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This time, he doesn't have a quick little answer. He doesn't even tell me to shut up. Still, he doesn't lower the gun.
“Listen to me.” I jerk my chin toward Christian. “Your brother never had a chance to figure out anything he wanted from life. Your father trained him to be a killer from day one. He never had a childhood. He had no friends, no hope of becoming anything other than what he is right now. And the one and only time he tried to do the right thing, look where it got him. He wasn't even allowed to save my life. I was ten years old. I hadn't done anything to deserve what your father wanted. And because Christian has a conscience, your father hates him. That's what it's all about. He couldn't break him. He couldn't turn him into some mindless weapon. And now he's turned you against each other. Why would you fight for what he wants when you can fight for what you want? Both of you, together?”
Enzo’s eyes don't have that hard look in them anymore. I'm almost afraid to believe I got through to him. I don't want to get my hopes up. I think it's fair to imagine he's starting to listen. I grasp that idea and hold it tight.
“He never gave you a chance at living a real life,” I remind him. “And I understand why you would want to do anything it takes to be part of his life now. If my dad was still alive, I’d do anything to build a relationship with him. But this isn't the way. The two of you should be working together against him because he pitted you against each other. That's not what a father does.”
My throat’s almost too tight to speak, but I can’t fail now. I’m so close to getting through. “Christian’s your twin. I have to admit, I don't understand that bond, but I'm sure it has to be there for both of you.”
“Try again.” His jaw tightens, and my heart sinks with it. I was so close. “There is no bond here. He took away everything that was supposed to belong to me, and he acted like I don't exist.”
A snarl bursts from Christian. “I told you, we were young. I don’t remember. What do you think that does to a child? He never talked about you. Dad pretended you never existed. When you’re a kid, you believe in adults. That's the best way I can explain it.”
For the first time, Christian looks at me rather than at his brother. “And she's right. The chance for us to be true brothers was taken from us. Neither of us had a say in what happened. It's not each other we should be fighting now. It's him.” His face crumples like he's pained. “I don't want to kill you. You're my brother. It's the man who pitted us against each other who should be worrying about now.”
“You can work together,” I whisper. Please, please, listen. Don't let him do this to you.
“How do I know you won't try to kill me once we put a stop to him?”
Christian lifts a shoulder. “It's a fair question. I would ask it myself. All I can say is, I'm willing to put the past behind us if you are. I understand why you acted as you did. I've done things for him, as well.”
Yes, like murdering my family, I think. Samuele has been destroying lives for so long. It's enough to make Enzo lower the gun, and after a beat, Christian lowers his as well.
I'm almost glad my hands are tied behind my back since they’re the only thing keeping me upright. “Christian, please.” My head drops forward, my whole body going slack. Now that it seems tragedy has been averted, I don't have the strength to hold myself upright.
He drops to one knee beside me, taking my face in his hands. “Siân, stay with me.”
“I'm just... wiped out, I guess.”
“You've been running on adrenaline all this time.” He works at untying me, and before long, he lifts me from the chair and holds me close to his chest. Now it's real. Now I can rest. I wrap my arms around his neck, my head nestled against his shoulder while he carries me out to the car.
“Rest here now. I’ll get you home soon.” He doesn't get behind the wheel right away after placing me in the passenger seat, though. I watch through the window where he and his brother stand a few paces from the car. I hear their voices, but as hard as I try, I can't make out what they're saying.
It's clear when he gets into the car and doesn't say a word before pulling away from the old building that it wasn't a pleasant conversation. I wouldn’t expect it to be. If it wasn't for the intense energy radiating off him, I might tell him again what a relief it is, knowing he's safe. How scared I was for him. How I want nothing more than for us to be together, forever.
