5 📽️ MOTHER IS SO ANNOYING…

LORIAH

“Mama, where are you?”

“Loriah, take your sister and get the hell out of that house.” She says frantically. “Mrs. Von Hale is dead and Zakari is out for blood.”

For a second, rage cuts through my panic.

“So you knew about this? Where are you?”

“I can’t say anything right now” She mutters hysterically. “I had to get out. Zakari is unstable. He will kill me if he finds out where I am.”

I pause, my fury mixing with surprise.

“Wait…instead of warning us, you thought the best thing to do was run away and leave your children behind? Zakari isn’t out for just your blood, Mama. You know he’ll kill us all!”

She breaks into tears and somehow, her violent sobs provokes my anger even more.

“Getting involved with that family was a terrible idea, Loriah. They’re insane! All of them. No one is safe there.”

My mind strays to an article I read a year ago. Sebastian Von Hale’s first son gave up his inheritance due to “personal reasons.” I always wondered why anyone would give up billions of dollars.

There’s definitely more to the Von Hale family than what meets the eye. And whatever it is, it’s not good.

“Mama, is there something you’re not telling me?”

For a moment, she’s silent. Too silent.

Her next words nearly give me a heart attack.

“There are two things, actually. Sebastian and I got married in Vegas two days ago.”

My stomach drops.

“What?!”

“There was nothing I could do, Loriah.” She cries. “He brought it up and I couldn’t dissuade him. I’m so sorry.”

This only means one thing — Zakari is really my step brother now.

“I don’t have much time, but the second thing I want to tell you… Zakari killed his younger brother ten years ago. He murdered Jamal with his own hands…”

***

ZAKARI

Guilt is a form of poison, and I’ve lived with it for as long as I can remember.

Ten years ago, I took my best friend’s life, and father has never let me live it down, even though it was partly his fault.

Watching Jamal die in my arms killed something inside of me. It also birthed something else — a fucking monster.

I committed an irredeemable sin, and my mother had to suffer for it. I swore to take care of her the best I could. I swore to eliminate anyone who was a threat to her happiness. But this time, I was too late.

I watched the life drain out of my mother while I stood there, fucking helpless.

She died in pain. She died with tears in her eyes. But just before she crossed over, I held her frail hands and made her a vow.

I will bring her the soul of every single person who contributed to her death. Even if it kills me.

A muffled groan comes from the corner, shoving me back to the present.

Father dearest is writhing in a pool of his own blood… and fighting to cut off the cords that bind his hands behind his back at the same damn time.

“Zakari, I need the hospital,” he groans, barely hanging on by a thread. “I’m going to die out here.”

I lower myself to my haunches and run a finger across his bloodied cheek, waiting for the pity to kick in.

It doesn’t.

“Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. Take your mind back, father, three days ago.” My fingers move lower until I’m sinking it into one of the fresh injuries in his shoulder. His pain-filled groan gives me immense satisfaction.

“I told you mother did not have a lot of time left. She was desperate to see you. And what did you do?”

His mouth falls open in a desperate garble and I lift a hand, shushing him.

“You kicked me out of your office, and proceeded to take Naomi on an overseas trip while your wife — your real wife, might I add — laid on her sick bed, waiting for you. Hoping she’d see your sorry ass one last time.”

For the first time in a long, long while, I see a hint of regret in my father’s eyes.

“I didn’t know…”

“Just like I’m gonna pretend that I’m not aware that you need help right now.” I cut in, “you do not deserve mercy, father. In fact, I believe you deserve to rot.”

That said, I get to my feet and march towards the door, eager to get to my second target.

“Where are you going, you little shit! I need an ambulance. Get me an ambulance right now!”

I slam the sound proof doors and slowly make my way up the grand stairs, my anger heightening with each step, anticipation coiling in my guts.

I warned her.

I gave her ample time to dissuade her mother from signing that marriage contact. But little Lorie just had to disobey me, didn’t she?

Well, time’s up. For all of them.

The moment I kick open the door to their bedroom, I already know they’re not here.

They escaped.

My lips curl in an involuntary grin.

This is the reason I’ve been inexplicably drawn to Loriah Steele. Her quickness.

She’s always quick to snap back at me.

Quick to disobey me.

Quick to fucking run from me.

No woman on God’s green earth has succeeded in riling me up the way she does.

And I hate her for it. I despise her with every fiber of my being.

Unlocking my phone, I dial a number and press it to my ear.

It rings twice.

I’m not surprised when she answers. My brave little chaos.

“ You can never escape me, Lorie. No matter where you run to, I will always find you.

You will never escape your destruction…”