“Don’t.” Koen’s eyes narrow into slits and he glares at me. “You were going to tell me?” His laugh is cold and cruel. “You hadweeksto tell me…Years!” He throws up his hands. “But you didn’t.” The anger and rage inside of him rises back up to the surface. “But you know what you did do?” He steps closer, his eyes darkening. “You got me totrustyou, all while you werelyingto me. And then you betrayed me.”
“I—I can explain?—”
“Stop.” He holds up a hand, cutting me off.
“I didn’t know if I could trust you!” I rush out.
“You’re working for Giovanni.”
“No, I’m not! I?—”
“You set Liam up.”
I’m shaking my head, my lip quivering under his sharp glare, and I feel the mental wall slide back up between us like a sheet of solid steel.
“It’s complicated.”
“Uncomplicate it,” he orders, biting out every syllable, reaching the limits of his restraint.
“I didn’t—I didn’t want to! I had to keep her safe! I told you I didn’t have a choice!”
He sniffs. “Safe from me.” He steps forward, his hand shooting out, and I feel his grip tighten around my throat. “There’s always a choice. Youchoseto sell out Liam. Youchoseto betray me. Youchoseto keep my child a secret.”
He stares down at me. Rage and raw fury blazing in his eyes.
“Yourchoices Briar. And every choice bears a consequence. And this is yours.” He releases me, and my breath quickens, on the verge of hyperventilating when he turns, stalking back toward the hallway.Leaving me here.
No.
“Koen.” I barely get his name out, a choked whisper on my lips. He’s so far away but he freezes just before he hits the threshold.
“I’m sorry.”
He doesn’t turn, doesn’t look at me, before he says, “You’re not sorry, Briar Rose, but you will be.”
70
BOOM!
KOEN
I’mon my way back to Aidan’s office, but I stop just before I reach the door.My daughter is inside.
I have a daughter.
Just as I reach for the handle, gunfire sounds out, and bullets tear through the thin metal sheeting of the outer warehouse walls. Shouts and screams fill the air, and I reach for my gun just before an explosion rocks the building, the metal groaning overhead. It came from outside.Liam’s SUV, if I had to wager a guess…
Automatic rounds continue to pelt the building for another minute before the guards in the warehouse can return fire.
I rip open the office door, finding myself face-to-face with the barrel of Aidan’s gun before he lowers it.
“What’s happening?” Rory shouts, tucked behind her husband. I look to my right to find Liam holding Remi tight to him.
Remi.
“We’re under attack,” I growl, listening to the persistent sounds of the firefight down in the bay. The bullets can’t reach the office; it’s set too far inside. “Fucking Volkov,” I mutter venomously.Ronan’s going to regret this.
I push open the door at my back and look at both of my brothers.
