Julian stood a few feet away, a smoking gun held steadily in his hand. "Did you really think," Julian said, "that I wouldn't have the guts to kill you?"
Luca struggled to remain upright, his hand instinctively pressing against the wound. Pain radiated through his body, but his eyes never left his brother's.
"You always underestimated me," Julian continued, lowering the gun slightly but keeping it trained on Luca. "That was your greatest mistake."
"Son of a bitch!" Luca cursed, the words torn from his throat as the pain finally registered. His legs buckled beneath him, and he dropped to his knees, one hand instinctively pressing against the warm, spreading blood soaking through his shirt.
Julian stepped forward and kicked the fallen gun farther away, ensuring it was well beyond Luca's reach. The weapon skidded across the floor just as a fresh wave of men stormed into the cabin. "Tell me," Julian said, his voice eerily calm as he approached his brother, "how you will save her now."
