Unravel Me: The Juliette Chronicles Book 2

his emotions to get in the way of his duty —it’s pathetic,” he says, spitting in Warner’s direction. “Which is why as much as I’d like to let you live, my dear, I’m afraid you’re too much of a distraction in his life. I cannot allow him to protect a person who has attempted to kill him.” He shakes his head. “I can’t believe I even have to have this conversation. What an embarrassment he’s proven to be.”
    Anderson reaches into his pocket, pulls out a gun, aims it at my forehead.
    Changes his mind.
    “I’m sick of always cleaning up after you,” he barks at Warner, grabbing his arm, pulling him up from the couch. He pushes his son directly across from me, presses the gun into his good hand.
    “Shoot her,” he says. “Shoot her right now.”

THIRTY-SIX
    Warner’s gaze is locked onto mine.
    He’s looking at me, eyes raw with emotion and I’m not sure I even know him anymore. I’m not sure I understand him, I’m not sure I know what he’s going to do when he lifts the gun with a strong, steady hand and points it directly at my face.
    “Hurry up,” Anderson says. “The sooner you do this, the sooner you can move on. Now get this over with —”
    But Warner cocks his head. Turns around.
    Points the gun at his father.
    I actually gasp.
    Anderson looks bored, irritated, annoyed. He runs an impatient hand across his face before he pulls out another gun—my other gun—from his pocket. It’s unbelievable.
    Father and son, both threatening to kill each other.
    “Point the gun in the right direction, Aaron. This is ridiculous.”
    Aaron .
    I almost laugh in the middle of this insanity.
    Warner’s first name is Aaron.
    “I have no interest in killing her,” Warner Aaron he says to his father.
    “Fine.” Anderson points the gun at my head again. “I’ll do it then.”
    “Shoot her,” Warner says, “and I will put a bullet through your skull.”
    It’s a triangle of death. Warner pointing a gun at his father, his father pointing a gun at me. I’m the only one without a weapon and I don’t know what to do.
    If I move, I’m going to die. If I don’t move, I’m going to die.
    Anderson is smiling.
    “How charming,” he says. He’s wearing an easy, lazy grin, his grip on the gun in his hand so deceptively casual. “What is it? Does she make you feel brave, boy?” A pause. “Does she make you feel strong?”
    Warner says nothing.
    “Does she make you wish you could be a better man?” A little chuckle. “Has she filled your head with dreams about your future?” A harder laugh.
    “You have lost your mind,” he says, “over a stupid child who’s too much of a coward to defend herself even with the barrel of a gun pointed straight at her face. This,” he says, pointing the gun harder in my direction, “is the silly little girl you’ve fallen in love with.” He exhales a short, hard breath. “I don’t know why I’m surprised.”
    A new tightness in his breathing. A new tightness in his grip around the gun in his hand. These are the only signs that Warner is even remotely affected by his father’s words.
    “How many times,” Anderson asks, “have you threatened to kill me? How many times have I woken up in the middle of the night to find you, even as a little boy, trying to shoot me in my sleep?” He cocks his head. “Ten times? Maybe fifteen? I have to admit I’ve lost count.” He stares at Warner. Smiles again. “And how many times,” he says, his voice so much louder now, “were you able to go through with it? How many times did you succeed? How many times,” he says, “did you burst into tears, apologizing, clinging to me like some demented—”
    “Shut your mouth,” Warner says, his voice so low, so even, his frame so still it’s terrifying.
    “You are weak ,” Anderson spits, disgusted. “Too pathetically sentimental. Don’t want to kill your own father? Too afraid it’ll break your miserable heart?”
    Warner’s jaw tenses.
    “Shoot me,” Anderson says, his eyes dancing, bright with amusement. “I said shoot me !” he shouts, this time reaching for Warner’s injured arm, grabbing him until his fingers are clenched tight around the wound, twisting his arm back until Warner actually gasps from the pain, blinking too fast, trying desperately to suppress the scream building inside of him. His grip on the gun in his good hand wavers, just a little.
    Anderson releases his son. Pushes him so hard that Warner stumbles as he tries to