Chapter 216: A plea, A favor

Chapter Two Hundred and Seventeen

Another heavy thud slammed against the wall.

Then a curse came. A quiet sigh slipped out of her as she stared at the closed door.

"Did I actually mean that?"

The thought lingered longer than she expected.

Daniel joining her. Joining them.

She wasn’t entirely sure where that had even come from. Maybe it was the way Cole spoke about him. Maybe it was because, despite everything, Daniel had still walked in and admitted the truth instead of lying to her face.

Or maybe...

She was getting soft.

Her lips pressed together slightly at the thought.

No.

Not soft.

Just... tired of people being used and thrown around like weapons.

Daniel was following orders.

That was all.

Just like Cole always did with hers.

And if she was being honest, everyone in the Villa had blood on their hands because of someone else’s command.

A second chance didn’t seem impossible.

Not yet.

But trust?

That was different.

If Daniel ever crossed her after she gave him a place beside her, then she’d kill him herself.

The inner room door suddenly swung open, interrupting her thoughts.

Cole came out first. Or rather, stormed out.

A bruise had already begun forming along his cheekbone, darkening beneath his skin. His shirt clung slightly to him, wrinkled from being grabbed too many times.

Behind him came Daniel.

His lower lip was split, fresh blood lining the edge of it. One sleeve had been half torn at the cuff, and there was a faint red mark forming near his jaw.

Neither looked satisfied.

If anything, they looked more irritated than before.

Asli stared at them.

Slowly.

Her gaze moved from Cole to Daniel and back again.

"So..." she said flatly, "that went well."

Cole scoffed, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand. "He started it."

Daniel immediately looked offended. "I started it?"

"You touched me first."

"You insulted me first."

"You pointed at me first."

Asli blinked once.

Then twice.

A disbelieving laugh almost escaped her. They were still... boys.

"These are the dangerous men below your rank fears?" she asked dryly. "Interesting."

Neither answered.

They just glared at each other again like two children forced into the same room.

Asli shook her head slowly. "You’re both embarrassing."

That finally got their attention.

Cole straightened slightly while Daniel looked away first, jaw tightening.

"Good," she muttered. "At least shame still works."

Asli pushed herself off the chair, already done with both of them.

"Get out before one of you dies in my training room."

Cole wiped at the corner of his mouth and shot his brother one last warning look before moving toward the door.

But then...

"Wait."

Daniel’s voice cut through the room.

It wasn’t loud but different.

Asli noticed it immediately.

He was less arrogant, less guarded.

"I need to speak to you alone."

Cole stopped instantly. "No." The response came too fast. His shoulders straightened again, all the earlier irritation replaced with something sharper. His body had already shifted slightly in front of Asli before he even seemed to realize it himself, his bruised jaw tightening as his eyes locked onto Daniel with clear warning.

Whatever Daniel wanted to say, Cole clearly didn’t trust it and whatever reason Daniel had for wanting Asli alone, Cole’s reaction made one thing obvious, he didn’t like it one bit.

Asli frowned slightly. Was Cole forgetting who she was?

If Daniel tried anything stupid, she’d bury him before he took a second breath.

"I said alone," Daniel repeated, calmer this time.

Cole looked at Asli immediately. "You don’t have to..."

"I’ll survive," she cut in dryly.

His jaw tightened.

For a second, he still looked like he wanted to argue.

Then finally, he gave a short bow toward her. "Call me if he annoys you."

Daniel scoffed.

Cole ignored him and walked out.

The door shut behind him.

A few seconds later, faint footsteps echoed outside.

Back and forth.

Pacing.

Asli almost rolled her eyes.

She folded her arms slowly. "Talk."

Daniel didn’t answer immediately.

Which was strange enough on its own.

His eyes stayed on the floor for a moment before he finally spoke.

"I cried last night."

The words made her brows pull together slightly.

"It was the first time since..." He swallowed once. "Since we found our parents lying on the floor."

Something small flickered across her face before she buried it quickly.

Her arms tightened across her chest.

Daniel laughed softly under his breath, but nothing was amusing about it. "I found out the truth. I was hoping Cole was making things up. Your father killed them."

The words landed heavily between them.

"And I..." He stopped, jaw tightening hard enough for her to notice. "I need to kill him before Cole does."

Asli’s gaze sharpened slightly.

"I don’t want that blood on his hands," he continued quietly. "All these years, I thought I was protecting him."

A humorless smile touched his lips.

"He thought the same thing."

Her throat tightened unexpectedly.

Daniel dragged a hand over his face before continuing. "Your father played both of us."

The room suddenly felt too small.

"I’m not here to tell you who your father is," he said quickly. "You’ll figure that out yourself. I just want Cole safe and alive."

His eyes finally lifted to hers fully.

"I’m asking for a favor."

Asli shut her eyes briefly.

Just briefly.

But it was enough.

A tear slipped free before she could stop it.

Damn hormones.

Or maybe not.

Because for the first time, she pictured it.

Two children standing over their parents’ bodies.

Thinking they had only each other left.

Then growing up believing every sacrifice, every bruise, every mission was for the other twin’s safety.

Without knowing the man controlling them had destroyed their family himself.

Her chest tightened painfully.

She could never imagine someone killing her...

Then raising her child under the same roof afterward.

Using them.

Shaping them.

Watching them destroy themselves while calling it loyalty.