I wrench my gaze away and look at Mathew, who is studying me intently. “Perhaps.”
I know I can’t keep stalling. He’s testing me, and I can’t blame him.
And I can’t have him catch on to the fact that I’m having him investigated.
The last thing I need is to give myself away when I’m close to uncovering the truth.
One little cut. Oliver will understand.
With a sigh, I cross over to Oliver and yank his head back. “The Payne genes were wasted on you, little brother. I should drag you out in front of the men. Maybe I should do what they used to do in ancient times and have you tied to a horse and dragged through the streets.”
Mathew comes to stand next to me, and I can feel his pleasure radiating off him in waves. “That’s one of the best ideas you’ve had in a long time.”
I pull Oliver’s head back and watch tears spring into his eyes. Then, I lean forward and wait until he looks at me. “Cat got your tongue?” I hold the knife against the bare skin of his arm. “This is boring. I want to hear him scream and beg for his life.”
“There will be plenty of time for that later.” Mathew has stepped closer now, and I can feel his breath against the back of my neck. “I’m making the arrangements.”
I bet you are, you bastard. You don’t feel the slightest bit of guilt.
Even seeing Oliver’s pain isn’t enough to sway him, no matter how much I wish it would.
I don’t know why I thought indulging in his game would make a difference.
All it’s done is make me want to take care of my twin myself.
How could I have underestimated Mathew, the one person who has never hidden his ambitions?
I had been so busy focused on the enemy marching toward us that I forgot to look at the one walking right next to me, in all the obvious places.
It’s no wonder Mathew has been operating unchecked.
As my father’s right-hand man, with access to all our resources, he’s virtually unstoppable.
And I’m the idiot who let it happen under his nose.
How many times did Mathew watch from the shadows as I fumbled?
How long has he been making a fool out of me?
You just need to wait a little longer, and then you can take care of him. For now, you don’t have enough evidence.
Mathew knows how to cover his tracks, and Carlisle has, unfortunately, not been able to weed out who is loyal to him.
He’s a lot more resourceful than I gave him credit for. I’d be impressed if I wasn’t pissed.
At least now you know Oliver is innocent.
Poor, stupid Oliver, who got in way over his head.
For the umpteenth time, I find myself wishing he had just come to me.
I could’ve helped him.
I could’ve protected him.
How would you have done that? Oliver wasn’t wrong when he said you would’ve just ignored him. With everything else going on, you would’ve told yourself to deal with it later.
With a growl, I drag the knife across his skin and watch Oliver’s face contort in pain. A hiss falls from his lips as blood drips onto the floor beneath him. The metallic smell of it fills my nostrils, and I tune Mathew out. In one quick move, I move the knife to my other hand and make a similar cut on his other arm.
