Craving The Wrong Brother (Sloane and Knox) novel Chapter 138

Mateo is unresponsive at first, staring at the camera. And then, he laughs.

It’s dry and joyless.

“Are you threatening to kill my daughter?” he asks me. “You? Do you think the torture I went through affected my memory? You think I forgot why we got captured in the first place? You think I don’t remember that it was you who let a suspected spy walk free because he was a goddamn kid? You couldn’t even pull a trigger when it mattered. So tell me—why would I believe you’d kill my daughter in cold blood?”

My hand tightens around the phone.

He wants to hit where it hurts, I get that. But bringing that moment back—the kid I let go, the one who blew our mission wide open—is uncalled for. I made peace with that call, even if Mateo never did.

“You’re right,” I say. “I won’t kill a kid. But her parents, her mother and father? That’s a different story.”

“That man is not her father. And why should I care what happens to them? They're practically unprotected because I want them to be. Please, shoot them.”

I lean forward a little so he can see more of my face.

“You want to keep pretending you don’t care about your ex-wife? That's fine,” I say. “But you care about your daughter. And if they die, she goes into foster care. You can’t legally claim her, Mateo. According to the world, you’re dead. You think they’ll just hand her over to a lunatic who staged a hostage situation on a video call?”

His mouth twitches, and his fingers dance at his side.

“You can't kidnap her as well. She wouldn’t want to go with you or call you dad,” I continue. “You’re a stranger to her.”

Without warning, Mateo pulls his gun from the holster on his hip and fires.

Everyone jolts.

The bullet hits the floor, just inches from Hunter’s foot.

Hunter doesn’t move, but the snarl in his expression worsens. His chest is heaving now, arms flexed behind the restraints like he’s willing his body to break out of them.

Sloane grips my hand so tight my knuckles crack under the pressure.

“I’m not playing with you, Knox,” Mateo says, gun still raised. “Say the words.”

“And then what?” I ask. “You’ll let them go? You and I both know that’s bullshit. An apology isn’t the only thing you want. Let’s be honest. After I grovel and take the blame for a mission you walked into willingly, what’s next? You want my kidney? My savings account? My girl? I know how you think, T-Bone. Let’s not pretend this ends with you letting them go. It ends with you pulling the trigger. That’s the part you’re not saying. Because you’ve already decided none of them walk out.”

“The only thing you should worry about right now is what I’m asking you to do,” he snaps.

“Apologize to you?” I say, scoffing. “Go fuck yourself.”

“Knox,” Sloane hisses beside me. “What are you doing?”

I don’t answer. My focus is still on the screen. On Mateo.

Out comes another gunshot.

This one slams into the concrete beside Finn’s boot, sending chips flying.

“For God’s sake,” Finn yells, flinching hard. “If my brother isn’t sorry, I am! Okay? I totally fucking apologize! It was my fault he joined the military in the first place. If I hadn't lied against him and he never enlisted, maybe you wouldn’t have had to go through what you did. So, I’m sorry. Okay? Just—cool off with the goddamn shooting!”

Mateo raises the gun again and fires.

The shot misses Finn’s foot by a hair.

“Shut up,” he growls. “Or I’ll shoot the only good hand you have right now.”

He turns back to me.

“I’m counting to five, Knox,” he says. “And then your friend dies.”

My eyes find Hunter. His expression is thunder. I’ve never seen him look like this. He shakes his head from left to right.

“Don’t do it, Knox,” he says. “He’s never going to let us go anyway. Don’t give him the satisfaction. Just make sure you kill the bastard when you find him.”

“No,” Sloane says. “Don’t listen to him. What’s wrong with you, Hunter? Are you that hungry for death?” Her voice rises. “Everyone calm down. Knox is going to apologize.”

She’s glaring at me now. There’s a plea in her eyes. One she’s not saying out loud, but I feel it like a weight on my chest.

Mateo lifts his free hand. “One.”

“Just do it, for God’s sake!” Finn cries.

“Don’t listen to them, Knox,” Hunter growls. “At least let me die with my dignity intact. That’s the least you can do for me.”

“Two,” Mateo says.

“Jesus,” Serena mutters. “I’m just going to leave, bad leg or not.”