"I said no." Her voice is rising now. Breaking. "You're not going to kill my brother."
"Watch me."
She hits me.
Not a push this time. A real hit, her fist connecting with my shoulder, then my chest, then my shoulder again. She's crying now, tears streaming down her face, and she's hitting me like she can beat the decision out of me.
I let her.
I take every hit because I've been on the other side of this. I've been the one someone should have given up on.
Aoife didn't give up on me.
"Please." The word comes out broken. She stops hitting me. Her hands grip the front of my t-shirt instead, pulling, like she can drag the answer she wants out of my chest. "Please, William. I know what he did. I know. But he's still my brother."
"He put a target on your back."
"I don't care."
"I do."
The words come out rougher than I mean them to. She goes still.
I look at her. At the tears on her face. At the way she's holding onto me like I'm the only thing keeping her standing. At this woman who walked into my life two weeks ago and hasn't stopped fighting since.
"I care," I say again. Quieter this time. "About you. About keeping you alive. About making sure Viktor Tarasov doesn't get another chance to put a bullet in someone you love."
Her grip on my t-shirt loosens. Not releasing. Just shifting.
"Then let me talk to him first," she says. "One more time. Before you do anything."
"Aoife."
"Please."
I should say no. Should tell her the time for talking is over. Should remind her that Reilan is a liability I can't afford to keep.
But I look at her face, and I can't do it.
"One conversation," I say. "Today. Then I make my decision."
She exhales. Some of the tension leaves her shoulders.
"Thank you."
"Don't thank me yet."
She nods. Wipes her face with the back of her hand. Pulls herself together in that way she has, putting the pieces back in place where I can't see them.
I should let her go. Should step back. Should give her space to collect herself before we both do something we can't take back.
I don't.
"Why did you come in here?"
She doesn't answer right away. Just stands there, looking at the table. The chairs. The wall they scrubbed clean.
"I don't know," she says finally. "I couldn't sleep. I just...ended up here."
