Page 58 of Intrigue
And if anyone found out, I wouldn’t survive the fallout.
But then I remember why nothing happened. It was because of him.
The one person I hated all this while. Who’d wiped the scene. Staged the body, shattered the balcony glass to fake a break-in, and probably erased the phone messages. Who’d sent me downstairs before the body was discovered, told me to make sure I was seen somewhere else. And never to speak of it again. All to give a solid alibi.
And then somehow made the whole thing disappear.
Is that why he did that?
Because he knew if I kept asking questions, if I stayed close to him, I might find out the truth? I might put myself back in the crosshairs?
So he did the only thing that would push me away for good. Allowed me to walk in on him with another woman. Let me see the betrayal, let it break me in a way that would keep me away.
And when I confronted him, he’d twisted the knife.
“You were a childish distraction, Selene.”
I know the whole truth now but I just have to ask.
“And Sandro? What part did he play in your game?”
“Sandro?” Father scoffs. “That fool spent years trying to outmaneuver me, building alliances, gathering evidence. He thought he could save you.” His smile turns cruel. “But I’ve always been ten steps ahead. You were not supposed to have returned just yet, but then I discovered the whole thing with Sandro and I had to act fast. Why do you think I arranged your return? With Cassian? I made the idiot guilt trip you into coming to seek for my blessing.”
Cassian lets out a strangled noise, still kneeling on the floor, held down by my father’s men. He doesn’t deny it. Doesn’t even look at me.
My father smirks. “He was just a desperate artist looking for a break. And all he had to do was make you fall in love with him.” He hums. “Though I must admit, I didn’t know about yourinvolvement with Sandro. That was... unfortunate. I would have eliminated him much sooner.”
Something in me snaps.
Cassian lied to me. My father orchestrated every single move. Sandro—Sandro tried to protect me, but he never stood a chance.
Bile rises in my throat. “You knew. That night, when I told you about Edoardo...”
“Of course I knew but shrugged it off as nothing. Telling you Sandro would take care of it. I orchestrated everything. Your fear, your pain, all of it leading to this moment.” He spreads his arms wide. “The grand finale.”
“You’re a monster and sick.” I say, voice low, trembling. “You’d kill your own daughter?”
“You’re not my daughter,” he spits. “You’re a mistake. A Moretti stain I should’ve scrubbed out years ago. I’m a king. And you?” He steps closer. “You’re the mistake that could burn my kingdom down. No one can save you now. Not Sandro. Not the Morettis. Not even—”
I lunge at him, fists swinging, but one of his men grabs me, wrenching my arms back. I kick, thrashing, but he’s too strong. My father laughs, brushing off his coat.
“Pathetic. Just like your mother.”
“Let me go!” I shout, twisting hard. The guy grunts, loosening his grip just enough. Movement catches my eye. One of the guards shifts, his jacket opening just enough. The gun holstered at his side gleams in the light.
The guard never sees me coming. In one fluid motion, I grab the gun from the nearest guard’s holster. The weight feels like destiny in my hand as I aim at my father’s heart.
He freezes, eyebrows rising. “Now, now, piccola...”
“Stop talking.” My voice sounds strange to my own ears, calm despite the inferno raging inside me. “You’ve said enough.”
His eyes narrow. “You won’t—”
The gun roars.
Chapter 18
Alessandro