Chapter 34
Bria
The woman walked in like she owned the place.
Behind her, men flooded through the shattered doorway—black tactical gear, automatic weapons, faces covered. They fanned out fast, surrounding every woman in the room, barrels already leveled.
"Drop your weapons," she said, her voice light, almost playful.
Nobody moved.
Lilith—Priest's supposed-to-be-dead wife—tilted her head and snapped her fingers twice. The sound cracked like a bone. "I said drop them. Now."
Indigo's knife hit the marble. Zia's weapon followed. I held my pink gun half a second longer until Maya's fingers dug into my arm hard enough to bruise. I let it go.
"There," Lilith cooed, smiling too wide. "Good little bitches."
She walked through the room slowly, heels clicking, eyes jumping from face to face like she was counting toys. No recognition at first—just restless, too-bright eyes.
Then she stopped in front of Miyori.
"You," she said softly. The word came out almost fond. Then her face twisted.
The first slap split Miyori's lip open. Blood hit the floor in a bright arc. The second blow landed across the same cheek, harder. The crack of bone was loud in the quiet. Miyori's head snapped sideways. A thin line of blood ran from her nose.
Rage exploded out of Maya as she lunged forward.
I moved with her, adrenaline surging, terror instantly giving way to pure instinct. If she fought, I fought.
A gun barrel jammed against Maya's temple before either of us reached Miyori.
"Don't," the man said.
Maya froze, breathing hard.
Lilith laughed—a high, broken, delighted sound—and hit Miyori again, using her knuckles this time.
The impact split the skin over Miyori's cheekbone.
Blood poured down her jaw, dripping onto the front of her dress.
She kept swinging short, vicious blows, each one landing with the frantic energy of someone who had waited too long and no longer knew how to stop themselves.
Miyori's mouth filled with blood, but she didn't cower or cry. She spat it onto the marble between them and glared at her.
I could tell it was taking everything in Maya—and every drop of control I had left—not to scream and fight the men holding us back.
Lilith grabbed her by the hair and yanked her head back so hard something in Miyori's neck popped. She leaned in close, eyes too bright, breath hot and uneven.
"You were the one," she whispered. "The mistress. While I was still his wife. While I was still breathing for him. He came home smelling like you. I could taste you on him. Do you know what that does to a person?"
Miyori's voice came out rough, wet with blood. "You should take that up with him. Like I had a choice."
Lilith's smile stretched wider, almost giddy.
"Choice? You spread your legs for a married man and call it no choice?
" She slammed Miyori's face sideways into the wall.
The impact left a smear of blood and hair.
Miyori's knees buckled. Lilith held her up by the hair and drove a knee into her stomach hard enough to fold her.
Miyori gasped, coughing blood onto the floor. "He didn't ask. He took. Same as he takes everything. You know that better than anyone."
Lilith hit her again—open palm this time, across the already-split cheek. Fresh blood sprayed. "I was the wife. I was the one who stayed. I was the one who bled for him. And he still chose you."
Miyori lifted her head, one eye already swelling shut, blood running in a steady line from her mouth. "Then go argue with him. I'm not the one who made the vows. I'm not the one who kept coming back."
Lilith's laugh cracked in the middle. She shoved Miyori down hard. Miyori hit the marble on her hands and knees, blood dripping steadily from her face.
Maya's voice cut through, raw. "How the fuck aren't you dead? We saw the pictures."
Lilith turned, still smiling, blood on her knuckles and the front of her dress. "My cousin Matteo. He's very good at faking death certificates. He's the only one who never left me. Isn't that sweet?"
Her eyes swept the room again. She counted out loud this time, soft and sing-song.
"One… two… three… four."
Her smile faltered. The manic light in her eyes flickered into something smaller and scared.
"Where's the fifth one?"
Nobody answered.
She spun toward her men, her voice climbing high, shrill, and entirely panicked. "Find her. Now! Find her right fucking now. She's supposed to be here. Everyone is supposed to be here!"