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He tilts his head and narrows his gaze. “Won’t you? Not even a little bit?”
“Just get it done with.” Father, who until now has remained quiet, says.
His grin vanishing, Gideon moves around him. “Just get it over with,” he repeats. “Did my father use those same words when you and the others executed him? Oh, that’s right.” He pauses, lifting his forefinger as if he’s just realized something. “My father wasn’t even given the chance to beg. He was gagged and riddled with bullets before he was tossed into the river.”
“Stephen deserved to die for the things he did,” Father says, surprising me. “As do I. So. Just. Do. It.”
“Not even a hint of remorse. You killed him because he figured out a way to gain power, and you envied him.” Gideon tuts.
“Is that what you believe?” Father asks, more lucid now than I’ve seen him in a long time. “No wonder you’re so angry.”
Gideon cocks his head. “If that’s a lie, enlighten me.”
Father stares at him. “It isn’t a lie. But it isn’t exactly true either, is it?”
“For fuck’s sake, don’t speak in riddles,” Gideon snaps. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing.” Father replies, turning from him.
Gideon observes my father for a long while, as if he’s trying to read him, his jaw working furiously. Then he nods at Skye. “Do it.”
Skye is released and pushed toward us. Scarlet grabs her hand and places a gun in it.
“Don’t do it, Skye,” Maisie cries. “Please. Please don’t make her do it.”
Scarlet gives her a quick glance but turns away from her. She grabs Skye by the shoulders and pushes her until she’s positioned in front of my father. Wrapping her fingers around her wrist, she forces her to lift the gun.
A sob escapes Skye, but she swallows it down. “Don’t make me do this.”
“There is one bullet. You either put it in Clive’s head, or Scarlet will put it in your sister’s,” Gideon grits through his teeth. “You choose.”
Scarlet turns a hard glare at her boss before she tells Skye, “Don’t make me kill Maisie.”
“Are you watching, Arran?” Gideon asks. “Watch.”
“Please don’t!” Maisie screams.
“Look away, Maze,” Skye tells her.
My gut clenches and bile rises in my throat. Every cell in my body wants to react, to throw myself onto my father and protect him. The only thing that stops me is standing in front of me, her gray eyes locked on mine. If I do anything, it will beshewho dies.
Gideon has played this game very well. He’s cornered us all. Cornered us all to the point we can’t do anything but follow his rules. And even when we do, in the end, we’re all going to lose.
“Do it!” Gideon commands, his patience waning.
“No. No!” Maisie continues.
Skye shifts her attention to my father.
“I forgive you, child,” he says.
The gun begins to shake so violently in Skye’s grasp, I fear she might lose it.
“Fuck this shit.” Scarlet snatches the weapon from Skye and, in one swift move, shoots.
Blood spatters the side of my face and I suck in a breath. Horror fills me as I watch my father slump to the floor.
“Father!” I call to him, knowing it’s pointless but unable to help myself.
