was that when he saw his father, he’d do whatever needed to be done. One cocky remark or grin, and Tyler knew he’d snap.
Just when he thought the woods had become too thick to build anything, he tripped over the crumbled remnants of a well. The hole had been filled with dirt and other debris, and he was grateful that he hadn’t fallen, where no one would ever find him. As he walked around it, Tyler listened carefully. Where there’s a well, there is, or was, usually a dwelling nearby. Pushing his way through the thick pines, which were stabbing their needles through his clothing, he saw the dilapidated cabin. Cheap repairs had been done on the roof, and in several places the wood had begun to rot. Rich soil in the front yard was probably where the garden grew. It couldn’t possibly have any more than two small rooms. There was a chimney and three windows; all you could see were the white backs of the curtains. Slowly he approached the cabin door. The conversations with Angelique began to flood his mind. Shoving away every doubt, every weakness, he knocked. With images of his brothers’ faces in his head, he lifted his chin, pushed his shoulders back, and readied himself for the biggest fight of his life.
Chapter 5
V incent walked out of the library and sent texts to Sean and Jacob to join him out front. He called Tyler again, knowing he wouldn’t answer his phone. Where doom had just been flooding his insides, acceptance was beginning to take its place. He knew Tyler was hell-bent on seeing this thing through with their father. Trust between the brothers was going to be tested right now; but no matter what happened they would stand behind the man who had sacrificed so much to raise them. He, Jacob, and Sean, didn’t end up with the weight of the world on their shoulders like Tyler had.
He heard the commotion of his brothers pushing open the doors and running out to the steps. Vincent sat down and rested his arms on his knees. He stared at the traffic, wondering if the cars were driving way under the speed limit or if time was now moving in slow motion. Thoughts were racing through Vincent’s mind, but he wasn’t feeling the alarm he had when he first entered the library. Hopefully Tyler gets there safely . The twins stopped suddenly and sat down on the cement steps next to Vincent.
“We’re not going after him, are we?” asked Sean as he lowered his head. He paused briefly before continuing. “I’m pretty worried, Vinnie. I’ve never in my life seen him like this. I don’t want to have to visit my brother in prison for the rest of our lives.”
“There has to be something we can do.” Jacob stared at his brothers.
Vincent let out a slow breath, unable to avert his eyes from the slow moving cars. “I understand that you guys are afraid for Tyler, but we have to have faith in him. No matter what we try to do to stand in his way, he’s going to get to our father, one way or another. This isn’t our fight. Tyler has to settle things on his own terms.”
“He’ll kill him,” added Sean, his voice full of anger. “Then what? If Tyler thinks what he’s going through is hard now, just imagine living with the guilt of killing your own flesh and blood.”
“That’s just it, Sean.” Vincent finally turned to look at his brother. “Sebastian is flesh and blood, but that’s all. He’s not our dad , and he willingly gave up the right to be a father to us, long ago. Whatever Tyler dishes out, Sebastian has it coming to him. After the verdict comes in, we’re going to take Angelique back to the cabin. In the meantime, there’s nothing we can do but let the cards fall where they may.” Vincent got up and started walking back and forth in front of the steps.
Sean stood up, walked down the steps and stood in front of his brother. “Vin, how about if you two stay here for the verdict, while I hit the road? I promise not to stop him.”
“Sean, let it go,” directed Vincent firmly. “Tyler will
Just when he thought the woods had become too thick to build anything, he tripped over the crumbled remnants of a well. The hole had been filled with dirt and other debris, and he was grateful that he hadn’t fallen, where no one would ever find him. As he walked around it, Tyler listened carefully. Where there’s a well, there is, or was, usually a dwelling nearby. Pushing his way through the thick pines, which were stabbing their needles through his clothing, he saw the dilapidated cabin. Cheap repairs had been done on the roof, and in several places the wood had begun to rot. Rich soil in the front yard was probably where the garden grew. It couldn’t possibly have any more than two small rooms. There was a chimney and three windows; all you could see were the white backs of the curtains. Slowly he approached the cabin door. The conversations with Angelique began to flood his mind. Shoving away every doubt, every weakness, he knocked. With images of his brothers’ faces in his head, he lifted his chin, pushed his shoulders back, and readied himself for the biggest fight of his life.
Chapter 5
V incent walked out of the library and sent texts to Sean and Jacob to join him out front. He called Tyler again, knowing he wouldn’t answer his phone. Where doom had just been flooding his insides, acceptance was beginning to take its place. He knew Tyler was hell-bent on seeing this thing through with their father. Trust between the brothers was going to be tested right now; but no matter what happened they would stand behind the man who had sacrificed so much to raise them. He, Jacob, and Sean, didn’t end up with the weight of the world on their shoulders like Tyler had.
He heard the commotion of his brothers pushing open the doors and running out to the steps. Vincent sat down and rested his arms on his knees. He stared at the traffic, wondering if the cars were driving way under the speed limit or if time was now moving in slow motion. Thoughts were racing through Vincent’s mind, but he wasn’t feeling the alarm he had when he first entered the library. Hopefully Tyler gets there safely . The twins stopped suddenly and sat down on the cement steps next to Vincent.
“We’re not going after him, are we?” asked Sean as he lowered his head. He paused briefly before continuing. “I’m pretty worried, Vinnie. I’ve never in my life seen him like this. I don’t want to have to visit my brother in prison for the rest of our lives.”
“There has to be something we can do.” Jacob stared at his brothers.
Vincent let out a slow breath, unable to avert his eyes from the slow moving cars. “I understand that you guys are afraid for Tyler, but we have to have faith in him. No matter what we try to do to stand in his way, he’s going to get to our father, one way or another. This isn’t our fight. Tyler has to settle things on his own terms.”
“He’ll kill him,” added Sean, his voice full of anger. “Then what? If Tyler thinks what he’s going through is hard now, just imagine living with the guilt of killing your own flesh and blood.”
“That’s just it, Sean.” Vincent finally turned to look at his brother. “Sebastian is flesh and blood, but that’s all. He’s not our dad , and he willingly gave up the right to be a father to us, long ago. Whatever Tyler dishes out, Sebastian has it coming to him. After the verdict comes in, we’re going to take Angelique back to the cabin. In the meantime, there’s nothing we can do but let the cards fall where they may.” Vincent got up and started walking back and forth in front of the steps.
Sean stood up, walked down the steps and stood in front of his brother. “Vin, how about if you two stay here for the verdict, while I hit the road? I promise not to stop him.”
“Sean, let it go,” directed Vincent firmly. “Tyler will
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