All eyes land on me.
I don’t move. Don’t speak.
They can think what they want, because none of it changes what has to be done.
“She’s chosen him because she knows he won’t try to convince her otherwise. She knows that, out of the four of us, he will remain silent,” Julien says carefully, taking his time to analyse each silent response. “We should take this as a positive.”
“Big guy, I know you’ve been around a lot longer than me, and you’re meant to have experience and all this ‘otherworldly’ knowledge, but how the fuck is that a positive?”
“Because if she’s chosen Kane due to the fact he won’t try to persuade her, that’s because she knows she could be persuaded. Therefore—”
“There’s a chance,” Sai concludes immediately, his hopefulness in those few words not missed by anyone.
He’s a fool.
They all look at me again, waiting for my response to Julien’s hypothesis, because that’s what it is. There’s no proof, just theory. But I can see his logic, and part of me—maybe the part that aches every single second—wants to believe it.
But Sai is also right.
I don’t talk to people. Not unless I have to. These three men are the only ones who’ve ever stuck. And when I do speak to others, it’s out of necessity.
Orders, outcomes, obedience.
I’m blunt, concise—harsh. I don’t waste my words. Which is exactly what this current situation calls for. Words. Emotions. Things I am not capable of.
“Alas, that brings us to the most important question.” Julien levels his gaze with mine, a soft smile in place.
I know what he’s about to ask, but it seems all of us do because it’s my brother who speaks first. “Do you want her?”
No one says another word, and their silence is a clear indication of their desperation.
I let it fester. For as long as I can.
I know what I have to say. I’ve been preparing myself for it, saying it over and over in my mind for days.
“We need to break the unit.” Finally, I say it aloud.
I’ve been thinking it ever since I accepted what she was to us, but saying it out loud feels different, like pressing on a bruise I thought had healed. I can’t quite pinpoint the emotion, but it isn’t pleasant.
Sai finally looks something other than angry. There’s still a deep-rooted rage lingering in his gaze, but now it’s mixed with snippets of something else.
“You’dleave?” Sai’s voice comes out thin as he stares at me, all rigid lines gone.
All the colour drains from his markings, leaving pale grey lines. The mock horror from moments ago is nothing compared to this.
“You’d leave us, just like that?” His eyes flicker over me, frantic. “You wouldn’t even try? To stay? To make it work?” The disbelief in his voice is harder to stomach than I expected.
I nod once, and he folds in on himself like I’ve struck him.
“So, that’s it. That’s—that’s your choice?” Sai doesn’t look at me, just shakes his head. “You don’t want our girl. You don’t want us.”
My gaze hardens. “I never said that.”
“Didn’t you?!” His eyes blaze, the piercing light of his markings eroding every shadow in the room. “You said you’re going to break our unit. Our fucking unit. Our family!”
“If that’s what’s necessary.”
“That’snotwhat’s fuckingnecessary!” The air crackles as Sai stands, chair flinging out behind him. “You two need to talk some sense into this fucking prat before I—”
