âHow stupid can you be?â
The words hit him like a goddamn punch to the gut, quite nearly knocking the breath right from his lungs. Remi had barely gotten the words out, had barely confessed to what they had done before his father was throwing it back in their faces. Isek should have been more prepared, should have seen this coming, that his father would have already known what they had done. He was foolish to have thought that no one would have blabbed, that no one would have gone behind his back for fear of what his father might have done to them. It was a mistake on Isekâs part, one that he was clearly going to have to pay for. âStupid? We werenât being stupid, Rafal. We were being â,â but his words were cut off, his father standing up suddenly from the seat he had been occupying. The seat that should be Isekâs.
âYou were being what? Foolish, childish, weak? Our city is under attack, your mother is in a prison cell, and you thought that was the perfect time to go get married?â
The words were spoken in a sarcastic huff, one that drilled into the very marrow of his bones, settling in like a poison. How he hated his father, how he would have rather seen the man behind bars than his mother, or even his brother. âThis wasnât a spur of the moment decision,â he practically growled between clenched teeth, narrowed eyes focused on the features of his father, the man that had never quite seen him as a potential for the family throne. For years, he had been brushed aside, overlooked in favor of his brother. âThis was a strategic â,â but again, his words were barely off his tongue before his father was cutting him short, this time with a laugh that seemed to fill the room.
âWith the man that sent your brother to jail?â
The question caused his blood to turn to ice, his body stiffening at the realization of what had happened while they were gone. Fucking Emir, that worthless prick, heâd done something that was irreversible. Something that couldnât be taken back, couldnât be overlooked simply because Isek had chosen Remi to stand by his side, for now and ever. Emir had signed Remiâs death certificate himself. And that was simply something that Isek couldnât allow.
The weapon was drawn before heâd given it much thought, the cold steel pressed snug into the curve of his palm, safety switched to off with his index finger curling around the trigger. âSorry, old man,â he spoke to the smug look upon his fatherâs features. It was a look that conveyed that Rafal knew Isek wasnât capable of what he was implying, that he was acting once more like the child his father thought him to be. âBut I canât let you do what I know youâre planning.â And before he even fully understood what his intentions were, before he could firmly wrap his head around exactly what he was planning, the sound of the gun firing filled the room. The spray of blood had his heart slamming into his throat, the crumple of his fatherâs body had the gun clattering to the floor, and the realization of what heâd done had him stumbling backwards. âFuck, fuck, FUCK.â
Remington was positive that he flinched; the harsh words thrown at him everything he didnât want to hear. He knew that he wasnât the one to speak up or even argue against the man that had allowed him into their family, but the truth was â heâd never been treated like a son. Heâd been treated as the ward; the one kid who would become a weapon when he was old enough. And while Remington knew how to be calculating and murder someone, it just wasnât him. No one but Isek had ever understood that, and Remi had never tried to make Rafal understand.Â
âIsekââ Remington was more than willing to take the heat, and to take the brunt of every word that Rafal was throwing at them. Heavy was the head that wore the crown â and he knew Iskender had always felt the weight. Remington moved forward to try and at least touch the other, but his husbandâs reaction was stopping him in his tracks, just as Rafalâs words had. Emir had said something, of course. And now? Now there was no going back. âRafal, that wasnâtââ The flash of a gun had Remington pausing, and he quickly drew his own. The gunshot that rang out, however, had Remingtonâs breath catching in his throat. âIsek, Isekââ he turned towards the door as it was shoved open, and Remington fired off two shots into the chests of the two bodyguards that had ran inside at the noise. They hit the ground, and Remington was setting his gun down on the desk before he was moving quickly over to Isek, âHey â hey, look at me,â he breathed, putting his hand against Isekâs cheek as he met his gaze, âLook at me. Youâre okay. Iâm here,â he pulled the other towards him, wrapping his arms around him as he held him tight. Remington was still in shock, unable to look at the body that had crumpled to the ground behind the desk. âWeâre okay. This place is yours. Itâs yours, love.â