“So glad you asked,” Gordon almost purrs. He pauses before continuing. “Let me show you.”
With the hand not holding the gun, Gordon pulls a remote from his pants pocket. The TV screen on the wall flickers on. Front and center in the frame is Wylder. He’s younger, but it’s him.
He’s not looking at the camera. He’s pouring two glasses of red wine. Behind him, a man is talking. Lecturing, really. Wylder doesn’t respond other than the occasional affirming noise.
Across from me, the blood drains from Wylder’s face.
Frowning, I glance back at the screen. There’s nothing interesting happening. It’s literally just Wylder pouring drinks.
But then I see the vial appear from under his sleeve, the sleight of hand that Dalton would be proud of, and the liquid disappearing into the vibrant scarlet.
Suddenly, I know exactly what I’m looking at.
“How would the world feel if they knew you murdered your father?” Gordon says, barely able to conceal his glee. “How would your brothers feel?”
“I imagine they’d be angry,” Wylder says. His voice is a little unsteady, but his eyes are burning.
“They’d hate you for it.”
Wylder laughs softly. “Only because they would’ve wanted to do it themselves. Don’t kid yourself that any of us loved our father.”
“But you love your brothers,” Gordon counters. “All the evidence we’ve gathered proves that. Just as it proves that you love this little brat here.”
My eyes narrow. Evidently, I only like it when Wylder calls me that.
He must feel the same, because he straightens and stills. Normally, this would be my signal to run.
But he’s not looking at me.
And there’s no chance either of us is going to warn Gordon.
“What’s your plan here?” Wylder’s voice is so mild that he could be inquiring about the weather. “Because I tell you now, I’m not leaving without Neo.”
“Hmm.” Gordon pretends to consider it. “I’ll give you a choice. You can either leave Neo here with me, or I can leak the video to the world right now.”
Like fuck will he do that.
Wylder seems to be thinking along the same lines. “You wouldn’t. You’ll lose your hold over us.”
Gordon’s smile makes my stomach churn. “No. I’ll just sit back as your world collapses around you before sneaking in to claim the pieces. Society needs people like us working in the shadows. Whatyou’re forgetting is that they don’t care who’s getting their hands dirty, just that they are. I can wait for your little empire to fall, knowing that I’ll be the one rising at the end.”
Wylder is silent. His body’s tense, like he’s waiting for something, but what?
“That’s your choice,” Gordon says. “Neo, or The Firm. Neo, or your reputation. Neo, or your family. Neo, or your entire world.”
I blink through the sheen in my eyes, trying desperately to communicate with Wylder.Don’t choose me. Don’t choose me over everything. I’m not worth it.
Wylder either doesn’t understand me or chooses to ignore it. Because there’s no hesitation in his reply. “Neo. I’ll always choose Neo.”
“Men in love are so predictable.” Gordon sighs. The gun falls away from my neck, and my lungs expand fully for the first time in minutes. “Such fools. Willing to give up everything, and for what?”
Gordon strolls over to the laptop on a side table. “Last chance. Otherwise, this is being emailed to every top news outlet in the country.”
Wylder smiles as he straightens. “Go right ahead.”
“No!” I scream, but nothing more than a strangled noise comes through the gag. It does nothing to stop Gordon tapping at the computer.
Wylder glances at me, dusting a finger over his lips. I fall silent and watch, mesmerized, as he sneaks up behind Gordon.
