“I am so damn proud of you.” Antonia smiles. “But next time, make sure that gun is loaded and pull the damn trigger.”
“Okay,” I agree, while having no intention of ever doing that. “Thank you for coming to see me.”
“It’s your first day. Of course I came to see you,” she says. “Besides, don’t tell your brothers, but you’re my favorite person in this family. Visiting you isn’t a hardship.”
I laugh. Antonia has always said I was her favorite person. I know she worried I’d feel left out after CJ was born. But I never did, because she made sure I was included in everything. We even went on girl dates once a week, just the two of us. I really lucked out in the stepmother department.
“I love you.” I throw my arms around Antonia’s neck and squeeze. “Thank you for always being the best.”
“I love you too,” she says. “You know, you’ve grown into such a wonderful woman. A kind-hearted, hardworking, independent, strong woman. Your mother would be so proud of you.”
“How do you know?” I ask. Antonia always says stuff like this, but she didn’t know my mom. I have very few memories of the woman myself.
“Because I’m very proud of you, and if I am, then she is too.”
“I should go and see Dad.” I sigh. I really don’t want to see the disappointment on his face. I caused drama on my first day working for him. I’m so embarrassed.
“Maybe give him a few more hours. Go and have lunch. Walk the floor or whatever it is people do around here.” She waves a hand around the office.
“That’s the thing… I have no idea what I’m supposed to be doing here.” I laugh.
The door opens, even though Antonia had locked it. “Turn on the news,” CJ says.
“Why?” I ask, but he’s already turning on the television that sits on the opposite wall.
“Celine and Toby Westmead were found dead in their million-dollar Nevada estate,” a news reporter announces on the screen. The same words are scrawled across the bottom.
“No…” I whisper. Jacob’s parents were killed. Who would do such a thing? “Oh god.”
“Shit,” Antonia mutters under her breath. She has a worried look on her face. “CJ, does your father know?”
“I don’t think so,” he says.
“Go and tell him. Jazzy, we need to go home, now,” Antonia insists.
“What? Why?”
“Because it’s not safe here.” She shoves me behind her, as if she’s my personal bodyguard.
Chapter Twelve
The bottle of Macallan Valerio Adami hits the wall, shattering the glass and splashing what was left of the amber liquid everywhere.
“Fuck!” My scream echoes through the room. The twelve-foot ceilings give the perfect acoustics.
My knees hit the floor.I did this.My father warned me about the risks of going against The Court and I did it anyway. But fuck, how the hell could I vote ayesto what they wanted to do?
Now I’m paying the price.My parentspaid the price. Fucking hell, what have I done? I knew there would be repercussions, but I never expected this. I didn’t think they’d go after my parents. My businesses, sure. But not my parents. My chest constricts and my lungs struggle to get the air they need as my mind spirals. Guilt consuming me.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper to no one.
My parents aren’t here. They’re never going to be here again. Because of me. Because I made a choice, and it wasn’t them. Fuck. My hands tug at my hair, my forehead hitting the carpet as I hunch over. Tears fall freely, and I do nothing to stop them.
I deserve to feel this pain. I brought this on my family…
I push myself off the floor as soon as realization hits. There is nothing else. The Court can’t take anything else from me. I have nothing to lose now.
I smile. They’ve made a huge fucking mistake. They can come after my businesses. I don’t give a fuck about any of it. They do, though. Money is everything to each and every one of them, and I’m going to take it all. I’m going to ruin them one by one.