Even from this distance, I could tell he was breathing heavily.

I had seen him intense, seen him focused.

Had seen violence from him.

But I had never seen him like this.

Found myself as it seemed I always was with him.

Torn.

Relieved to see him beyond all measure.

Terrified by what he would do next.

Three

THREE

Elias

“Father, there are far less dramatic ways to get my attention,” I said.

When his eyes were on me, I slid the brass knuckles off my fingers and then shook my hands.

The soft splash of blood hitting the floor drew Kayla’s attention from my face, and I watched as she looked between me and the blood on the floor.

A look, one I couldn’t identify, passed over her expression. But it was quickly gone, and I watched as she composed herself by taking deep breaths.

I found myself doing the same, hating the stench in the room, hating the fact that Kayla had been forced to take even one breath here.

More angry at myself than I had ever been at anyone else for having put her in this situation.

Anger aside, I would fix that mistake now.

My father stared at me, his expression a mix of pride and what I hoped was fear.

I walked across the concrete floor, my shoes clicking with each step because I wanted them to.

I took in my father’s rolled-up sleeves, saw his discarded jacket. His shirt was dark, but I could see the sweat soaking through the back. I also saw the chair he had sitting across from Kayla.

This kind of work required stamina, and I wasn’t sure if it was a good thing that my father had made a concession to his own.

But he was consistent, at least.

He had always preached that the head of the family needed to be willing to get his hands as dirty as the lowest soldier.

Another lesson I had taken to heart, and it appeared he still did too.

“Your attention?” he finally said. “You think I give a shit about your attention when I have serious matters to attend? Or are you so busy chasing after this girl to see that she is the traitor in our midst?” my father thundered.

There was a time when his deep, booming voice would have scared me. Now, it only made me angrier—and more determined.

“If you think that’s the case, Father, did you consider asking me about it?” I said.

I sounded calm, but I was anything but, which was exactly why I didn’t meet Kayla’s eye.

I would lose my shit if I did, and now wasn’t the time for that.

“Ask you? The problem and the solution are right here in my face. You’re too dense to see that, so I had to protect the family and help you,” he said.

“And help yourself, too?” I countered.