Page 2 of Wounded Hearts

“Help your mother with the dessert, boy, I need to speak with Michaels in private.”

Drew stood and followed Larissa to the kitchen. He helped her dish up the lemon meringue pie and felt happy, at peace for a short time. He wondered if this was what normal families did.

“He does love you, you know. And so do I.” His mother moved closer and she looked younger and happier than he could remember her being.

Drew didn’t have the heart to argue so he nodded as she laid her hand on his cheek, the look of love in her eyes something he hadn’t seen in years. She’d been a good mum; she’d just lost herself. Maybe she’d be better, go back to how she’d been now he’d made his father happy. Had he let her down all these years? Maybe.

“I love you, mum.” His throat was tight with emotions he couldn’t understand.

Her eyes went soft. “I love you too, my boy. You’re my greatest achievement, my soft-hearted boy with so much love to give. Don’t ever lose that part of yourself, Drew. Your heart is your biggest weapon in this world.”

“I won’t, mum.” But he wasn’t sure he believed that.

She nodded. “Now take this through while I get the cream.”

He walked towards the dining room door, a smile on his lips and stopped as he heard his father talking to Michaels. His father’s right-hand man gave Drew the creeps. He went everywhere with Marcus and Drew sometimes wondered if he went to the toilet with him. He ducked back as he heard them whispering, only catching a few words. Words that at the time made no sense but he knew they were important in some way. So, he hid, and he listened, his heart beating fast.

“Make it look like an accident. I want him closer.” His father’s voice was sure and cold. Drew heard a low reply from Michaels which he couldn’t make out.

That was the night his mother died.

It would be years later before he remembered the conversation he’d overheard and by then he was a far different man to the boy he’d been.