“I have to give it to you,” Callen said. “I never thought you would be this hard to get rid of. Maybe in the end you were good at something.”
They were at the end of the line. His father raised the gun.
“I should have killed you that day in my office.”
“But you didn’t,” Bryson said.
“It just took me too long to see it. Your mother always loved you, and I thought I would try for her,” his father said, gun shaking. “Every day I wish Luca was here. Every day I wish it was you and not her that had died.”
“I know,” was all Bryson could say before pulling Seth and Kaydon into the pool behind them.
The water was freezing. No number of stories or lore could explain the iciness that filled Bryson’s veins when he hit the water.
He brought his body above Seth and Kaydon. Bryson could feel bullets whizzing by the three of them. He tried desperately to shield the two.
Kicking wildly, he pushed the three of them towards the bottom. The water was dark, and the deeper they swam, the harder it would be for his father to reach them.
Bryson’s lungs burned, and Seth’s hands and feet were still tied. Both of their mouths still gagged.
Bryson could feel Kaydon pulling at Seth’s restraints, and Bryson moved to Kaydon’s feet, untying them as quickly as he could.
Kaydon tapped him on the shoulder, trying to swim with Seth back to the surface, but Bryson stopped him.
It was too soon.
His father would be up there.
Bryson tried to undo Seth’s legs, but they were too snug in the water.
Seth’s body struggled, and Bryson ripped the gag out. Kissing him, pressing air into Seth’s lungs.
Kaydon tapped him urgently on the shoulder, and Bryson gave him a reassuring push. Bryson pulled Seth with him, swimming just behind Kaydon, when he felt Seth stop.
Seth thrashed beneath him, and Bryson circled back, his lungs burning.
He pulled on Seth, but his body wouldn’t budge.
CHAPTER 69
ROME
The fighting continued, and Adria tried to press into Eric’s wound with as much weight as she could manage. Elena ripped her shirt, handing Adria some fabric.
The sounds of chaos rang out for a few more minutes before the Nine regrouped. Alessandro lay dead in a pool of blood and Callen had surrendered under Diarmuid’s feet. As expected, Cahill aligned himself with the greater numbers.
When things had settled, Adria looked around, startled that she didn’t see Bryson, Seth, or Kaydon.
“Helen, I need your help,” she called.
Helen appeared at her side. “What do you need?”
“Something to stop the bleeding.”
Helen nodded.
“And I need to know where Bryson is.”
“Dead,” Callen said from across the room.
