"Adrian." Saint's voice cuts through. Cold. Commanding. "Enough."
"Stay out of this?—"
"I said enough." Saint moves forward, away from the door. "You gave me your word. Alive."
For a moment, I think Adrian won't let go. His hand tightens—I see stars?—
Then Saint's hand is on Adrian's wrist. "Now."
The two men stare at each other. A battle of wills.
Adrian releases me.
I collapse to my knees, gasping. Coughing. My throat feels like it's on fire.
"She's still breathing," Adrian snarls at Saint. "Word kept."
Saint steps back, but his eyes stay on Adrian. Warning.
"Adrian!" Luc's there now, a hand on our brother's shoulder. "Stop. You're not thinking clearly."
"I'm thinking perfectly clearly." But Adrian steps back. Runs a hand through his hair. "She betrayed us. Put Sera and Angelo at risk. You. The twins. Fuck," he points to Saint. "Even her fucking husband could have ended up on a slab. There have to be consequences."
"And there will be." Luc looks at me. There's pity in his eyes. I hate it. "But killing her isn't the answer."
"Then what is?" Adrian's looking at me like he's never seen me before. Like I'm a stranger. "What do you do with a traitor in the family?"
Luc is quiet for a long moment. Then: "You remove them from the family."
The words hang in the air.
Adrian goes very still. "What?"
"Disown her. Publicly. She's no longer a Nero. No longer under our protection. No longer our problem." Luc's voice is steady, but his eyes are sad. "She wanted to be a Marini so badly? Let her be one. Completely."
Adrian stares at him. Processing.
Then he looks at me. And I see the moment he decides.
"You're no longer a Nero, Gemma. As of this moment, you're disowned. You have no claim to this family. No protection. No name."
"What?" My voice sounds far away. "No—What does that even mean?" I manage to whisper.
"It means," Adrian says coldly, "if you're attacked, we don't retaliate. If you're killed, we don't avenge you. If someone comes for you, you're on your own." He leans down, gets in my face. "You wanted out of this family so badly? Congratulations. You're out."
"Adrian, please?—"
"The only reason you're breathing right now is that contract with the Marinis. You're Saint's problem now. His wife. His responsibility." His smile is cruel. "And if he doesn't want you? Well. That's not my problem anymore either."
"No—" I try to stand. My legs won't work. "Adrian, please, I'm your sister?—"
"I don't have a sister." His voice is flat. Final.
The words destroy me more completely than his hands around my throat.
Not a Nero. Not family. Not wanted.
Nothing.
