Chapter 12 - The Clash of Brothers
"Arthur! Put the gun down!"
Julian lunged into the office like a wounded bull.
He hadn't been asleep. He had followed Maya down the hall, suspicious of her quiet movements, and had heard every single word of the conversation through the heavy wooden door.
Arthur turned his head toward his brother in sheer panic. That single second of distraction was all Maya needed.
She grabbed the heavy, solid-brass desk lamp beside her and swung it with all her strength.
BANG!
The heavy lamp slammed violently into Arthur’s right arm just as he pulled the trigger. The gunshot deafened the small room, the bullet shattering the glass window behind the desk, sending sharp shards raining down onto the floor.
Arthur stumbled back with a cry of pain, dropping the revolver onto the carpet.
Julian closed the distance instantly, driving his shoulder straight into Arthur’s chest. Both brothers went crashing to the floor in a brutal, chaotic tangle of limbs. They rolled across the carpet, punching, grabbing, struggling for control of the fallen weapon.
"You betrayed us!" Julian roared, slamming Arthur against the base of a server rack. "You tried to destroy my family!"
"She's a nobody, Julian!" Arthur screamed back, his mouth bloody as he clawed desperately at Julian’s throat. "Mother was right! She ruined this family! She infected us!"
Julian raised his fist, his face contorted in an expression of pure, unadulterated fury, ready to deliver a crushing blow to his brother's jaw.
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"Julian! Stop!" Maya yelled, rushing forward and grabbing Julian’s raised arm. "Don't! Look at the monitor! Look at what he was doing!"
Julian hesitated, his chest heaving, his fist inches from Arthur’s bloodied nose. He looked up at the glowing screens above them.
