Page 18 of Tainted Empire

“Orders that nearly cost me everything,” I growl, my anger simmering just below the surface. “You drugged me. You played into my worst fears. And for what?”

Giselle starts to sob, her act crumbling. “Please, I didn’t know what they were planning. I just thought it was… I had to—”

“Simple job?” I scoff. “You think fucking with people’s lives is a simple job?”

I stand up and pace in front of them, each step heavy with the weight of my rage. “But you,” I point at Marie, “you knew exactly what you were doing. You’re the one who orchestrated this little performance, aren’t you?”

Marie’s eyes narrow, but she doesn’t respond. Her silence speaks volumes.

“You thought you could play me? Use Gabriette to get to me?” I say, my voice a whisper in the thick air of the cellar. “And now, you two have signed your own death warrants.”

I lean in close to Marie, my voice dropping to a deadly whisper. “I know about your little sister, Maxine, and you,” I say, turning to Giselle. “Lyssa looks happy where she is. It would be a shame if something happened to her, wouldn’t it?”

They exchange a look, a silent conversation that speaks volumes. They’re in this together, but it’s clear Giselle is the weak link.

But then, Marie’s facade cracks, a flicker of genuine fear passing through her eyes. “You wouldn’t,” she hisses.

“Oh, I would,” I replied, my voice laced with menace. “But maybe I’ll give you a chance. Tell me everything. Orders from who?” I press, my voice rising.

Giselle looks like she’s about to break, her lips quivering as she struggles to hold back the information bubbling up inside her.

“It was… it was just a job,” she repeats, her eyes darting between Marie and me. “We didn’t know he would go this far.”

“Who is ‘he’?” I demand, my patience wearing thin.

Marie’s eyes flash with a sudden realization, and she glares at Giselle. “Shut up, Giselle. Don’t you dare—”

But it’s too late. Giselle is already breaking, the floodgates opening as she sobs out a name. A name that pisses me the fuck off, a name that connects the dots in a way I hadn’t anticipated.

When Giselle finishes, the cellar falls silent, save for her quiet sobs and Marie’s heavy breathing. I stand there, processing the information, the weight of it settling in my chest like a block of ice.

“You two were just pawns, huh?” I muse aloud. “But you played your parts well. Too well.”

Giselle is crying openly now, her body shaking. Marie just stares ahead, resigned to her fate.

“You’ve made your beds,” I say, standing up. “Now, you’re going to die in them.”

I turn and walk away, leaving them to their fate. Ivan knows what to do. As I ascend the stairs, my mind is racing, thoughts swirling in a chaotic dance. Two gunshots later, and I’m feeling even more on edge.

This is bigger than a simple betrayal; it’s a deep-rooted conspiracy that threatens everything I hold dear. And now I know who held the detonator to my marriage.

The only question is, why the fuck did Gabriette’s father want me to marry Sophia, when he’s always wanted me to have Gabriette?

Chapter 12

Gabriette

The gym’s air is thick with the scent of sweat and determination as we face off on the sparring mat.

She moves with a predator’s grace, her eyes never leaving mine, calculating every possible move I could make. I’ve come a long way under her tutelage, each session pushing me further than I thought possible.

Lee lunges, her fist aiming for my ribs. Instinct kicks in, and I dodge, feeling the air shift as her strike misses by mere inches. Our sparring matches are intense, a physical chess game where every move counts.

I try to fake her out, feigning a strike to the left, but she’s too seasoned to fall for such a basic trick. Her counter is swift, and I narrowly avoid her grasp. She’s tough, but I’ve been paying attention, picking up on her subtle cues.

As she comes at me again, I wait for the perfect moment. I’ve been practicing a move she showed me, one that relies on timing and the opponent’s momentum. As she moves in, I sidestep and grab her arm, using her own force to unbalance her.

She stumbles, a rare moment of surprise on her face, and I seize the opportunity. With a quick maneuver, I bring her down to the mat, a move that’s more about technique than strength.