Chapter One Hundred and Ninety-Seven
Daniel let out a sharp, bitter laugh.
"Save me?" he repeated. "Tell me, Cole... how exactly did anything you did save me?"
Something in Cole snapped.
"If only you had waited," he shot back, his voice shaking with restrained anger. "You made my sacrifice worthless. I... Daniel, you have no idea what I..."
"Spare me all that," Daniel cut in coldly. "Spare me the heroic speech, twin brother. You made no sacrifice. If I had waited for you, I would’ve died in that filthy hole. While you were eating fine food, wearing expensive clothes, and living in luxury. I was wondering if you were even alive. Imagine if Marco hadn’t found me."
"You think I was happy when he recruited me?" Cole demanded.
Daniel scoffed. "Look at you. Lying straight to my face."
"You don’t know what you’re talking about," Cole snapped. "What do you think a twelve-year-old boy thinks after watching..."
"No," Daniel cut in sharply. "You saw the flashy car, the promises, the power. You jumped in like a starving rat. I saw you. You didn’t even look back."
"Daniel," Cole said, his voice breaking despite himself, "I promised Mum and Dad I would protect you with my life."
"And I promised the same," Daniel shot back. "Look at us now. If I get the chance, you’ll be dead before you blink."
The threat didn’t scare Cole. What scared him was how easily Daniel said it. How easily he had turned his back on everything that once meant family.
It had broken something in Cole the day he realized the crimes Demir committed, knowing Daniel stood beside him.
"Marco kidnapped me," Cole said through clenched teeth. "It was me or both of us. I followed him because I thought you’d be safer if I did. I hate that man with everything in me."
Daniel’s eyes flashed.
"Tell me something," Cole continued, stepping closer. "Would it matter if I told you I would still die for you? Even now? Even when all you want is to kill me? I don’t break my promises. You’re my responsibility. Now give me the keys."
Daniel laughed again, but this time it sounded forced.
"What’s the rush?" he asked lightly. "Is your madam calling you to rescue her?"
"Why would she..." Cole stopped himself. "Daniel, listen to me. If you lay a hand on her..."
"If I did?" Daniel stepped forward. "What then? I thought you said you’d always save me. Maybe I should test that. Maybe I should kill her and see which promise you choose."
The words didn’t just land, they tore through him.
For a split second, Cole saw it. His twin wasn’t just threatening him. It was not a bluff.
Asli’s face flashed in his mind, the sound of her voice, the weight of responsibility he carried for her life settling hard in his chest.
His heart slammed violently, panic and rage colliding until he couldn’t tell them apart. Daniel wasn’t just talking anymore, he was touching something Cole would burn the world to protect.
His body moved before his mind could catch up. He grabbed him by the collar before he could stop himself.
Daniel didn’t flinch.
"See?" Daniel said quietly. "You feel it too."
"You don’t know how I feel," Cole growled. "Watching you work for them."
Daniel gave a humorless smile. "And you think you’re different because you work for a woman?"
That made Cole laugh as well. It was only short, and hollow.

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