Page 60 of Cruel Redemption

“Only kill Amara.” My jaw was locked in place.

“Your sister was in real danger as long as she was with him. If the Petrovs ever find out about the baby, they will take it from her.”

“No, they won’t. I’ve handled all of that.” I glared at my mother with utter venom. “Your plan was vicious and hideous. You killed Enzo. Amara is the one taking care of Katya.” I shook my head. “What were you supposed to get out of this? What did Anthony promise you?”

“That my children would be safe. That I’d have control of my money again. With her and Enzo gone, I didn’t have to worry about you and your sister going down the wrong path. And everyone would thank me for taking out the queen.”

I laughed. “Power? Were you asking a politician to give you power? To make you the fucking queen of New Orleans?” I huffed. “As if you could dethrone Amara Amato.”

She nibbled on her bottom lip. “He did exactly what I wanted to do. Don’t you think that’s power?”

“To convince a man to commit a crime for sex and money? Doesn’t sound like a big power play, Mother,” I hissed. “It sounds pretty common and petty. Not much more sophisticated than what the whores on Bourbon Street do.”

She raised her hand to slap me, but I dodged her open palm.

“I’m still your mother.”

“Genetically, yes. Other than that, you’re no longer in this family.”

“You can’t do that.”

“I swore to Katya that justice would be served.”

“You can’t kick me out of the family. You’re upset. But you know how the families operate. We do what we need to do to protect our own.”

I clenched my fists. “I’m doing what I need to do to protect my own. That no longer includes you.”

I got up to leave the room. I would have to deal with Anthony Gardner later. I would not let Enzo’s death go unavenged.

“What are you going to do?” There was real fear in her eyes. Panic in her voice.

I paused in the doorway. “You have two days to pack up your things and get out.”

“Luka, don’t do this,” she begged.

“If you weren’t my mother, I wouldn’t give you another second. You should be thanking me.”

“I know what you did to her,” she cried.

I stopped moving. My spine stiffened. “What are you talking about?”

Her eyes lit. “Your father told me. You had Amara Amato kidnapped years ago, didn’t you?”

“Why the fuck would you believe anything Dmitry said about the Amatos?” I would never admit to her she knew anything. “Collect your things and leave.”

I walked out of the house, slamming the Novikov door behind me. The crest rattled in my wake.

Thirty-Two

Amara

The police dropped the charges against Luka. It was easier than I thought. They had acted on an anonymous tip. Since Luka’s bail hearing, there was no new evidence, and the case was weak already. My admission to our relationship and the closeness we shared with our personal and business lives, cleared him with just my statement. I walked through the doors, expecting to bring him good news. For once in days, there was something to be happy about. A brief ray of light. A sliver of hope. God, we needed some hope. I was shocked with what I received instead.

Katya and I sat in complete disbelief as Luka told us about his run-in with Inna Petrov that led to the revelation that Anna Novikov and Anthony Gardner had plotted the kidnapping and assassinations on Enzo and me. I couldn’t stop shaking. Nothing could keep me warm after I learned the truth. And yet, I didn’t think I had the right to be upset. Katya had lost Enzo. I was alive. I had Luka.

“I’m going to go lie down,” Katya volunteered. “I can’t think anymore.”

“I could go with you,” I offered.

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