A BEAST’S SILENT SACRIFICE BENEATH SHADOWS OF BETRAYAL

Julian bolted through the broken mahogany doors into the torrential rain outside.

Dante walked after him, step by measured step, not running. He knew Julian had nowhere to go. The outer gates were electronically sealed, and the private helicopter on the pad above the garage was disabled—Evelyn had already severed the fuel lines.

Julian scrambled up the stone stairs leading to the elevated courtyard terrace overlooking the estate’s cliffs. The rain poured down like sheets of iron, plastering Julian’s hair to his skull. He slipped on the wet flagstones, fell hard on his hip, and scrambled backward against the stone balustrade.

Dante reached the top of the stairs. He discarded his empty rifle, letting it clatter against the stone.

""Stay back!"" Julian screamed, raising his pistol with trembling hands. ""Stay back, Dante! I swear to God I'll pull the trigger!""

Dante kept walking. His dark eyes were dead, devoid of mercy, devoid of brotherhood.

""You won't shoot,"" Dante said, his voice cutting through the thunder. ""Because you're a coward, Julian. You kill with poison in water bowls. You kill in the dark while children sleep. You've never faced an enemy who could look you in the eyes.""

Julian pulled the trigger.

The hammer clicked on an empty chamber. He had expended all his ammunition firing wildly into the smoke.

Julian stared at the empty gun in horror. He threw it at Dante's chest, but Dante knocked it aside with a flick of his forearm. In the next instant, Dante closed the distance, his hand clamping around Julian’s throat like an iron vise, lifting his brother off his feet and slamming him against the stone railing above the rocky abyss below.

Julian choked, clawing frantically at Dante’s tattooed neck, his boots kicking uselessly in the air.

""Please..."" Julian gasped, blood flecking his lips. ""Dante... we're brothers...""