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“You tried to kill my brothers.”

There’s a final look in Cromwell’s eyes as he takes in his son’s rejection. It looks like regret, even resignation. It could be a mixture of all of those, and then a moment of realization. It fades quickly into nothing, and the man collapses to the ground.

Motionless.

Supreme Elder no more.

Now just a corpse.

And now it’s my turn to fall. The floor is damp with my blood. I’ve spent all my willpower, and now my own life fades away. There’s a thud as I hit the ground. The last words I hear are my boys yelling my name. And the last thought I have is of a time long ago.

Of a girl in a dark kitchen making me feel whole again.

“Jolie,” I sigh as everything goes dark. “Jolie...”

50

JOLIE

I’m sitting with Sylvie now outside the mansion, no longer hugging by the car. Her tears have subsided. We hold each other’s hands, fingers interlaced. The building behind us is quiet. The sky above is darkening. It’ll be night soon.

Sylvie’s telling me about her father. About how hard he was on her, but how they had been mending things ever since she got with Baptiste.

“I always knew the Castaways world was full of danger and risk,” she whispers. “But I never imagined that it would ever reach Father. I’m just so grateful I’ve got Baptiste.”

I rest my head on her shoulder.

“I know,” I reply. “I’ll always be your friend, Sylvie. Anytime you need me, you call.”

“Thank you, Jolie. I hope that whatever is happening between your brother and Fabien works out.”

I scoff.

“I hope so too. I’m just grateful we’ve been given a second chance. I hurt him, Sylvie. I really hurt him.”

“But you love him, don’t you?”

“With everything.”

“It took me a long time to realize that’s all you need. Love, in any form, can overcome anything. You have to hope the rest follows.”

There’s still no sign of the boys. Still no news about what’s happening inside the building. It’s been over an hour, if not longer, since I saw Fabien disappear into the mansion.

Another car pulling up punctuates the silence. Everyone who is anyone in the Castaways has already turned up, so who could this be?

It’s Elise.

My heart flutters in relief when I see her open the door. Sylvie rises to meet her.

Elise comes running over to us, giving Sylvie a big hug.

“I saw your message, Jolie,” she says. “I came as fast as I could. I’m here for you, Sylvie.”

“Thank you,” Sylvie whispers.

“I can’t believe Clement discovered everything,” Elise tells me softly. “I’m so sorry, Jolie. I didn’t tell your brother anything, I swear.”

“I know,” I reply. “It was Leopold Anguish. Because of course it was.”