“Just a set of eyes,” his brother singsongs. “A little ass for my bro, a little peek into his life for me. Didn’t take me long to notice you spend an awful lot of time with the same chick, Arch. A beautiful doctor who likes to run the types of cases you create.”
“I don’t create death,” Archer grits out. “I refuse.”
Felix laughs. “You don’t have the luxury of declining your destiny. Neither does Tim. Don’t you care about us?” The guys continue to circle. Like lions in the wild, readying, waiting, preparing to pounce. “Don’t you care about our father?”
“I care enough to stay away and keep my mouth shut.” Archer tilts his head to study his opponent. His hand flexes around his gun. “That should be enough. Silence is all the family asks.”
“If by silence, you mean death,” Felix counters. “Then yeah, you’re right. But you aren’t dead, and I don’t have permission to shoot you.” He stops and sniggers. “Yet. That means you’re not as separate from this family as you’d like to think. And now we’re going to war, so you have to come home and stand with us.”
“War?” Archer chokes out. “You’re declaring war, and you couldn’t keep it on your side of the country? We have nothing to do with this!”
“I’m coming in!” Tim’s bellow makes me startle so my feet scrape along the dirt, and my breath comes out on a squeaked exhale.
But I press my hand harder across my mouth and bottle it all away. Keep it in. Keep it quiet.
“First motherfucker to shoot at me will die when I rip your intestines out through your nose.” Tim steps into the warehouse through the hangar doors, and my eyes spill over when, for just a moment, our gazes meet.
It’s brief, and he doesn’t telegraph my presence, but he can’t hide the bone-deep exhaustion he carries. He can’t hide the blood on his hands or the crimson stain on his boots.
He steps right past me, knowing I’m this close, but unable to do a damn thing about it without letting Felix know. So he keeps on walking, his left hand steadily holding a gun similar to Archer’s, and his right hand clenched into a tight fist.
“So, you got my message?” Snickering, like this is all a big joke to him, Felix casts their circle a little wider when Tim steps up beside Archer.
Lines have been drawn, and if this all goes to hell, the brothers know where they each stand.
“I hope you enjoyed Anne while you had her. She was a good fuck, right?” Felix leers.
Angry, Tim looks to Archer for confirmation.
“She was sent to you, apparently.” Archer glances back to Felix. “Did you get what you came looking for?”
“Not nearly.” He shakes his head. “I’ve come with word, brothers. And after I tell you my news, I’m going to demand we stand together. We must be united.”
Silence hangs for a beat. Two. Three, as Felix stares from one brother to the next. Finally, he tells them, “Dad is ill.”
“Sounds like ayouproblem to me,” Archer growls. “We’re out. We’re staying out.”
“The Pastores are already sniffing around!” Felix snarls. “Show weakness, and you know they’ll strike.” He stalks forward another step. “Show weakness, and we’re all dead. Whether you’re in or out, they know your names, so if they come for us, they’ll come for you when they’re done.”
“I’m not joining your fucking war,” Archer spits out. “I’m not coming back. Your army is big enough, you can secure new territory on your own. Be grateful a cop knows all that about you andstill, I keep my mouth shut.”
“Idle threats bore me.” Circling again, Felix brings a hand up to cover a faux yawn. “You’re not mentioning shit to anyone because you know you’ll burn for it too. And you don’t get to choose to stay out, Archer. If they find out Dad is sick and his sons are not united, you know what they’ll do. Whether you jump in or stay out, they’ll come for you. They’ll slay you, and if word is out that you like that doctor, they’ll kill her, too.” A slow grin works its way across his lips. “You would be responsible for her death… are you okay with that?”
“She’s got nothing to do with any of this,” Tim bites out. “She’s pussy he likes to fuck sometimes.” He barks out a chilling laugh. “She’s powerful, and because of her position, she can report a death however the fuck we want her to. Do you still think it’s love, Lix, or is it convenience?”
“Could be both,” he singsongs. “I already told her Arch was the romantic one. Isn’t that right, Doctor Mayet?” Though I remain utterly still, he looks toward the stack of crates I hide behind. “Come out, come out, wherever you are!”
Stunned, I clamp my lips shut and wrap my hands around the rock. But then a heavy hand grabs my collar and yanks me up.
Crying out, I swing my arm around, but I’m not fast enough. Felix’s muscled guard catches my hand and stops the rock from slamming against the side of his head.
I use my strength. I summon whatever I have and try to hit him, but he’s twice my size and wears that same smug grin his boss does.
“Wait!” Archer’s tone changes as my captor drags me around the pile of boxes and reveals me to our audience.
My shirt rides up, exposing my stomach and sending goosebumps along my skin as the cold air touches my flesh. I continue to fight, to twist and attempt to break free, but the moment the hand on my shirt squeezes and my collar becomes a noose, I choke and clamor for air.
“I said stop!” Breaking away from his brothers, Archer aims his gun straight over my shoulder and holds the pistol steady. “Let her go,” he snarls savagely, “or Felix loses another man.”