Page 86 of Stormhold

And I was coming for him.

CHAPTER 24

ARKANE

The funeral was a solemn affair, although the sadness was heavy in the air, it was laced with unrestrained anger. Anger toward the enemy, but more so toward me.

I could feel their accusatory gazes on me, almost like a curse. For decades, this family remained strong without loss. It had only been months since I took over, and we had already lost an innocent life. And it didn’t help that my mother’s life hung on by a thin line. And all the so-called wise ones thought it better to point the finger at me.

Maybe they should.

Because I’d never felt more like a failure in my life than I did at this moment. It felt cold. Colder than usual, like I could not feel anything at all except for the soft hand that was holding mine.

Bella hadn’t left my side, even though she was still suffering from a contusion. It wasn’t like I let her go either; for some reason, I couldn’t. And it wasn’t like I just wanted her. I needed her to be by my side. I needed to have her with me all the time. And if that made me a weak man, I simply didn’t care anymore.

My eyes remained fixed on the tiny coffin they lowered into the ground.

He didn’t deserve it at all. He was just a child whose life had been robbed before he could even live it. Even though I avenged his death, a part of me would be haunted for the rest of my life because I couldn’t save him.

The ceremony soon concluded, and everyone started to leave one by one, dropping a single white rose into his grave. My eyes went to my sister, who looked nothing like herself. She was destroyed, and looking at her only brought a fresh wave of guilt. I knew deep down she didn’t blame me, but I couldn’t help but blame myself.

“You go ahead. I have something to take care of,” I muttered to Bella, who flashed me a small smile that did something to my chest. Instead of moving, I lingered, taking in her eyes a second longer before I snapped out of it.

Sidestepping my father, I made my way to Amelia and Santino and the twins, who wouldn’t stop crying at the thought of never seeing their superhero again.

I’d been avoiding my father at all costs. I knew he was close to renouncing my title and giving it to someone worthy in the family. But I hardly cared anymore. With or without the title, I was going to find the White Hand and put an end to him once and for all.

Coming to a stop next to an exhausted Santino, I whispered, “A moment, please.”

He nodded and finally left his wife’s side, who gave me a worried look. But I reassured her by squeezing her shoulder, telling her everything was fine.

“I know it’s a lot for me to ask you in a moment like this, but I need you to take charge of The Little Mermaid,” I told him quietly. “We can’t lose it at times like this, and I don’t trust anyone else.” It wasn’t a request someone would make to a father who had just lost his son. But with Kenny dead and Killian wreaking havoc in the city, and with the White Hand still at large, I couldn’t risk The Little Mermaid.

It served as an entry point to the Twins, and I needed someone I trusted to handle it. It wasn’t going to be an easy task because the men there were faithful to Grayson, but sadly, I couldn’t trust my own fucking brother right now.

I had plans for it, and making Santino in charge was the first move in the game.

Santino thought for a long moment before his solemn eyes met mine, and something akin to determination flickered in them. “I’ll do it,” he said.

“Thank you,” I muttered as a gentle breeze washed over us, rustling the leafless branches.

The funeral took more of an emotional toll than I’d anticipated. It felt like the tie around my neck was almost strangling me by the time I returned home. I had Bella go to the loft while Jon and I headed down to the basement.

“I know you suspect it’s one of us,” Jon said quietly, his eyes on me. “I’m not going to tell you that it’s not me.”

I nodded.

Logically, it shouldn’t be Jon. He was too young to be the White Hand.

Jon and I walked into the room where I kept Grayson.

Something tugged at the sight of his battered and bloodied face, but I hardened my heart. He was the reason Alessio was dead.

“A lot of things make me angry.” Grayson smiled, showing his bloody teeth as his eyes fell upon us. “I should be so fucking angry at my own brother for keeping me caged, but I’m not. I deserve this.” There was remorse in his tone. Guilt. He was fucking guilty. His act ended with Alessio’s death. Good, he should be.

My jaw flexed. “Did you know?”

Grayson shook his head. “All they said was that they’d create a distraction. I didn’t know it would be him.”