Chapter 25

Hadina

Nerves wracked Hadina, making her uncomfortable and almost overwhelmed by the feeling. She was used to high stakes, murder, and the violent tendencies that came with her job—but she wasn’t used to the need for revenge for someone she loved. Her love for Peyton was something unlike she’d ever felt, and the vengeance she craved on her behalf was a roaring storm inside her.

There was something about Peyton’s gentleness that had slowly seeped into Hadina, stealing her heart in the process. Simple things she did to show affection made Hadina want to melt on the spot. She thought about the night she’d taken Peyton out a cruise, showing her some of the back streets of San Antonio. Hadina had always been partial to fast cars and loved the feeling of being thrown back against the seat, changing gears, and hitting the gas as hard as she could.

While she was driving, Hadina had a tendency to keep her hand on the shifter. It was a small thing that Peyton had apparently picked up on because she placed her palm atop Hadina’s, entwining their fingers. Switching gears together, squealing whenever Hadina hit the gas a little harder.

Hadina loved that sound; Peyton screaming in delight at something so innocent. Her squeals turned into excited giggles when Hadina had punched the clutch, putting the car in a rolling burnout before they shot off into the night, down the empty streets. Hadina had caressed her thumb as she drove, thanking God for being blessed enough to have been given Peyton.

Now, her nerves built as her body twitched anxiously. She had let Peyton into her heart completely and now the very idea of losing her made her more nauseous than she thought possible.

Peyton, however, didn’t seem nervous at all. Hadina knew she was deep down, but her exterior presented no signs of worry. She just appeared tense, rigid, like she couldn't wait for it all to be over.

Hadina could understand that.

“Is it time yet?”

“Almost.”

They were waiting in Hadina’s Cadillac, lights off and weapons at the ready. Harris was scoping out the building, knowing that Demi Treyva liked to play dirty. But Hadina was almost sure that the woman was out of tricks to play. This would be their last showdown, the final time they’d ever have to see each other.

One of them wouldn’t be walking away, and Hadina knew it wouldn’t be her.

Demi Treyva’s rule of terror had come to an end. Hadina planned to make it as bloody and brutal as possible.

Hadina’s phone vibrated and she saw a text from Harris come through.

Harris: All good, boss. She’s alone.

Hadina: Roll in. On our way.

“Ready?”

Peyton looked at her, nodding. “Let’s finish this.”

Hadina leaned over, grabbing Peyton’s face and bringing their lips together in a rushed, heated kiss. “No matter what happens, know that I love you immeasurably.”

“And I love you, Hadina.”

They got out of the car and made their way inside the building. In one hand, Hadina had her gun in a tight grip, finger pressed to the edge for easy access to the trigger. In the other hand, she was gripping a dagger. She didn’t know which method of torture she’d prefer in the moment. Peyton was gripping her favored dagger in her hand, looking deadly and ready for action. If it wasn’t such a high stake moment for them, Hadina would have considered pulling her woman off somewhere and making good use of both knives.

“Stay quiet and behind me,” Hadina ordered.

“I’ll be quiet, but I’m not leaving your side,” Peyton countered. It was infuriating to Hadina, but she also loved seeing Peyton not be scared to answer back. She would never have to cower to anyone ever again, if Hadina had anything to do with it.

The meeting point was an old hotel, one that was long since abandoned. Most of it was a crumbling mess, apart from the dining hall. That room had been cleared out and had been frequented by squatters for most of Hadina’s life. She assumed that was how Demi had found half of her team—targeting the vulnerable and promising them riches.

Entering the front of the building, both Zellie and Piper joined them, walking at their flanks. Adrian was somewhere, having found the best vantage point for if everything hit the fan. He’d take the kill shot if needed. There was no way Demi Treyva was leaving alive.

As they reached the dining hall, Hadina began to feel the hairs on her arms stand up. There was a change in the atmosphere and she didn’t like that; Hadina was one for always trusting her gut.

They pulled the large double doors open, revealing Demi sitting on a rusting chair, a smug smile on her face. Her short, blonde hair was pulled back behind one ear, and a bright red was painted on her bitter lips.

“So glad you ladies could join us.”

Us.

A shiver ran down Hadina’s spine and she looked to Peyton, seeing that she was equally as tense. Something was wrong.

Hadina tightened her grip on her weapons, catching Peyton doing the same from the corner of her eye.

A gasp tore free from her as a figure emerged from the darkened doorway behind Demi. Standing tall and stern, Hadina’s father stopped beside Demi. The way they were standing…it looked like a united front against Adis Hadina wouldn’t let him do it again.

She’d wait until he said his piece. After that, Hadina would ruin Demi, whether her father was in league with her or not.

“Enough of this family bullshit!” Demi yelled, clapping her hands together as she stood up. “I’m so sick of all of you Adis’ and your whining and complaining. Does it ever stop?”

Hadina pointed the tip of her knife in Demi’s direction. “You, keep your fucking mouth shut.” She turned the blade towards her father. “As for you, Papi , I think it’s time you spoke.”

Her father looked at her with heartbroken eyes. “You don’t understand, mija .”

“It isn’t the first time you’ve said that to me, Papi . I’m sick of hearing it.”

“Oh, boo-freaking-hoo. Big, bad Hadina Adis has had her feelings hurt. I swear, you’re all fucking pathetic. You, and your love-stricken ways. So foolish. You love that little bitch so much, but you didn’t manage to stop me from taking her, did you?” Demi sneered, looking down her nose at Hadina. “Didn’t manage to stop me from breaking her and leaving her a bloody mess either.”

Hadina was about to answer her, a slew of vile things on the tip of her tongue, but Peyton grabbed her wrist, shaking her head almost imperceptibly.

“And you ,” Demi said, rounding on Zellie, “what a pussy. You chickened out of our deal, and clearly you’ve gone soft. I would call you weak, but I don’t think that even covers how pathetic you are.”

Zellie’s nostrils flared and she trembled with rage. But for the first time, Hadina’s sister stayed in her place, waiting to be commanded. She had told Hadina that they’d do this her way, and clearly Zellie was determined to keep her word.

“And don’t even get me started on you.” Demi had turned towards Piper, her eyes assessing. “Clearly the runt of the litter. So unimportant that you don’t even get to play with the big girls, huh? You’re basically a side note. Tell me, are you even worthy to have the Adis name? You sure as fuck aren’t worthy to be in my presence.”

Tears sprung in Piper’s eyes, Demi’s cruel words striking deep with some of Piper’s deepest insecurities. Hadina was desperate to move, to do something, but if Peyton wanted them to wait, then wait they would.

Demi slowly turned back to Peyton, her smug face lighting up with excitement. “If it isn’t my darling daughter! Pity to see you’re still alive and in one piece. I did make a mistake—letting those two idiots stay with you while I took care of business. As the saying goes, if you want something done right, do it yourself. So, lucky me! I get to be the one to end your piteous existence.”

The foul words coming out of her mouth towards Peyton was Hadina’s breaking point. Without thinking, she pulled her arm back and watched as her knife split through the air, embedding in Demi’s thigh, a grin pulling the corners of her lips as Demi screamed in pain.

Keeping her voice calm, almost dull, Hadina let the dark part of herself roam free. The lethal demon she kept at bay was now at the forefront, ready to destroy Demi Treyva. “How dare you speak to my wife like that? You’re not even worthy of her glance. Hell, you’re not worthy of sharing the same bloodline as her.”

She took a step forward, eager to slit Demi’s throat so she didn’t have to hear her speak ill of Peyton one more time, but Don held up his hand to stop any of them from moving. Hadina looked to her father in confusion.

Reaching out for the dagger, Don gripped the handle while moving his other hand to the pressure point on Demi’s neck. Hadina watched as he twisted the knife still stuck in her thigh, eliciting another tortured scream from her. With a kick of his foot, he forced Demi onto her knees, yanking the knife free at the same time. Keeping a grip of her neck, her father pressed the sharp tip of the blade to the underside of Demi’s chin.

“You’re a foolish woman, Demi Treyva. It seems time has done nothing to give you wisdom.” Don let out a sigh. “I came here in the hopes you would take my advice and do the right thing by your daughter. It was an old fool’s wish, I know, but I had to try. For the sake of my daughter, and yours. But your fate is of your own making, Demi.”

Taking a step back, he removed the blade from her jaw, shaking his head slowly. “You should never have spoken about my daughter’s wife with such vehemence. Now, you’ll face her wrath.”

Hadina could feel her jaw slacken with shock. In her gut, she’d wanted to believe that her father hadn’t betrayed them again. But to see him defend them, defend Peyton like that…she was thankful beyond words for having been born an Adis with Don as her father.

He walked towards them and stopped, holding the knife out. “This is for you.”

Hadina reached out to take it but Peyton shook her head. “He means me.”

Her father nodded, extending the handle of the blade to Peyton. She gripped it tight, and Hadina watched her father do the same to the sharp blade. As Peyton went to pull the knife from his hold, her father held tighter.

The edge cut into his hand, blood pooling in the palm of his hand. When he finally let go, his blood dripping onto the floor between them, he looked to Peyton with eyes full of remorse.

“For my part in your suffering, cari?a , I am truly sorry.”

Removing a handkerchief from his suit jacket, he wrapped it around his palm to stem the bleeding.

“Now it’s your time for vengeance. Unleash your wrath, Peyton, and let your eyes be the last thing Demi Treyva ever sees.”