Chapter 334
Chapter 334:
“This was the Thorne residence,” Julian said as the car came to a stop. “Before the fire twenty years ago p>
They stepped out. The air here felt heavy, stagnant, smelling of wet earth and old ash.
Julian walked with a cane, his steps slow. He led her through the remains of the front door into the main hall. The roof was gone, leaving them exposed to the gray sky.
“Four families,” Julian said, his voice echoing in the ruin. “Sterling provided the capital. Kensington provided the political influence. Thorne provided the enforcement. And Vance… we provided the intelligence p>
He stopped in the center of the room.
“Our grandfathers made a pact to rule this city,” he continued. “They built an empire on corporate espionage, market manipulation, and gray-market arms deals. But power requires sacrifice. Blood sacrifice p>
He pointed the tip of his cane at a scorched spot on the floor. The stone was cracked and blackened.
“Alistair watched his parents burn right there,” Julian said softly. “He was ten years old. He was hiding in the dumbwaiter. He heard them scream, Skye. He heard them beg p>
Skye felt a chill run down her spine that had nothing to do with the weather. “Why p>
“Because his father wanted out of the Pact,” Julian said. “He wanted to go legitimate. The other families… they couldn’t allow a loose end. A loose end meant prison for everyone p>
Skye wrapped her arms around herself. “And my parents p>
Julian turned to face her. “Your parents didn’t just die in a car crash, Skye. They found the Ledger. Proof of the families’ original sins. A detailed record of every bribe, every hit, every laundered dollar p>
Skye felt the blood drain from her face. “They were murdered p>
Julian nodded. “By order of the Sterling patriarch p>
“My grandfather p>
“No,” Julian said. “Your uncle. Arthur Sterling p>
Skye grabbed Julian’s arm to steady herself. Her knees felt like water. “Uncle Arthur? The man who smiled at my graduation? The man who managed my trust fund?” She knew he was a thief, a fraudster who had siphoned millions, but a murderer? Fratricide?
O𝗿𝗶𝗴𝘪nаl 𝖼𝗼ո𝘵𝖾𝗻𝘵 f𝘳𝗈𝘮 b𝘦.𝖼о𝗆
“He squandered his inheritance,” Julian explained. “He needed the Sterling fortune, but your father was the heir. And your father was threatening to expose the whole operation. Arthur killed two birds with one stone. He authorized the hit, and he took the money p>
Skye leaned against a blackened pillar. The betrayal tasted like metal in her mouth.
“So Liam… Alistair… they knew?” she whispered.
“Alistair became the Devil to hunt the Devil,” Julian said, as if defending him. “He took over the underworld to find the hitman who lit this fire. He built an empire of shadows to destroy the empire of lies p>
“And Liam p>
“Liam built an empire to protect you from the debt your name carries,” Julian said. “He thought if he made you a Kensington, you would not be a target for the sins of a Sterling. He was misguided, arrogant, and foolish. But he was trying to shield you p>
Skye closed her eyes. It was all so twisted. They had manipulated her, controlled her, lied to her… to save her?
“I don’t need protection,” Skye said, opening her eyes. The fire of the Sterling bloodline finally woke up in her veins. “I need the truth p>
Julian smiled sadly. “Then you need the Ledger. It wasn’t destroyed in the crash. Your father hid it p>