Chapter 5 - The Reaper's Brother
Damian entered Raven Ridge alone.
At least, that was the agreement.
His men waited beyond the gate.
Mine waited inside.
He wore a charcoal coat and the same calm expression he'd worn at our mother's funeral.
"Brother."
"Damian."
He looked around.
"Where's the child?"
"Gone."
"The phone?"
"Destroyed."
He smiled.
"Liar."
"Runs in the family."
Damian poured himself whiskey.
"You know what Father used to say about you?"
"I stopped caring years ago."
"He said you were too loyal."
"Interesting criticism from a man who trusted nobody."
"He knew loyalty made people weak."
"And burying your brother makes you strong?"
"It makes me practical."
I stared at him.
"Why?"
His smile faded.
"You were never going to step aside."
"For you?"
"For anyone."
"You could've built your own life."
"I spent my life building yours!"
Damian slammed the glass down.
"Every room I entered, people asked about Roman."
His voice rose.
"Every deal. Every meeting. Every woman. Every friend."
He pointed at me.
"The Reaper. The legend. Father's perfect heir."
"So this is jealousy?"
"This is succession."
"No."
I stepped closer.
"This is a tantrum with body bags."
His jaw tightened.
"You always did know how to make people hate you."
"And yet you're the one who buried me."
Damian's phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
Then smiled.
"Speaking of burial."
Something felt wrong.
Gabriel's voice exploded through my earpiece.
"ROMAN!"
Gunfire sounded outside.
Damian stepped backward.
"You really thought I came alone?"
The lights died.
Darkness swallowed the lodge.
Emergency lights activated.
Damian ran.
I followed.
He reached the rear corridor.
Then stopped.
A low growl came from the darkness.
Goliath.
My heart stopped.
"Eli?"
A small voice answered.
"Sorry."
The kid stepped from behind the staircase.
"You didn't leave?"
Walter appeared.
"Vehicle wouldn't start. Someone cut the fuel line."
Damian stared at Eli.
Then smiled.
"Hello, Elijah."
Goliath moved in front of the boy.
Damian reached inside his coat.
I lunged.
We crashed into the wall.
The weapon skidded across the floor.
Gabriel's men flooded the corridor seconds later.
Damian was pinned.
He looked up at me.
"Kill me."
"No."
His expression changed.
"What?"
"You want to become a martyr."
I looked toward Gabriel.
"Send the video."
"To who?"
"Federal prosecutors. State police. Every journalist on our list."
Damian stared at me.
"You wouldn't."
"You wanted my empire."
I crouched.
"Now you can watch it survive without you."
Damian laughed bitterly.
"You think you're different from me?"
"No."
I looked at Eli.
"But I'm trying."
Sirens echoed through the mountains.
For once, they weren't coming for me.
May you like
They were coming for my brother.
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