Page 8 of Legacy

This was for my family. For my sisters’ future. For my parents’ deaths. For the Vitalis legacy of generations lost. The moment to strike back was here, and I would not entertain the possibility of messing up.

Ozias Xenos had accepted the marriage offer through Vik.

Now, it was time to step into the actual battle and enter the lion’s den—my former home.

A motorcade of a few of our loyal soldiers surrounded our vehicle, giving the impression that I wasn’t left unprotected. However, the majority of our force would remain hidden throughout the city.

The less others knew of the Vitalis women’s strength, the better. It was better to allow all to underestimate us. I wanted them to think we were weak, to believe they had easy targets to attack.

I couldn’t wait to see their reactions when the Vitalis loyalists went to every part of the area to take back everything stolen from them.

“You can do this,” Vik whispered once we exited the car onto the land that had once borne the name Vitalis.

I remained in place for a moment to take in everything and study, noticing all the familiar features and the changes and new additions. It burned a scalding fire on my heart to see my family home inhabited by the enemy, but it hardly resembled the elegant residence I’d once loved. Ozias had ruined it by being here and renovating it with a hideous, modernistic approach full of excess. The history, the old culture, and simplicity seemed faded and barely visible.

It stung just seeing it.

“You can?—”

“I know,” I snapped quietly.

Vik only wanted to encourage me, but it was unnecessary.IknewI could handle this. It would be hard to returnhere, but I damn well would. Seeking the ultimate revenge had been my motivation to live for so long, and I wouldn’t back down or crumble now.

He nodded, smiling a bit at the snark in my reply. He knew me so well that he’d be right to guess I was bitchy because my hesitation irked me. Without another word, he offered me his arm and led me inside.

A servant opened the door and gestured for us to enter. I remained at Vik’s side as we passed through the beautiful foyer, now overstuffed with gaudy ornamentation. Footsteps sounded from the left, and I braced myself for the moment to face my enemy.

I’d seen photos of Ozias Xenos. My father had never let us girls get involved with the family business before his murder, so this was my first face-to-face interaction with the bastard himself.

Turning slowly, keeping my face blank and not scowling, I met the self-satisfied gaze of the man who’d ruined my family. This tall man held his head high, looking down his nose at me with the air of a gentleman he could never be.

“Welcome,” he greeted with the arrogant comfort of being in charge.

I allowed my gaze to bore into his, silently wishing him dead. Staring into the soul of evil itself, without effort, I envisioned all the ways I could take his life.

I loathed his health and vibrancy, something Papa would never enjoy.

That tall bronze statue on that shelf behind the bastardcaught my attention. It looked perfect. I could smash his head with the hard figure. Over and over until the muscles in my arms burned and blood splattered the wall.

Or perhaps I could grab his silky black tie, wrap it around his neck, and then squeeze and pull until his face turned red and he clawed at my grip for air. Holding on tight, I’d strangle him until he dropped limp to the marble floor.

Or the knife nestled at the small of my back. It was a slim, small blade, but I could greedily make do with it, plunging it into his chest with fierce punches until his heart ceased to beat.

Or—

Vik patted the hand still lying over his arm. Then again, harder. He jarred me from my fierce daydreams of death, reminding me to stay in the present as though he knew what I was thinking.

Shit.

I’d allowed my serene guise to slip.

Immediately, I gave a half-hearted, closed-lipped smile as Ozias Xenos welcomed me intohishome.

His.The fuck it is.This place belonged to my family. It wasn’t his to have, nor was it his to claim.

After the expected greetings, Ozias grinned at me and asked Vik, “What about the sisters?” He glanced past us, making it clear that his invitation was an order for my sisters and me to follow.

“They couldn’t make it.” I kept my reply simple and direct.

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