Layla lets out another sob. “I’ll never forgive you, Cole.”
“You’ll never forgive me?” he roars. “Are you kidding?”
She flinches, then hikes her chin and straightens her shoulders. “Stella will never forgive you. Keira will never forgive you.” She adds strength to her tone. “Luca and Hunter and Decker will never forgive you.”
He doesn’t respond. He just stands there. Weapon pointed. Finger on the trigger.
“I’m lowering my gun, too.” Decker points his barrel to the sky as it descends. “We can discuss this with civility. Stella deserves that much.”
Still, there’s no movement from Torian. Not a flinch or loosening of his posture.
I keep my aim on the back of his head, the weight of this situation becoming heavier through the quiet.
I’ll never get away with killing him. I wouldn’t want to anyway.
One bullet would steal everything I have.
I built a life with these assholes. I found a semblance of home.
“I’m lowering my weapon.” I stare at Benji, hoping these aren’t our last moments together. “We’re going to do this the right way.”
Torian scoffs. “You trust I won’t kill your brother, then shoot you, too?”
No, I don’t. This could be suicide. But I have to put faith in everything we’ve been through. I have to trust I’ve earned enough of his respect to grant Benji a hearing.
“We’re family. And families fuck up sometimes.” I lower my gun, my heart pounding at the vulnerability as I place it back in my waistband. “You can’t expect any of us to be perfect.”
Torian swings around, removing the threat from my brother to place the barrel against my chest. “I can expect whatever the fuck I want.”
I hold his gaze, glare for glare. “You’re a smart man, but you’re not thinking straight. Don’t let a knee-jerk reaction destroy your family.”
His lip curls, his weapon digging further into me.
“I risked my life for you in Greece,” I add. “And I’d do it again. You know me. You know Benji. He fucked up; that’s all.”
Torian breathes out a laugh. “This is just a fuck-up?”
“He’ll pay a price. A heavy one, I’m sure. But you can’t kill Stella’s father. You can’t kill your own brother.”
He steps close, snarling. “I ensured the death of my own father. This piece of shit will mean nothing in comparison.”
I don’t bite. Not when he’s begging for me to engage.
He wants a fight, and I won’t give it to him.
“Come on.” Hunt steps close. “Go back inside. We’ll take care of this later.”
Torian smiles, slow and brutal. “We’re not done here.” He places his gun inside his suit jacket. “As soon as the party is over I’m dealing with this.” He levels Hunter with a stare. “Keep an eye on Benji.” He doesn’t wait for a response before stalking for the stairs, pulling the door wide to disappear inside.
There’s a collective sigh of relief. A sniffle from Layla. A curse from Decker.
“Well, that’s definitely not what I expected when I set out to fuck my fiancée in the parking lot,” Hunt drawls.
I ignore him, bridging the distance to my brother to grab his arm and drag him out of earshot of the others. “What’s your plan? Are you going to run?”
“I’m not a coward,” he snips. “And I won’t leave my daughter.”
I keep my mouth shut, unwilling to point out the alternative might mean dying as a traitor.
“This is my mess, Luc. I’ll fix it for once.” He walks to Layla, grabbing her hand as he calls over his shoulder, “Maybe it’s time for you to focus on your own issues.”
He’s talking about Penny. And she’s far from a fucking issue. But he’s right about me needing to focus on her. I jog toward them as they start for the steps, blocking their path.
“What did you tell him about Penny?” I sneer under my breath. “Does he know about the party?”
She lowers her gaze, her guilt clear.
“Is she in danger? Did you risk her fucking life?”
“No,” she pleads. “I made sure the event was safe. I told him everything would be heavily guarded, and said he wouldn’t get within three blocks of the restaurant. Along with the extra security at Cole’s front gate. He knows he can’t do anything tonight.”
“Either that or he knows what to fucking prepare for.”
“Leave her alone.” Benji walks into me, shouldering me out of the way. “Torian will deal with this. It’s not your job.”
I clench my teeth as they walk inside, and pull out my