Page 39 of Vengeful Devotion
This is all my fault. My mother had been hurt because I wasn’t there to stop it. Because I haven’t told her the truth. Because I couldn’t do what I should’ve done. Murder my brother.
“What about the caterers and delivery people?” Balor asks Dean. “Did you run their backgrounds?”
“Of course I did. I’m not a fucking amateur.”
I raise my hand to stop their looming argument. “Were either of you watching my mother’s table after I left?”
“I had my eye on it all night.”
“Sure, Balor,” Dean snaps. “The table was definitely what you were watching all night.”
“Fuck off, Dean. You’re no better and you know it.”
I squeeze the bridge of my nose. I don’t have time for their bullshit right now.
“Was Warren at the table when my mother was attacked?”
Balor looks at me. “He barely left your mother’s side all night.”
“But?”
“But when Francine got up to start the auction, he left the table after her. He wasn’t in my sight line when the incident happened.”
“Who was in your sight line, Balor?” Dean quips.
“Knock it off.” I snap. “Does Juliette have the security footage?”
“She’s scrubbing it now, but there were so many people there, Declan. It’s going to be impossible to tell who threw it.”
I shrug. Impossible to everyone else, maybe, but I already know who did it. I just have to prove it. And when I do, there won’t be a safe place for Warren anywhere on this planet. He already stole one parent from me; I’ll be damned if he takes another.
My door bursts open. Simone crosses her arms, glaring at me. Her eyes move to Declan and Balor.
“Out. I need to talk to my brother.”
“Simone,” Balor starts. “Are you—“
“Get out.”
Balor flinches at her tone. He looks back at me and I nod. I only wish I was leaving with them. Whatever the hell Simone is upset about can wait. I have a brother to hunt.
She stays silent until the door is closed.
“What the fuck did you and Vivi get us into?”
I squint at her. “What?”
“Mom could’ve died tonight, Deck. This isn’t funny.”
“Do you see me laughing?”
“Does the senator’s death have anything to do with this?”
“No.”
“Are you absolutely sure?”
“Yes.”
