Page 77 of Embriagado

His head jerked back, and he tried getting free from the zip ties to no avail.

“Would you stop moving so much? You’re giving me a headache.”

“I’m sorry, okay? About that night.” Closing his eyes, he bowed his head with a sigh. “I’m really sorry about it. I shouldn’t have beat you.”

While he wasn’t looking, I grabbed something out of my drawer and walked over to him, stopping with the tip of my shoe nearly nudging his.

“I don’t recall asking for an apology.”

“Huh?” He looked up, his eyes going wide upon seeing the gun in my hand.

“Hey, wait⁠—”

“If there’s something I hate, it’s the word ‘sorry,’” I said while attaching the suppressor to my beautiful gun. “You see, men like you have stripped it of all meaning to the point where I shudder at the sound of it.”

“Fuck,” he hissed, gritting his teeth. “So what do you want me to do, huh?” He leaned closer, nearly falling over.

“I want you to turn around.”

Fear crossed his eyes, but fairly enough, he did as I asked.

“Ariyan, please, my brother⁠—”

“What about him?”

“I’m all that he has.”

Would you look at that? His voice just shuddered.

“How unfortunate.”

“You don’t understand. Both our parents died, and it’s just us two.”

“How sad.” I brought the gun to his head.

“Fuck.”

“Didn’t I tell you to watch that dirty mouth of yours?”

“Fuck off, you’re pointing a gun at my head.” His voice cracked. “Shit, man, please, just… I’ll do anything.”

Pursing my lips, I tilted my head, eyes locked on my gun.

“Anything? What exactly does that mean?”

He shrugged. “I… I don’t know, a-anything you want. I swear, I’ll give you fucking everything you ask for, just, please, don’t kill me.”

My smile dropped as I shoved the muzzle to the back of his head.

“Anything… Everything… You toss around words like that, thinking it sounds noble, without even grasping their true weight.”

Like a child does.

“Tell me, Mr. Rivas, would you agree to kill your own brother to stay alive? To give up his life in return for yours?”

He half turned to look at me, eyes furious. “Like hell I would.”

“See?” I smiled. “So you wouldn’t give up everything.”