Page 6 of Gary

“I can’t do this.”

“You cannot just leave like before.” His uncle pointed out.

Gray eyes flashed. “You were the one who encouraged me to leave before...”

“Yes.” He nodded. “It was for the best. I promised your mother I would take care of you. Things were getting out of hand, and I did not want to see you get hurt.”

“Yet you stayed.”

His uncle smiled grimly. “Someone had to keep my brothers in line.”

“Why weren’t you like them?”

“Because I hate violence and what they were doing to people was wrong. I grew up in Brooklyn and spent time in the underbelly of the city. I saw violence from gangs wanting to establish their authority.

My family, my dad and granddad were terrifying, and I lived through a period where I didn’t know if I would live to see another day. I saw things,” he flicked a glance at the younger man, “horrible things, stuff that turned my stomach and the restof my family despised me, because they thought I was weak.” He shrugged his shoulder.

“I was taught to shoot when I was ten – guns were all over the house, never locked away, just there for the taking. Even though I was taught to handle all of them, I was terrified and tried to hide it.” He smiled slightly. “I knew the damage a weapon could do to the flesh, and I wanted no part of it.”

“Yet you stayed.”

Graham nodded. “The old man’s word was law, absolutely and we had to abide by his rules. I couldn’t leave. My brothers loved the lifestyle of course and the power and infamy that went along with it. We were respected because of our name and reputation.

I was miserable. I lived in a household run by a tyrant. Your grandmother had no say whatsoever, she was just as afraid. It was when I met your mother that I had something to live for. But even that was taken away from me. Dad decided that she should marry your father because he was the eldest.”

Gary looked out the window. It had taken him a long time to come to grips with the fact that all three brothers were in love with his mother. But after a while he had come to understand that Graham was the only one who loved her selflessly.

“It must have been torture for you watching her with him.”

“Yes!” He acknowledged. “But then my brother did what he always do. He turned into a monster who ended up making her unhappy.” His hands clenched on the tabletop. “I wanted to kill him for hurting her.”

Inhaling sharply, Gary took another gulp of water. “This family…!” He shook his head. “And you wonder why I never had a meaningful relationship. How can I introduce someone into this mess?”

“You deserve happiness, and I hope to God, you find it.”

*****

“You fired the servants.” Coming here this morning had been a chore, but he promised his uncle he would make the effort.

“I did not want them gawking at me,” he said gruffly, watching his son as he pulled up a chair and sat down at the side of the bed. He had spent last night, in and out of consciousness, thinking of him and how proud he was. “I found them other employment, if that makes you feel better.”

Gary lifted thick dark brows. “What makes you think I care one way or another?”

“You were always a bleeding heart.”

His gray eyes flashed. “If by that you mean I do have a heart, then yes. I care about people and do not think of them as disposable commodities. Not that you would know anything about that.”

His father held up one thin hand. “I did not say it to offend you son. It was meant as a compliment.”

That earned him a skeptical look.

You don’t believe me?”

“Should I?”

“I suppose not.” Closing his eyes wearily, Grant lifted a hand to rub his temple. “I know I have not been a good father to you, and I truly regret that.” He opened his eyes to stare at him. “You have to understand the way we were brought up.”

“Uncle Graham was reared in the same household.”