"Mercy." William laughs. It's the worst sound I've ever heard. "Your brother doesn't know the meaning of that word. He madea deal with Viktor Tarasov. He fed them information that got people killed. He's the reason your father is in a hospital bed with a hole in his throat."
"I know what he did!"
"Then you know why this has to happen."
"No." I'm shaking my head. I can't stop shaking my head. "No, no, no. Please. William. Please."
Behind me, Reilan makes a sound. Something broken.
The silence stretches. One second. Two. Three.
William's arm is steady. His face is stone. And I realize with cold certainty that he's going to do it. He's going to push me aside and execute my brother right here in this room, and there's nothing I can do to stop him.
"William." Aidan's voice cuts through. "She's right. Kill him, and you lose her. Is that what you want?"
Something flickers in William's eyes.
The gun stays up.
"I could make it quick," William says. His voice is almost gentle now. Terrifying. "He wouldn't suffer. One bullet. It would be over before he felt it."
"No." I'm shaking so hard I can barely stand. "No, no, no. Please. William. Please."
He looks at me. Really looks, for the first time since he pulled the gun.
And I see the war happening behind his eyes. The rage fighting something else. Something I don't have a name for.
Slowly, so slowly, the gun lowers.
I nearly collapse with relief.
"Get out." William's voice is rough. Wrecked. He's looking past me now, at Reilan. "You have one hour. Take whatever you can carry and disappear. Europe. America. I don't care. But if I ever see your face again, I will kill you. No warning. No conversation. Just a bullet in your skull."
Reilan doesn't move. I can hear him breathing behind me. Ragged. Broken.
"Go," I whisper. I can't turn around. Can't look at him. "Take it. Just go."
A hand touches my shoulder. Reilan's hand. Shaking.
"I was trying to save you," he says. So quiet that only I can hear.
"I know." My throat closes around the words. "That's the worst part."
His hand falls away.
Footsteps. The door opening. Closing.
He's gone.
My legs give out.
I don't hit the floor. Someone catches me. William. His arms wrap around me, and I'm shaking, shaking so hard my teeth chatter, and the sobs come out in ugly broken sounds I can't control.
"Get the car ready," William says over my head. "Make sure he actually gets on a plane."
Footsteps. Aidan and Matty leaving.
Then it's just us.
