Page 96 of Victorious: Part 3
It took me a long time to get past the fact that, as Nighthawk, she took the life of Livvy. The life of Poppy’s mother. But with Haven and Poppy’s help, somehow, they showed me that it wasn’t her fault and that she was just following orders.
Orders that this asshole in front of me gave her.
This isn’t on Cassandra. It’s all on this piece of shit in front of me.
“I ordered the elimination of a critical piece of my puzzle. She was monumental in the puzzle that I was creating. You move the wrong piece, the puzzle doesn’t work. Olivia was one of those movable pieces. She had to go.” He shrugs like we’re discussing the weather. “It’s nothing personal.”
“Nothing personal?” My voice drops to barely above a whisper. “You tortured my daughter. You killed my ex-wife. You spentyearstrying to destroyeverythingI care about. And you call itnothing personal?It feltveryfucking personal.”
Javier snorts out a laugh. “Well, aren’t you just a sensitive little man… not very Alpha at all,are you?”
Scowling, I reach forward, my clenched fist slamming into his nose as hard as I can. “Fuck. You!” Blood runs down his face as a slow laugh escapes his mouth, blood pooling on his lips, onto his chin, making him look like a madman.
He spits out a line of blood onto the Chapel table in disrespect. “Your ex-wife made her choice when she started digging into things that didn’t concern her. Your daughter? Well, Poppy was quite talented. We merely wanted to help her reach her full potential.”
I’m on my feet before I realize I’ve moved, my hands wrap around his throat. My presidential chair tilts backward, but thezip ties keep the asshole secured as I squeeze. His face turning bright red, his eyes bulging, but the bastard smiles like a fucking maniac, only making me tighten my fingers more. My breathing comes out fast through my nostrils, my eyes staring into the depths of his, but I see nothing but a vast emptiness staring back at me.
Just a fucking psychopath who laughs while I choke him to death.
“Alpha!” Haven’s voice cuts through my red haze. “Not yet!”
Chapter Eighteen
ALPHA
Tightening my grip a little more, I bare my teeth as Javier’s eyes roll into the back of his head, my rage almost consuming me, but Haven’s comforting hand on my shoulder pulls me back somehow. Panting, a low growl escapes me, and reluctantly, I release him. His body slumps as he gasps for much-needed breaths, while I step back and begin pacing the room.
Javier chuckles, through light coughs, the rational part of my mind knows Haven is right.
This isn’t just about my revenge anymore.
This is about justice for everyone he’s hurt.
It’s not even just my family anymore.
It comes down to Defiance as a whole.
Because we’ve lost good men to this Cartel.
“You’re right,” I murmur, slowly returning to my seat. “We should let the people you’ve actually wronged have their say first.” I nod toward the Chapel entrance, where the birds stand waiting, and they file in like ghosts returning to haunt him.
Haven first, her movements predatory and precise. Behind her, Nighthawk, whose loyalty he never truly earned. Then Black Swan, who tried to save Livvy despite her orders. And Rosella, Kestrel, Magpie, Egret, Starling, Peacock, and Kite.
Poppy slips in last, despite my specific instructions for her to stay away. She’s supposed to be at the safe house with Ingrid and the others, but one look at her determined expression tells me there wasneverany keeping her away from this moment.
“Javier,” Haven says, her voice carrying the deadly calm that means someone’s about to have avery bad day.
For the first time since he woke up, real fear flickers across hisfeatures. “Blue Jay. I wondered if you’d show yourself. Or if this lame attempt at being a biker’s bitch had fully taken you over.”
I raise my brow as Haven smirks. “Oh, I’m not Blue Jay anymore,” she replies, pulling out a knife that gleams under the Chapel’s dim lighting. “And you’re right. Ihavefully embraced being a biker’s bitch. But the thing about that is, Javier, I’m now just a woman whose family you tried to destroy. And that isfarmore lethal than any bird could ever be. Plus, I also have all these birds to help me,” she quips.
The nine women and Poppy circle Javier, like birds of prey, as evil grins cross their faces. My brothers stand back, letting these trained women do what Javier’s Cartel trained them to do.
Javier’s eyes dart between them, finally understanding that his silver tongue won’t save him tonight. “Now, wait a minute. Let’s discuss this rationally. I have information youneed.Senator Wilson’s network, government contacts, financial accounts you haven’t found yet—”
“We already haveall of that,” Loki calls out from his position near the door.
“The Martinez twins were quite helpful,” Haven adds. “Amazing how cooperative people become when they realize they’re on the losing side.”
