Page 64 of Goldsin

“Julian,” she sighs, pivoting on the spot as she looks at me. Her voice breaks the silence between us. It seems she was debating whether to push further or not and decided to just go for it. “What’s going on with Adrian? You two seemed tense earlier.”

When all I do is gulp down the last remaining dregs of my coffee, she eyes me skeptically. Then she takes another bite of her bagel and presses further.

“Come on, Julian. I know you better than anyone. You’re hiding something from me.”

I’m hiding something fromher?

I lose it.

“You have got to be fucking kidding me!” I meet her gaze head-on despite the turmoil raging within me. “I’m not the one who killed a man and is now buried beneath his carcass.” The words slither out, vibrating on my last nerve. “Adrian is just concerned about some things. And he has his reasons to be.”

“Oh, for God’s sake. I didn’t kill DeMarco!” she heaves out, body vibrating with the force she puts into playing the part of the misunderstood victim. Then something switches inside of her. She registers what else I’ve said and asks, “Concerned?” A hint of annoyance creeps into her voice. “What does that even mean?”

“Let’s just say, he’s been paying closer attention to certain people than you may have realized. And he’s starting to put some pieces together.”

Aurelia’s eyes narrow, and she sets her bagel down on her plate, her appetite seemingly forgotten. “Are you saying he’s been spying on me?”

“Maybe.”

Aurelia slams her palm on the kitchen counter, her face a mixture of hurt and something else. “I can’t believe this! What gives him the right to invade my privacy like that? And why are you defending him?”

“Because he’s my brother!” I snap, my own temper flaring in response to her accusation.

And because you. Don’t. Trust. Me.

“And because I know he’s only doing it to protect our family,” I add instead.

“Even if it means treating me like a criminal?” Her eyes blaze with indignation. “I thought we were past all that, Julian. I thought we were ... closer than that.”

It’s like a punch to the gut, hearing her voice crack with disappointment. But even as my heart freezes over, I know I can’t afford to let my emotions cloud my judgment.

“Sometimes, golden one,” I say, struggling to keep my anger steady, “we have to make hard choices for the people we care about.”

She thinks I’m still talking about Adrian. If only she knew how deeply I’ve thrust myself into this shithole she created; how I’m talking about her and not him. But why give her the satisfaction when she keeps lying to me?

“Is that what this is then?” Her expression hardens slightly as she searches my face for answers. “Just another hard choice for you to make?”

I witness the slow change in her gaze. The spark thatwas there a minute ago ignites, burning everything softly, leaving only the jagged edge now staring back at me.

“You’re running out of time.” My voice is low and heavy with the weight of my certainty. “Sooner or later, either Adrian or I will uncover your secret, and when that happens ...”

I trail off, unable to finish the thought. Because deep down I know there is no good outcome to this situation. No scenario where we all walk away unscathed. We’re past that now. The clock has been ticking for far too long.

“Is that a threat?” She stares at me with wild eyes.

“Consider it a warning.” My heart pounds in my chest, freezing as I take a step back from the precipice of our shared destruction. “Because I honestly don’t know which is worse.”

And with that, I grab the half-eaten bagel from her plate and take a bite, the stale taste a stark contrast to the sweetness present last night.

I turn and leave her standing in the kitchen, alone—just how she likes it.

For now.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

JULIAN

The gym is my sanctuary.

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