“What the fuck did you… What?” Alec’s finger is still on the trigger and I edge closer.
“Caro,” MacTavish says hoarsely, “is this… why didn’t you…”
“I met Cormac at a nightclub when I was engaged to your father,” Caroline says, ignoring him. “It was an arranged marriage, I was young, and stupid. Simon didn’t pay any attention to me, and Cormac was…” She flounders for a moment, “He was kind to me. He listened, and asked questions, like I mattered.”
MacTavish goes pale, he sits back down like the strength left his legs. I know how he feels. The monster we’ve been planning to kill for years is an old man, and he’s just as stunned as I am.
“You didn’t.” Alec taps the Glock against his head. “You did not do that.”
“I’m sorry, my sweet boy,” Caroline’s little body is shaking with emotion. “I didn’t know I was pregnant until after your father and I were married. The only man I’d been with was-”
“Do not say his fucking name!” Alec shouts.
She draws herself up, gathering the ragged scraps of her dignity. “When you were born, your father changed. He was less cruel, not as cold. He loved you so much. What good would it have done to tell him? You were always his son; genetics doesn’t change that.”
Alec cocks his head and now I realize why it looks so familiar, Sorcha has that same mannerism. And his eyes. Jade green. Like MacTavish’s.
“Are you hearing this shite, brother? Do you hear this insanity?” He’s wild-eyed, pacing like he’s not sure where to aim his gun.
“Sit down, Alec. Let’s hear the rest of it,” I say gently. When he pauses, I say it again, firmly. “Sitdown,brother.”
“Do you know, Mother, that this fucking bastard killed your husband? He shot him during a botched robbery, like the pathetic Scottish rat that he is. This man-” he points at MacTavish with the Glock and I grit my teeth. “He murdered myfatherand now you’re telling me he’s…”
“Simonwasyour father,” she persisted, “he changed for you. He became a better man, a better father and husband because of you. But I cannot allow you to kill Cormac. I know that you will never forgive yourself.”
Alec looks at the guards, fingering his gun. They’re both good men, they’ve been with him for over a decade. “If word of this leaves this room, I will kill you both and every member of your families. Get out.”
Stone-faced, they holster their weapons and leave silently.
MacTavish is looking at Caroline with sorrow etched in the heavy lines on his face. “I am sorry. That was such a burden to carry on your own.”
“It was no burden,” she gave him a watery smile, “my son is a gift.”
I want to comfort Sorcha and take her out of here. But Alec is slumped in his chair, devastated and unfortunately, still holding his Glock.
“Fuck this,” he says suddenly, leaping from his chair and chambering a round in his gun. “He dies. I don’t give a shite about ancient history. I am Simon Davies’ son and you murdered him.”
MacTavish stands, pushing Sorcha behind him. “You have every right,” he says steadily, even as Alec presses the gun barrel against his forehead. “I was drunk the night I killed your father. It was an accident, a profoundly stupid one. I have no excuse.”
“Da, don’t- just sit down, aye? Please don’t stand there like that!” Sorcha’s more terrified than I’ve ever seen her. “Da,please!”
“Alec, no! Don’t do this!” Caroline is sobbing, reaching for him.
“Go ahead.” MacTavish doesn’t move, staring into Alec’s eyes. “If it will make this right for you, do it.”
“You can’t. Brother, you can’t do this.” I carefully put my hand on his shoulder. “I know you want revenge. You deserve it. But this isn’t the way. Your mother is right.”
“Nowyou?”he says incredulously. “What happened to loyalty, brother? What happened to justice?”
Shaking my head, I try to find the right words. “It’s different now. You know this. MacTavish is not your father, but… he’s someone who’s part of you. Someone you can’t make disappear with a bullet. Give it some time. You can take your pound of flesh without killing him.”
“Every fucking one of you,” he mutters, “fuck all of you.” He stuffs his gun back in his holster and leaves the room.
“Alec, please-” Caroline hurries after him, but we hear the front door slam.
“Caroline, come sit down.” I take her arm, leading her to a chair. “He’ll be all right, you have to give him some time.”
“He’s not going to be all right,” she wept, “he’ll never forgive me.”
