Page 50 of Branches of Betrayal

“That was for Melina,” Peyton said as she pulled herself off Demi’s dead body. “And for me.”

Chapter 27

Hadina - two weekslater

It was a bizarre thing,watching the woman you loved get the retribution she had seeked for so long. Hadina had been so desperate to step in, take over, make sure that the blood was onherhands. But Peyton had said no. And she was right to do so. Ending Demi Treyva had to be done by Peyton; it was a poetic kind of justice. Killed by the child you brought into the world.

Hadina had been sure that Peyton would break after what happened. Not because she was weak, but because it was such an insurmountable amount of emotion that had been built up and released. It would have been natural—even for Hadina. But Peyton had surprised them all.

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

Peyton rolled her eyes, pressing her palm against Hadina’s cheek gently. “I won’t be if you ask me that one more time. Really, Hadi, I’m doing good. Demi got what she deserved. I refuse to harbor guilt or anything else in response to that.”

Hadina pressed her lips together in a firm line. “But that was a big thing to go through. I’m worried that you’re bottling it all up and then it’s going to break you when you explode.”

Closing the distance between them, Peyton slipped her arms around Hadina’s waist. She tilted her head up, pressing their lips together in a soft kiss. “Nothing will ever break me again. I avenged Melina, and myself. And now we get to plan ahead forourfuture. I am much stronger than before, baby. Believe me.”

Hadina nodded. “I believe you. But it doesn’t mean I won’t worry. It’s my duty.”

“As my wife?”

She was caught off guard by Peyton’s question. She had called Peyton her wife in the heat of the moment, but Hadina had meant it with every fiber of her being. She had thought of Peyton that way for a while, but had never had the guts to say it aloud.

“Yes.”

“You meant it? It was just a spur of the moment thing?” Peyton asked sheepishly, a blush spreading across her cheeks.

Hadina raised a brow, looking down at Peyton with a serious expression. “I meant it entirely,tentadora. You are my wife, and I am yours. You didn’t really think you could escape me so easily? We are bound.”

Peyton took a deep, shuddering breath. Hadina watched as her eyes became glassy before tears spilled down her cheeks. “I never want to escape.”

Grabbing her by the waist, Hadina brought them crashing into each other. She tilted Peyton’s head up by the chin, enveloping her in a deep, sultry kiss. Their breathing became hot, heavy, and Hadina only pulled away when they both needed to come up for air.

“There is no escape for either of us. Not anymore. We belong to each other now.”

Peyton smiled, pressing her face into Hadina’s chest as she hugged her tight. “I like the sound of that.”

They stayed like that for a while, wrapped up in each other. Hadina caressed Peyton, showing her the softness she needed to know that if Peyton ever did need to speak about what happened, she would be comfortable to speak to Hadina about it.

“What happens next?” Peyton asked, sitting up from where they lay atop the bed.

“What do you mean?”

“Since I killed Demi, I haven’t known what to do with myself. Your father clearly doesn’t need a caregiver.”

Hadina tucked a piece of Peyton’s fallen hair behind her ear, grinning. “You find your purpose. There will always be a slew of scumbags like Demi Treyva out there. You’re part of the Adis & Co. action now—you just have to find your next scumbag to target.”

Peyton practically beamed. “That sounds like a good plan. When can we start?”

Hadina nuzzled Peyton’s neck, breathing in her scent. “Now, baby. We can start now.”

With blood smearedacross her face, red-stained blade in hand, Peyton was a terrifying temptress that made Hadina feel weak at the knees. She looked at the bodies around them, each killed by their hands, and smiled. They were a vicious, psychotic brand of chaos, and Hadina loved every part of them.

Once Harris returned, signaling that the girls had made it out safely, Hadina angled her head and raised her eyebrows, telling him to wait outside. He nodded in reply and smirked, knowingjust what perversions she was about to take part in. Still, the knowledge of people being able to hear them, well, it made Hadina’s toes curl in anticipation.

Without waiting to hear the click of the door, Hadina marched over to her love, shoving her against the wall. Peyton let out a softoofand grinned wildly at Hadina.

“Baby, is now really the time?”

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