Gene nods, and messes up his hair, an anxious gesture. "I know. I know." Tony shouldn't have seen what he'd seen, either, but he had, and that couldn't be undone. Neither could this.

What can he even say? 'I'm sorry' is so pitifully inadequate. A few heartbeats go by as he mulls it over.

"I'll say one thing and never speak of it again." He takes a deep breath. "The jiànhuò who ordered this and everyone who carried it out deserve to die in the most painful and drawn-out way possible. And if there was any way I could help with that, I would."

You reap what you sow. And the bastard who authorized this has sowed much that needs reaping.