Page 54 of Endlessly Raphael
Thorn shakes his head, his heavy boots clomping across the marble floor. He leans on the desk, closing the distance between himself and Haven’s father.
“I’m not here to harm you. I’m here to tell you something.”
Salman nods, clutching the papers he’s holding to his chest.
Thorn stands, rising to his full height, and Salman watches with true terror in his eyes. My brother likes to toy with his targets, and in this case, that’s likely to help the outcome.
Thorn walks around the desk and comes to a stop behind Salman, placing his hands on the top of the man’s chair. “How much do you enjoy breathing?” Thorn asks.
I can see Salman shake from where I’m sitting.
“A lot.”
“I thought so.” Thorn swings the man’s chair around so that he’s facing him. As Thorn kneels, the sound of Salman’s rapidly beating heart is slightly concerning. Thankfully, Thorn seems to pick up on this as he says, “Calm down. I just want you to listen.”
Salman blows out a breath, nodding, and his heartbeat slows a bit.
“Good,” Thorn says. “Consider me the ghost of Christmas future, or whatever bullshit holiday you celebrate with family.”
“We-we’re not religious.”
“Then pretend, ’kay?”
Salman nods. “Okay.”
“Wouldn’t you rather have a united family again? One where there is love and harmony?”
Salman looks unsure. “Well, yes, but—”
“No,” Thorn interrupts. “No buts. Search your heart. What do you really want?”
Haven’s father scrunches his brow, as if resisting the answer inside himself. Thorn is patient but has his intimidating gaze fixed on Salman’s face. The only person better than Yves at compelling people is Thorn.
Salman places his hand on his chest, squeezing his eyes. “I have no choice.”
“There are always choices,” Thorn says.
“No. My brother…” He snaps his mouth shut, but appears to struggle to stay quiet.
Damn, Thorn is good.
“What about your brother?” Salman tries to look away, but Thorn grips his chin. “Tell me.”
“I’m afraid of what he’ll do if we lose the company to Haven.”
“Which brother?” Thorn asks, glancing at me through the open window.
“Joe,” he answers, clearly struggling against Thorn’s compulsion.
Exactly as I thought.
“I see,” Thorn says. “Let me give you a new choice, Salman.”
Haven’s father looks absolutely terrified at this point.
“See, Haven is protected now. So you have a choice about whose side you’re gonna pick. Your brother’s or your own son’s.”
“But…” Salman flinches as if being hit by something invisible. “I’ll be ruined.”