Page 77 of Split

“How do you want him to be punished for what he’s done?” Roman interjects, flickering me a glance that conveys he knows exactly what I’m getting at–andhis doubt as to whether she’ll provide the answer I desire. His eyes refocus on Eliza as he asks, “Do you think he deserves death?”

She worries her lower lip between her teeth, a little crease forming between her brows. “Are you saying you’ll kill him for me?”

My brother gives her a shallow nod.

She returns the gesture, as if she was expecting that response. No surprise, given she grew up in this world. She knew exactly what type of family she was marrying into.

Well, notexactly. We did catch her off guard by revealing there were two of us, but there wasn’t any point in leading with that when Roman had no intention of getting close to her. Neither of us did; I was only in it for the exhilaration of the games we played together, even when I realized she was starting to play me, too.

I’m still not sure who bested who.

“He shouldn’t be able to live after what he’s done,” Eliza muses angrily.

“Then you’ll kill him,” I say flatly, bringing my ankle up to rest on my opposite knee.

She whips her gaze in my direction, eyes widening. “Me?”

“This revenge isyoursto take, is it not?” I challenge.

She draws a measured breath, brows knitting together as she considers, my brother and I sharing another glance. He still thinks Eliza is soft and delicate; that she won’t want to do this.I think she’s got more in her than either of us initially gave her credit for.

“Okay, I’ll do it,” she finally declares, throat bobbing as she lifts her chin with false bravado, eyes flickering between the two of us. “For my mother.”

“Glad we’re agreed on that,” I quip, tossing my phone down on the cushion between us. “I already had Lev dig the grave, right after I got that tox report. I’m sure you remember it, don’t you, pet?”

Eliza’s cheeks redden, her breath hitching.

I think she enjoyed our time in that grave almost as much as I did.

“We’ll go to the top with this and get approval for the execution first,” Roman says sternly, giving me a pointed look.

“Of course,” I nod, stroking a hand over my chin. “Then we just need a scene for it, and I have the perfect one in mind…”

They both look to me expectantly.

“We never had a wedding reception, and wedohave a ballroom,” I point out, glancing from Eliza to my brother. “Don’t you think it’d be appropriate to officially introduce her as ours now that we’re intent on keeping her?”

“I can’t be both your wives,” she scoffs, shaking her head.

I look her way, our eyes locking. “You can be whatever you like.”

“Free?” she asks hopefully.

“Except that,” I growl, leveling her with an icy glare. “We’ll secure the order, invite your father, and you avenge your mother by sinking a knife into his heart.” I shrug a shoulder as I turn to my brother. “Simple. Clean.”

“What makes you think he’ll come?” Eliza asks dubiously.

“Because he doesn’t know we’ve dug up the proof to expose him,” Roman answers. “And Victor won’t pass on theopportunity to rub elbows with so many powerful people in one room.”

She nods slowly, still seemingly unsure.

“In the meantime, we’ll prepare you for what needs to be done,” I tell her, a ripple of excitement simmering in my veins at the promise of violence.

Eliza has always looked stunning in red, after all.

33

ELIZA

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