Page 80 of Raziel

Chapter Thirty Five- Raziel

I didn’t want to be here. Anywhere but here. But Maya wanted me to at least try to have a relationship with my brother. So I would try.

The gun range I pulled up at sat quiet at the edge of the city, tucked away behind a chain-link fence. Private. Members-only. Caine’s black Audi was already there. I killed my engine but didn’t move. My phone buzzed on the console.

Maya:You got this. I love you. I have a surprise at home.

She sent a picture of her naked in front of the mirror.

That was motivation enough.

I stepped out of the car. The building was cool and clean inside, the faint scent of oil and gunpowder in the air. I saw him in lane three, loading a magazine, safety glasses on his head. I stopped a few feet away. No handshake. No greeting.

He didn’t look over. Just chambered a round.

“You joining, or just watching?”

I nodded toward his weapon. “Custom?”

He glanced sideways. “Sig. Modified.”

“Hm.”

I stepped into the next lane and drew my HK. Reliable. No drama. Unlike this.

We fired in silence. The rhythm was a relief—aim, exhale, squeeze, reset. I didn’t have to think.

He was good. Tight groupings. No wasted motion.

Out of nowhere, he cleared his weapon and holstered it.

“I like Maya.”

I lowered my gun, ejecting the magazine. “I do too.”

He was quiet for a beat, staring downrange.

“I always wanted a little brother.”

The magazine clicked back into place. The admission was simple and hung between us in the percussive silence. I looked at him, really looked. He wasn’t the stain I’d convinced myself he was. He was just my brother.

He finally turned his head, his gaze level. “Why punish me for what he did?”

There was no good answer.

“I shouldn’t have,” I said. “I’m sorry.” The words were foreign on my tongue. “I won’t. From now on.”

He gave a single, sharp nod. “Okay.”

And that was it. The sentiment had been stretched to its absolute limit between us—I felt it.

He turned, grabbed his range bag, and walked out without another word.

I stood there alone, the smell of cordite clinging to the air, and felt the first, faint crack in a wall I’d spent a lifetime building.

Chapter thirty six- Raziel

Six months. That’s how long we’d had peace. I should’ve known it wouldn’t last.