Beautiful Monster (Dark Lies Duet 2)

“And what? Now you’re here to enact your revenge?”

“Revenge, vengeance—take your pick,” he says nonchalantly.

“Something tells me you know my reputation. You’re pretty fucking stupid to come after me.”

“You’ve seen my work, brother. We’re more alike than you think.”

“We’re nothing alike,” I spat.

He huffs. “Oh, yeah. Who do you think put all of this into motion?”

I frown, glancing back at Siân, who stares between us dumbfounded.

“While you were chasing your pretty new bride in Florida, I found our father. I had every intention of ending him, but he made me a deal.”

“And what was that?”

“He would tell me everything I needed to know, even give me your place if I did one thing for him.”

I stare, and when I don’t respond, he continues.

He grins. “Take out his rivals, and when I’m done, end you.”

“And why would he do that? You said it yourself. I’m the chosen one.”

“You were, but then you started to rebel, and well, you know how he is with those who disobey.”

“And that’s why you’ve been after Siân?”

“She’s just collateral damage. Just a means to get to you, and if she has to die in the process, so be it.”

I storm toward him, my teeth bared, and pull the trigger, but he’s quick. He jumps out of the way, his laughter growing louder.

“We really are alike. When I asked Samuele about why he picked you over me, he said it’s because he could see early on that you were unhinged, and he could use that. He needed a soldier he could mold into the warrior he needed. We shared the same face—you and I—but I clung to our mother while you did not. You were more interested in the guns on his table than anything else. But then he made that deal to give you her, and you’ve been off the rails. Well, not at first, but eventually he found out she was alive but figured there would come a time when knowing that would be useful.”

“And now you’ll fill that role,” I deadpan.

“Eh.” He shrugs. “I’m simply playing a role until I have his trust, then I’ll put one through his skull the same way he did our mother. You may not remember any of our past, but I, on the other hand, remember every minute of it. And he will pay for what he’s done right after I get rid of you.”

I raise my pistol again, staring him in the eye as he does the same.

“What’s your name?” I ask, my chest heaving.

“Why?”

“So I know who I’m killing.”

He pauses for a minute, completely unfazed. “Enzo.”

I nod, tightening my grip on the handle, but something clicks, something I’ve never felt before. I want to end him, make him pay for touching Siân, for thinking he can touch me, but I can’t. As I stare in eyes—my eyes—my twin’s eyes, I can’t, and for the first time in as long as I can remember, I don’t pull the trigger.

25

SIN

I don't know what's more unbelievable: watching Christian stare down the barrel of a gun or how much I need him to get out of this unharmed. I’d do anything I want if that’s what it comes to. I’ll even be the wife Christian wants. Anything. Please, God, don’t let him die tonight. I need him to live. He has to get out of this. What am I going to do without him?

I'm not afraid for myself. I know that much in the middle of panic worse than any I've ever experienced. Even if he dies and I die, too, it's his life I care about. He has to live.

What I feel must be love if I care more about his life than I do about mine. Until now, I knew what I felt but couldn’t fully accept it because of who he is and what I’ve seen him do. None of that matters now. I need him. I love him.

One thing is obvious. Even if Christian is a quicker shot than his brother, somebody will die here. And why? For what? Call it the benefit of being a third party, but it seems I see everything much clearer than them. “Neither of you has to do this. You realize that, right?”

Enzo snickers, his eyes never leaving Christian. “Don't waste your breath. What, you think begging for your husband's life will change anything?”

“But why are you doing this? I mean, really? Who really harmed you? Was it Christian?”

“Siân,” Christian warns. Like his brother, he's laser-focused and unmoving. He hardly even moves his lips to speak.

“No, enough of that. You're not going to tell me I can't speak.”

Enzo blurts out a harsh laugh. “What a shame you'll both have to die today. She might have been just what you needed.”

“And what would that be? What do I need?”

“Somebody to call you on your stupidity, for starters. She would keep you on your toes.”