Page 136 of The Dearly Departed

Ike studied me for a minute, then tipped his head with accusation written in his glare. "His dirty work," he repeated. "You fuckin’ kill for him, don’t you?"

The air left my lungs as the weight lifted from my shoulders. He knew, and now they both did.

I swallowed. I couldn’t nod, but I couldn’t deny it either. So, I did nothing and waited for the truth to seep in.

Shawn's eyes widened, horror written in his expression. "You … you what?"

"Very good, Isaac," Gerald praised, reaching out to pat a hand against his cheek.

Ike gave his head a jerk, shaking Gerald off. "I will cut your fucking hands off and shove them down your fat throat, asshole."

Then my little brother looked at me, his eyes reflecting a treachery and hurt that shredded what little remained of my broken heart. He shook his head with disappointment and licked his split lips as he dangled limply from the chains overhead.

"How long?"

I chewed at my inner cheek, not knowing how to answer that question. "I don't—"

"How long, Bram?!" he roared.

The shame was more than I could stand as I diverted my gaze to the blood-speckled floor. "Little over three years."

Ike's laugh was brusque and bitter as Shawn exclaimed, "Three years?! Holy shit, Abraham. Holy fucking shit. Are you serious? Are you—"

"Listen, boys," Gerald interjected, stepping in with a wave of both his hands. "I'd love to watch you battle this out. Hell, maybe it'll get really exciting, and you'll just kill each other, although"—he leaned closer to Ike—"I wouldn't recommend trying. Abraham, as it turns out, is quite good at what he does. A little disturbing, if I’m being honest. But I'm in a bit of a hurry, so let's discuss what's going to happen here."

He took a deep breath and began to pace in the space separating my brothers from me, his hands clasped behind his back and his head bowed.

"Abraham here has insisted I give you your freedom," he went on, "which I will do. But that freedom is in exchange for your services—"

"Services?" Ike interrupted, his tone panicked. "Get the fuck out of here. I'm not doin' shit for you."

"Son, please," Gerald said with a sigh. "One more interruption, and I'll have no choice but to tape your mouth shut. Let me finish talking."

With another heated sigh, he continued, "Isaac, you will work with your brother. You will shadow him until you are as skilled and efficient as he is. You will accept the jobs I give you, and you will fulfill them without complaint."

Ike's fearful, widened stare landed on my eyes. He wrenched angrily at his chains as his face twisted with anguish and agony, but he didn't interrupt our father's speech.

"And, Shawn …"

Shawn released a tormented groan as he let his head drop. "Oh God," he whispered. "Please, please, no … I can’t—"

"Abraham tells me you're a bit squeamish," Gerald said, coming to stand before him and laying a hand against his shoulder. "I can take pity on that, and I won’t make you do anything you’re uncomfortable doing. But I also understand you're quite skilled with computers and numbers, as well as in the world of medicine … is this true?"

Shawn looked up, his eyes on me. Something was there, something he wasn't saying, as he replied, "Y-yeah, but—"

"Then that is what I will use you for. I will call on you when I need help with … things."

Gerald turned to face me then, a fresh dose of anger in his glare now as he said, "And, finally, Abraham."

"What?" I asked, narrowing my eyes on his round, sweaty face.

"There's still the subject of your punishment."

Every vertebra of my spine locked into place, my whole body tensing, as I stood taller and repeated, "Punishment?"

Gerald gestured toward my brothers and said, "Well, I have listened to your terms of releasing Isaac and Shawn, and I have accepted them. But you still need to be punished for going behind my back. You deliberately disobeyed me. You were supposed to stay away from her and didn't. So, how should you be punished?"

I shook my head, looking up to meet the curious gazes of my brothers, their brows both furrowed with question.