“I think you should have trusted me.”
“I was protecting you!”
One second, he’s three feet away, eyes blazing, the next, he’s lunging, fist flying straight for my face.
I catch his wrist on pure instinct, the impact jolting up my arm like electricity. He swings with the other hand and I block that too, but I don’t hit back.
He comes at me again. This time, I grab his arms, pinning them without crushing. He’s shouting now, but not actual words, just sounds of grief and anger.
“Enough!” Talon barrels between us, one massive hand on Jasper’s chest, the other shoving my shoulder. “Both of you, stand down!”
We both step away, panting. Mara’s backed against the wall, her hand clamped over her mouth. Her eyes are filled with horror, like she’s peeling back our masks and seeing the monsters underneath.
“I was nineteen—nineteen when I found out my dad was more than just a hitman. That his job with Levi Thompson’s father was nothing more than a fallacy. It wasn’t until this fall that I really understood it. That was given to me the last time I had dinner with my parents. He told me I couldn’t tell you—couldn’t tell anyone. He said he would kill everyone I loved... There’s only three people I love, Jasper.”
His jaw tightens.
“And he’s capable of it, you know he is. We all know how capable they are of eliminating any issue.” I pause. “I’ve been gaining intel, agreeing to do jobs for my dad—going and meeting with him—because I am going to end him, Jas. He deserves worse than death for what he’s done. Not just to Evie, but to so many other innocent people.”
“You should have told us,” Mara says.
“And risk losing you?” I shake my head. “No. Never. I’d chain myself to Hell first.”
“That wasn’t your choice to make!” Jasper roars.
“Yes, it was!” I surge forward, and Talon tenses but lets me. “You were a shattered man—stopped speaking years ago, vanished into that void inside you. If I’d dumped that truth on you, then what? You’d charge in solo? Get yourself slaughtered? I couldn’t?—”
Jasper laughs bitterly. “So instead, you thought... what, Dre? That you could come up with this plan and when you finally unveiled it that we wouldn’t be pissed you held onto this? You’ve known about your father for years, and you thought this was all okay to keep secret?”
I’ve got nothing. No comeback, no excuse that doesn’t reek of bullshit. “You think the Syndicate plays fair? I needed time, resources, leverage to choke them with.”
“You needed to trust me. I was her brother. I deserved to know.”
“You don’t understand?—”
“No,youdon’t. We’re supposed to be brothers.”
“I thought I could fix it. Thought if I waited, planned like a mad genius, I could hand you justice on a silver platter instead of raw revenge.”
“You thought you could play God with our lives—decide what we were strong enough to carry.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, but I’m not sorry I tried to protect you. I’d make that choice again, every damn time.”
Something shatters in Jasper’s eyes, a light flickering out.
“Get out of my sight,”he signs, hands trembling.
“Jas—”
“Get. Out.”
I glance at Talon, but he doesn’t meet my gaze.
Mara is too far gone to look at me either.
I snatch the ring and head for the door.
“For what it’s worth,” I throw back, without turning, voice cracking at the edges, “I was going to end him. I still am. With or without you.”
