The pistol lay on the desk between them like a challenge.
Eleanor had been escorted back into the study by Marcus's team after Alexander requested one final conversation. Now she stood by the window, her silver hair catching the moonlight that had replaced sunset's glow, and gestured to the weapon with elegant fingers.
"There it is," she said quietly. "Fully loaded now. Safety off. All you have to do is pick it up."
Alexander stared at the gun, feeling Emily's presence beside him, Julian's tension behind him. His mother was offering him the one thing she'd spent decades teaching him to take: absolute control through elimination of threats.
