Page 67 of Brutal King

“Is that what you believe?” Clive asks. “No wonder you’re so angry.”

Cocking my head, I say, “If that’s a lie, enlighten me.”

Clive stares me dead in the eye. “It isn’t a lie. But it isn’t exactly true either, is it?”

“For fuck’s sake, don’t speak in riddles,” I snap, my patience wearing thin. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing.” Clive replies, turning from me.

I scrutinize him, trying to decipher if he knows something I don’t, or if he’s just a senile old man. Perhaps it’s both.

Either way, he’s aware enough that he remembers what he did and why.

“Do it,” I say to Skye.

Skye is released and pushed toward us. Scarlet grabs her hand and places a gun in it.

“Don’t do it, Skye,” Maisel cries. “Please. Please don’t make her do it.”

Scarlet gives her a quick glance, but turns away from her. She grabs Skye by the shoulders and pushes her until she’spositioned in front of Clive. Wrapping her fingers around her wrist, she forces her to lift the gun.

A sob escapes Skye, but she swallows it down. “Don’t make me do this.”

“There is one bullet. You either put it in Clive’s head, or Scarlet will put it in your sister’s,” I grit through my teeth. “You choose.”

Scarlet glares at me, her green eyes questioning. Defiant. “Don’t make me kill Maisie.”

Once again, she’s taken me by surprise. I’d never make her kill the young girl, she knows this. It’s a mere scare tactic. But to question me in front of the enemy in such a way has me questioningher.

I stare her down, searching for any hint of betrayal. Of disloyalty. There’s none of that, but there issomething…

“Are you watching, Arran?” I ask, looking away from Scarlet. “Watch.”

“Please don’t!” Maisel screams.

“Look away, Maze,” Skye tells her.

My fingers twitch with the desire to tug that trigger myself. “Do it!”

“No. No!” Maisel continues.

Skye shifts her attention to Clive.

“I forgive you, child,” he says to her, as if the absolution of a monster means anything.

The gun begins to shake violently in Skye’s grasp as she aims it at his head. Her eyes fill with tears and her breath hitches in her throat.

“Fuck this shit.” Out of nowhere, Scarlet snatches the weapon from Skye and shoots Clive herself.

His blood spatters the side of Arran’s face. He opens his mouth in horror as he watches his father slump to the floor.

“Father!”

Maisel screams and manages to free herself from the man holding her and runs through the front door.

“Maisie!” Skye tries to follow, but she’s stopped when one of my guards snags her by the shoulder.

“You didn’t have to do this. Not like this!” Scarlet hisses, her eyes hard and scolding.

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