Chapter 26

Peyton

She forced her hand to stay steady as Don handed her the dagger. She couldn’t help but stare at his blood coating the blade, a sacrifice and an apology.

Peyton didn’t realize how much anger she had been harboring towards Don, or just how much guilt he himself was keeping locked away. It seemed they had both buried their feelings, hoping that everything would just work out without ever having to speak about it.

She looked at Hadina, shock and awe in her eyes.

“This is your decision, tentadora ,” Hadina said quietly. She moved in front of Peyton, blocking off her view of Demi. “I can do this for you—I would love to do it for you. But I think you need this. You need the satisfaction of being the one to take her from this world.”

Hadina was right. Peyton knew she had to do this. After everything Demi had done to her, everything she had taken away from her, this was Peyton’s chance to give herself closure. It wouldn’t be pretty, but it would be enough.

“I can do this.”

“Of that, I have no doubt. Go get your revenge.”

Hadina stepped to the side, revealing Demi crawling on the floor, a smear of blood left in her trail. Hadina’s aim must have been pretty good, because it seemed like Demi was losing a lot of blood. Though, she supposed, Don twisting the knife would have helped some.

Taking each step carefully and slowly, Peyton prowled towards Demi calmly. With each step, Peyton was reminded why Demi was a devil in disguise.

She pictured Melina, her beautiful sister, and the life that was stolen from her. Peyton had always imagined Melina standing beside her as she got married, the maid of honor that was so truly beautiful and kind, Peyton wouldn’t even have minded if she stole the show. Now that she was with Hadina, and marriage was a very real possibility, it hurt all the more to know that Melina would never be there.

Melina had been robbed of a future. One with a happy and healthy relationship, joyful children brightening her life, and a lifetime of love and laughter with Peyton.

For Melina, Peyton would kill Demi Treyva.

Turning her head slightly, Peyton caught the eye of both Zellie and Piper. Both women—her new sisters, she realized—tilted their chins at her in encouragement.

When she reached the crawling Demi, she stomped her foot down on her back, causing the woman to scream.

“Get off me, you little fuck!”

Peyton rolled her eyes. “Get up.”

Demi shook her head, refusing Peyton’s order. “I don’t answer to you, bitch. Don’t touch me!”

“GET UP!” Peyton screamed, her voice offering no space for debate. It was a command.

Demi looked up at her, eyes glassy and showing the slightest hint of fear. Peyton removed her foot and watched as Demi slowly tried to stand.

“Look how pathetic you are! You call all of us weak, and now look at you!”

Peyton berated her, looking down in disgust. “You’re just a coward at heart, aren’t you? That’s why you go after the vulnerable; you’re too much of a pussy yourself to go after anyone else.”

Demi glared at her, standing on shaky feet as blood rushed from her leg wound. “Shut your mouth.”

Peyton barked out a laugh and turned to Hadina, throwing her the dagger. “Hold this for me, please, baby.”

Turning back to Demi, she remembered all the training from both Hadi and Zellie, and threw a punch. Her fist connected with Demi’s nose, the force of the hit causing a flood of blood to pour immediately.

Demi fell to the floor, holding her nose in her hand.

“Come on, you coward!” Peyton screamed, grabbing Demi by the hair. “Hit me! Hit me like you did when I was tied up and defenseless!”

“Says the one fighting me while I’m bleeding out!”

“Ha!” Peyton laughed sardonically. “Poor Demi. Pity I don’t feel an ounce of sorrow for you.”

Dragging her back to the chair, Peyton smacked Demi’s face against the armrest, hearing bones crunch. She let her go, watching as Demi fell backwards. Then she landed a blow to her stomach, before kicking where she’d just kicked.

Inflict as much pain as possible , she told herself.

Demi groaned, trying to find purchase to move, but Peyton moved quicker, kicking at her before stomping down on her wounded leg. The resulting screams made Peyton want to smile.

“You know, Melina was the sweetest soul to ever exist.” Peyton sighed, feeling the heaviness in her heart. “The fact you took her from the world is a sadness that’s impossible to recover from. You stripped me of the first person who made me feel whole. And it meant I was floating through my life as half a person.”

“You’ll always be half a person,” Demi hissed through gritted teeth. “Because you’re nothing and you know that. Mommy doesn’t love you.”

Peyton scoffed. “You’re not my mom. I don’t need a mother. And you’re wrong.” Peyton took a step backwards, a smile on her face. “I’m not nothing and I’ll never be half a person again. I found a family, on my own. I made myself the life I wanted and I found the love of my life. I became part of her family, and I know I won’t lose them.

“You’re a cruel, evil woman, Demi. You don’t know what family or love means. But I do. And I will spend the rest of my life being thankful that you never had a part in who I am, or had the chance to poison any piece of me.”

Peyton felt Hadina step forward, slipping her hand into hers. “You’ll never be without family again.”

“You’re one of us,” Piper seconded.

“You’re annoying as hell, but there’s something about you. I guess we’re all attached at this point,” Zellie said, laughing lightly.

Peyton flipped Zellie off, offered Piper a smile, and turned her gaze to Hadina. “I love you.”

Hadina gripped her hand tighter. “I love you, mi tentadora. ” She leaned forward, pressing a soft kiss against Peyton’s lips. “Finish this, baby. Finish it and then we can live our lives.”

As Hadina pulled away, she pressed the dagger into Peyton’s hand. They shared a smile, and Peyton felt renewed in her anger and her search for vengeance.

She turned, making her way back to Demi, who cowered under her. It was amazing how feeble people became when they feared for their life.

“I hope that your place in Hell is filled with every dark thing you’ve ever done. Your soul is as tainted as you, Demi Treyva. And I hope you rot.”

Lunging forward, Peyton drove the dagger into Demi’s chest. She twisted the blade, making sure it caught her heart. Pulling the knife back, she repeated the process. Over and over. Until both she and Demi were covered in blood.

But only Peyton was alive, whole, and able to walk away.

With every splatter of Demi’s blood on her skin, Peyton was reminded of finding her sister’s blood soaked body, renewing her reason for taking Demi’s life.

“That was for Melina,” Peyton said as she pulled herself off Demi’s dead body. “And for me.”