The moment my taunting words left my lips, an officer standing nearby grabbed my arm and twisted it behind my back with brutal precision. Pain lanced through my shoulder, sharp and overwhelming, forcing a gasp from my throat. My knees buckled slightly, but I forced myself to remain upright, swallowing the cry that threatened to escape.
“We’ve already let you meet your brother,” the officer growled, his breath hot and furious against my ear. “Now tell us your motive!”
The strain on my arm was unbearable, my pulse pounding in my ears like a drum. Even so, I managed a slow, deliberate shake of my head, my voice dripping with mock sweetness. “I’ll only speak to David,” I murmured, my tone laced with venom. “After all, he is my most beloved brother....”
My calm defiance was a dagger to the officers’ patience. I felt their frustration in the way the officer’s grip tightened, his knuckles whitening. But I knew I had the upper hand and they hated it. This case had become a spectacle and the public demanded swift answers. They had no time to waste.