Page 21 of The Vicious Defender

"You're an ungrateful little—" Dad tries, but the words are stuck in his throat as his eyes move past me and a terrified expression takes over his face.

"Leave. Now." Xavier's voice thunders behind me, making me flinch.

Dad gulps and nods, taking his wife's hand and hurrying towards the door.

I stand, watching my parents rush to the exit, not bothering to look back at their daughter, their pride and joy, their biggest accomplishment, or the one who will one day inherit the entire cartel. They don't care about that, only about keeping their asses safe and not making Xavier angry.

They're scared. Of him, of me, of their daughter.

They're scared of me because they think he's changing me, but I've never been the same person. Maybe he is molding me, but he's only giving me a chance to be myself.

As my parents rush away, I turn around and meet Xavier's eyes.

"Hey," I whisper, and he pulls me close, enveloping me in a tight hug.

"You're so brave," he murmurs into my ear, holding me tight. "You're a good girl. You're such a good, good girl, Tallulah."

Chapter Six

Xavier

Years ago

Scorpions only know how to do one thing: sting.

They cannot help themselves. It goes against their nature.

As I examine my nephew's face, I know he'll never fit into the Scorpion cartel. Heath is too soft. Too forgiving. Too kind. Too weak.

I've tried my best to help him, but the only thing I've succeeded in is turning him against me.

"How could you do that?" Heath demands. "You killed him, didn't you?"

The nurse covers my adoptive brother's body with a white sheet, her face solemn. I escort Heath back to the waiting car before he has a chance to make a scene.

"Yes," I admit. "I killed him."

"But why?" Heath asks, his eyes red and puffy.

"It had to be done. You know what the Scorpions are like."

Heath looks down, ashamed.

"You should have let him live. He was suffering."

"I know. But that was not the right decision," I try to explain, but Heath won't listen.

"You're a murderer, Uncle," he states coldly. "And you killed my father."

"A necessary sacrifice," I say. "I know it's hard to understand. But I'm doing this for you."

Heath's mouth twists.

"I'll never forgive you for this," he says.

"I know," I respond, watching his eyes fill with hatred and regret. "I know."

Over the next few days, I have my hands full with work. With Heath's father gone, I am now the sole heir of the Scorpion cartel. One day, if I don't have kids of my own, my adoptive nephew will inherit the Scorpion cartel.

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