Page 49

WHAT MATTERS NOW?

ALEX

After Kole texted, interrupting the business I was handling for Declan, I dropped everything to get back to Sigma House as fast as possible.

My father is the one who has been sending threatening texts to Mila. And as I walk in and overhear him talking to her, I realize it goes much deeper than that. He’s the one who almost got me killed.

My father glances back at Mila. “I guess you did one thing right if my son is speaking again.”

“You don’t talk to her.” I take another step forward. “You talk to me.”

His gaze glimmers with amusement as his attention returns to me. He sees this like he sees everything else—like a game. One where he’s usually three steps ahead. Except tonight, he fucked up. He thought I was still dropping off a package while he sorted out business in the basement, and he slipped.

Now I know the truth.

He’s always been ruthless. Merciless to a fault.

He doesn’t care for much more than the power and fortune he accumulates.

I’ve never considered those flaws because he trained me not to.

And when anything happened, he protected me.

He helped me find my path when the darkness became too much.

When it demanded to get out. He created an outlet and directed my course.

I respected him.

More than that, I trusted him.

Never did I think my father would take it this far to teach me a lesson.

I almost died.

Part of me did.

“This is a misunderstanding.” Dad mirrors my stance by tucking his hands into his pockets. “Let’s go talk.”

“We can talk here.”

His gaze cuts to Mila. “Privately.”

“She’s entitled to anything you have to say to me.” I clench my teeth. “So go ahead. Answer her question. It wasn’t Teal’s father who let Torin torture me during my trial, was it? It was you.”

Dad’s eyes narrow fractionally. He’s irritated, but he also cares about appearances, so he’s trying to swallow it down.

“You were losing focus,” Dad says. “After you passed the first two trials, you were getting more distant. Disappearing into Sigma House with your friends. They were becoming a distraction from your real purpose.”

“You mean your purpose,” I toss back, remembering that time more clearly now than I did during my years at Montgomery.

Before pledging the House, Dad had full control of me. He covered up when I murdered the minister, and he used that to gain leverage over me. He directed my focus, made me think I could trust him because he wanted to help .

But after I moved into Sigma House, the fraternity came first. And while I thought he understood, as a legacy himself, he saw it as a problem because I was less willing to go against the rulebook to help clean up his messes.

“You were getting soft.” My father’s jaw ticks.

“It all started with you breaking the rules for your sister. Killing a member of the House when you know that’s the one thing that will burn a pledge before you even step through these doors.

And then it continued with her.” He tips his head to Mila.

“You had one job to do in Oregon, and you let yourself get distracted. You know how this works. We don’t leave loose ends, and that’s what you did. ”

“So the trial was a lesson?”

“You were getting sloppy. Weak. You needed a reminder that even you aren’t invulnerable, Alex. Torin was more than happy to be the one to teach it to you after you killed his brother. You needed to learn you’re not untouchable, and he was a means to do that.”

“What kind of lesson is there in killing me?”

“You were never going to wind up dead. I knew you could handle him. He’d make you work for it, but you would neutralize the problem like you’re good at.”

“I was strapped to a makeshift electric chair. I couldn’t neutralize shit.”

“The interrogator being called away was unexpected. You should have been cut free by that point.” A pathetic excuse. “I can’t anticipate every twist of events, but it worked out. You’re here now.”

“He tortured me. Fried my skin and forced me to watch it cook. Forced me to smell it rot. And somehow, when the currents hit my brain, the fact that my flesh was burning was no longer even the worst part.” I pull my hands from my pockets and flex my fingers, feeling the stretch of the scarred skin. “I almost died.”

“You didn’t.” He almost sounds proud of himself about that. “And I got you the best doctors money could buy. The best accommodations. You’re the one who chose to stay in there as long as you did. That’s not my fault.”

Except, I’m now seeing that it is.

Just because I was physically healing, it didn’t mean it was over. I knew what would happen the second I left. That my father would expect me to once more represent the Lancaster name within Sigma House.

Which is why I was done. I’d given up.

If it weren’t for Mila finding her way into Bristal, I’d never have found the willpower to leave Montgomery.

My gaze finds hers, and she’s absolutely stunning. Her hair is in a messy ponytail, and every inch of her body is covered in a gray sweatsuit. Not a drop of makeup colors her face, and she’s perfect. Even with the doubt swimming in her green eyes.

Fear.

Worry that she’ll never be good enough because my father can’t see she’s out of my league, and I’ll never deserve her. Money and status mean nothing when she is the salt of my earth.

Her lips press together, turning them a brighter shade of red.

I want to kiss them until she’s smiling again.

“You needed to be ready, Alex. Don’t you see that?” Dad shifts on his feet. “Especially now that the Pierces and Donovans have fallen. We need to be the ones to guide Sigma House in this new direction.”

“I have no interest in any of that. ”

“You’re a Lancaster; it’s your place. Your throne to claim. We started this town—this fraternity—it was always going to end like this.”

“So that’s what all your tasks were leading to?

What the incident at the trial was leading to?

” I step forward, and he shifts closer to Mila again, so I pause.

“You used my being in Montgomery to your advantage. You knew Declan and I were friends, so you planted seeds of doubt in his head about the Council, knowing he would come to me to dig up information. And when I handed it over, Declan did your dirty work, leaving your hands clean of all of it. Now you’ll make your play for control like you intended from the start. ”

“My play?” His smile tilts. “Those weren’t just moves, Alex.

This is my game. Our game, and everyone else is a tool for us to manipulate.

Pieces for us to move around. Don’t you see what I’ve been preparing you for?

You can have anything you want at the end of this.

Don’t waste it on some”—his gaze slides to Mila—“whore.”

I step forward, but he moves faster.

He grabs a knife from the block on the kitchen counter and shoves Mila in front of him. The knife is at her side.

“Alex.” Mila’s voice squeaks as the knife presses closer.

“Get away from her.” I hate that my voice is unsteady.

I still can’t trust it because of what he did, and it’s failing me now.

“Think about what you’re doing, Alex.” Dad tightens his grip on Mila’s arm. “You’ve seen what happens when you let people distract you.”

“We made a deal.”

“For your sister. And I’ve kept your mother at bay and done my part. But I won’t watch you give everything up because some slut has made you soft.” He scoffs. “You want a cunt to fuck, then fine, choose another one. Ten others for all I care. So long as they don’t make you weak like she does.”

“There’s nothing wrong with him giving a shit,” Mila grits out.

Dad looks down at her, tightening his hold and making her wince. “I didn’t ask you.”

“Get your hands off her.”

“It’s okay, Alex.” Mila’s green eyes gloss over. “I’m okay. I love you. No matter what. I love you.”

She shouldn’t.

I’m a fucking mess.

Insane.

Unstable.

A killer.

And this moment is proof that my blood is no better. I come from this sickness. There is no hope.

Still, with tears in her eyes, she tries to comfort me .

People don’t care. I’m not worth it.

But Mila cares with her whole heart.

“What’s more important, Alex? This girl…” He pulls Mila closer. “Or your family?”

“I’m done doing your bidding,” I bite back. “You might know all their secrets, but I know yours. I know enough to bring you down. You saw what we did to the Donovans and the Pierces. We made the pillars of Sigma House fall. You hurt her, and you’ll be next.”

“You can’t take me down without revealing your own crimes against the House, son.”

“Are you sure about that?” I angle my head.

He forgets how long I spent at Montgomery. That all Sigma House records are stored in their basement. While he was so busy focusing on hiding what happened at the trial, I was preparing. I made sure to erase myself from Sigma House history just in case I ever needed it.

Gideon Lancaster can dig all he wants. He’ll find nothing.

“You won’t turn on your family.”

“Watch me.”

His eyes narrow. “You think you can just dismantle everything we’ve worked for, and your problems will be over?

You think you’ve uncovered all the monsters?

I’ve protected you and your sister from the things you can’t begin to imagine.

And with any upheaval comes a new regime ready to claim power. If I fall, we all do.”

“I’ll take my chances.”

The grin that stretches his face is sadistic. “Is that so? You’ve got it all figured out? You have friends at your side again and regular pussy in your bed, and you think you’ve changed? Should we test that?”

“Ah.” Mila winces as the blade presses into her skin.

“Stop.”

“Tell me, Alex, are you ready to prove your strength?” Dad presses the knife so hard that red blooms on Mila’s gray sweatshirt.

“What matters more? Saving her or letting out the rage stirring inside you? There won’t be time for both if I drive this knife into her pretty little body.

What will be more important to you, son?

Your girlfriend or getting revenge for what I did? Let’s find out.”

My vision blurs as he drives the knife into Mila’s side.

Her scream fills the kitchen. It bounces off the walls. Blood thunders between my temples, and I’m burning up from the inside out.

Dad pulls the blade free, and blood starts to spill. Like water spouting from a faucet. A red river .

Dad steps back as I rush forward. But I don’t get there before she slumps to the ground.

“I guess we have our answer.” Dad tosses the bloody knife onto the counter.

My hands press over her wound, but it won’t stop leaking. Dad chuckles, and I’m itching to grab the knife and end him. To make him feel a fraction of what he’s put me through. But I can’t do that without leaving Mila’s side.

If she’s my weakness, then fine, I accept it.

I fight the monster inside me for her.

I’ll let him live for her.

“This isn’t over, Alex. See what happens when I’m not around to protect you. Or better yet, your sister now that she’s right where he wants her.” Dad takes a step back. “Have fun with your new toy.”

He disappears through the door that leads to the basement, and I wish I could chase after him, but I can’t if I want Mila to live.

“Mila, hold on.” I put pressure on the wound as she blinks faster. “Please hold on, angel.”

“Alex.” My name chokes from her lips. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry. Not for him. Not for me.” Blood seeps through my fingers.

“You’re not all bad, Alex. You’re not what he says you are.”

“It’s okay, Mila. Just focus and stay with me.”

The door to the kitchen swings open, and Maddox stumbles in. “What the fuck?”

“Call an ambulance,” I shout at him.

He freezes like he thinks he’s hallucinating that I just spoke, and I guess that’s my fault. Right now, all that matters is Mila. I’ll speak for her. I’ll scream for her. I’ll rip open my ribs and bleed myself dry for her .

“Now.”

“Right.” He shakes his head, pulling out his phone and dialing.

I turn back to Mila as her eyes start to close.

“Mila.” I press the wound harder. “Stay with me.”

Her head rolls on my lap. Blood soaks through my pant leg as it gushes out of her.

Blood has never bothered me because I’ve spilled more than my fair share. But hers needs to stay where it belongs. In her veins. Pumping life into her heart.

I’ve never needed anyone to live like I need her to pull through this.

“Mila, look at me.” I tilt her chin up. “Stay with me. Don’t leave me.”

Her eyes flutter. A hazy sheen coats them as she blinks. “I love you, Alex.”

The words barely make it out as her body slackens.