Page 79 of Grave Possession

“To crush a car.”

Chapter Fifty-one

Bellamy

Way Down We Go - KALEO.

It’s not very often I provoke the demons haunting my mind, opening boxes full of memories to find out if remembering still lacerates my heart. I didn’t stir them though, she did.

After hearing her voice on the other end of the phone, the defiance in her tone caused me to smirk. Landon’s was similar, they would have taken on the world together. Likely burning it all down in their wake, one piece of shit at a time. They should have had that option, they both deserved better.

Sitting at my desk with my eyes to the ceiling, too afraid to shut them, because behind my eyelids in that darkness is where the memory plays like a movie scene on repeat.

A boy, nineteen years old, holding a small angular body in his arms. The rise and fall of a chest becoming shallow, a pulse slowly fading, a light dimming before it was given time to truly burn. A brother, my brother. He was sixteen years old, and caught in the middle of our father’s greed and fury. Putting him in the wrong place at the wrong time with several bullet holes through his chest. I remember his tattered band t-shirt, and my hands soaked in blood from trying to cover the wounds. As if my hands could possibly hold his life source in, I couldn’t even tell where the blood was coming from. It seemed as though it was coming from everywhere. Why the fuck do I only have two hands? Why aren’t they bigger? Why wasn’t I here faster?

With my forehead pressed firmly to his, I whispered everything I never said but wanted to. Making sure he heard me before his eyes close for the last time.

“Listen. It’s not your fault, okay?” he says around the blood pooling in his mouth, blue eyes heavy with tears. “I love you B.”

“I’m so sorry. I wasn’t fast enough, but I’m here now, and I won’t let go, I promise. I’ll make him suffer for this, for all of it.” I repeat the words “I promise” over and over, holding him as close to me as possible. Rocking us back and forth, trying to comfort him…. or maybe myself. His still open eyes have stopped seeing me though, and my words are no longer heard.

The need to yell and release this feeling is lodged in my throat, my head swimming from lack of oxygen and not wanting to accept Landon is gone.

“Stupid boy,” my father’s voice nonchalant and uncaring, “he never did know when to heel.”

Heel, as though he was just some mutt off the streets.

I don’t speak a word as my father ambles back to his blacked out Escalade. Leather dress shoes splashing in the shallow rain puddleson the asphalt, straightening his iron grey long coat, nodding to the driver as he slips inside and closes the door without so much as a glance back to his sons.

His sons, neither of them breathing. Landon because his heart had stopped beating, would never beat again. Myself due to rage, heartbreak, and disbelief.

When I did at last drag a breath into my lungs, allowing the tears I held back to run freely down my rain soaked face. I made a silent promise as I shattered, as I lifted my bloody hand away from Landon’s chest that had stopped rising.

Mallory would never know this life, never know our father, never know me, and never know such pain. Such misery.

Evidently, the movie would play with my eyes open just as painfully as it did with them closed.

I believed I was doing the right thing, sending money and keeping her at an arm’s length. I truly believed she was better off…safe.

I was wrong. So horribly fucking wrong.

Chapter Fifty-two

Graves

Ipull into the driveway as dusk encroaches upon the skyline. All I’ve been able to think about the entire drive home is sinking into Mallory’s massive tub, and relaxing with a movie. I even picked up another bath bomb while waiting for an e-mail to come in, to make up for the last romantic bath we didn't get to have. Hopefully she’ll join me.

My mind is mush after dodging all of Graham’s incessant questions.

“What have you gotten yourself into this time, G?”

“Where did this car come from?”

“Why am I helping you destroy a perfectly good vehicle?”

“I can’t afford to have anything shitty leading back to me, G. I have Jaydon to take care of.”

Like I don’t know that?I was the one who delivered the news to Graham that his wife was having an affair after I saw her locking lips with someone outside the town coffeeshop. She up and left them both without a reason or an ounce of remorse when he confronted her. I always hated her—I’m glad she’s gone, they both deserve better. Unfortunately, Graham won’t open himself up to the thought of a new relationship, saying him and Jaydon are better off alone for now. He’s not wrong, they’re doing great, but their home could use a woman’s firm hand. You can’t tell where the house starts and where the garage ends, the entire place is a mechanic’s shop.

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