Total pages in book: 131
Estimated words: 123575 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 618(@200wpm)___ 494(@250wpm)___ 412(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 123575 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 618(@200wpm)___ 494(@250wpm)___ 412(@300wpm)
“Don’t care. That’s the only way you’re getting out.”
“Be reasonable,” he tries again, voice modulating to something more persuasive. “You know what he did to you. What he’s capable of. He’s dangerous—”
“Oh, and you’re not?” I interrupt. “You threw me in there with him! After promising to protect me, after everything that happened between us, you locked me in a cell with someone you believed would hurt me.” My words hit their intended mark. I see it in the slight flinch and the momentary break of cold fury.
“That was different,” he argues. “I was angry. I didn’t mean—”
“Save it.” I cut him off. “I’m not interested in hearing excuses from either of you.”
Aries shifts forward, chains clinking with the movement. “While I appreciate the sentiment, this isn’t exactly a productive environment for conflict resolution. Perhaps if you removed these restraints—”
“Nice try,” I say. “The restraints stay. Consider them an assurance that this remains a conversation rather than a death match.”
“This is insane,” Arson mutters, turning away from the window to glare at his brother. “This is your fault. You got inside her head somehow.”
“My fault?” Aries raises an eyebrow. “I’m not the one who threw her in here. Not the one who betrayed her trust.”
“Stop it, both of you,” I interject as I see Arson’s posture tensing again, ready to resume the fight. “This is exactly what I’m talking about. You immediately blame each other instead of taking responsibility for your own actions.”
“What do you want from us?” Arson demands, turning back to the window. “Some tearful reconciliation? Brotherhood restored? That’s never going to happen. Not after what he did. Not after what was done to me.”
“I don’t expect miracles,” I reply and consider my next words, only to realize nothing I say to either of them is going to help them settle this. They need to work it out alone, together, as a team. “You know what?” I step back from the control panel. “Keep hating each other. Keep fighting. Keep destroying everything and everyone around you with this toxic obsession you call revenge.” Their identical faces watch me through the glass, expressions for once almost matching—surprise at my outburst mixed with something like wariness. “I thought there was something worth saving in both of you,” I continue, my voice rising despite my attempts to maintain control. “Some core of the people you might have been if the world hadn’t broken you. If you hadn’t let it break you.”
“Lilian—” Arson starts, but I cut him off.
“No. I’m done listening to justifications and excuses.” The emotions I’ve been suppressing for weeks come pouring out, raw and unfiltered. “You want to know the truth? You’re both cowards. Both hiding behind your trauma instead of facing it. Both using what happened to you as an excuse to keep hurting other people—to keep hurting each other.”
I slam my palm against the glass, mimicking Arson’s earlier gesture. “Well, congratulations. You’ve succeeded in becoming exactly what they wanted you to be. Two sides of the same damaged coin. The monster who embraces what he is and the monster who pretends he’s better.” Tears threaten to fall, but I refuse to let them. Refuse to give either twin the satisfaction of seeing how deeply they’ve affected me. “Do whatever you want. Talk. Fight. Kill each other for all I care.” I step back, key card clutched tightly in my hand. “I’m done being your audience. Done being the prize you fight over. Done with all of it.”
I turn away, unable to bear the sight of them any longer—these beautiful, broken men who’ve torn into each other and into me with equal disregard for the damage they cause.
“Lilian, wait—” It’s Aries this time, voice holding something almost like genuine concern.
“For what?” I ask without turning back. “For you to manipulate me again? For him to betray me again? I need air, space, and to be in a room that isn’t anywhere near either of you.”
The corridor stretches before me, leading to the stairs, to the upper levels, to fresh air and temporary escape. I follow it without looking back, their protests fading as I put distance between us.
The warehouse feels suddenly cavernous, my footsteps echoing in its emptiness. Every shadow seems to hold memories—of violence, of tenderness, of manipulation so subtle I’m still untangling truth from lies.
I need to clear my head. Need to figure out what comes next. Need to decide whether I’m truly committed to this forced reconciliation or if I should simply walk away, leaving them to their mutual destruction. The side entrance beckons—a heavy door leading to the loading dock, to outside, to normal air not saturated with twin hatreds.
I push it open, the key card still clutched in my hand like a talisman. Fresh air hits my face, cool and clarifying after the stale tension inside. I step out into the fading afternoon light, drawing deep breaths that gradually slow my racing heart. Just five minutes. Five minutes of peace to clear my head, to make a plan that doesn’t involve being caught between their toxic gravitational pulls.