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The moment the word daisies leave my mouth, it makes me remember sitting in this ICU with Kally and Daisy. The bitter taste left in my mouth is unbelievable.
“I will always have three sons, Clark.”
I snigger. “You could have fooled me, Mother. Damien and I have always been the outsiders. The ones who got in the way of your plans. You can blame everyone for the way things have turned out, but you’re as much to blame for everything. You’re guilty of turning a blind eye to what was going on around you. You’re guilty of neglect. I hope your conscience is good to you, Mother.”
I walk away. I have never been as appalled and disgusted with my mother as I am right now. With Kally in a psychiatric clinic, my father here in the ICU, and Colton on the run, you’d think her priorities would change, but she’s as brainwashed as her son, if not more. I can’t protect her when she’s not willing to cooperate. She made her bed the moment she sat back and allowed things to get out of control.
Chapter 29
Clark
Without even thinking about where I’m going, my car drives to the clinic. I pull into a parking space and turn off the engine. I rest my head back against the headrest and stare into the trees in front of me. I just need a sign, something, anything, to let me know what to do for the best. I pick up my cell phone and dial Colton’s number. It goes straight to voicemail, not that I expected any different. He’s like a ghost.
“Colton, I know you’ll listen to this, and I want you to listen very carefully. I want to speak to you. I don’t care how or when, but I want you to set up a meeting place and I’ll be there.”
I hold the cell to my ear so tight it could crumble in my hand. I pull it away before any damage is done and disconnect the call. This whole situation is making me feel unhinged. I hate that my brother can bring out this side of me. I wish he was just like Damien and me. Things would be so much easier, but he isn’t. He’s like a stranger, and I have no idea what he’s about to do next. It’s him who should be locked up in a psychiatric hospital, but I have a feeling he’s beyond any kind of help by now.
My cell dings in my hand and I jump out of my skin. I notice a text message from Colton.
To Clark – Meet me at the pavilion. Come alone. Don’t keep me waiting, Clark.
The pavilion. Why the fuck would he want to meet me there?
To Colton – I can be there in ten minutes.
It will only take me five minutes to get there, but I want to give myself extra time to be there first, to not keep the asshole waiting. Not because I’m scared of him, but because I know what he’s capable of, and my loved ones have been through enough. Also, it will give me time to scope out my surroundings because I know he’s not going to make this meeting so easy.
I speed out of the parking lot and head towards the pavilion behind my parents’ house. I’m glad he picked somewhere with no one around as this could turn messy. At least he can think rationally sometimes. It shows me that he does have a sliver of a brain between his ears.
Traffic isn’t on my side. It’s like playing dodgems along the way, but I don’t care. I can replace a car later; I can’t replace the people I love and care about.
Chapter 30
Colton
I take a drag of the whiskey and throw down the empty bottle on the perfectly green grass. The grass my father has taken pride in since before I was even born. The grass that was treated better than I ever was.
I sit down on the steps leading into the bandstand. I can see my house in the distance, and I fucking hate it. It’s worse than a prison. Every wall could tell a story. Every damn story has led to me being the way I am today. My empathy ran out long ago, but that’s what my father wanted.
I don’t care. I don’t love. I don’t even like people, and I gave up caring what people thought of me a long time ago. I have one last thing I need to do on this Earth. Eliminate every fucking thing that has ever crossed me, and I’m going to start today with my brother. The goody two shoes. The one who was too good for this fucking family.
I used to admire Clark’s strength and courage to walk away from the bank of dad, but that quickly turned into hate when I saw the life he was living, the people he associated himself with, and the fun he was having. Our father was always so disappointed that only one of his sons remained in the family business and I could never understand that. He only needed one of us at his beck and call. I was always there for him. I never turned my back on him and our family, but I don’t think I was ever good enough. He always wanted more from me. I’ve become a killer, a monster, all for my father and my heritage. It has become me. It’s who I am, the only life I know. I’m at my happiest when I’m causing mayhem.
“Colton.”
I look up from the ground and watch my brother walk towards me. I pull out my gun from my boot and aim at his blurry body. The alcohol is taking its toll on me, and I like it. I like that light, fuzzy feeling. It makes me feel ten feet tall.
“That’s why you want to meet out here? So you can shoot me, hide the body, and move on to your next victim. Who is it, huh? Mom? Kally? Damien?” Clark shakes his head at me and pulls his own gun from his waistband. “You really thought I’d show up here unarmed?”
I never saw that coming. I never thought my brother would come prepared for a fight. I know he hates the way I’ve lived my life; I’ve witnessed the disappointment in his eyes firsthand, but to see him standing in front of me like a mirror image makes me think he’s not much different from me after all.
Clark sniggers. “I might be the black sheep, Colton, but I’m not fucking stupid.”
“You do have a set of balls. I always thought you had a pussy underneath those trousers.”
Clark nods. “Life isn’t as it seems, Cole.”
“Don’t call me that.”
