Page 71 of Merciless Queen

“You look surprised. Zeno never mentioned a sister, huh?”

Something like that.

Zeno’s next words kill the tormented storm about to ravage the room, even if neither of them are aware of it brewing inside me. “Serafina, go find Nero downstairs. I’ll be there in a bit.”

With a small shrug, she waves goodbye—which I can’t function enough to return—and spins on one heel and disappears down the hall, eventually descending the tiled steps. Zeno breaks away from me to shut the door.

“Your…sister.”

Zeno tucks his hands behind his back as he leans against the shut door and nods once, continuing to watch me put it all together from my place amidst a ruined bedroom.

“Your sister with eyes like…” I can’t even finish that statement. That revelation.

Because it’snottrue.

It’s. Not. True.

It’s a coincidence.

Zeno glances away, his jaw ticking. “Nothing gets by you, Pakhan.”

Nothing gets by me.Hah!That’s more laughable than anything I’ve heard in life. Seems likeeverything’sgotten by me. Him. This entire war between the organizations. And a woman who shares my eyes and Zeno’s features.

The silence between is thick and tangible and I wish I could drown in it. I could—would—if I wasn’t desperate for answers. I swallow my pride, my nerves, and finally push out, “She’s his, isn’t she?”

“No,” he bites out. “She was neverhis.”

“I mean, she’s…his. As in, his DNA is in her. Hecreatedher.”

Zeno’s jaw clicks, his hatred of the fact apparent in his very demeanor. His head jerks once in a nod.

If Papa conceived her…and me…then it makes her my?—

“Is she aware?” Any other question to distract from the fact neither of us has put into words yet.

“Sì..”

Papa was no saint. I’ve known for years. Had the vision of a perfect father shattered pretty early on. He had little respect for women, myself included, but this…to turn against another daughter entirely. No wonder Zeno hates our family.

“Did he?” Maybe it’s a silly question, but I almost hope he didn’t. Hope the villain at the heart of all of this was at least innocent inonething. Except I already suspect with more than anything that he does. This is the same man that sold my virginity, so why wouldn’t he avoid another child?

Zeno tenses.“Sì.”

“That’s why you kidnapped me then? Why you hate my father. He turned away from her, and I’m being held responsible.”

He laughs once, humourlessly. “Still, you cling to the notion that he’s a good man even when you’ve lived through his treachery. Stop. Breathe. And fuckingthinkfor yourself,la mia regina distrutta. She’s eighteen. Well after you and I were both born, so what do you think truly happened back then?”

At this point, I’m not sure I want to know.

There’stimes in life where I’ve experienced true happiness. Being officially inducted into the Cosa Nostra; Serafina’s birth, despite how she came to be; and every moment spent with her and Madre.

There’s also times where the horrors got too intense. When my father carried Madre back into the Mancini villa and her tormented screams painted the walls with a sound I’ve yet to run from. When I witnessed Padre’s death at the hand of the same man who destroyed my mother’s soul.

This moment doesn’t fall into either category. Instead, it’s right down the centre, straddling the line of good and bad, a dream and a nightmare. This is revenge exactly as I’ve always envisioned. When tearing apart the Bratva from the inside out is as good as murdering every one of them. On the flip side, this is also pain. Horrible suffering that I’m dredging up when it changes nothing of Vanessa’s fate.

From her spot across the room, she sways, stumbling back a step until the footboard keeps her upright. It’s a similar place to where I found her last night, passed out with her neck bent atan awkward angle. I should have let her deal with the discomfort in the morning instead of going against every shred of logic and carrying her to the mattress, which she stripped and tore from my bed frame. Laid her amongst her throne of destruction.

“Tell me then.” Her gentle command weaves its way into my heart, lodging there until it’d be impossible to consider any other course of action.

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