Page 13 of Saint’s Revenge

My throat is tight. "I know. I forgive you."

I don't know if I mean it. Don't know if forgiveness even matters at this point. But he needs to hear it, and I need to say it, and maybe that's enough.

His grip on my hand loosens. His eyes drift past me, focusing on something I can't see. His breathing stops.

And then he's gone.

I stay there, kneeling on the concrete, holding my brother's body. The warehouse is quiet now. No more gunfire. No more fighting. Just silence and the smell of blood and gunpowder.

I don't know how long I stay like that. Could be seconds. Could be minutes. Then footsteps behind me. Slow. Measured. I don't turn around. Don't need to. I know who it is.

Phoenix stops a few feet away. Doesn't say anything. Just stands there, giving me space to process.

"It's done," I say. My voice sounds hollow. Distant.

"Yeah." Phoenix's voice is quiet. "It is."

I lower Daniel's body to the floor. His eyes are still open. I reach out and close them with my fingertips. The way they teach you in medical training. Gentle. Respectful. Like it matters.

I stand and turn to face Phoenix.

He's covered in blood, some his, most not. There's a cut across his cheek that's going to scar. But he's alive. Standing. Victorious.

"How many?" I ask.

"All fifteen Vipers down. Seven dead, eight barely breathing but not for long." Phoenix's voice is flat. "We lost no one."

I nod. Process that. Fifteen men who followed my brother into this warehouse. Fifteen men who thought tonight would end differently.

Phoenix looks down at Daniel's body. "You good?"

"No." The word comes out rougher than I intend. "But I will be."

Phoenix meets my gaze. Holds it. "You did what needed doing. What none of the rest of us could do for you."

"Doesn't make it easier."

"No. It doesn't." He pauses. "But it makes it right. This was always going to end here, Saint. You just made sure it ended clean."

I swallow hard. Look back down at my brother. At the blood spreading beneath him. At the face that looks so much like mine.

"I loved him," I say. "Before all this. Before he became Demon. I loved him more than anyone."

"I know."

"And I still put a bullet in his chest."

Phoenix steps closer. Puts a hand on my shoulder. "Because you loved him, you let him go. Because you loved Riley, you stopped him from destroying anyone else. That's not weakness, brother. That's strength."

I don't respond. Can't. My throat is too tight.

Phoenix squeezes my shoulder once, then lets go. "Riley's outside?"

"East wall. She's bad, Phoenix. Broken ribs, head injury. I need to—"

"Go get her. Bring her to your bike. We're setting charges throughout the building. Burning it all down. When you get her settled, you wait with her until we're done."

I look at him. "You're torching the place?"