Page 156 of Ruthless God

“How could I have killed him? I never even met him!”

Claudius is silent, watching me. Waiting for me to put it together. When I don’t, he sighs.

“Did you know my brother wanted out of the Brotherhood?” He lets out a dry laugh. “But there is no ‘out’. Not unless you die. It’s the golden rule, after all.”

My mind races.

“Why did he want out?”

“Who knows? Maybe he was tired of being at their beck and call. Maybe he saw something he couldn’t live with. Either way, he went to your father and asked to be released.”

Something clicks.

“Blanc killed him?”

He nods.

“That’s right.” His voice is smooth, almost approving.

I swallow hard. “Why?”

Claudius steps closer, eyes flickering with something dark.

“How does that make you feel, mama,” His smirk hardens. “That your dear father put a bullet in my brother’s head?”

“Why did he do it?”

“He told himself it was justified.” His voice drops lower, colder. “Said Gabriel made a mistake.”

I swallow. “What mistake?”

Claudius’ smirk fades. For the first time, his amusement dims. And when he speaks, his voice is deadly.

“Gabriel wanted you dead.”

My stomach drops. “What?”

Claudius nods.

“That night. On the cliff.” His jaw tics. “Gabriel threatened to kill you. Said if Blanc wouldn’t let him out, then he’d take something from Blanc.”

I feel like I can’t breathe. Like the air has been sucked from my lungs. Gabriel… wanted me dead? My knees weaken. Claudius watches, his lips curling back into a slow, dark smile.

“And Blanc?” He tilts his head. “He chose you. He put a bullet in Gabriel’s skull to protect his precious secret daughter.”

The words land like a slap. I stagger back. Because it’s true. I know it’s true.

Because it makes sense.

If Gabriel wanted out of the Brotherhood and Blanc said no, then Gabriel would have wanted leverage. Me. And when Blanc found out, he took Gabriel out of the equation.

“What happened that night? After you got to the cliff?”

I need to know so I can piece everything together. To understand completely.

“Ah, that’s a tale in its own.” He gestures toward the chaise. “You two should sit.”

Millie eyes me, but we both move, unsure what Claudius might do. So, we sit.

---