Page 83 of Broken Truths

I get so far as to knock the cigarette out of his hand, but Keegan’s hand wraps around my hips, tugging me back. If I wasn’t wearing such a cumbersome dress or these stupid fucking heels, I could’ve had him. I could’ve—

“I want to know why,” Keegan whispers in my ear, setting me on my feet.

My heart thumps in my chest. Half of it is victory, the other is just a heartbroken mess.

Leon licks his lips. “You should’ve heard what people were willing to give up for a taste of that virgin pussy. Their wives. Whole businesses. I wouldn’t even give up my dog for you.”

“Watch your fucking mouth,” Leo spits.

Leon smirks. “You young shits. I was fighting dirtier than you when you were just forgotten jizz on your daddy’s sheets.” He peeks over at Devon. “Isn’t that right?”

I follow his stare while Alaric snaps back at the piece of garbage Keegan calls a father. Devon’s gaze darts around, looking uncomfortable—almost like he wants to escape.

“Devon?” Leon calls. “Oh, Devon?”

Devon stills, and I watch as a chilling transformation takes hold. He screams into the air. Bending over at the waist, he grabs his unkempt hair and yanks. All eyes shift to him as he marches up to Keegan, who still has the gun pointed at his father, and steps in the way. He grabs the barrel and walks straight into it so it’s pressed against his forehead. “Fucking do it,” he begs. “Pull the trigger.”

“What the…”

Keegan tries to pull the gun away, but Devon holds it there. “Pull the fucking trigger. Take me out of my misery.”

“Oh, grow the fuck up,” Leon grunts. He bends over and grabs his still-lit cigarette from the ground, wraps his lips around it, and takes a drag. “I thought you wanted to be a Forbes?”

Tears leak from the corners of Devon’s eyes. “Do it, man. Please.” His mouth twists in agony. “I did it. I killed her.I fucking did it.”

Keegan inhales sharply. He walks forward, the barrel still against his cousin’s forehead. “You killed her?”

The earth is threatening to swallow me up.

Devon Forbes? How?

Leon laughs in the background.

“You’re lying,” I call out.

Devon shakes his head. “I’m not. I fucking did it. I held her head under the water. I held it until the bubbles stopped coming up. I fucking did it!” he screams.

Keegan’s face twists in agony. “Why?”

Devon closes his eyes. More tears fall like an endless waterfall of despair. “He said he’d make me a Knight.”

A roar rips from Keegan’s lips, only overshadowed by the crack of the gun as it goes off.

Devon’s lifeless body falls to the ground, his eyes wide open as if he can’t believe his cousin actually did it.

He pulled the trigger.

I bend over, clutching my stomach in my hands. Devon Forbes? To become a Knight? So useless. So stupid.

I don’t feel anything when I stare at his body except for absolute grief in finding out that my sister died for nothing.

What a waste of a life.

Leon stares at his fallen nephew and cackles, like this is a play that’s being acted out in front of him.

“You motherfucker!” I scream as I lunge at him again. This time, Keegan doesn’t hold me back. His face is splattered with his cousin’s blood, and he’s still staring at his dead body on the ground before him.

Me? I’m feeling mighty fucking stabby still.

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