The words settle over me like a crushing weight.
Matty, who's barely spoken since our father died. Who retreated so far into himself that we all thought we'd lost him. Who carries our father's face like a curse and our father's depression like an inheritance.
He's been here the whole time. Watching. Waiting. Building something none of us knew about.
I don't know what to say. So I say the only thing that matters.
"Thank you."
He nods once. Doesn't say anything else.
I leave the kitchen and head for the stairs.
The hallway is dark. Quiet. I'm passing the dining room when I see movement. A shadow slipping through the door.
Aoife.
I stop. Watch her disappear inside. The door doesn't close all the way behind her.
I should go upstairs. Should give her space. Should let her have whatever moment she's looking for in the room where I killed my uncle.
I don't.
I push the door open.
She's standing in the middle of the room, her back to me. The lamps are off. Just the gray light from the window catching the edges of things. The table. The chairs. The wall they scrubbed clean.
"Aoife."
She turns. Her face is pale in the dim light. She hasn't slept either.
"Reilan," she says. Just the name.
"Time's up."
Her face shifts. Something tightens around her mouth, her eyes.
"I need more time."
"You've had three days."
"He's my brother."
"He's a traitor."
Her jaw tightens. "You don't know that."
"I know enough." I step closer. The room feels smaller in the dark. I can smell her from here, something floral and faint. "I gave you time because you asked for it. Because of what you did for me. But this ends now."
"What does that mean?"
"It means I'm done waiting. It means Reilan answers questions today. It means I find out exactly what he gave Viktor and when he gave it and why." I hold her gaze. "And if I don't like his answers, I deal with him the same way I dealt with Frank."
Her hand shoots out. Her palm connects with my chest and pushes. Not hard enough to move me. Hard enough to make a point.
"No."
"Aoife."
