That was in no way what Billy was expecting to hear. He'd felt like he would be alone in figuring this out. In dealing with Mike. That if Mike had this scary side, it was something that was just a truth he needed to deal with. That it was his core rather than a shield.

He looked to Charlie, obviously confused. "I honestly tried," he admitted. "Best I could, at least. You've not seen me around blood. But he only got worse, and I was honestly frightened he'd pull a gun on me if I didn't just swallow it. What could I possibly do to shake him out of it?"