Page 172 of The Echo of Forever

She looked me dead in my eyes, her pretty lips pulled into a deep frown.

“No, baby…” She shook her head and smoothly took my gun, turning it on Amal again. “I just want you to hear him out before taking the only answers any of us will get…” My eyes were onher, but she was looking at him. “Save your life and tell him what you told me.”

CHAPTER 45

FOREVER

Amal’s eyesdidn’t waver from mine, even with Demetrius’s gun aimed at his head. Family resemblance was a funny thing; both of them had the same unflinching confidence in the face of death.

I hadn’t planned to meet my husband’s alleged long-lost brother tonight, nor had I expected Demetrius to show up and try to kill him. I’d redirected the shot on instinct, not calculation. There had been too much hidden information, too many lies and half-truths circulating for me to let him eliminate a potential source before we had all the answers. Or at least some of them.

Demetrius might not appreciate it now, but he would once he heard everything.

“Tell him what you told me and save your life,” I said to Amal, pointing the gun at him.

He was unfazed by the chaos, much like his younger brother. Too cool to care about anything, let alone his life. But then again, we were in his bar. On his turf. Anything could happen, especially now that the bar had cleared out, leaving only us, Kai, Lucia, Violet, Oliver, and Finnegan.

“Soleme committed suicide a year and a half ago,” Amal started, dropping down into a chair as he lit the blunt he tookfrom behind his ear. “I didn’t know who the fuck she was until a lawyer showed up at my adoptive parents’ house and said I was part of her will…”

He took a pull from the blunt and leaned back, blowing smoke from his lips before continuing. The scent of weed filled the space between us.

“She was next in line to lead the Fairchild family, and as her oldest son, the title was meant to automatically become mine. That’s what the lawyer told me, before handing over a key that opened a storage unit in the neutral zone and a handwritten letter from her.”

I felt my baby’s eyes burning into me, but I kept my focus on Amal. Behind us, I was aware of Oliver shifting positions, likely keeping watch on the entrances while simultaneously monitoring the situation unfolding before him.

Amal took another pull from his blunt, the ember glowing bright in the dimly lit space. I could feel the tension radiating from Demetrius, not just anger at Amal but at me for intervening. That was a conversation for later, and I would be sure to make it up to him.

Their mother planned her death down to a science. Solomon had always wanted her spot, and she never cared to have it; she left the entire family behind to avoid bloodshed after learning she was pregnant. But instead of keeping Amal, she changed her name and put him up for adoption.

“Don’t know how long she met y’all pop after having me,” he went on. “That’s part of the story none of us will ever know. What I do know is that she wanted all of us together. Her instructions were clear, and after learning about Solomon and the shit he’s into, I felt compelled to follow through. By Fairchild law, I’m the successor, and he has to compete with me to take the position. Right now, I hold all the power.”

He shrugged and glanced at me, then at Demetrius again.

“She knew about the two of you. The plan was for me to put a hit out on her alias with the help of her only ally, the high priest. Not the new one, but his dad. He approved the hit, even though she was already dead, and she had hoped that you’d recognize the name and want to take part…” His eyes were on me as he said it. “I sent the message presenting myself as Solomon after the job was confirmed and picked up. However…” he looked at Demetrius, but I could still feel my husband’s eyes on me. “She never showed. The rest you’ve figured out.”

That’s when I tipped my head, irritation flaring.

“No, the rest we haven’t figured out,” I said, stepping closer to him. “You know who intercepted your message to me, yet you’ve left it out of both explanations.”

That had been my next line of questioning before Demetrius showed up and gunshots stole my chance. I knew he felt my life was in danger and that Amal’s nonchalance to the chaos was what set him off. He truly meant it when he said he’d kill for my safety.

I could feel the weight of everyone’s stares as this played out. Violet and Lucia had positioned themselves strategically around the room, ready to move if needed. Finnegan stood near the door, watchful but relaxed in a way that mirrored his wife.

“That bit of information comes with a price,” Amal said, looking up at me with that playful smile so similar to Demetrius’s.

It irritated me, unlike when it was my husband. That said a lot about how much I’d let him get away with.

“Oh?” I asked, knocking his blunt away before he could bring it to his lips. “Was saving your life just now not enough, Amal?”

I was offended and had even offended my husband in the process. The look on Demetrius’s face when I’d pushed his hand away, that mixture of disbelief and betrayal, hadn’t been worth it.

To make a point, I turned slowly, making sure to meet eyes with everyone we’d come with before stopping on Demetrius, who still had his gaze trained solely on me.

His expression was unreadable to most, but I could see the storm brewing behind his eyes. He was furious, yes, but he was also waiting. Trusting me despite his anger.

That meant everything.

“Now can I dead this nigga, my forever?” he asked softly.