Chapter 159

Kyra's voice echoed from Adler's main room, likely the cause of her delay. Quickly turning, they ascended the stairs, narrowly avoiding a collision with her frame at the open door.

"What are you doing?" Salvatore demanded.

Oh, he knew. That question shouldn't be asked when Adler had the muzzle of a nine-millimeter pistol pressed to his chin, and right before their gaze, his grasp on the gun tightened.

Rune felt his stomach sink. 

Green eyes stared straight ahead at Lily's pendant, which she refused to take back. The months of drowning himself in liquor had hidden his real grief; now, it was all open for them to see.

Kyra stepped forward, and Adler rested a finger on the trigger, forcing her to halt. Rune could see her tremble and hear her stern voice shake, but Adler, never shifting his gaze from the pendant, said nothing.

"You don't know what you're doing. You can't do this." Each word falling from her lips was forced.

He could, Rune thought