Page 9 of Demise

“I need some fucking help here,” I growl to the nurses standing at the nurses’ station. They hurry past me. My back hits the wall.

“We need two stretchers,” one of the nurses yells.

My face burns, and the joints in my hands have grown stiff. I rub them together before pulling my coat tautly. The wind rushes in through the open doors and Bexley’s the first one to roll past me. I peer down at her face and my heart falls.

I haven’t felt for the woman before. Always thought of her as a nuisance. But she’s always been there. In the background somewhere, on Bones’ mind, and she never toldoursecret. She let me have that when she didn’t have to.

Anyone else would have. Two young boys running away from a burning house, one of which lived there. It didn’t take her a minute to realize someone was inside. And yet, all this time, we never were questioned more than once for it.

Plus, I know how devastated Bones would be if something were to happen to her, and I don’t want to see that kind of pain walking around.

They wheel Bones next, blood covered, battered, and bruised.Goddamn, I thought…

“Sir, are you hurt?”

I look down at my hands. They wear the blood of my brother. Trapped in the creases and lines. Dried up in the scars I’ve received over time, mostly with him by my side.

I shake my head, clearing the emotion from my throat, looking for a sign that saysrestroom. My boots track mud and mush across the floor, and I push the door open with my arm.

I twist the knob, cupping my worn hands under the water. Blood colors the sink as my shoulders begin to shudder. I breathe in hard through my nose, choking out a sob.Goddamn, I thought… I thought he was dead.I grip the porcelain, shaking my head and sniffing.

The bathroom door opens, and I compose myself, wiping under my eyes.

“John.” I turn to see Paul, the oldest of the O’Brien brothers. The emotion I feel is also covered on his face. Sadness, happiness, relief. So much goddamn relief.

I nod, and I keep nodding even as Paul walks to me and puts his arms around my shoulders. I grip onto the wool of his coat and I nod again.

Chapter Ten

Sweep

“Do we know who did this?” Paul says to me as we sit in a private waiting room.

“I have a strong idea.”

Paul nods. “You’ll take care of it then.” He doesn’t look at me when he says this, but I do him. There’s no need for me to respond. He knows what I’ll do. Frankly, I’m surprised he asked.

Paul has never been naïve in what we are. In fact, he probably knows more than he’s ever let on. I’d bet he even has an indication of what happened to Pops all those years ago, but Paul is a fortress.

He’s highly respected around Postings and a man that demands attention when he enters the room. He’d do anything for his brothers. Yes, I include myself in that.

Ma comes through the door, and we both stand. Me with my hands linked in front of me, and him, changing from the mayor to caretaker as if a switch has been flipped. Of course, Ma gets that from all her boys—well, the ones that are left. Samuel, God rest his soul. I do the sign of the cross in respect for our deceased brother.

“Ma, why’d you come all the way down here? It’s too cold for you to be out.”

“Oh, Johnny,” she says, ignoring her grandson, opening her arms to me. “You found them. Bless you.” While holding the frail woman’s arms we all cherish, I bend so she can grab my cheeks and kiss each one. “I was ate up with worry. Wasn’t I, Paul?” She grabs a tissue from her purse after she lets me go.

“Yes, Ma. We all were. Come sit down,” he insists.

“How have you been?” she asks me. “You must come by and play bridge with me one of these days.”

“Fine, Ma. I will.” I clear my throat. “I need to go,” I say.

Paul looks to me and we exchange a knowing expression.

Worry creases Ma’s brow. “It’s nasty out there, Johnny.”

“He’s a big boy, Ma. He’ll be fine,” Paul says to her, taking her purse and setting it beside her in the unoccupied chair. I give her a small smile and nod to Paul before I exit the room.

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