Sean's jaw ticks. "Grave duty?"
"Yes." Liam nods toward Declan. "Report to him at dawn. Midnight watch, cleanup assignments, cemetery patrol. The jobs nobody wants and everyone needs if they plan to pledge their loyalty to the clan."
"We already did our rounds of grave duty. We've proven our loyalty over the years," Sean reminds him.
Liam's eyes narrow. He warns, "You're lucky you're still on grave duty."
My gut drops. I open my mouth.
"Don't," Liam warns.
I shut my mouth and look at the ceiling again.
Liam's voice turns final. "If you vanish again, if either of you misses a call, if you fail to show up to a shift, you're out. Permanently. I will not tolerate half-loyal men in our clan."
A long, heavy silence fills the room.
Liam studies us one by one before giving a single clipped motion toward the door. "Get your shit together. Now get out before I change my mind and mark you as traitors."
"We aren't traitors," Sean seethes.
I look at Finn, but he's not budging.
"Go!" Liam roars, pointing at the door.
Sean and I exchange a glance, then leave.
We get in my car before we speak.
Sean booms, "What the fuck."
I shake my head, speechless.
"This is..." Sean stares at me.
I start the engine, drive past the gates, then pull over. I turn, seething, "I never wanted to be part of your father's fucked-up, twisted cult."
His jaw twitches.
"If I get kicked out of the clan?—"
"We won't! Just take a breath. We'll do our grave duty and be back in their good graces before we know it," he assures.
I clear my throat. "I don't think Finn is ever going to talk to me again."
Sean runs his hand through his hair. "He will. He needs a minute."
I tap the steering wheel, shaking my head.
"Brax—"
"How did you ever expect this to work long term, Sean? Tell me," I demand.
He goes silent.
I say the truth that neither of us knows how to change. "This doesn't work, and you know it."
He closes his eyes, takes a deep inhale, then pins them on me. "If I had a solution, I'd give it to you."
