I cry into his chest until there's nothing left. Until I'm hollow and exhausted and the only thing keeping me upright is his arms around me.
"He's alive," William says against my hair. "That's more than he deserves."
"I know."
"I should have killed him."
"I know."
"I didn't. For you." His hand moves slowly through my hair. "Only for you."
I pull back enough to see his face. His expression is still hard, still closed. But his eyes. There's something in his eyes I haven't seen before.
"Thank you," I whisper.
He doesn't say anything. Just holds me.
Over his shoulder, I stare at the door my brother walked through. The room is too quiet now. My hands won't stop shaking against William's back.
He's gone.
I saved his life and lost him anyway.
"He was all I had left." My voice doesn't sound like mine. "And now he's gone."
William doesn't say anything. Doesn't offer comfort. Doesn't tell me it will be okay.
Good. I couldn't bear it if he lied to me right now.
I close my eyes against his shoulder. Let the tears come. Let myself break while he holds the pieces together.
Outside, I hear a car start. Tires on gravel. The sound getting fainter.
Reilan, leaving.
Reilan, gone.
I press my face into William's chest, and I let myself shatter.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
William
AOIFE'S BREATHING IS the only sound in the room. Shallow. Uneven. Even in sleep, she hasn't let go of what happened.
She cried until there was nothing left, and then she went still against me, and I carried her upstairs and put her in the bed and stood over her until her breathing evened out. She curled onto her side, her knees pulled up, her hands tucked under her chin. She looked small. She looked like someone who'd just lost the last person she thought she could count on.
I watch her for a long time. Longer than I should.
Then I go downstairs.
The kitchen light is on. Matty is sitting at the table with his phone flat in front of him and a cup of tea going cold beside it.He doesn't look up when I walk in. I pull out the chair across from him and sit.
Then Matty lifts his head. His dark eyes find mine. He nods once.
"It's done."
Two words. That's all it takes.
