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You won't take her from me again, Burn.My jaw clenches as we race across the waves.I'm coming, Talia. Just hold on, darling girl.
The island looms ahead, an ominous shadow on the horizon. Burn steers the boat towards the small sandy beach of the island where our mother was buried years ago.
He's taunting me, trying to unearth old wounds and painful memories. But I push it all away, focusing only on Talia.
Our boat skims over the waves, gaining ground. I can see her clearly now, hair tangled, mascara smudged, eyes wide with fear as she looks back at me. She reaches out a desperate hand.
"Dare!" Her scream carries over the wind.
"I'm coming!" I shout back, my heart pounding. Hold on, just a little longer.
With a scrape of metal on sand, Burn beaches the boat. In one swift movement, he yanks Talia onto the shore. She cries out, stumbling in the loose sand.
Burn whirls, one arm clamped around Talia's waist, the other holding a gun leveled at her head. My gut twists. No.
Our boat scrapes sand just feet away. I leap over the side, ignoring the sting of saltwater.
"Let her go," I rasp, hands raised as I approach. Blood roars in my ears. I meet Talia's terrified gaze, willing her to see my promise.
I'll get you out of this. And Burn will never hurt you again.
Burn's lips curl into a sneer, his grip tightening on Talia. "Come any closer and I'll blow her brains out," he snarls.
My pulse hammers, but I force myself to stay calm. Can't risk setting him off.
"Just talk to me," I say evenly. "We're brothers. Whatever is going on between us, we can work it out."
Burn barks out a harsh laugh. "Brothers? You lost the right to call me that when you stole everything that was mine." His eyes blaze with resentment.
I shake my head slowly. "That's not how it was. I never wanted to hurt you."
"Liar!" he shouts, jerking the gun against Talia's temple. She whimpers, eyes squeezed shut.
Rage surges within me. Careful. I take a small step forward, arms still raised.
"Walk away now, and we'll forget this ever happened," I plead. "Just let her go."
It’s a lie and we both know it the second it leaves my lips. Burn sneers, but I see a flash of doubt in his eyes. He wavers, the gun lowering an inch. My muscles coil, ready to spring.
In that instant, Talia drives her elbow back into Burn's gut. As he doubles over with a grunt, she twists from his grasp.
I lunge forward, tackling Burn to the sand. We grapple for the gun, sand flying. With a final burst of adrenaline, I wrench it from his grip and flip him onto his stomach, pinning his arms behind his back.
It's over. Talia is safe. And now Burn will face justice for his crimes.
Burn thrashes beneath me, cursing and spitting sand. I press my knee into his back, leaning close to his ear.
"It's over, brother. Just stop." My voice comes out weary, saddened by how far he's fallen.
With a guttural roar, Burn bucks hard, almost dislodging me. I slam him back down, my forearm crushing his neck.
"Why?" I rasp. "Why do this?"
He twists his head, bloodshot eyes meeting mine. "You know why," he growls. "You always got everything. The family name, the money, the power. Even Talia. I got nothing."
I stare at him. Is that what this is about? Jealousy?
"Things were never that simple," I say. "We both had advantages. But real power comes from within, not from our last name."
