"Frank hurt a lot of people," she says. "His son, Gilly, he—" She stops. Something tightens around her mouth. "Let's just say the world is safer with Frank gone. For all of us."
I want to ask what Gilly did. The way she said his name, the way her hands curled into fists at her sides. But some stories aren't mine to demand.
"I hope this ends soon." Her voice shifts. Something frustrated underneath. "I'm sick of being holed up in this house. I feel like I'm climbing the walls."
She catches herself. Glances at me.
"Sorry. That was insensitive. Your father was shot. Your brother—" She stops herself again.
I wave her off. "It's fine. Really. I feel the same way. Trapped."
"You're allowed to feel that." She reaches out and touches my arm briefly. "You're allowed to want this over."
Footsteps in the corridor. Heavy. Purposeful.
Raven tenses slightly.
"Something's happening," she says.
I set my tea down and move toward the door.
"Aoife." Raven's voice stops me. "Be careful."
I nod and step into the corridor.
I hear them before I see them.
William's voice first, low and controlled in that way that means he's barely holding something back. Then another voice. Deeper.
Aidan.
I quicken my pace. The corridor seems longer than it should. Each step takes too long.
When I reach the sitting room, the door is open.
Four men. William at the center, his back to me, every line of his body coiled tight. Aidan to his left, arms crossed. Matty near the window.
And Reilan.
My brother is standing near the fireplace. His face is gray. His hands hang loose at his sides.
"What the hell is going on?"
Everyone turns. William's expression when he sees me is complicated. Relief and frustration and something that might be regret.
"Aoife." My name in his mouth sounds like a warning. "You shouldn't be here."
"And yet here I am." I step into the room. My pulse is pounding, but I keep my voice level. "That's my brother you're surrounding. Someone want to tell me why?"
"This doesn't concern you."
"The hell it doesn't."
Silence. The kind that has weight.
Reilan's eyes meet mine. There's something in them I haven't seen before. Fear. Real fear.
"Tell her," William says. His voice is quiet. Calm. More dangerous than shouting would be. "Tell her what you did."
