Page 108 of Vendetta Crown

The words hit me like a physical blow. My fifteen-year-old niece, with her serious eyes and love of books.

Given to that monster.

"My daughter," Tamara continues, her voice breaking. "Was going to be traded like cattle to that psychopath. I couldn't allow that, not after what I lived through under Lev."

My stomach turns at the thought.

"I went to Kristofer privately," Tamara says, her hands trembling. "Begged him to reconsider. Asked if there was anything—anything at all—I could do to prevent this."

Aurora's breathing has gone shallow beside me. I squeeze her hand gently, grounding her.

"He said he wanted Jamie Fields, not some fifteen-year-old child." Tamara's shoulders slump as if carrying an unbearable weight. "If I could deliver Jamie to him, he would gladly reject his betrothal to Mikayla."

I close my eyes, fury and understanding warring within me. A mother willing to sacrifice a stranger to save her child.

It's despicable, yet horrifyingly understandable.

"I agreed," Tamara whispers. "I thought I could save my daughter from him."

"And exposed Aurora in the process," I say, my voice tight with anger. "You delivered her to a monster."

"I did, but I didn't think Kristofer would reveal my duplicity to my uncle." Tamara's voice cracks. "And when he did, my uncle decided that the safest path forward was to simply kill everyone in this mansion. Because if everyone is dead, then the most valuable part of the Dragunov bratva will go to Aurora, who would be with Kristofer."

The pieces click into place. Semyon's brutal efficiency. The coordinated attack. The timing of it all.

"He said it was neater this way." Tamara's voice is now barely a whisper as tears fall hot and fast from her eyes. "But more importantly, it meant that he would still get to do what he wanted: make me watch helplessly as I lose every single one of my children."

I sit stunned, my mind reeling as I try to process everything Tamara has revealed. Her words hang in the air between us, raw and terrible. The woman I've hated for decades suddenly appearing more complex, more human than I've ever allowed myself to see.

Aurora breaks the heavy silence. "Do you need our protection, Tamara?" Her voice is gentle but firm.

Tamara shakes her head, a mirthless smile playing on her ruined makeup. "I don't matter. My daughters do." She straightens her spine with newfound resolve. "The only way to truly protect them is if my uncle and Kristofer are dead."

"We want the same thing," I say, my voice rough with emotion. "What can you do to help?"

Tamara reaches into her purse and pulls out her phone. "I've installed the same backdoor software onto my uncle's security system." She extends it toward me. "I came to deliver this to you personally."

I take the phone from her, our fingers brushing for the briefest moment and I can't help feel how cold her skin is.

"This will allow you to attack him at his home," she explains. "You'll have complete access to his security feeds, door locks, everything."

"Why would you do this?" I ask, suspicious despite myself.

"Because I've accepted that I'm not getting out of this alive," she says with startling clarity.

She stands and smooths her skirt with practiced elegance. "And now, I must go back there."

"What?" Aurora gasps, rising to her feet. "Why would you go back?"

"My uncle expects me back in time for dinner," Tamara says with that same sad smile. "And dinner would be a good time to attack, Ruslan Vitalyevich."

"Tamara—" I start, but she cuts me off.

"Thank you," she says, looking between us. "For giving me the chance to see my daughters one last time. To hold them. To tell them I love them." Her voice catches. "Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to spend a few more minutes with them. Before it's too late."

I nod, unable to deny her this request. The woman who once handed Leslie to my father is now walking willingly toward her own execution, all to save her children.

"Of course," Aurora says softly before I can. "Take all the time you need."

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