Chapter 176 *
Lorenzo’s POV
"Yeah." My voice came out steadier than I felt. "I knew."
"For how long?"
"About a week." I wiped blood off my forehead. My head was still bleeding where I'd hit the steering wheel. "I've been getting warnings. People in our network saying Miranda was asking questions about my schedule."
Scarlett's expression didn't change. "And you came out here anyway? Alone? With me?"
"I thought I could handle it." The words sounded stupid even as I said them. "I've dealt with hits before. I know how to spot a tail. How to avoid an ambush."
"You did a shit job."
I couldn't argue with that.
Scarlett leaned against the SUV. Crossed her arms. Waited for me to continue.
"Miranda and Dad have a son. Owen. He's in Europe right now. Has connections with Eastern European crime syndicates."
I ran my hand through my hair. My fingers came away sticky with blood.
"Miranda probably went through Owen's network to hire these contractors. That way nothing traces back to her directly."
"Smart." Scarlett's voice was flat. "What made her decide you needed to die?"
The question cut deep.
"Zelda found out I've been helping you." I forced the words out. "The money transfers. Looking into your kidnapping. She told Miranda I was choosing you over her."
I laughed. It came out hollow and bitter.
"So they decided I had to go."
Scarlett didn't react. Just stood there watching me.
"Ironic, isn't it?" The words spilled out before I could stop them. "I spent nineteen years protecting Zelda. Treating her like she was precious. Defending her against everyone."
My chest felt tight. Like someone was squeezing my lungs.
"Nineteen years meant nothing to her. Nothing."
I waited for Scarlett to say something. Anything.
Maybe sympathy. Maybe understanding. Maybe some acknowledgment that we were siblings and this shit hurt.
She just looked at me. Her eyes were cold. "That's what you chose."
The words hit like a bullet.
"You chose to love her. You chose to trust her. You chose to make her family."
Her voice was completely flat. No anger. No satisfaction. Just cold fact.
"Now deal with the consequences."
I felt something crack in my chest.
She was right. That was the worst part. She was completely fucking right.
We'd chosen Zelda. Every single day for nineteen years. We'd chosen to believe her lies. To trust her manipulations. To push our real sister aside.
And now I was standing here covered in blood because the girl I'd protected had decided I was disposable.
I pulled out my phone. My hands were still shaking. I had to try three times before I could unlock it.
I called Andrew. My most trusted men. Someone I knew could handle this kind of cleanup.
"It's Lorenzo." My voice came out steadier now. "I need a cleanup crew. Six bodies. Mountain road off Route 9. About five miles past the turnoff to the old development."
Andrew didn't ask questions. Just said, "On it. ETA thirty minutes."
"And I need security at my place. Now. Full lockdown. Miranda Kestrel just tried to have me killed."
That got his attention. "Say again?"
"You heard me. Miranda hired contractors through Owen. They tried to take me out tonight. I want every exit watched. Nobody gets in or out without my personal approval."
"Understood. What about your father?"
"Don't tell him yet." I looked at Scarlett. She was already checking the SUV's interior. "I need to handle this my way first."
"Copy that."
I hung up. Shoved my phone back in my pocket.
Scarlett had the driver's door open. She was looking at the ignition.
"Keys are still in." She glanced at me. "We can take their car." Her tone was completely normal.
I walked over on unsteady legs. My adrenaline was crashing. Hard.
Everything hurt. My head. My ribs where the seatbelt had caught me. My hands from scrambling up the rocky slope.
But the worst pain was in my chest. This hollow ache that I couldn't explain.
I slid into the passenger seat. My legs were shaking too badly to drive.
Scarlett got behind the wheel. Started the engine. The SUV rumbled to life.
She put it in gear and pulled away from the carnage. I stared out the window as we drove.
One question kept circling in my head. Loud. Impossible to ignore.
Who the fuck is my sister?