42. Another explosive message

Ethan's heart pounded as he brought up the assassination attempt, watching Logan's reaction closely. Logan's silence on the other end of the line was deafening, a storm brewing with every second that passed. Ethan knew his brother well enough to recognize the danger in his quietness, the kind that came right before Logan exploded. Ethan could hear Logan's breathing—a steady, deliberate rhythm that only underscored the rage building inside him.

Logan's voice finally broke the silence, low and razor-sharp. "Ethan, you've got to be kidding me. You're telling me that our sister—our own blood—was almost killed, and this is how I'm finding out? From you, offhand, like it's just some side note?"

Ethan swallowed hard, realizing too late how badly he had miscalculated. "Logan, it wasn't—"

"Shut up," Logan snapped, his voice laced with barely contained fury. "Just shut up for once, Ethan. You've been playing leader all this time, acting like you've got everything under control, but look where that's gotten us. My sister's out there, alone and vulnerable, because of your failures. You were supposed to protect her, and instead, she's being hunted. And you didn't even bother to tell me."

Ethan tried to maintain his composure, but Logan's words cut deep, each one a stinging reminder of his shortcomings. "Logan, it's not that simple. We've been investigating, and—"

"Don't you dare make excuses," Logan interrupted, his voice rising, though still icy. "Investigating? Is that what you call this? Letting her fend for herself while someone tries to take her out? I don't care about your investigations, Ethan. I care that our sister almost died because of this family's stupidity and cowardice. You've been sitting on your hands, and now you're telling me it might be connected to this new sister we've just brought into our lives? Do you even hear how insane you sound?"

Ethan's grip tightened on his phone, frustration mingling with his own guilt. He tried again, his tone more urgent, trying to break through Logan's anger. "Logan, I get that you're angry—"

"Angry?" Logan's laugh was cold, devoid of any humor. "You think this is just anger? This is betrayal, Ethan. You, and the rest of our so-called family, left her to fend for herself. You kicked her out, and now you've dragged another girl into our lives without even knowing who the hell she is. And on top of it all, there's a hit out on her, and you just let it happen."

Ethan felt the sting of Logan's words as if they were physical blows. He knew his brother was right, but they were all stuck in a web of circumstances that none of them could fully control. "Logan, listen to me—"

"No, you listen," Logan snarled, his voice dropping to a menacing whisper that sent chills down Ethan's spine. "This isn't just about you screwing up. This is about the fact that you let our family fall apart while pretending you could handle it. You and the others failed her. And now, you have the nerve to come to me, asking for patience while you figure it out? The only reason you're still standing is because I haven't decided to tear this whole operation down myself."

Ethan's desperation grew, his voice wavering as he tried to regain some semblance of control. "We're doing everything we can. Logan, you've got to believe me. I'm trying to protect her—"

"Protect her?" Logan spat, his fury boiling over. "You don't even know the meaning of the word. Protecting her would have meant keeping her safe from the start, not waiting until she's nearly killed to start asking questions. And now, you're telling me this might be linked to that girl—the one you brought back into our lives without any real proof of who she is? You've put us all at risk."

Ethan's voice cracked, the weight of Logan's words finally breaking through his defenses. "I never meant for any of this to happen. I'm trying to fix it, Logan, but I can't do it alone. I need your help."

Logan's response was swift, his tone cutting. "My help? You need my help? You had your chance, Ethan, and you blew it. I'm done waiting around for you to sort this mess out. You've been making decisions that affect all of us without thinking about the consequences, and now we're paying the price. I'm going to find out who's behind this, and when I do, I'll deal with them my way. You can keep playing detective, but don't expect me to sit back and watch while our sister's life hangs in the balance."

Ethan tried one last time, his voice pleading. "Logan, we're on the same side. This isn't—"

"We're not on the same side, Ethan," Logan growled. "You've made it clear you don't need me, so I'll handle things my way. And if that means tearing down everything you've built to get answers, then so be it. I don't trust you to protect her, and I sure as hell don't trust you to keep us safe. You've failed this family for the last time."

With that, Logan ended the call, the silence that followed echoing like a final verdict. Ethan stared at his phone, his chest tight with a mix of fear and regret. He knew Logan's words weren't just born of anger—they were a promise. Logan was a man of action, and now, driven by fury and betrayal, there was no telling what he would do next. Ethan could feel the unraveling beginning, and he knew that unless they found answers soon, Logan's vengeance could very well destroy everything they had fought to protect.

Ethan quickly turned to his second-in-command, a trusted lieutenant who had been by his side for years. "Get everyone on high alert," Ethan ordered, his voice strained but authoritative. "Logan's about to go on a rampage, and he's not going to care who gets in his way. We need to be ready for anything. And I want every detail on that assassination attempt. I don't care what it takes—find out if it's connected to our new sister or not. And verify once and for all if this girl we brought back is even really related to us."

The lieutenant nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "Consider it done, boss. We'll dig up everything there is."

Ethan watched as his men hurried to carry out his orders, a sense of dread washing over him. He knew Logan's next move could shake their entire world, and if the pieces didn't fall into place quickly, the Hamilton family might be torn apart from within.