Morpheus’ expression didn’t change. “Yes.”
Poseidon was silent for a long moment as he looked at me, his eyes narrowing slowly. “And if she doesn’t?”
“Then I put a bullet in your head,” Morpheus said simply. “And move on to the next person she cares about.”
Morpheus’ eyes flicked to me as Poseidon followed his gaze, and I saw understanding dawn in his expression. “Him,” he said quietly. “She cares about him.”
“She does,” Morpheus agreed. “Which means she has a choice to make. Tell us everything about this fucker or watch the both of you die.”
I tried to speak, tried to shout through the gag, but all that came out was a muffled sound. Morpheus glanced at me, his expression unreadable.
“Nano disagrees with my methods,” he said to Poseidon. “He thinks he can make her talk without resorting to this. But Nano’s judgment has been compromised. He’s fallen in love with your sister, which makes him useless in this situation.”
Poseidon’s eyes locked on mine, and I saw the question there.Is that true? Do you love her?
I couldn’t answer. Couldn’t do anything except stare back at him, helpless and bound and completely fucking powerless.
“So here’s what’s going to happen,” Morpheus said, turning back to Oscar. “I’m going to bring your sister down here. I’m going to explain the situation. And she’s going to tell me everything I want to know about this motherfucker. Where he is. How to find him. Every detail she has been holding back.”
“And if she doesn’t?” Poseidon asked again.
“Then I bury your sister in the same grave as you,” Morpheus said calmly.
The basement fell silent.
Poseidon stared at Morpheus, his jaw clenched. Then he said, “You’re a cold-blooded bastard.”
“No. I’m protecting my club and my brothers, even from themselves,” Morpheus corrected, his eyes glaring at me. “Alexandra put herself in this position when she stole from us and withheld critical intelligence. Now she’s going to face the consequences.”
He turned toward the stairs, then paused. “One more thing, Poseidon. If you try to warn her, if you try to signal her in any way, I’ll gag you too. And then I’ll make the choice for her. Understood?”
Poseidon’s hands curled into fists behind the chair, but he nodded.
“Good.” Morpheus looked at Cerberus. “Get Carver. Tell him to bring the thief down.”
Cerberus nodded and disappeared up the stairs.
Morpheus turned back to us, his expression still calm. Still controlled. “This is going to be unpleasant,” he said conversationally. “For all of us. But it’s necessary. Your sister needs to understand that defiance has consequences. That her choices affect more than just herself.”
I tried to speak again, tried to make some sound that would convey the rage and desperation burning through me, but the gag held firm. Morpheus looked at me, and for just a moment, I saw something that might have been sympathy in his eyes. “I’m sorry, brother,” he said quietly. “But you left me no choice.”
Then he turned away, crossing to the far wall where he could watch the stairs. Waiting.
I sat there, bound and gagged and helpless, listening to the sound of footsteps above us. Listening to Carver’s voice, muffled but audible. Listening to Alex’s protests as he dragged her from the room. And I knew, with absolute, terrible certainty, that I was about to watch the woman I loved break completely.
Because of me. Because I chose her over the Brotherhood. Because I became the monster I had always feared.
The footsteps grew louder. Closer.
And all I could do was sit here and watch it happen.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Alex
The concrete was cold against my knees. So cold it burned through the thin fabric of my sweatpants, biting into my skin with a vicious, unrelenting ache that spread up my thighs and into my hips. But the cold was nothing compared to the sound.
The wet, meaty thud of knuckles connecting with flesh. The sharp crack of bone against bone. The ragged, desperate gasps of men trying to breathe through broken noses and split lips.
