just then, a movement caught my eye by the doorway.

Father.

“Marcus.” A painful groan slipped past Father’s lips as anguish settled in his eyes at the sight of his favorite son sneaking in the middle of the night to kill his own mother. “It was you all along? I loved you.”

“So fucking what!?” Marcus pointed a furious finger at Father. “I did everything you asked. I was your perfect son; I did everything for you, and you still gave it to him.” He looked like a crazy person.

My jaw flexed as I raised my gun, pointing straight at his head, and I felt zero hesitation.

This man, whoever the fuck he was, wasn’t my brother.

He never was.

His eyes met mine, and he knew it was the end. “You’re not going to kill your own brother, are you?” He backed up, his jaw clenching.

“I am,” I confirmed, but before I could take the shot, a loud pop echoed through the room. And Marcus fell to the floor, a bullet between his eyes.

“It started with me,” Father said, his gaze locked on mine. “Let it end with me.”

CHAPTER 43

ARKANE

I just set foot in my loft later that night, and Bella was already on her feet, padding toward me, wide-eyed in my T-shirt. She looked so beautiful. So mine.

“Ark,” she hushed, pulling me into her arms. “Are you okay?”

I nodded, burying my head in her neck as I held her tight. “Now I am.” Relief surged through my blood as her warmth settled into my bones, and it felt like I was finally back home for good.

“Mikhail told me it was Marcus,” she said softly.

“Mm-hmm.”

“Is he gone?”

“Mm-hmm.”

I felt her sigh. “Was it you…?”

I shook my head. “Father did it.”

“Are you going to be okay? I’m worried,” she mumbled, her hands gliding along my sides.

“I am, actually.” A small smile curved my lips as I took in her concerned eyes. “I knew it was going to be one of them—I just didn’t want it to be my own blood,” I muttered, sighing. “But it was what it was. I’m okay now. It’s finally over.” Something about admitting that out loud felt freeing.

“Okay.” She smiled, leaping on her tiptoes as she pressed a soft kiss to my cheek. But I tilted my chin, capturing her lips instead, and my tongue slipped through her parted mouth, devouring her sweet taste.

My hands glided along her ample curves as I lifted her into my arms and took us to the bedroom.

Soon, we were naked on the bed, and I was filling every inch inside her, looking right into the eyes I loved so much.

How was it possible to love someone this much?