The Unfortunates(105)

I scoff. “Love only gives hope if it’s returned. A love not returned works like poison.” I shake my head. “I left to protect us. How long before someone notices that we’re different? That we do things differently?”

“They wouldn’t, not in the city.”

How would he know? He’s never been inside the city! What if they want to give him a new Unfortunate? What if they aren’t happy with me and want me dead?

I open my mouth to voice my thoughts, but the second my lips part, the door opens and in file the Fortunates—all of them.

“Can’t say I didn’t see this coming,” Rita states with a small chuckle.

They take their seats and immediately the discussion begins. Most of it, I can’t hear. Along with my throbbing head and ringing ears, I just don’t care anymore. Kathryn believes Kade’s walk story, the rest don’t. If they ask me, I’m not even sure what I’ll say.

“The first time I encountered Kade and Nine they were coming back from the lake. The lake is a favourite spot of Master Kade, so it makes perfect sense,” Kathryn says.

Kade agrees, but Vince dives in with the details—the gun, the crying, my disrespectful behaviour. Beyond that, there is no redemption for me. Vince rises to his feet and I cast my eyes down. Then, I hear the unmistakable sound of a gun clicking.

“Vince!” Kade shouts. “You’re misreading the situation.”

“I don’t think I am,” Vince counters. “You’re always defending them, Kade! Just like our mother, and where is she now? How many times have you been caught helping Unfortunates?”

“That’s unnecces—”

“How many?” Vince demands, the tip of the gun digging into my head.

“I was a small boy. I didn’t understand.”

“But you do now? You understand? You understand why we have to end this before it spreads like disease? Her curiosity, her quick tongue, and self-righteousness—it doesn’t fit in this world.”

Kade scoffs. “I’m willing to bet your life that I slit your throat before your finger presses that trigger.”

“A bet? How daring. I’m in.”

Kade starts forward, but a shrill shriek from Kathryn stops him.

“You can’t kill her!” she shouts and I snap my head up. Tears are pouring down her cheeks. She’s the perfect picture of panic, so anxious I’m certain she’s about to fall apart. There she goes defending me again. Why?

“And why not?” Vince digs the gun into my temple, making me wince.

“Sh-she was born a Fortunate.”

The room falls silent as all eyes fall onto me. Me? A Fortunate? Impossible.

“Bullshit,” Vince booms. “That’s not possible.”

“It is. She’s my…” Kathryn hiccups and swallows hard. “My daughter… she’s my daughter.” She steps closer with her arms outstretched in a calming gesture and all I can do is stare at her, wide-eyed and frightful. “I was very young when I fell pregnant and I wasn’t ready, so I paid one of my moderators to take her to the Unfortunate camp up on the hill. I can prove it. I have proof I gave birth to her and that she was admitted to the camp under false circumstances. I can even do a blood test if you don’t believe me.”

Nausea rolls in my stomach and threatens to push up my throat. Holy shit. I’m a Milano?

“What you’re admitting to is illegal,” Kade says, refusing to take his eyes off me.

“I know,” she sobs, her face wet and pink. “But if it saves her life, I don’t care what happens to me.”

“I don’t believe a single word you’re saying,” Vince growls, shoving me with his gun. “This bitch is going to die, end of story.”

Kade steps forward, his shoulders squared. “Her confession warrants an investigation, Vincent. If there’s a chance Nine’s a Fortunate, we have to look into it. It’s the law.”

Once again, silence falls. My heart is beating so loudly I can feel it behind my eyelids. This can’t be true… it doesn’t make sense.

“He’s right,” Will states. “We look after our own.”

One second I’m a heartbeat away from death and the next, I’ve been reborn. The gun is lifted from my head and thrown across the room with such force it cracks the wall.

“I swear to god, if you’re lying to me, Kathryn, I’m going to destroy your entire family.”

“You and what army?” Kathryn shoots back. “Your house deals in diamonds and rubies. Mine deals in weaponry. Be careful who you’re threatening.”

I smirk at Vince and his dark, espresso eyes zero in on me, but they have no effect. My organs are dancing over the small victory. Screw you. Asshole.