Page 47 of Branches of Betrayal

“Stay quiet and behind me,” Hadina ordered.

“I’ll be quiet, but I’m not leaving your side,” Peyton countered. It was infuriating to Hadina, but she also loved seeing Peyton not be scared to answer back. She would never have to cower to anyone ever again, if Hadina had anything to do with it.

The meeting point was an old hotel, one that was long since abandoned. Most of it was a crumbling mess, apart from the dining hall. That room had been cleared out and had been frequented by squatters for most of Hadina’s life. She assumed that was how Demi had found half of her team—targeting the vulnerable and promising them riches.

Entering the front of the building, both Zellie and Piper joined them, walking at their flanks. Adrian was somewhere, having found the best vantage point for if everything hit the fan. He’d take the kill shot if needed. There was no way Demi Treyva was leaving alive.

As they reached the dining hall, Hadina began to feel the hairs on her arms stand up. There was a change in theatmosphere and she didn’t like that; Hadina was one for always trusting her gut.

They pulled the large double doors open, revealing Demi sitting on a rusting chair, a smug smile on her face. Her short, blonde hair was pulled back behind one ear, and a bright red was painted on her bitter lips.

“So glad you ladies could join us.”

Us.

A shiver ran down Hadina’s spine and she looked to Peyton, seeing that she was equally as tense. Something was wrong.

Hadina tightened her grip on her weapons, catching Peyton doing the same from the corner of her eye.

A gasp tore free from her as a figure emerged from the darkened doorway behind Demi. Standing tall and stern, Hadina’s father stopped beside Demi. The way they were standing…it looked like a united frontagainstAdis & Co., the very company he had created.

“Papi?” Piper’s voice broke through the tense silence, her tone covered in betrayal.

“¿Qué has hecho?” Zellie asked, disbelief coating every word.

Hadina stood rigid in her place, just staring at her father. The way it looked, the feeling she had in her gut… She had to be wrong.

“Answer us,Papi!” Piper yelled. It was the first time Hadina had ever seen her lose her temper with their father. “Don’t just stand there!”

He didn’t say a word. His gaze was directed at Peyton, intense and filled with unsaid words. Something about that—the betrayal, the lack of communication—set Hadina on edge and she gritted her teeth. He’d betrayed Peyton once before; Hadina wouldn’t let him do it again.

She’d wait until he said his piece. After that, Hadina would ruin Demi, whether her father was in league with her or not.

“Enough of this family bullshit!” Demi yelled, clapping her hands together as she stood up. “I’m so sick of all of you Adis’ and your whining and complaining. Does it ever stop?”

Hadina pointed the tip of her knife in Demi’s direction. “You, keep your fucking mouth shut.” She turned the blade towards her father. “As for you,Papi, I think it’s time you spoke.”

Her father looked at her with heartbroken eyes. “You don’t understand,mija.”

“It isn’t the first time you’ve said that to me,Papi. I’m sick of hearing it.”

“Oh, boo-freaking-hoo. Big, bad Hadina Adis has had her feelings hurt. I swear, you’re all fucking pathetic. You, and your love-stricken ways. So foolish. You love that little bitch so much, but you didn’t manage to stop me from taking her, did you?” Demi sneered, looking down her nose at Hadina. “Didn’t manage to stop me from breaking her and leaving her a bloody mess either.”

Hadina was about to answer her, a slew of vile things on the tip of her tongue, but Peyton grabbed her wrist, shaking her head almost imperceptibly.

“Andyou,” Demi said, rounding on Zellie, “what a pussy. You chickened out of our deal, and clearly you’ve gone soft. I would call you weak, but I don’t think that even covers how pathetic you are.”

Zellie’s nostrils flared and she trembled with rage. But for the first time, Hadina’s sister stayed in her place, waiting to be commanded. She had told Hadina that they’d do this her way, and clearly Zellie was determined to keep her word.

“And don’t even get me started on you.” Demi had turned towards Piper, her eyes assessing. “Clearly the runt of the litter. So unimportant that you don’t even get to play with the big girls, huh? You’re basically a side note. Tell me, are you even worthy tohave the Adis name? You sure as fuck aren’t worthy to be inmypresence.”

Tears sprung in Piper’s eyes, Demi’s cruel words striking deep with some of Piper’s deepest insecurities. Hadina was desperate to move, to do something, but if Peyton wanted them to wait, then wait they would.

Demi slowly turned back to Peyton, her smug face lighting up with excitement. “If it isn’t my darling daughter! Pity to see you’re still alive and in one piece. I did make a mistake—letting those two idiots stay with you while I took care of business. As the saying goes, if you want something done right, do it yourself. So, lucky me! I get to be the one to end your piteous existence.”

The foul words coming out of her mouth towards Peyton was Hadina’s breaking point. Without thinking, she pulled her arm back and watched as her knife split through the air, embedding in Demi’s thigh, a grin pulling the corners of her lips as Demi screamed in pain.

Keeping her voice calm, almost dull, Hadina let the dark part of herself roam free. The lethal demon she kept at bay was now at the forefront, ready to destroy Demi Treyva. “How dare you speak to my wife like that? You’re not even worthy of her glance. Hell, you’re not worthy of sharing the same bloodline as her.”

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