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"How could you?" he demands. "How could you betray us?"
Lucas is still silent.
"He deserves to die," Antonio states, and Lucas, after hearing the killing intent in his voice, closes his eyes and stops breathing.
"Just kill me," he pants. "And get this over with."
The two of them back up and draw their guns.
“My pleasure,” Xavier says.
45
MIA
Iget to my feet and step forward, speaking firmly for the first time. "Stop!"
The three men look at me, but don't bother lowering their weapons.
Taking a deep breath, I continue, my voice slightly shaky but filled with conviction. "Please, please, think about all the good times you've had together. The bonds you built-"
"They were lies," Xavier barks, sounding beyond exasperated that I haven't grasped it yet. "None of that was real, he never wanted to be a part of the family. He wanted to destroy it."
Helplessness crawls up my throat and threatens to strangle me.
"He's an FBI agent," I remind them, trying from a different angle. "If you kill him, you'll be put in prison before you can try to hide his body."
They laugh, both of them.
"You don't honestly believe that, do you?" Antonio asks, lowering his guard for the first time. "You think government officers haven't been caught in the crossfire before? The Moretti family has gone to court countless times over the decades--nothing will come from it."
The expression on Lucas's face tells me that he's right, and there's no hope. A roar of frustration bubbles up my throat and I step closer to them.
"I can't just stand here and watch a man die. It's not right," I say, my voice shaking with emotion.
"You need to understand that this isn't personal," Xavier says softly. "It's just business."
"You can't just kill a man right here in the middle of your living room!" I say incredulously. "Right in front of my eyes!"
The words send a chill down my spine, and I realize with a sinking feeling that they might not care.
"He won't be the first or last scum to die here," Antonio informs me rather cheerfully.
Xavier takes a step towards me and lowers his gun, looking at me like he's studying me. "And no one is keeping you here." Xavier adds, "You're free to leave."
I take a deep breath before shaking my head. "I can't leave. I don't want any part of his death on my hands."
Antonio narrows his eyes at me. "So leave, Mia, sleep with a clean conscience."
I clench my fists at my side. "If I walk out the door, I'll be every bit at fault for his death as you two. You'll make me into a murderer!"
"Get used to it," he bites back.
"No!" I shout. "You can't be this mad at him, he was doing his job! You guys are criminals, are you not? You're telling me that it's just business and not to get mad, but you're doing the same thing. You're taking it personally!"
My outburst silences the room for a moment. The men look at each other with uncertainty, as if trying to decide how to respond.
Xavier's eyes lock on mine, his gaze piercing and intense. "It is personal."
