Jasmine seemed to wilt, but her shoulders remained defiant.

Kestrel puffed out his chest, facing death with the decorum of any worthy fighter. “You’ll never live with yourself if you do this,” he muttered. “I’m your son.”

Cut bared his teeth. “You ceased being my son the moment you uploaded the atrocity of a video and thought I was so fucking stupid to buy it.” His head whipped to Jethro. “Choose, Jet!”

“I don’t know what you want me to do!” Jethro yelled. “You expect me to name a sibling for you to murder? Why would I when it was all my fault? They had nothing to do with this. Nothing!”

Cut stiffened, closing his eye to aim.

I ran forward—to do what? Who knew. But I was too late.

“Wrong choice.” His finger squeezed the trigger.

The gunpowder ignited.

The room ricocheted with noise.

A bullet leapt from the gun, tearing faster than sight to lodge into a Hawk offspring.

“No!” Jethro bellowed, charging forward.

A flare of red appeared on Kestrel’s chest the second before he collapsed to his knees. His face went blank with shock, lips round with disbelief.

“You never had a choice,” Cut murmured, aiming at his daughter.

Jethro moved the second Cut pulled the trigger.

I saw it all.

I felt it all.

One moment, Jethro was alive. His heart beating. His soul linked with mine.

The next, he threw himself in front of his wheelchair-bound sister, accepting the bullet into his own body.

I didn’t react for the longest moment.

I couldn’t believe the story before me.

He couldn’t be dead.

He can’t be dead.

He’s not dead!

I staggered forward, my hands clamping over my mouth.

He cannot be dead!

Jasmine screamed as her brother fell over her, his torso slamming against her atrophied legs, his knees crashing to the carpet.

And then he rolled.

He rolled off his beloved sister, lying face down on the carpet.

“Nooooooooo!” I threw myself beside him, shaking him, begging him. “Jethro. Please, open your eyes!”

Daniel laughed. Bonnie stared. Jasmine screamed.

And through it all, Cut said nothing.

I could barely stay in one piece. My body wanted to dissolve into a billion fractals and float away in despair. I trembled so badly, it took two attempts to roll Jethro onto his back.

His eyes were closed, lips slack, blood blooming from his chest like a morbid rose—petals upon petals spreading with glowing crimson.

“Jethro…” Tears gushed down my face. Breaths were non-existent as I gagged and choked on sobs. “Please, don’t leave me. Not now.”

Then I was plucked up and away, dragged further and further from my lover.

I lost awareness of my body.

I shut down.

In my mind, I still kneeled beside Jethro feeling him grow colder by the second—leaving me.

Cut appeared in my vision, his face tight and strained. I hung lifeless in Daniel’s arms, unable to comprehend what just happened.

I was numb.

I was lifeless.

I was gone.

“Listen to me, Ms. Weaver. I’m only going to say this once.” Turning me in Daniel’s arms, Cut pointed at Vaughn. My brother lay splayed on the carpet just like Jethro and Kestrel, but unlike them, he was still with me. Still alive. Still in danger.

“Your brother is a recent addition to our family. He’s what you’d call collateral.” He stroked the sulphur-smoking muzzle of his gun. “I’m sick of you not obeying and I’m sick to fucking death of pinning hopes on a son who isn’t trustworthy. There’s been a change of plans.”

Daniel held me closer. “A good change of plans.”

Cut pointed at V. “If you’re good, he lives. If you’re bad, he dies.” He shrugged. “It couldn’t be any simpler than that.”

V moaned, rousing.

I wanted to feel something, but I’d switched off. Unable to cope.

I was a brittle leaf about to turn to dust in the wind.

Cut whispered, “Jethro and Kestrel are no longer your concern. They’ve paid for their lies and stupidity. I only hope you’re smarter than they were.”

Daniel sneered. “Only the worms will be interested in them now.”

No…it can’t be true.

Bending over me, Cut cast both Daniel and me in his monstrous shadow. “You should keep that in mind. I won’t hesitate to hurt you, Ms. Weaver. Think how easily I dispatched my sinning sons.” His face shadowed. “I would be afraid if I were you. Afraid and highly obedient.”

Cupping my chin, he pressed a dry kiss on my mouth.

My innards shrunk and died.

Jasmine’s sobs were background noise. V’s curses nothing more than a hum.

I’d just lost everything in a few short minutes.

He’s just lying there.

Get up, Jethro. Please, get up.

Cut ran his gun over my jaw. “Say hello to my new heir, Nila.”

No, he can’t mean…

Daniel jiggled me in his arms, never letting me go. He cupped my breasts with harsh fingers. “Be polite, whore. Say hello.”

I clamped my lips together.

I kept staring at Jethro, begging for this to be some terrible mistake.

“Along with inheriting my power, my fortune, and my title, Daniel has acquired the Debt Inheritance’s responsibility.” Cut placed himself in front of me, blocking Jethro’s bleeding body.