Believe it.
Walk away, Tempest.
Walk. Away.
The final blow, I felt it, I orchestrated it for this very moment. “Tempest,” I ground out her name letting it linger on my lips as the air carried it in a dark whisper toward the skies. “Really think about it, the circumstances. Me saying yes to you so easily, us getting answers so fast, the infiltration, everything being tied up in a nice fancy little bow. And then there’s you…” I sneered. It hurt to do it. A part of my heart cracked as I forced myself to keep talking. “In what world would someone like me, ever truly love, someone completely tarnished and easy like you?”
1
THE LAST NIGHT AND THE FIRST
LOUIS
I’ll live a thousand days, burn a million worlds, I will not, however, stand to be controlled by any man. I won’t just die on this hill. I’ll burn it to the ground. — Tempest Alfero
TEN YEARS AGO
Ilaughed.
That was all I could do.
“What do you mean—rub your ears?” I asked. “Buddy, just go to sleep.”
My twin was already snoring. But my youngest brother? He was wide awake, like always, talking through the darkness.
“Mama did.” John sighed, flopping onto his back. Ten years old and already stretching into manhood. Soon, he'd learn what that meant in this family.
God, I hated it.
All of it.
If I could throw my body over him—shield him from the blood, the fear, the legacy—I would. I’d burn every inch of myselfto keep him clean. But he wasn’t mine to save. And our father? He’d do what he always did.
Nothing.
So, you held the soft moments tight. You stole the innocence before it was ripped away.
“Okay,” I said, crooking my elbow and lying beside him. I stared at the crown of his head, jet-black hair, then I studied his face, with the too-long lashes, crooked smile. I thought of that stupid, perfect, big-toothed grin.
I memorized it. Locked it away.
“I’ll rub your ears,” I whispered. “Just like Mom did. But only for a few minutes—you’ve got school tomorrow.”
“Mmm, lemme stretch first.”
Here we go.He raised his twig arms overhead and peeked at me from beneath heavy lids.
“See?” he said. “I’m sore.”
“From sitting in front of the PlayStation?”
“Saving the world,” he corrected. “Dad says if I believe in the Family, I can do it. I can save us. I’m strong.”
Scrawny muscles flexed.
I reached over and gave his right biceps a squeeze. “I’m impressed. Might even pass me up.”
“Nah,” he giggled. “You’re buff. Like… scary buff. But you’re never scary.”