Page 2 of Alpha Bait

They had spent their lives chasing fortune. Millions of dollars had turned into billions. And with that money they'd built walls so high no aspect of reality from the outside world could penetrate. Except for death. Rich and poor were equal under its gaze.

Kendrick pressed his fists into my father's desk again and leaned over, staring at my father's face as if he were preserving the image.

"I promise you, Holloway," my father spoke, coughing gently as he set his cigar down, "If one family will be ripped apart from within, it's yours. I know Jamal as well as I know my own sons. Don't forget that."

"I have nothing more to say to you, old man."

Kendrick nodded towards the door and Jamal rushed after him, holding the door open for his weakened father. Despite their physical weakness, neither Kendrick nor my father lacked harsh words for each other.

Jamal led his father to the door. The door clicked shut behind him. Ames and I glared at our father.

He smirked.

"That bastard thinks he's a victim. Hmph. I'm the victim."

Ames folded his arms, "How exactly are you the victim father?"

"Quiet, boy."

"Ames has a point."

"Shut up, Richard," father growled.

"I'm going after them," I replied.

"Why?"

"To talk to Jamal."

"There's no ending this feud," my father called after me as I raced for the door.

Before I pulled the handle I turned to him.

"There's no ending it, unless you admit you're wrong. Everyone in this room knows that's never going to happen."

I followed Jamal, ignoring my father's groan, which he then directed towards my older brother. Kendrick's handlers had taken him and Jamal waited near the elevator for it to rise to the fifth floor again.

"Jamal, we need to talk."

"About what?"

"Growing up you were like a brother to me."

Jamal chuckled, "Is that what this is about? You want things to go back to the cozy way they were when we were ten?"

"That's not what I'm saying."

"I don't have anything to say to you, Richard. You're just as bad as him."

"What are you talking about?"

"You're your father's son. You even share the same name."

"Jamal, I'm trying to be reasonable. We could work something out. We don't need this bad blood."

Jamal chuckled, "You think I'll trust a Carmichael after what you did to my father?"

"My father stole something decades ago. I can't be held responsible for that."

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