I want to leap up, punch a wall, but it’s pointless. I just coil tighter, a spring wound too far.
"What does he mean by replacement? That can’t be right," I say, hoping in vain for another explanation, something less monstrous.
"Exactly what we told you. Anzo was furious. He’s convinced we orchestrated Moon’s escape. Now he says it’s our responsibility to give him someone else. As twisted as that sounds."
"What the fuck do you mean, ourresponsibility? That’s not how the world works!" My voice lashes out, but it’s useless. Logic won’t change what already happened.
"You know how obsessed he was with Moon," Dad says. "You saw it from the start. From the moment he laid eyes on him!"
"I know," I mutter. "He’s a lunatic who wants what he can’t have."
"That man doesn’t stop. He takes. Always has. Now Moon’s missing, and Summer—"
Dad’s voice catches again.
"They took him to The Sun Fortress. We have no way to contact him. We went to the police, but they blew us off. Said Summer’s an adult. And Ferro practically owns the whole department anyway. We’re out of options. We’re begging you. Please… get him out."
I stare at the screen, trying to make sense of it.
"Ferro can’t find out the truth about Summer," my father emphasizes. "You know what he’d do with that. He’d twist it. Use it maliciously. It’d destroy Summer."
My dad clenches his jaw, voice shaking.
"Please, son. You’re the only one who can do this. You’ve got the skills, the training. You can also sniff around incognito, since you can shift the features of your face. This bastard won’trecognize you, he only saw your pictures anyway. We can’t lose Summer! You know what Ferro did to Moon!"
Silence stretches as I try to process, to plan, but nothing comes.
"Dad… you don’t know what you’re asking. This could mean you’ll have to go into hiding too. The mafia has reach everywhere."
"We know. We’re ready. Just please, Raggi…"
So here we are. Both my brothers gone. I’m the only one left. Today, I watched a man die. Hunter couldn’t save his husband. But maybe I can still save my brothers? At least one of them.
The word slips out before I can stop it. "Okay," I whisper.
Really? I said that? Me, against the whole mafia? Sounds like a ‘realistic’ chance.
Almost frantically, I clench my fists and frown. A thin silver line glints on the back of my hand, the place where my spikes come out.
Here’s where the hope is hidden.
I’m not like other people. There’s a beast beneath my skin. And Summer… he’s something else. Extraordinary. He deserves to be safe. To be free. To thrive. And it’s my job to make sure no one gets to use or break him.
"He could easily fight back," my father says quietly. "But he won’t. Anzo threatened him. If Summer tries to run or resist, they’ll kill us, kill you. Hunt down Moon and finish what they started. So he’s really trapped, blackmailed."
"Okay," I say again, locking eyes with them. "I’ll do what I can."
Their faces are filled with desperate hope. I just pray I won’t let them down. I pray I won’t fail Summer. Or Moon.
But the truth is… I don’t have a plan.
I don’t know what the hell I’m doing. I’m just a simple soldier, nothing more. I follow orders; I don’t strategize.
And now this? A solo mission?
***
A few hours later, I’m eating alone in the mess hall, staring blankly at my tray. I’ve already spoken with the base commander. He was understanding and expressed sympathy for my situation. I was granted an indefinite leave from the military, with the option to return if I choose to. They don’t want to lose me, so they’re keeping that door open.
