Page 144 of Goldsin

“Maybe so.” She casually lifts a shoulder, her short hair bouncing with the movement. “But I’m a monster who gets what she wants.” She takes another step closer to me and sticks her nose in the air. “It’s your turn now. You are the last part of my plan. I need you gone. I can’t have you threatening his position.” At my confusion, she adds, “Ah, you still don’t know who your father is.”

I lose it.

She thinks I give a shit about my father? I know he must be a member of the Inferno Consortium, but she must have lost it if she thinks I’d ever want to take the position of leader. I don’t want to know who my father is. I don’t want to know who the asshole who raped my mother is.

A hysterical laugh bubbles out of my mouth as tears finally roll down my cheeks. “My turn?” I shout. “I’m the one holding the gun, or have you forgotten?” My voice grows louder with each word.

She finally eyes the weapon in my hands. “Yes. The gun. So powerful, so deadly.” She takes a step forward.

“Stay back!”

She takes another step, ignoring my warning. “And yet sometimes the person not holding the gun is the one with all the power.”

I aim the gun an inch away from her face and fire.

The noise rings in my ears as the bullet slams into the wall behind her.

Lady Harrow smiles. “I told you.”

She glances over my shoulder before her face suddenly changes. “Julian!” she cries out. The purest form of fear stretches her features.

In an instant she’s staggering into his strong arms as he appears in the doorway.

“Julian,” I breathe, and I turn to see him standing there, his chest rising and falling as he breathes heavily, as if he just ran here.

He looks at me with confusion, eyes narrowing as he takes in the gun I’m pointing at them—at Lady Harrow. Then his body tenses, wrapping around his mother in comfort and a hint of protection.

“Stay back!” I try to warn him. “She’s dangerous.” My voice cracks under the weight of the situation. The heaviness from before is lifted from my shoulders at knowing he’s here to help.

“Is that so?” he says.

His mother sobs into his chest, her body trembling like a leaf as she clings to him like a lifeline.

“It’s all an act!”

His eyes fall to the spot behind me. Adrian.

The cold steel of the gun bites at my skin. Its presence is heavy as he glances back at it.

Before I can find the words to explain the absurdity of the situation, Lady Harrow’s voice fills the dense atmosphere of the room, panting as she paints a story of tragedy. Of lies.

“I was resting in bed, with Adrian keeping me company, when Aurelia just ... walked in and ... shot him!” She breaks into sobs again, tears streaming down her face as she clings to his shirt.

“Julian, that’s not true!” I feel panic rising in my chest. “Please, Julian, listen to me!” I stammer, struggling to find my footing in the lies she just spilled. “She killed Adrian. And Lucian. She planned all of this!” I yell, feeling myself going mad.

He needs to believe me. He needs to believe the truth.

“Put the gun down, Aurelia.” His voice is low, almost threatening. “You’re only making things worse for yourself.” He moves his hand behind his jeans. To the gun he probably has hooked there.

No.

“Adrian sent me a message to meet here, but when I arrived he was already dying. She’s lying! She killed your brother!” I’m panting, tears burning my eyes, my skin, as they slide down. “I can show you the texts! I left my phone at home, but I?—”

“How convenient,” Lady Harrow drawls.

He doesn’t say a word. His eyes are the blankest they’ve ever been as they take me in.

“Julian, I swear,” I whisper, eyebrows pulling in at the middle as I slowly realize. As I see his resolve. “Ididn’t kill Adrian.” Desperation fills my voice. “You have to believe me.”

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