Page 60 of Sweet Revenge
Lillian picked up the laptop, giggling like she was still drunk. Maybe she was. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you, not if you truly value the life you’ve built for yourself. You can blame me for turning you into a monster, but at the end of the day, I know you like your money—your fast cars, fancy clothes, all that shit. Not only that, but I’m guessing you like your freedom. One press of a button, and all that goes away, and you’ll go to a place where dropping the soap can change your religion.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?” Daemon lowered his gun, but only slightly.
Lillian’s eyes narrowed to defiant slits. “I have an email ready to go. I hit send, the FBI gets more evidence than he could ever need to put all of you away for the rest of your lives.”
She stepped away from the conference table so that she was closer to me. Daemon shifted, too. Behind her, the fish swam on peacefully as the cat and mouse continued their dance.
“You wouldn’t,” Daemon murmured, processing her threat.
“I most certainly would. What difference does it make to me? I’ll be dead anyway. Besides, I’m not implicated in any of this. All the illegal businesses, the properties you’ve used for your crimes, your secret bank accounts. A list of all the people you’ve taken out over the years. All of it is right here. I hit send, and it’s all over for you, Daemon.”
“You’ve got a lot of nerve, you fucking bitch,” Daemon growled. I could tell he wasn’t just thinking about himself, but his mind was on his brothers and the other people who depended upon him for their livelihood. They’d all be going to prison, too. “To think I thought La Rosa was manipulating you.”
That made her laugh. “I had him by the balls for years. All of this feuding between Petrovs and La Rosas was over me.” Her face beamed with the knowledge that she’d caused all of that grief.
I thought of my mother—and I wanted to kill Lillian myself. I weighed my options. I had no weapons, nothing substantial. Still, as she continued to talk about how my father wanted her more than anything, I thought about bashing her skull in and how satisfying it would be to hear it crack against the floor.
Taking a step toward her, Daemon tried to distract her. “You had two men willing to kill over you, huh?”
“That’s right,” she said, retreating a step closer to the fish tank. “Stay back, son. I know what you’re doing. You’re not going to rush me.” Her finger hovered over that key as she balanced the laptop up by her shoulder, holding it out of his reach.
“Ma, there’s gotta be something in there that implicates you, too,” Daemon said.
“No, there’s nothing. I am sure of that. Now, you’re going to do exactly what I say, or I will push this button, and life as you know it will be over.” Her bright white teeth gleamed as she smiled in victory. “If I can’t run this family, I’ll tear it all down with me.”
Daemon continued his attempt to bargain, but I wasn’t listening to him. I had to do something now, or else I’d miss my opportunity. With Lillian’s full attention on Daemon, I moved as quickly as I ever had, throwing my full weight into her arm that held the laptop.
I saw her turn toward me, her eyes widening, her mouth dropping open as she grasped my intent. It was too late, though. She couldn’t escape me. My aim true, Lillian stumbled backward from the force of my hit and the laptop tumbled from her hand. Her fingers grappling for the device but came up short. It hit the lip of the fish tank and plunged into the water.
The laptop screen went black.
“You fucking bitch!” Giving up on it, Lillian faced me with her full fury, ready to take me out, but she was unarmed now. I stood before her, my hands still bound, ready to club her to death if I needed to.
I wouldn’t have to, though. Daemon charged forward, and Lillian turned to face him, realizing she was out of cards to play. “Daemon, my darling boy, please. I’m your mother! Give me another chance.”
In his eyes, I saw a flicker of hesitation, and my own hurt and pain from all those years without my mother boiled up inside of me.
“Fuck, no!” I screamed at her, lunging forward. I slid my arms around her neck, twisting them so that the ropes she’d used to bind me cut into her flesh. Then, I moved her toward the aquarium, practically lifting her off the floor to dunk her head under the water.
“Elisa!” Surprise filled Daemon’s voice as he moved toward me. But he didn’t try to stop me. Instead, he grabbed hold of his mother’s waist and lifted her, forcing her head deeper beneath the water as the fish darted out of the way.
Lillian gurgled, her hands digging into my arms as she tried to break free. We held her down, my arms burning as the ropes cut my flesh. I didn’t care. This ended now.
After a few minutes, Lillian stopped struggling. Through the glass, I could see her mouth open, her eyes wide, frozen in horror. Looking at Daemon, I waited for him to nod, and then, we dropped her corpse onto the floor.
Daemon pulled a knife and cut through my restraints. His arms were around me instantly. I buried my head in his chest, hearing the steady rhythm of his heart and knowing we were finally okay.
CHAPTER36
DAEMON
Ididn’t want to let Elisa go, but the recollection that my brother had been shot in the chest not long ago came roaring back to me, and I had to let her go to run out into the hallway to check on Vin. I’d told everyone to stay out and let me handle this, and they had done so, but it had to be difficult on them.
Mikel was coming through the doorway into the office as I rushed out. “Is she dead?” he asked.
I wasn’t sure how to answer that because it was our mother we were talking about, and I didn’t want to seem too thrilled about it. I only looked at him for a moment and nodded before rushing off again, but I could see he had tears in his eyes. I heard Elisa say his name and figured she’d be better at comforting my younger brother than I would, so I continued on my mission.
Still lying on his back in the hallway, Vin looked slightly better now than he had when I’d left him. He wasn’t quite as pale, and he had a goofy grin on his face.