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13 - Bloody War

Author: J. Tarr
last update Last Updated: 2024-12-01 21:32:06

Matteo

The door slams behind me as I leave Amara’s room, locking her in with a sharp twist of the key. My jaw is tight, and my pulse thrums with irritation. She’s a problem, but right now, she’s not the biggest one.

My mother’s words still echo in my head as I make my way to the study. One of ours—gone. Entirely wiped out. I knew the Cerullis were desperate, but this? This was a declaration of war, plain and simple.

The door to my father’s study is slightly ajar when I reach it, and I hear his heavy footsteps pacing inside. He rarely paces, which means one thing—this is bad. Very fucking bad.

“What do we know?” I ask, my voice cutting through the silence.

My father turns sharply, his piercing gaze locking onto mine. “The DeLucas,” he says, his voice low and simmering with rage. “Every last one of them. Men, women, even the fucking kids. Gone.”

My stomach tightens, and I clench my fists at my sides. The DeLucas weren’t just allies—they were family. And now, they’re a goddamn massacre.

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