Page 103 of Sardonic Burn

Lyla is waiting for me in the driveaway, anxious and as pale as a sheet of paper.

Relief washes over her face when she notices me, her pacing finally coming to a stop.

“Oh, thank god.” She sighs. “It’s really bad, Hudson.”

I walk straight past her. “Where are they?”

“The library.”

I don’t ask anything else and quickly rush up the stairs until I reach the top floor. It’s mom’s sanctuary. I cannot believe that motherfucker ruined it for her. Leah De Santis is a quiet and reserved person. I often wondered if she even liked us as kids and then I saw how her face would light up whenever she was in the library.

That happiness and pure bliss in her eyes is something I’ve been trying to preserve, to keep it sacred. It’s her only safe space where she’s able to truly smile and act like a proper, functional human being.

I reach the door, only to find it wide open.

I’m unsure whether to laugh at the absurdity of the situation or to kill everyone inside and just get it over with.

Henrick and Ray are standing within an inch of each other. Their clothes are fucked up, their ties and jackets thrown to the floor. Their faces are equally as fucked up; both of them are filled with bruised eyes, split lips, and bleeding noses.

They’re holding guns pointed at each other’s heads, and neither of them is speaking.

To the right, where the fireplace is—well was, because that too was destroyed—are Kalina and Mom. They’re hugging each other tightly, and tears are continuously streaming down their faces, their sobbing the only thing audible in the room.

The library is entirely destroyed.

Bullet holes in walls, broken shelves, tarnished books all over the floor. Broken glass pieces scattered all around. Even the damn curtains are ripped apart. Evidently, neither Ray nor Henrick gave a damn about ruining this place.

I pull out my gun and shoot in between Ray and Henrick, hitting the wall across the room.

They whip their heads in my direction, just now noticing me. The grip on their weapons only tightens, and neither of them is willing to lower their guns. In their pathetic minds, the person who back off first is the loser.

“What the hell is going on in here?”

“Son,” Henrick says through gritted teeth.

“You know what?” I take a deep breath. “I don’t actually give a shit. Lower the weapons, both of you. Your wives are fucking terrified.”

Ray no longer cares if he loses against Henrick. He immediately drops the gun and runs toward Kalina. She slaps him but then starts checking to see if he’s injured, inspecting hisface. Relief washes over her when she realizes the wounds are only superficial, and she sighs, hugging him tightly.

Henrik, on the other hand, isn’t as lucky. He approaches Mom, but she barely even sees him. A look of pain glistens in her eyes as she finally takes in her surroundings. The only place she ever truly felt safe in is now completely destroyed by the hand of her husband.

“Now.” I clear my throat. “Kalina and Leah should probably… catch up. The two of you grandpas, follow me.”

“Who the fuck do you think you’re bossing around?”

I glare at my father and raise a brow. His jaw clenches, but he doesn’t say anything else. My eyes find my mother, and she nods. She needs time alone, far from him. I’m not sure if they will ever go back to being okay after this, but it’s also not my fucking problem.

He should’ve picked a different room to destroy.

I’m out of the room before either of them can try to protest and with a flick of my wrist, everyone inside of the house leaves. I make my way into the kitchen, grabbing one of Henrick’s most prized possessions: a whiskey bottle that’s older than me. I contemplate which one to open but then open all three just to fucking spite him.

I’m petty like that.

Though I’m generous enough to pour both of them a glass. They wait for them on the kitchen counter and when they stroll inside, Henrick’s face turns sour almost immediately. I only raise a brow, and it manages to shut him up before he even speaks.

“Now.” I tap my finger on the counter. “What was that about? Don’t get me wrong, I genuinely don’t give a fuck whether or not the two of you will end up killing each other. But you ruined the most sacred room in the house—Leah’s room. So I’mfucking curious what was so serious that it couldn’t wait until the two of you came downstairs.”

It’s Ray who speaks up first, though he’s as grumpy as always.

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