Gideon spins, swinging his arm out in an arc to encompass what’s left of the crowd. Only those who are bloodthirsty, or perhaps need to see their tormentor dead for themselves, remain outside the circle of light. Even Carnell’s guards have left him to his fate.
“They’re only here to see you die, you old fool.”
Carnell looks beyond him, into the faces filled with pity or eagerness.
Gideon shouldn’t have been surprised when his father roars, sheer fury contorting his face. Surging forward into Gideon’s arms, he digs his claws into Gideon’s sides.
Instinctively, Gideon has no recourse but to do the same—only he aims straight into Carnell’s spine. It drives the older man to his knees and then onto his back.
“Fuck, Gideon!” Luca cries out, but Gideon can’t look. He needs to see this to the very end.
His father’s mouth is gaping like a fish, his legs splayed at an unnatural angle like he’s lost control of them—and Gideon supposes he has, as the smell of his father’s bladder and bowels letting go drives the remaining spectators into the shadows.
“Time to end this, Father,” Gideon says, calling him the name he’s not allowed himself since the day he left with his mother.
His words are met with a hysterical laugh.
“It was true,” Carnell coughs, spitting up blood.
“What was true?” Gideon sighs, leaning down so he can best see his father’s face when he dies.
“It said one must go and one must stay. One must die and…” He coughs again. “So must I. It was true.”
Finally meeting Gideon’s eyes, he gives him a bloody smile.
“I let you go, and Hayes stayed. And then he died. And now…”
“It doesn’t matter now, though. Once you’re dead, it’ll be over.”
“Over? Now, who’s the fool? Nashville will be chaos—a war…so much collateral damage…” He laughs weakly. “So, I still win.”
Gideon looks up to see Leo, Luca, and Nix outside the circle of light, but standing closer.
Could Carnell be right? Has Gideon created a power vacuum where the other crime families will wreak havoc upon Nashville’s citizens in attempts to garner more territory?
“Kill me, son. They’ll follow you. I’ve been planning this since you were born. Take your rightful place as leader.”
Carnell coughs again, his breath stuttering.
“Or you could let me do it,” a deep voice says.
Gideon gets to his feet, heart pounding double-time, as a tall man in his mid-thirties moves to stand by Carnell’s head.
“Connall, you lazy bastard. There’s blood on these pants. I’ll be taking it—”
“Hello again, Luca and Nix,” Connall says with a small smile before he frowns. “I told you to go home and leave Carnell to me.”
Luca waves. “Hi, Connall!”
The butler?
At the same time, Nix gasps, eyes going wide. With an urgent whisper to Leo, he runs off into the night.
Luca moves to follow, but Leo holds him back.
Gideon will finish this, and then find out what has Nix looking so scared. He turns to Connall and lifts his chin. Surely Gideon owed him thanks for aiding his mates, but he does not owe him this.
He does not appreciate the butler’s fond gaze on his mates.
