Page 130 of Unhinged

But I have to look at the raw brutality that knit the fabric of the man I love.

So, with all the strength I have, I hit the arrow to make it play.

Just as before, it’s dark and hard to see.

Matvei is asking questions now, pacing, and I’ve never seen him look like this before. He’s sweating bullets, his hands in his hair, he curses, and he?—

Oh my god.

This is going tokillme.

I can't. I can't look away.

Matvei’s crying. My heart feels as if it’s breaking into tiny pieces to see my big, strong bear of a man with tears streaming down his face.

"How could you do this?" he says, his voice shaking. "How could you? You took vows. I did everything I could to teach you to be loyal to our family."

His brother looks him in the eye and says something strange—something almost unthinkable.

"Iwasloyal to our family, Matvei."

That’s enough for him.

Rafail’s voice snaps like a whip. "You took the vow ofVorovskoy Mir. And it's your brother’s duty to do what has to happen next." He jerks his head to Matvei.

A click of a gun.

"Please." Gleb’s voice shakes. "Don't—I promise. I’ll never do it again. Don't, Matvei. I love you. Matvei, I’m your brother?—"

Bang.

The boom echoes through the cold room, and his body slumps in the chains.

I’m crying freely now, swiping at my eyes, but it’s useless. The betrayal digs deep into my soul, carving something jagged inside me. Matvei falls to his knees in front of his brother’s lifeless form, cradling him in his arms—the very brother he just killed.

He'll never forgive himself for this.

And I am broken.

Sobbing harder than I have ever cried in my entire life.

It wasn’t until I saw him fall to his knees, rocking his brother’s body to his chest, that I knew.

I know.

I love him.

Matvei is shattered—broken like me. And somehow… somehow, he’s still standing, still breathing, still bearing the weight of it all. And now, I understand why he’s so fiercely loyal. He’s told me, but there's something about witnessing the way he holds his brother, the way his hands tremble as he presses his forehead to the bloodied skin.

I’m sobbing so hard I almost don’t see Rafail behind him. The video continues. Rafail places a firm hand on Matvei’s shoulder.

"I’m so sorry, brother," Rafail whispers, voice rough, broken.

They’re both crying.

Oh my god, this is the worst day of my life.

I go to shut it off but see the video isn’t done yet. I sniff, watching, unable to look away.

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