All Chapters of Desiree mixed genre collection : Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

Serena's povRain soaked through my black dress as they lowered my father's casket. The Don. Gone. Two hundred people stood around the cemetery pretending to grieve but really calculating what came next.Nathan Redmond stood across from me. Enemy territory. His gray suit was dry. He looked calm.Nevan grabbed my arm. "Don't.""Don't what?""Whatever you're thinking."Nathan's eyes met mine for two seconds then he looked away. That movement alone told me everything. He was here for a reason. Not respect. Not fear.Something else.The priest finished. People threw dirt on the casket. Lily pulled me toward the car."We need to get you away from here." She wouldn't let go of my arm."I'm fine.""You're not. I can see it."The car pulled away. Behind us, Nathan was still standing at the grave. Not moving. Not leaving with his family.At the house, Anna Morrison was waiting in the foyer. Twenty years with my father. Sharp eyes. Never smiled."Your father left instructions." She handed me an

Serena's pov The family meeting was called for noon. All of them. Cousins. Uncles. Aunts. The people who'd spent fifteen years training to destroy Nathan Redmond.Nevan didn't want me to tell them. Lily thought I was insane. Anna just sat in the corner smoking and watching.I walked into the living room carrying my father's letter.Twenty-three people stared at me. Waiting. Ready."Dad lied." The words came out flat. "About the murder. About who killed my brother."Silence."He killed him. Not the Redmonds. Dad." I held up the letter. "He sent him into a situation he knew was dangerous. My brother died because of that decision.""That's insane." Uncle Marcus stood up. "Your father would never….""He did. He's admitting it in writing." I handed the letter to Marcus. "He's been blaming them for fifteen years when he knew the truth the whole time."Marcus read it. His face went hard. He handed it to the woman next to him. And it passed through the room like poison."This is a trick." Li

serena's pov Anna called for a vote. Twenty three people in the room. Each one deciding whether Nathan lived or died.Marcus went first. "No. We don't make peace with killers."James was next. "I vote for his death."Nine votes for death. Eight for peace. Six people stayed silent.Nevan stood up. "I vote for peace. Not because I forgive them. Because I want to survive."Nine for death. Nine for peace. Five silent.Anna looked at me. "Your vote decides it."My father's letter was still in my pocket. His words about choosing differently. Being braver."I vote for peace."James threw his chair. Marcus cursed. Three people walked out.Anna nodded. "Then it's decided."Nathan let out a breath. Blair lowered his weapon outside."There's a meeting." Nathan pulled out his phone. "My brothers want to discuss this. Tomorrow night. Neutral ground.""Where?" Nevan moved closer."The old warehouse on Fifth. Nobody owns it.""That's a kill zone." Marcus hadn't left. He stood by the door. "You're w

Serena's pov Nevan Cross stood between us and the cars. His gun was steady. Blood dripped from a cut on his forehead but his smile was worse."You cut the lights." Nathan didn't lower his weapon."I did. Vincent's an idiot. Always has been." Nevan moved closer. "But he's useful. He's drawing all the attention while I talk to you.""Talk fast. His men will be out here any second." I aimed at his chest."Lower your weapons. Both of you." Nevan gestured behind him. "I brought something you need to see."A van pulled up. The back doors opened. Anna Morrison stepped out. My father's right hand. She had blood on her jacket but she was alive."Anna?" I moved forward. "What are you doing with him?""Saving your life." She walked toward us. "Vincent didn't just show up tonight. He's been planning this for weeks. He has people inside both our families. He knows everything.""How do you know this?" Nathan kept his gun on Nevan."Because I've been working with him." Anna pulled out a folder. "Si

Serena's pov We drove to a motel outside the city. The kind with hourly rates and no questions asked. Nathan paid cash. We got three rooms.I stood in the bathroom washing Marcus's blood off my hands. The water ran red. Lily knocked on the door."Serena. Anna's calling everyone together."I dried my hands. Walked to the room next door where everyone had gathered. Twelve people left. That's all. Twelve out of forty.Anna stood by the window. "Vincent took the estate. Four of our operations. Six of Nathan's. He's controlling half the city now.""What about the storage facility?" I sat on the bed. "The one with his records.""Still there. Nevan confirmed it an hour ago." Anna looked at Nevan Cross. "But the security's been doubled. Ten guards now. Maybe more.""We still need those records." Nathan paced the small room. "Without them we have nothing.""We have each other." Rafael spoke from the corner. His arm was in a fresh sling. "That's more than Vincent has. He has soldiers. We have