Page 131 of Brutal King

Something strange comes over his face. An emotion like sadness, but not quite. “I’m sorry, son. I wanted you to be great, but feared you’d be greater than me. There simply isn’t enough room for two of us.” That’s when he lunges for me.

I pull the trigger only once. That’s all it takes. His body falls to the ground at an awkward angle, his legs twisted and his arms flung wide.

The man that was once the foundation of everything I believed in, the one I fought so hard to avenge, is dead by my own hand. Everything that I did in his name has ended with my bullet between his unseeing eyes.

I go to him and drop to my knees, my fingers still wrapped around my gun tightly.

Rain pelts against my face in earnest, making it difficult to determine if there are tears rolling down my cheeks. But I can feel the seething ache in my chest, the pain of loss intermixed with the sting of betrayal.

He deserved so much more than this easy death I gave him, and yet, he was my father and I was his child.

A hand lands on my shoulder and squeezes. I glance up to find Rowan by my side. His jaw works constantly as he stares at our father, the same tumultuous emotions swirling in his eyes. “You did what you had to do.”

Luca comes to stand beside us, peering down at the body of our greatest enemy. Then, Gunner and Scarlet, Arran, Noah and Gavin join us.

“Gideon!” Sofia’s cries reach me before she does. She’s goes to her knees too, her arms wrapped around me tightly.

“You’re safe.” I hold her tightly, inhaling her scent. “You’re safe.”

“I thought Stephen killed you.” She pulls away to look at him. “I’m sorry.”

I want to tell her not to be. Stephen Black was a truly evil man. In fact, everyone here should be celebrating his demise. Instead, they stand with me in this loss that only men like us, men that traverse gray morality, can comprehend.

From my pocket, I produce two pennies. I shut Father’s lids and place a coin over each of them.

We remain there for a long while. It’s not until the rain stops and the clouds dissipate that Luca says, “We should go.”

“I’ll call in someone to clean up this mess,” Rowan says.

I walk with them back to the SUV’s, Sofia’s small hand in mine. She turns to me, wrapping her arms around my waist. “It’s over.”

Kissing the top of her head, I nod. “It’s over.”

She slides into the back seat of a Tahoe. When I go to shut the door, she stops me. “Aren’t you getting in?”

“Luca wants me to ride with him,” I lie.

She smiles. “Try not to kill each other. Who knows, maybe you two could be friends.”

“Maybe. I’ll see you later, Little Bird.” I kiss her lips. Then, I close the door and the SUV drives away.

Luca comes to stand beside me as I watch them go. “You’re not coming with us.”

“I know,” I manage to say. My heart is hammering, my throat tight. There’s a knife twisting in my chest, the pain more acute than anything I’ve ever felt before. I’m not sure it’s something I can survive.

But this is what I agreed to because what Luca said was right. I am my father’s son and all I’ll do is hurt what I love most. “Take care of them.”

“You don’t need to ask me for that. It’s my duty to protect her.”

I don’t reply to him. There’s nothing left to say. Looking back one last time, I walk back to the manor and shut the door.

35

SOFIA

It’s over. Stephen Black is really gone. We’re all safe.

The moment I enter Briar House, I spread out my arms and inhale deeply. It smells like my childhood, sweet and inviting..

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