Page 48 of Branches of Betrayal

She took a step forward, eager to slit Demi’s throat so she didn’t have to hear her speak ill of Peyton one more time, but Don held up his hand to stop any of them from moving. Hadina looked to her father in confusion.

Reaching out for the dagger, Don gripped the handle while moving his other hand to the pressure point on Demi’s neck. Hadina watched as he twisted the knife still stuck in her thigh, eliciting another tortured scream from her. With a kick of his foot, he forced Demi onto her knees, yanking the knife free at the same time. Keeping a grip of her neck, her father pressed the sharp tip of the blade to the underside of Demi’s chin.

“You’re a foolish woman, Demi Treyva. It seems time has done nothing to give you wisdom.” Don let out a sigh. “I came here in the hopes you would take my advice and do the right thing by your daughter. It was an old fool’s wish, I know, but I had to try. For the sake of my daughter, and yours. But your fate is of your own making, Demi.”

Taking a step back, he removed the blade from her jaw, shaking his head slowly. “You should never have spoken about my daughter’s wife with such vehemence. Now, you’ll face her wrath.”

Hadina could feel her jaw slacken with shock. In her gut, she’d wanted to believe that her father hadn’t betrayed them again. But to see him defend them, defend Peyton like that…she was thankful beyond words for having been born an Adis with Don as her father.

He walked towards them and stopped, holding the knife out. “This is for you.”

Hadina reached out to take it but Peyton shook her head. “He means me.”

Her father nodded, extending the handle of the blade to Peyton. She gripped it tight, and Hadina watched her father do the same to the sharp blade. As Peyton went to pull the knife from his hold, her father held tighter.

The edge cut into his hand, blood pooling in the palm of his hand. When he finally let go, his blood dripping onto the floor between them, he looked to Peyton with eyes full of remorse.

“For my part in your suffering,cariña, I am truly sorry.”

Removing a handkerchief from his suit jacket, he wrapped it around his palm to stem the bleeding.

“Now it’s your time for vengeance. Unleash your wrath, Peyton, and let your eyes be the last thing Demi Treyva ever sees.”

Chapter 26

Peyton

She forcedher hand to stay steady as Don handed her the dagger. She couldn’t help but stare at his blood coating the blade, a sacrifice and an apology.

Peyton didn’t realize how much anger she had been harboring towards Don, or just how much guilt he himself was keeping locked away. It seemed they had both buried their feelings, hoping that everything would just work out without ever having to speak about it.

She looked at Hadina, shock and awe in her eyes.

“This is your decision,tentadora,” Hadina said quietly. She moved in front of Peyton, blocking off her view of Demi. “I can do this for you—I wouldloveto do it for you. But I think you need this. You need the satisfaction of being the one to take her from this world.”

Hadina was right. Peyton knew shehadto do this. After everything Demi had done to her, everything she had taken away from her, this was Peyton’s chance to give herself closure. It wouldn’t be pretty, but it would be enough.

“I can do this.”

“Of that, I have no doubt. Go get your revenge.”

Hadina stepped to the side, revealing Demi crawling on the floor, a smear of blood left in her trail. Hadina’s aim must have been pretty good, because it seemed like Demi was losing alotof blood. Though, she supposed, Don twisting the knife would have helped some.

Taking each step carefully and slowly, Peyton prowled towards Demi calmly. With each step, Peyton was reminded why Demi was a devil in disguise.

She pictured Melina, her beautiful sister, and the life that was stolen from her. Peyton had always imagined Melina standing beside her as she got married, the maid of honor that was so truly beautiful and kind, Peyton wouldn’t even have minded if she stole the show. Now that she was with Hadina, and marriage was a very real possibility, it hurt all the more to know that Melina would never be there.

Melina had been robbed of a future. One with a happy and healthy relationship, joyful children brightening her life, and a lifetime of love and laughter with Peyton.

For Melina, Peyton would kill Demi Treyva.

Turning her head slightly, Peyton caught the eye of both Zellie and Piper. Both women—her new sisters, she realized—tilted their chins at her in encouragement.

When she reached the crawling Demi, she stomped her foot down on her back, causing the woman to scream.

“Get off me, you little fuck!”

Peyton rolled her eyes. “Get up.”

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