We hurry to his room and surprisingly, the door is open.
The scene that plays in front of us is straight out of a horror movie. Reina places two hands on her mouth as what I predicted would eventually happen takes form in front of our eyes.
Killian holds his brother by an elbow to his throat, pinning him against the wall. Thebangsound is from when he pulls him just to slam him back again.
The savage look on Killian’s face resembles my most frightening nightmares and is nothing like I’ve seen before. Not even when he was seldom caught making trouble at school. All light from his eyes—that Reina wouldn’t shut up about—that he graced us with during this visit is gone.
In its place, complete gloom covers his features.
“I’m not going to ask again. Why did you send her that video?” Despite the darkness in his features, Killian sounds collected, in his element, absolutely not on the verge.
Which is a red flag since he’s the type who gets calmer the more he’s enraged.
The deadly type of calm.
“I told you not to get involved, didn’t I? I told you to stay the fuck out of my business if you didn’t want me to slice your fucking throat, but you went ahead and put your stupid fucking nose where it doesn’t belong.”
Gareth raises a fist and punches him in the face. Reina gasps from the force of the blow, and blood explodes on Killian’s lips, but he doesn’t release his brother. If anything, his hold appears to get stronger.
Reina runs to them, places a hand on Killian’s arm, and tries to sound firm but gentle. “Let him go, Kill.”
“Stay out of it, Mom. My dear brother and I have a score to settle.”
“You’re hurting him.”
“He hurt me first and this is payback.”
“Killian, please.” Her fingers dig into his arm, but it’s like she doesn’t exist.
“Don’t beg for him, Mom. Just don’t.”
“Let your brother go, Killian.” I step forward, approaching them at a steady pace.
When he doesn’t show any sign of hearing me, I grab him by the nape and wrench him back with enough force to send him flying against the wall if I release him.
But I don’t.
Because as much as I was a violent person in my youth, I don’t use that shit anymore—especially not on my family.
Gareth bends over, slaps both palms on his knees, and coughs. The color slowly returns to his face as his breathing settles down. Reina pours him a glass of water, from his minibar, that he gulps in one go.
Killian glares at him, his index finger tapping manically on his thigh.
“Such a golden boy, Gaz,” he mocks, his tone on the verge of exploding. “Look at you being saved by Mommy and Daddy again.”
I tighten my hold on his neck. “Knock it off.”
“I know you don’t believe me.” Gareth holds his head high. “But I didn’t do it.”
“You’re right, I don’t believe you. Because, the last time you got in between us, you wanted to ruin me through her. This was your chance to do that.”
“That was before I realized she’s the best thing that’s ever happened to you, asshole. I didn’t need to bring you down, because you’ve left me alone ever since she came into the picture. You don’t actively try to make my life hell like before, and you were starting to seem like a decent human being. But maybe I was just fooling myself.”
“Fuck you and your victim speech. It’s getting old fast.”
“Killian Patrick Carson.” Reina taps her foot on the ground. “I understand you’re upset, but you will not be speaking to your brother in that tone.”
“Upset?” he echoes. “Try fucking enraged, Mom. Your dear oldest son showed Glyndon something she shouldn’t have seen and now, she left.”