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But I was angry, damn it! After my parents were killed, my aunt and uncle were named our guardians, but only on paper. In reality, they never cared or paid any attention to us. Only inflicted more pain and manipulation.
I remembered the hatred I felt for my aunt and the anger coursing through my veins when Colton finally reached the age of majority to inherit everything my father had left us—or at least what remained after my uncle and aunt were done with it—and we told them we never wanted to see them again.
I had meant every word back then.
Could I go back and speak to my aunt?
“What would I even say to her?” I asked.
Luke spoke first. “If I could speak to our uncle, I’d tell him I turned out just fine without him.”
Colton stared off into the distance, holding his drink. “I’d tell him that what they had done didn’t break me—didn’t break us. It only made us stronger.”
I nodded. It felt good hearing my brothers say these things. I imagined saying them to my uncle. That would feel even better.
“Yeah. You’re right. I think there’s still unfinished business there.”
Downing the rest of my drink in one gulp, I sucked in my teeth as the alcohol burned down my throat.
“Do we even have any idea where the hell she’s at?”
Luke shook his head, but Colton rubbed his knee. “She’s living at the hospice on Main.”
“Hospice? Wait. Do you mean she’s dying?” Luke asked.
Colton turned to me. “Appears so. I don’t know how much time she has left.”
Shit.
I’d kicked her out of my office before, not wanting to hear a word she had to say. I wasn’t ready to hear it then. Was I ready now? Did I need it now?
The thought of losing the opportunity to finish this urged me forward.
“I’ve got too much to do today for Laura’s case. But I’ll go first thing tomorrow.”
“Good,” said Luke. “Now, I’ll be leaving. I’ve got to figure some things out, too.”
I walked Luke to the door, but stopped him before he could leave.
“What are you talking about, Luke?”
“I need to see a man about a baseball,” he said, raising the collar of his jacket.
“Luke, I tried. He denied knowing anything about it,” I said, gripping the door.
He patted me on the shoulder. “Yeah, well. I’m getting my ball back, brother. One way or another.”
I groaned. “Just wait until Laura’s trial is over. I can only take so much overtime in the courtroom.”
He shrugged. “I won’t make any promises.”
I shook my head. “Be careful.”
“I’ll get going, too,” said Colton. “Frances’s family is coming over and I need a few hours to prepare for family game night. I’m going to beat Nonna at Monopoly one of these days.”
“Aren’t you the business tycoon?” I teased.
“Just keep rubbing it in, why don’t you,” Colton muttered on his way out, and Luke slapped an arm over Colton’s shoulder in comradery.
