Julian didn’t sleep that night.
He lay on his back in the dark cabin, staring at the ceiling beams while Richard’s last words kept circling in his head like a bad replay on loop. The threat had sunk its teeth in and wouldn’t let go. Every time he closed his eyes he saw his father’s cold smile, heard the quiet promise underneath the words.
Beside him Sebastian slept deeply, chest rising and falling in the slow rhythm of exhaustion. The confrontation had drained them both, but Sebastian had crashed hard once the adrenaline wore off. Julian didn’t wake him. He just lay there, alone with the fear that pressed heavy on his ribs.
When the first pale light finally crept through the curtains, Julian gave up. He eased out of bed, careful not to jostle the mattress, and limped into the kitchen.
