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“Hope,” he said. Austin could not help the smile that came to his lips.
“Did you pick that or was her mother responsible for such insight?” He asked.
“I don't like you very much, you know that?” Kenneth said. Austin laughed.
“I figured.”
They both watched a turtle for a while then Kenneth blew breath into his palm and stuffed it back into his pocket. Austin raised his eyes since it wasn't cold enough for him to be doing such a thing.
“Habits. Worked a few months in bitter Alaskan cold,” Kenneth said by way of explanation.
“You've been around, haven't you?” Austin asked.
“Yep and I'm closer to home than ever.”
“Yes, yes you are.”
“Have you heard from Hayden? Heard his father was imprisoned,” Kenneth said.
“Heard that too.”
“Aw c'mon. Don't be modest. You were the one who put him there, no?”
“Who told you that?” Austin asked. Kenneth shrugged.
“Just a little deductive reasoning. There were just a few of us who knew what happened and Marcus is currently in the army, so he doesn't give two shits about things like that. I didn't say anything so that leaves…” he looked at Austin who shrugged.
“We have put that matter behind us. I believe we have that squared away,” he said.
“Do you? Do you really think you have that squared away? What? Putting his father in prison is what you call squaring away? He'll just leave it at that and the two of you can be friends? I know you think that I forgot. I know you think you were fighting this battle alone, but you were wrong. You are wrong. You haven't been. You're not.”
“What battle is that? Hmm, Kenneth? What happened is in the past and I don't think…”
“Don't tell me you truly believe that little brother. Don't tell me you truly think that what happened is in the past. What happened tore our family apart. It scattered us and you're here justifying it?” Kenneth asked. His voice was low and there was a smile on his face, but Austin knew his brother enough to know that a smile, for him, did not mean anything. He could be smiling and have the most murderous thoughts.
“What do you want me to do?”
“That's the thing. I don't want you to do anything. I want you to watch and wait. I want to be the one who handles this.”
“Kenneth,” Austin called and turned to face him. They both stared at each other until Austin shook his head slowly.
“Don't do anything to hurt him.”
“And why shouldn't I?”
“I promised him that this is over, and he did the same with me. I don't think that we should…”
“We? You promised him and you wouldn't be much of a man if you went back on your promises, but I didn't make any such promise. I still have a bone to pick with him so you can just sit on the sidelines and watch. Do you understand? On the sidelines, little brother.”
“Kenneth. You cannot do this,” Austin said. Kenneth looked at him and shook his head.
“What did you say?”
“You cannot do this. You say you have a daughter. Is this what you want her to inherit? This started with our father and Hayden's. I think it is time we ended it. Don't you think so?” Austin asked.
Kenneth paused and shook his head with a wicked smile as he drew closer.
“What do you mean? You speak as though you have forgotten, almost like you're on their side. Are you on their side, Austin?” He asked.
