Adrian.
He stands near the edge of the chaos, flanked by what’s left of his men. He’s eerily calm, but I know he’s calculating every move we make, watching the house like it’s a chessboard, and he’s already ten moves ahead.
I have a clear shot. It’s a perfect angle. All I have to do is fire and all of this will be over.
My finger tightens on the trigger.
But then Fiona’s voice rings in my ears.
What about what’s best for Scout?
I falter.
I lower my gun.
“What the fuck are you doing?” Brennan barks.
“I have no fucking idea.” I get to my feet and step forward into the open. “Adrian!”
He turns slowly, a smile tugging at his mouth like he’s been waiting for this.
“You’ve made your point. Now back off.”
He studies me for a long moment. “You could have killed me.”
“I know. So could you.”
He glances toward the house. “Is the boy safe?”
The question hits harder than I expect.
“Yes. Because I made damn sure he was.”
Adrian exhales, a long, slow breath. “Then maybe it’s time we talk.”
Brennan swears as he appears at my side, but I don’t dare take my eyes off Adrian.
My ears ring violently from the aftermath of the explosions and adrenaline. Bodies lie where they fell, some of them mine, some of them his, and the reality of that presses heavy against my chest.
This was my home, myson’shome.
Brennan steps closer, his voice low. “Say the word, and I’ll finish this.”
I glance toward the house, toward the room where Fiona is sitting on the floor with Scout shaking in her arms, telling him everything is okay even though it isn’t.
And I realize something terrifying. Even if I kill Adrian right now, this never ends because Lorcan is still out there, and Scout will grow up learning that violence is the only language anyone listens to.
And I’ll have taught him that lesson myself.
“Call them off. Then we’ll talk.”
Adrian lifts up a hand, his gold signet ring glinting in the sun.
The remaining men fall back, and the silence that follows is deafening.
Adrian and I sit across from each other at opposite ends of the dining table like this is a business meeting instead of the aftermath of an attempted siege.
There are no weapons on the table, but we both know we have them within reach.
