Page 123 of When the Smoke Clears

Before I can answer, rough hands seize me—an arm clamps around my throat, jerking me back against a chest that radiates heat and rage. If I turn my head slightly, I can see the fire in Nathaniel’s eyes.

I choke, fingers clawing at his forearm as the gun jams into my temple, its icy barrel pressed so hard the shape of it feels carved into my skull.

“One more step,” Nathaniel snarls, “and she’s dead.”

Luke freezes mid-stride, but only for a split second. His rifle steadies in both hands—his injured shoulder visibly trembling, but he holds the weapon with iron control.

“Let her go,” he commands, voice low and lethal. “You’re surrounded.”

Gabe’s men fan out in a precise half-circle. Dalton and Chase flank Luke, both pale and shaking, their rifles trained on the man they call father.

Nathaniel drags me toward the cliff, boots sliding on loose shale. The chasm yawns behind us.

“You’re not leaving this mountain,” Luke growls.

Nathaniel laughs—a jagged, breathless sound. “Don’t fool yourself. I’m the only one here with leverage.”

“Dad,” Dalton tries, voice breaking. “Stop. This isn’t you.”

Nathaniel’s breath fogs in explosive bursts.

“You still don’t understand,” he hisses. “I’ve done everything for this family. For all of you.”

His arm tightens around my throat. I gasp.

Luke steps forward. “Her life was never yours to gamble with.”

“She ruined you,” Nathaniel spits, jerking me slightly. “You could’ve been great. I had plans for you.”

Luke’s face goes still. Deadly. “This has nothing to do with her.”

“It has everything to do with her,” Nathaniel snaps.

“You were moldable. Obedient. Focused. Then she showed up and filled your head with ideas about doing the right thing, helping people, and making moral black and white choices.” He scoffs heavily. “Weakness.”

Luke takes a slow, deliberate step, lowering his rifle slightly. “Nathaniel, let her go. And we can talk.”

“Talk? You want to talk? About what? How you think you’re better than me? About how you dug into things you had no business touching?”

Luke’s voice cuts in sharply. “Why Isla? Why drag her into this?”

Nathaniel’s grip spasms around my neck. “Because you didn’t listen. I warned you to stay out of things. I warned you to leave the past alone. I warned you⁠—”

“You sent someone after her.” Luke’s voice trembles with fury. “You tried to have her killed.”

Nathaniel doesn’t deny it.

“Who helped you kidnap her from the hospital?”

“No one of importance. A security guard who wanted an early retirement.”

Luke’s face hardens into something I’ve never seen—rage so contained it’s nearly quiet. “You would rather see me miserable or dead, wouldn’t you?”

Nathaniel shakes his head back and forth. “No. No. I never wanted you dead. Don’t you see? I was willing to give you everything. Even my business. I did not give that order.”

Dalton swears under his breath. Chase’s rifle lowers an inch.

I stop breathing.