AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Kev gave him a shut-up arm wave. “Go on,” he commanded.
Davy stripped off muddy gloves, wiped his face with the backs of his hands. “So she’s not pregnant anymore,” he went on. “But whenever she hears that music, she turns green. Even though it was her favorite.”
Kev waited, a muscle twitching in his jaw. “Bummer. And? So?”
“So the last time I dug a grave in the woods, it was yours.”
The words hung in the air, like some evil charm, turning them all to stone. They stood, unmoving, as the rain lashed down.
Connor limped out over the rise, and gaped at them. “All here? Together? If those bastards corner us in this hole and mow us all down like assholes, we have no one to blame but ourselves.”
No one countered his scold. Connor’s eyes went narrow, wary.
“So what are you doing here?” Bruno asked.
Connor glanced at his watch. “Relieving him.” He indicated Davy. “He’s been at it two full hours. That was the plan, right? Taking turns?”
No one moved. “What the hell is going on?” Connor yelled.
“I’m still waiting for the theory,” Kev said.
“I’m just contemplating the power of association,” Davy said. “Digging a grave, in the woods, in the rain. It was raining then, too. In August. A freak storm. And you, burned to a crisp in a box. I’d just flown back from Afghanistan, to dig your fucking grave.”
“So?” Kev made an impatient gesture. “So what’s your point?”
“No point. It’s just that doing this particular job makes me want to vomit. And kill someone. Not necessarily in that order.”
Kev’s throat worked. The rain pissed ceaselessly down.
Bruno cleared his throat. “And, uh…the fact that he’s now, um, alive? Doesn’t that make things, you know…better?”
Sean let out a bitter laugh. “That’s just it. It should have made things better. But it doesn’t seem like things have changed that much.”
Kev looked like he was braced for a blow. “Changed from what?”
“From when you were dead,” Sean said.
Bruno bore that silence for about ten seconds. “Uh, I’ll take that rifle and go do guard duty. You talk this private stuff out with your—”
“Shut up, or I’ll rip off both your arms,” Kev snarled.
Bruno winced. “Ah. Yeah. Right. Whatever.”
“See? That’s just what I’m talking about!” Sean pointed at Bruno. “You’re alive to him! You rip his face off all the time!”
Bruno gaped at him. “And this is a good thing, for you? A desirable thing? What are you, a goddamn masochist?”
Kev was too agitated to scold him about mouthing off again. “What the fuck do you guys want from me?” he bellowed.
“I don’t know!” Sean roared back. “I just can’t feel you! I can’t reach you! It’s been too long, I guess. All those years of forgetting about us. Out of sight out of mind, right? But with you, it’s out of mind, and therefore out of everything! You no longer give a shit! Mr. Zen! Super calm! Floating along, no worries! Fucking yay for you, man!”
Kev put the rifle down, walked over and grabbed the lapels of his twin’s jacket. “Youidiot,” he hissed. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Then tell me, already!” Sean flung back. “I’d love to hear it!”
Kev shook Sean, a rattling shake that snapped his brother’s head back. “I was brain damaged! Do you get that? Does that sink in to your thick skull? I didn’t do it to hurt your tender little feelings, brother.”
Sean’s fist whipped up, whacked into the underside of Kev’s jaw and sent him reeling back, slipping on one knee into the mud.
