Page 43 of Cerberus

If I chose to leave, then I was going to have to rewrite my entire future, and though I could still achieve my goals without the help of The Order, I couldn’t guarantee that they wouldn’t try to stand in my way out of revenge or bitterness. No one left The Order, and I couldn’t see them taking kindly to it, no matter what.

So, instead of going to class like a responsible college student, I was at home, waiting for the guys. Late last night, Stone had sent a text, telling us that he had a report from his PI. With all the texts flying back and forth, one o’clock had been the only time none of us had classes, so that’s what time we had agreed upon. Stone was no longer appreciating the late night, clandestine meetings now that he had Rylee warming his bed every night, and I didn’t blame the guy.

Turning on ESPN, the plan was to kill some time until the guys showed up, but the second I turned on the television, my phone rang, and it was a ringtone I recognized all too well.

“What?” I answered.

“Wow, okay,” Banks replied snidely. “Rude much?”

“What do you want, Banks?” I growled. “I’m not in the mood for your shit right now.”

“Oh, what? Is life not working out perfectly for you today?”

“You know what, you little shit? I am so fucking sick of your little wounded bird act,” I snapped. “While what Mom and Dad did was shitty, it’s not like they dumped you in a cardboard box and left you abandoned in front of a fire station when you were two. You’re a grown ass man with two arms, two legs, and a working brain. Figure it the fuck out, Banks.”

“You don’t-”

I didn’t want to hear it. “I’m done holding your dick,” I told him. “You’re not the first child to be disowned because of their sexual preferences, and you won’t be the last. Either call Mom and Dad and work your shit out, or don’t. But I am done being your fucking crutch.”

“Are you serious?” he balked. “You’re my brother, Ross.”

“Yeah, a brother that you’ve been using with no regard to how disruptive you’ve been in my life,” I shot back. “If you were all that concerned about brotherly bonds, you wouldn’t only call me when you need money. When was the last time you asked how I was?”

“I don’t need to ask how you are,” he sneered. “You’re perfect, as always.”

“Christ, you’re such a fucking asshole,” I sneered back. “Instead of being grateful for the people who have stood by you after what Mom and Dad did, you’re acting like you’re owed compensation from them all. Well, guess what, Banks, you’re not.”

“Do you think this is easy?”

“Working for a living?” I spat. “Yeah, I can see how that’d be so hard.”

“Says the man who doesn’t have to work,” he fired back.

“Says the man who is going to live his life under a goddamn microscope to become something greater than just another entitled rich asshole,” I corrected.

“No one is forcing you to become a senator,” he pointed out.

“And no one is forcing you to snort coke and suck dick all day,” I countered. “Start taking responsibility for your own life, Banks. I’m done enabling you.”

“So, you’re just going to abandon me like Mom and Dad?” he accused.

I let out a dark laugh. “If that’s how you choose to see it, then there’s nothing I can do about that. However, just know this; I will always answer if you need me, Banks. Needme.Not my money.”

I hung up before he could argue any further. Besides, there really wasn’t much left to say. Everyone knew you couldn’t help someone who didn’t want to be helped, and Banks didn’t want to be helped. At least, not right now.

Just then, my phone rang, and talk about bad fucking timing. “Yeah?”

“Is that how you answer a call from your father?” Mitchel Carmichael replied.

“I just got off the phone with Banks,” I informed him. “So, if I’m in a shitty mood, it stands to reason, and since I’m on the phone with the source of it all, yeah…I’m not feeling very cordial.”

“I didn’t call you to talk about old business, Ross.”

“Well, your son might be old business to you, but he’s not to me. He’s still very much currently my brother.”

Ignoring the glaring dysfunction of our family, he said, “I just wanted to check in with you. The initiation was weeks ago.”

“Yeah, and you’re barely calling now?”

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