Page 116 of Savage Reign

I had always known where Lilliana was. I never told my brothers, though I wouldn’t be surprised if they knew as well. They left her alone because I asked them to.

I let her live for so long, perhaps as a way to punish myself for my own faults in all that happened. To know how much I fucking hated loose ends, but that I had let this one go.

I straightened when I caught sight of her. She looked worse for wear. Her bleach-blonde hair was cut into short, unevenlayers. Her makeup was dark and heavy, and the clothes she wore barely covered anything.

She had this dead look in her eyes that most people get after life had beaten them down multiple times, and they couldn’t find the courage to get back up anymore.

I didn’t know what I had expected to feel seeing her again after so many years had passed, but indifference wasn’t one of them.

But I was feeling that now.

I silently followed her as she entered the shabby apartment building. A light flickered overhead. We both ignored it as she walked to the room at the end of the hall, so unaware of her surroundings.

It wasn’t until I heard the lock unlatch on her door that I stepped in closer to her. I pushed her inside the dark apartment, ignoring her screams. I shut and locked the door behind me, reaching to the side and turning on the light.

She was on the floor, staring up at me with fear in her eyes. “Please. I don’t have any money.”

“I don’t want your money,” I answered gruffly.

She closed her eyes. “Then what d-do you want?”

“I want you to look at me.”

I watched as she slowly opened her eyes and looked at me. What had once been vibrant green eyes were now dull from drug and alcohol abuse and whatever else she might be taking. She looked different, but not. She still had the face that, for so long, had fucking haunted my thoughts, reminding me of all my mistakes.

I waited for recognition to take hold.

It never came.

She looked at me like she would a stranger. Had I had such little impact on her life that she had forgotten all about the shit she’d put my brothers and me through? It was with her helpthat Daniel Hayes had found a weakness in our family home and attacked.

And she’d done it all for what?

To be the fucker’s wife? Never mind that the fucker had been married to Mila’s mom at the time.

For money? For power? It didn’t fucking matter because the end result was still the same. My brothers and I were still forced to leave our family home.

“W-what are you going to do?” she asked. I looked away from her and took in her small, dingy apartment. There was trash everywhere I looked. Her kitchen sink was filled to the brim with dirty dishes, and there were opened containers of takeout food that looked past their expiration dates.

There was an unidentifiable smell coming from somewhere, and as far as I knew, she was alone. I had kept tabs on her periodically and knew she had boyfriends on and off in her life but no kids. Thank fuck for that.

She was fucking miserable.

“Nothing,” I finally responded.

I made a move to turn back around and leave when I felt her hand wrap around my leg. I removed her hand with my own and backed off.

She looked up with bloodshot eyes. “Please.”

I didn’t say anything. Was she begging me to kill her?

“Not worth it,” I said, and though my words were soft, she still flinched, as if they had the power to lash right through her.

I didn’t look at her when I walked out the door. This would be the last time I ever kept tabs on her. Wherever she decided to take her life next, I wouldn’t know about it. And if possible, this would be the last time I’d ever think about her. I refused to let what happened in my past with this woman affect my future with Mila.

My brothers had long forgiven me for all my past mistakes, for my role in our family home getting attacked. It was time I forgave myself as well.

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