CHAPTER 24
The first rays of morning sunlight crept into the room, illuminating the cracked. walls of the abandoned building where I’d spent the night. For the first time in a long while, I felt something akin to hope.
The sun always rises after the darkest night, doesn’t it? I stretched, feeling the stiffness in my limbs from sleeping on the cold, hard floor, and let out a deep sigh..
Reaching for my phone, I noticed several missed calls and messages from Daniel. My chest tightened as I read his texts.
[Blake is okay. Come back home. We need you here.]
Relief washed over me, though it was tinged with guilt. Blake was alive, but that
didn’t erase the reckless choices I had made. Killing Gregor Fitzburg was
necessary, but the way I’d done it–letting my emotions drive me, exposing the
-90% 13.10
1/8
89
CHAPTER 24
Obsidian Knights manifesto by scrawling it on the wall with blood–was anything but controlled.
They must be furious with me. I hadn’t just endangered myself; I’d exposed our group to unnecessary scrutiny. I wasn’t sure I had the courage to face their disappointment.
I set my phone aside and opened my dummy social media account, a habit I d developed to monitor chatter about us. My timeline was flooded with articles about Gregor’s death.
*Pharmaceutical CEO Gregor Fitzburg Found Dead Under Mysterious Circumstances.*
*The Rise of the Obsidian Knights: A Shadowy Threat or Vigilantes?*
There were dozens of posts speculating about my involvement. Some even referred to me by name, calling me a terrorist, a danger to society.
150 13 15
218
shaka bhai 444 Tabedar bro
J
I auguvu uvey in un arounny vin
“Terrorist?” I muttered.
now
Scrolling further, a post stopped me in my tracks.
*Breaking: Marco Salvani and Amanda Banes Announce Engagement.*
The image attached showed Marco, my ex- husband, smiling alongside Amanda, a woman as ruthless as he was. My laughter this time was sharp and humorless. The audacity of those two to celebrate their union after everything they’d done.
“Getting married, huh?” I said aloud to the empty room. “Let’s see how happy they are on their big day.”
My mind raced with ideas, each one crueler than the last. I knew it wasn’t healthy, but the thought of ruining their wedding filled me with a twisted sense of satisfaction. They deserved it.
But before I could dwell too long on my plans, reality pulled me back. I had
90% 13:19
3/8
shaka bhai 44 4 Tabedar bro
now
Like it or not, the Obsidian Knights were my family now.
The ride back felt longer than usual. The closer I got, the more my nerves twisted. What if they didn’t want me back? What if I’d burned my bridges with them?
I parked my bike and hesitated at the entrance. Taking a deep breath, I pushed the door open.
The moment I stepped inside, a loud pop startled me, and confetti rained down
around me.
“Happy birthday!”
I froze, my heart skipping a beat. Daniel stood at the center, holding a cake with a single lit candle. Sue was smiling, though her eyes held that sharp edge she always had. Calix gave me a thumbs–up from the corner, while Chlyrus leaned casually against the wall, grinning. And then there was Blake, sitting in a chair, his chest.
+90% 13:19
4/8
shaka bhai 444 Tabedar bro
now
wrapped i punuages but alive unu g at me.
Tears welled up in my eyes before I could stop them. “What a surprise,” I smiled, my voice cracking.
Daniel stepped forward, holding out the cake. “Daphne, you‘ re one of us and you always will be.”
I couldn’t speak. I just nodded, overwhelmed by the love and warmth I didn’t feel I deserved.
As they cheered and clapped, I blew out the candle. The tiny flame extinguished, but the fire in my heart burned brighter than
ever.
The celebration was short–lived, but it was enough to remind me why I fought so hard. We sat around the table, eating cake and sharing stories, the tension from the last mission momentarily forgotten.
“Blake,” I said softly, turning to him. “I‘ m so sorry. I should‘ ve been there for you.”
90% 13:19
5/8
1:19
CHAPTER 24
He waved a hand dismissively. “You‘ re here now. That’s all that matters.”
Sue, however, wasn‘ t so forgiving. “You‘ re lucky he’s alive, Daphne,” she said sharply. “Your actions could‘ ve cost us everything.”
“Sue, not now,” Daniel interjected.
“No, let her speak,” I said, meeting Sue‘ s gaze. “She’s right. I let my emotions. control me. I made mistakes.”
Sue looked at me for a long moment before nodding.“Just don‘ t let it happen again.”
Daniel placed a hand on my shoulder. “We all make mistakes, Daphne. What matters is what we do next.”
His words lingered in my mind long after the celebration ended.
Later that night, as I lay in my room, I pulled out my notebook and began to sketch out my plan for Marco and Amanda‘ s wedding. This wasn‘ t just
90% 13 19
6/8
CHAPTER 24
about revenge anymore. This was about sending a message–a message that the Obsidian Knights were not to be underestimated.
As I wrote, the faint sound of footsteps outside my door made me pause.
“Daphne,” Daniel‘ s voice came softly from the other side.
I relaxed, setting the notebook aside. “Come in.”
He stepped inside, his expression unreadable. “I just wanted to check on you.”
“I’m fine,” I said, though my voice betrayed my exhaustion.
He hesitated before speaking again. “Whatever you‘ re planning… just remember, you don‘ t have to do it alone.”
I nodded, but I knew this was something I had to see through myself.
As Daniel left, I stared at the notebook in
90% 13:20
7/8
CHAPTER 24
front of me. The plan was risky, but it was brilliant. And if I played my cards right, Marco and Amanda’s wedding would be
their downfall.
You might also like.
