Page 86 of Goldsin

He hesitates for a moment, tracking the tears silently falling down my eyes. “Their marriage was arranged, but I don’t think my mother ever expected it to be this bad. I even think she loved him once, but that must have lasted a week.”

“And Julian?” My voice trembles as I push further.

He swallows hard, his hands clenching. “Julian has always stood up for our mother, ever since he was a little kid, and our father hates him for it. I learned early on that if I wanted to help her, I needed to stay quiet, but Julian could never do that. He would always get between them, even if it meant getting himself hurt. Then, one year, Julian started throwing punches back, and since Lucian couldn’t get to Julian with force, he started using our mother in retaliation, hurting her when Julian defied him.”

“We need to stop him, Adrian.” I take a step toward him, hoping he understands how important it is that we do. “We can’t let this continue.”

It feels like he’s about to agree with me; like something’s switched inside of him.

But then darkness pools in his eyes, his browsmeeting in the middle, and he says, “Stay away from Julian. From this family.”

A bitter laugh escapes me. I feel disgusted at how easily he can pretend like everything is okay, changing the focus of this conversation onto me.

“It’s a little too late for that, don’t you think? This is the closest fucked-up thing to a family I have.”

“You’re going to get yourself killed.”

I can’t tell if it’s a warning or a promise.

“I don’t fear death.” My expression hardens.

He cracks a smile as he flicks his gaze to the side before steadily saying, “You’re going to gethimkilled.”

My heart freezes, muscles going taut at the thought of something happening to Julian.

I don’t think I could forgive myself.

At my silence Adrian turns to leave, but I call out one last thing, not yet done with the conversation.

“That’s where you have it wrong.”

He looks at me over his shoulder.

“I can’t kill someone who’s been slowly dying all this time.”

His shoulder muscles twitch. So I thrust the knife deeper.

“You see, Adrian, your brother’s been dying every day that you’ve let this mistreatment go on.”

This time I’m the one to leave.

I don’t even check to see if I might run into Lucian. All I care about is finding Julian. But when I reach his room and open the door, I don’t find him there.

Where are you?

Murmuring reaches my ears.Knowing he must be nearby, I follow the voices. The closer I get, the more I can make out Julian’s voice, soft and soothing.

I reach Lady Harrow’s bedroom and see him gently brushing his mother’s hair as she sits in front of her vanity.

“Everything is all right now,” he reassures her as he untangles the hair from the mess the man made before attempting to braid its short length. “I’m always going to be here for you.”

Julian gives her a hand, and she reaches for it, standing up. He helps her take some pills before bed. They exchange more whispered words, then he caresses the top of her head, eyes watchful over her as she drifts off into a deep sleep.

It feels strange seeing him like this.

So gentle. So tender.

The Ripper who cuts throats ... he looks nothing like the intimidating Julian Harrow everyone fears.

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