Chapter 35
35
Cecely
I stay by Claudius’ side for hours while he tells the Elite Members everything. At one point, Blanc won’t shut up, so I put more tape over his mouth.
I don’t let go of Claudius’ hand the entire time. Not when the room falls into silence. Not when they look at him differently. Not even when I realize that no matter what happens next, nothing will ever be the same.
Claudius finishes his confession, his voice steady. “And that’s it. That’s everything.”
The weight of his words hangs in the air.
Henderson lets out a slow breath, running a hand down his face.
“Jesus Christ. That is not what I expected. At all.” He turns to Moretti, shaking his head. “Can you believe this shit?”
Dimitri is the one who finally breaks the silence.
“Dissociative Identity Disorder is a real thing.” He glances at Claudius. “It explains everything, if I’m being honest.”
I tighten my grip on Claudius’ hand. Because I can feel it. The shift. The way they’re reassessing everything. Not just what he’s done. But what to do with him.
Moretti leans back in his chair, tapping his fingers on the armrest.
Finally, he speaks. “Perhaps.” His dark eyes move to me. “But it doesn’t change what’s been done.”
I feel Claudius stiffen beside me.
I step forward before I even think about it.
“Claudius did what none of you had the balls to do. He exposed the corruption that you all knew was there. He did what was necessary.”
Moretti doesn’t flinch. “And yet, Cecely, the Brotherhood does not reward rebellion.”
I lift my chin.
“Then you’ll have to kill me, too.”
The room goes still. I hear Claudius exhale sharply.
“Cecely,” he growls, reaching for me. “Don’t.”
I shrug him off. I keep my focus on Moretti, on Carter, on Santos, on Henderson. On all of them.
“I mean it. You take him, you take me.” My hand goes to my stomach. “And our baby.”
Moretti’s lips press into a thin line.
Henderson lets out a low whistle. “Damn. That’s commitment.”
Dimitri sighs, shaking his head. “You’re not going to kill him, are you?”
Moretti exhales sharply. “No.”
My shoulders drop slightly, but I don’t move away from Claudius.
Moretti runs a hand through his long hair. “You’ll have to go before the Brotherhood. To let them know what you’ve done.”
“What if he doesn’t?” All gazes go to me. “What if he were to disappear off the same cliff that Gabriel died on?”
Henderson’s lips part in shock. “You want to kill him? After all that?”
“No! But the rest of the world can think he died.” I look up at Claudius. “You said it yourself. No one knows about this island. We’ll be safe here. Protected.”
“I did say that,” he says with a smirk.
Moretti asks, “How would this work?”
Claudius answers, “We tell the world I died and I agree to stay here. It’s a win for everyone.”
Dimitri says to me, “Cecely, are you sure? You haven’t known him for very long. I don’t want you to regret this.”
“I’ve known him longer than you think.” I squeeze Claudius’ hand and say to Dimitri. “This is what I want.”
President Carter asks, “And what about the auction?”
Agnes speaks up from the doorway. “That was Gabriel, or Gabe Ferrums.”
“GF,” President Carter mutters. “The initials on the card.”
Claudius lets out a small laugh. “Looks like Gabriel has a sense of humor. Ferrum is iron on the periodic table.”
I snort. “It was there all along, wasn’t it? Gabe Ferrums. Gabriel Irons.”
Henderson says, “This is too fucking weird. Do we all agree to let Irons live out his days here?”
A round of ayes fills the room.
Moretti stands. “It’s done. We’ll take Blanc with us.”
“What’s going to happen to him?”
“He will go before the Brotherhood and die.” He turns to Henderson. “Let’s get him out of here. I’d like to get home as soon as possible.”
Henderson stands and grabs Blanc, pulling him to his feet. One by one, everyone leaves until it’s just me and Claudius in the room.
The room is empty now. No more whispered negotiations. No more bargaining for survival. No more Brotherhood. Just us. I release a long breath, feeling the weight of everything settle into my bones. The danger. The choices. The consequences.
We are no longer part of that world.
We are ghosts.
I finally turn to Claudius and that damn infuriating smirk is back.
“Looks like it’s just you and me, mama.”
His voice is teasing, but there’s something deeper beneath it.
Something unspoken.
I step closer, my pulse thrumming in my veins.
“Yeah,” I whisper. “It is.”
I don’t know what happens next.
We’re still standing on the edge of something vast.
But for the first time in my life, I’m not afraid.
Because we made it.
Because we survived.
Because whatever comes next, we face it together.
And as Claudius pulls me into his arms, pressing his lips against mine, I know one thing for certain.
This isn’t the end.
It’s just the beginning.