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“Why is Jude on the floor?”
“The security alert on my phone woke me up. Is this the person who breached the perimeter?”
Someone stopped next to us, tapping Jude on the shoulder. “Get them up. I want to see their face before we end them.”
Jude remained motionless for a few more seconds before his expression shuttered, and he pulled me with him as he stood up.
My vision was blurry from the tears now freely streaming down my face. A gun pressed to my temple, and I closed my eyes, shutting everything out.
This was it.
I didn’t say anything since nothing would be able to make up for what I had been about to do. Or for what I wanted them to think I had been about to do.
This was the only way.
“Ariel, look at me.”
Jude’s voice was rough, his tone pleading. The gun disappeared from my temple. I knew he wanted an explanation. To understand why I’d done what I’d done. But I couldn’t give it to him. Not when I needed him to finish this.
“God-fucking-damnit, look at me. You owe me at least that much.”
He was yelling, gripping my arms, making me flinch. But I opened my eyes, blinking the tears away and lifting my chin. His gaze met mine, and the breath left my lungs. He looked nothing like the playful Jude I’d come to know over the last few weeks.
His eyes burned with rage, his face twisted into a furious mask. “Was everything a lie?”
Not moving or talking, I met his gaze. I wish he’d just end this. Because if he wouldn’t, I’d have to.
Someone put a hand on Jude’s shoulder. “You need to see this.”
He shrugged the guy off. “Liam, bad timing.”
“The best timing, dickhead. Now let her go and look at this.”
A muscle in his jaw ticked wildly before he released me, nodding at someone behind me. “Watch her.”
Unfamiliar hands grabbed both my arms, twisting them back and binding them with cable ties. They pulled me up to standing, making sure I was steady before stepping back.
Liam huddled with Jude off to the left, joined by two other guys. One must have been the third brother, and the other looked like he was about to turn into Rambo and take me out. I glimpsed my gun in Liam’s hand, and my legs shook with the force it suddenly took to hold me upright.
Why did they look at the gun? Couldn’t they have just shot me like any other crime family would have done? Why did they have to be rational and look at all the pieces?
My chin dropped to my chest, and all the fight left me.
Two bare feet appeared in my line of sight, but I didn’t look up. Exhaustion settled into my bones, making me feel like I could sleep for days.
“Care to explain why there were no bullets in your gun?”
Jude’s scratchy voice made a sob rise up my throat.
He cupped my jaw, tilting my head back. “Since your reason for coming here was to take out Dad, I doubt you forgot the bullets.”
The sob burst out of me, bringing big fat tears with it. I couldn’t stop my body from doubling over with the force.
“Everyone out,” Jude growled.
Nobody spoke, but a few seconds later, the room was empty except the two of us. I collapsed onto my knees, the force of falling onto the floor jarring.
I was powerless against the tears and grief pouring out of me. This had been Lenny’s only chance. And now Gladius would know I’d failed.
