Chapter 6
610words
"I want you to understand," he told me later, "that power was never what mattered to me."
Ten years ago, my father had been ambushed and left for dead.
I'd begged grandfather to send men to save him. His only response had been to slam the door in my face.
My father died alone in the dirt, his body left for the crows.
That day, I swore I had no family, no grandfather—nothing but my own rage.
Lewis tried to explain many times over the years, but I refused to listen.
Eventually, grandfather had slammed his cane on the floor in frustration.
"Let her go then," he'd growled. "I have no granddaughter."
The truth was that our entire family had been under siege, forced into hiding.
Had we moved to save my father, we would have exposed ourselves—everyone would have died.
None of us would be here now.
What I never knew was that grandfather had tried. He'd taken two men and gone after my father in secret. They'd failed, and grandfather had lost his left eye in the attempt.
"I'm sorry," I whispered.
"No need," he said gently. "The fault was mine."
I fell silent, vowing to make up for the years we'd lost.
When Miranda discovered my true identity, she scrambled to make amends, even performing the ancient ritual of carrying thorns on her back as she came to apologize.
"Miss Johnson," she said, head bowed low, "I was blind to your true standing. I've come to beg your forgiveness."
"From now on, I serve at your pleasure. Point me at your enemies, and I'll destroy them."
"I've ordered all your men to return to you, and I've brought Alexander Pierce to make his own apologies."
She shoved Alex forward, nearly causing him to stumble.
His face was streaked with tears as he held out the repaired Jade Buddha and the amulet he'd once thrown into the fire.
"Lily," he whispered, voice breaking. "I fixed them. Can we… can we start over?"
His fingers were covered in cuts and burns—evidence of the painstaking work he'd done to restore the items.
I took only the Buddha, murmuring a cold "thank you" without touching the amulet.
"There's nothing to start over."
"Why?" he pleaded. "We had ten years together. I made one mistake."
"You always said if I messed up, I shouldn't worry because you'd always have my back."
"Yes," I said coldly. "But do you even understand what you did?"
"Betrayal. Treachery. Selling me out to my enemies."
"Looking at you now turns my stomach, Alex."
I turned away, refusing to spare them another glance.
"Lewis, see our guests out."
"Wait!"
"Miss Johnson, I came to pledge myself to you!"
"Look, I've brought a token of my sincerity!"
Miranda rushed forward, her smile desperate and ingratiating.
She unfolded a map showing all her territory and safe houses.
"This is yours now. Can we put the past behind us?"
I couldn't help but laugh at her desperation.
"We've been at each other's throats for a decade, and now you want to be friends?"
"Ancient history! You're a Dunn—royalty compared to us. Why hold grudges against little fish?"
"Besides, I've returned your precious Alex to you, haven't I?"
"So I should just forgive and forget?"
I smiled coldly as Miranda nodded eagerly.
"Absolutely! From now on, I answer only to you."
I took the map from her trembling hands and studied it carefully.
"I'll take your territory," I said finally. "But I have no use for your friendship."
