Chapter 63
CURITIBA PARANá
Adria marched through the house, leaving her mother and her stupid secret-free face in the dust behind her.
The once-confounding maze of the house, with its twisting hallways and shadowy corners, now felt horrifyingly familiar.
Making her way to the backdoor, Adria navigated the jungle path that led into the backyard.
What had once been a realm of exotic exploration now felt like a cage, each leaf caging her with the sensation of memories she could neither escape nor confront.
The realness of it all suffocated her.
“Adria. Don’t be mad. It’s ancient history. And you’ve adapted so well. Look at you. You are a vision. A force.”
Adria ignored her, making her way to the guest house.
“I’ve been with you every step of the way. Let’s not pretend that you could have gotten where you are today without me and Xander.”
That did it.
Adria stopped on her heels and turned. “The reason I had to get anywhere was because of you.”
She stepped into her mother with pure venom in her voice. “The only reason you helped me at all was to help yourself. So, if you think about it, YOU wouldn’t be as close to the Triune as you are without me.”
“And if YOU REALLY think about it, you wouldn’t be as far from the seat at the Triune as you are now if it wasn’t for yourself.
” Adria turned. “So, pat yourself on the back, Mom, you’re the world’s shittiest mother and now you lost your seat at the table and your daughter.
Don’t need to guess what hurts you more. ”
Opening the door to their shared guest house, Adria called into the space, “Bryson, we’re leaving.”
No response.
“Kaydon, Seth?”
Nothing.
“They aren’t here,” her mother said from behind her.
Anger simmered just beneath Adria’s skin. It was the sort of anger that brushed against her soul. The type of anger that didn’t sit inside herself but wrapped around the edges, waiting to strike.
The type of anger that threatened to burn her to the ground or anyone else if she let it.
“Where are they?” Adria said, her voice deathly quiet.
Her mother only shrugged. “I’m just the shitty mother. What would I know about my daughter’s flings?”
Adria started to go around her.
“Maybe if Cole were to come in and the three of us sit down and talk, something would shake loose in my memory.”
Adria froze. She knew.
“And maybe if we work something out, I could give you this,” her mother flashed a note embossed with Bryson’s family symbol.
“Give that to me,” Adria said.
“Stop being a child and bring Cole in here, and we will sit down.”
A gun clicked, and Adria smiled.
“Didn’t see that one coming, huh, Mom?” Adria said, watching Eric hold a gun to her mother’s temple.
“I heard shouting,” he said, as if that explained everything.
“You wouldn’t dare,” her mother said.
“Why not? You seemed keen on Bryson ending his father’s life. Seems only fitting that I should do the same.”
“You won’t make it out of here alive.”
“You won’t kill me,” Adria said. Feeling more sure with every moment that passed.
“You need me. Need my heir. Need the hope that my blood gives you. That someday, no matter how small the chance is, that a Serra will sit at the table. That chance goes out the window if I’m dead.”
Sophia had quite literally thrown her whole life away to get that seat, and Adria knew in her bones that she wouldn’t quit. Not now, not ever.
Her mother sighed. “This is a mistake,” she said, handing Adria the note.
Eric tucked his gun away and went into the house.
Adria could hear the sounds of him packing inside.
“I guess this is goodbye,” Sophia said.
“It is,” Adria said.
Her mother gave her a soft smile. “You can’t trust them, Adria, they’ll betray you.”
“I guess that will just make them family then,” Adria said.
Her mother didn’t flinch; her smile didn’t falter. “Callen won’t let them live, my dear. Not after all he gave me to get them back.”
“Adria, wait,” Xander said, following her and Eric to the car.
“Did you know?” Adria asked, throwing a bag into the trunk.
“Sophia loves you. In her own way, she just has trouble seeing things clearly sometimes,” he said.
“Did you know?” Adria repeated, rounding on him.
Xander’s throat bobbed, and he said, “Not at first.”
“But she told you the truth eventually,” Adria said.
He gave her a soft nod. “She did, and you have to believe me—I felt sick about it every day. But—”
He seemed to struggle, and his voice cracked. “I love her.”
Adria saw the anguish in Xander’s face as she opened the passenger door.
She gave the man who had been her rock—her salvation—for her entire adult life one final look and said, “I hope it’s enough for the two of you,” before shutting the door and telling Eric to leave.