Page 10 of Saint’s Revenge

"If you kill him..." I have to stop. Breathe. Force the words out. "You might never come back from that. Even if he deserves it."

Lucas goes very still, and his eyes search mine.

"He's your brother," I whisper. "Your blood. I know what he's become. I know what he did. But Lucas... if you're the one who kills him, that's something you'll carry forever."

"I've been carrying him for five years already," Lucas says, voice rough. "Carrying the guilt of leaving. Carrying the weight of knowing what he was becoming and doing nothing. Maybe this is how I finally put it down."

"Or maybe it's how you pick up something heavier." My vision is blurring. Getting harder to focus. "I don't want you to become what you hate."

Inside the warehouse, someone shouts. Daniel's voice. Screaming Lucas's name. Lucas's whole body tenses, and his hand tightens on mine.

"I have to go back in there," he says.

"I know."

"I have to end this."

"I know." I squeeze his hand as hard as I can, which isn't very hard at all. "Just... don't let it end you too."

He stares at me for a long moment. Then leans down and presses his forehead against mine, just for a second. His breath is ragged.

"Stay here," he whispers. "Stay alive. Please, Riley. Just stay alive."

Then he's standing. Picking his gun back up. Looking toward the warehouse entrance.

"Lucas," I say.

He looks back.

"Come back to me."

"I will."

Then he's running back toward the warehouse. Back into the chaos, and I'm alone again. Alone with the darkness, the cold, and the sound of his brother screaming for him inside.

I close my eyes. Focus on breathing. On staying conscious like Lucas told me to.

Chapter 3 - Saint

I leave Riley slumped against the wall, barely breathing, broken in ways that make me want to burn this entire building down with everyone inside it.

Instead, I run.

Back toward the warehouse. Back toward the sound of my brother screaming my name like I owe him something. Like we're still the same people we were before everything went to hell.

The south door is still hanging open. I kick through it hard enough that it slams into the wall. The warehouse floor opens up in front of me. Bodies scattered across concrete, blood pooling in the cracks. Some Vipers I recognize, most I don't. Kyle is at the bottom of the stairs where I shot him. Dead eyes staring at nothing.

I count quickly. Judge is near the west entrance, zip-tying two Vipers who are still alive. Brick has one pinned against the wall by his throat. Echo and Wraith are searching the perimeter. Ranger is on comms with Phoenix. Diesel is reloading his gun.

No sign of Phoenix himself.

No sign of Demon.

"LUCAS!"

Daniel's voice comes from above. Second floor.

I look up. See him at the top of the metal staircase. East side of the building. He's standing in the doorway of what used to be the foreman's office when this place was still operational.