One Last Rainy Day: The Legacy of a Prince(6)
“We’re going to make it our problem,” Tobias declares, “that’s the whole point of all of this. It’s not just about our family or this town. Not anymore.”
Shoving his hands in his pockets, he turns and stares in the direction of the newly-erected construction of Roman’s house—a mere length of a football field away from our spot—his voice in a faraway place when he adds, “we’re going to do this in a way that will honor them.”
Sean pops another beer as he puts in his two cents. “This seems ambitious. I mean, come on, man. Look at where we’re at—bumfuck nowhere.”
“That’s exactly the point.” Sean’s focus flits to me because of the amount of bite in my tone. He’s still straddling realms, living in the created world and the one Tobias has envisioned and wants us to help re-create. Despite my warnings that Tobias isn’t going to take us seriously if we don’t step up, Sean’s under the impression we’re already in due to relation. He has no idea just how wrong he is in that respect.
“You want to end up just another line cook at Daddy’s restaurant?” I remind him. “What’s going to happen when they call in that bank loan?”
Sean’s eyes flare, but he remains quiet, picking at his beer label as I turn and fix my gaze on Tyler, whose situation is just as grim. “Are you going to be a career soldier?”
Tyler glares over at me, his father’s fate his own worse fear.
The truth is, none of us wants to trace the footfalls or repeat the fate of our parents. While Tobias and I have suffered greatly, our brothers haven’t been much more fortunate. Tyler’s endured the worst by way of remnants of his father, who left US soil as one man and came back another. Sean’s in the midst of witnessing the toll it’s taking on his parents just to keep their restaurant running and collective heads above water.
Their fear of repeating a similar path is one of the main reasons why Tobias has our attention—but he’s given us plenty of others. He was the first to break the small-town mindset chain and get out. The not-so-subtle changes in him during his trips back are what’s kept their curiosity stoked. I satiated mine by digging into why my brother’s more relaxed demeanor started to disappear over a short time.
This made me more determined to ditch any ritualistic teenage bullshit and man up before I was expected to. Not that I had much of a choice or that he’s noticed.
“This is exactly why we’re here,” Tobias asserts, “to get our priorities straight.”
“My priorities are perfect,” Sean lifts his hands and begins to tick off his fingers to spite us both. “Pussy, pussy, pussy, pussy, and . . .” he holds a finger on his thumb, “yup, I’m going to have to go with pussy.”
I laugh despite my annoyance with Sean as Tobias’s eyes flare in warning. “This is another reason why I called this meeting. You want a girlfriend? Have one, but pillow talk and this fucking club are never to go hand in hand. What the other birds do is not my business, but as far as we are concerned, women don’t have a place at this fire, not yet. And not until they are vetted by me personally. End of.”
“I thought you said women are a sanctuary.” Sean snarks, testing Tobias again before sipping his beer.
“They are,” Tobias spits, “away from business. Personal attachments are the greatest liability. And the first one who fucks up on that front will pay dire consequences.” He again looks to each of us in an attempt to drive his point home before adding, “no fucking exceptions.”
As the conversation progresses, I try to diffuse the tension that continually rears its ugly head as we all snap back and forth. The resentment for Tobias’s long absences only to come back calling shots has him getting twice as much venom as he’s giving. I can barely conceal my own grudge, especially when my aunt’s drinking is tossed into the mix.
“So, if I’m getting this right,” Tyler diverts, posture rigid, “we need a wooden horse to recruit an army to hide inside it and the opportunity to slip into the city.”
Tobias dips his chin in confirmation.
“I’m going to be a third-generation Marine,” Tyler declares, which is no surprise to any of us. “It’s a given, and if there’s one thing I know how to do—it’s how to build an army.”
Sean speaks up next, putting his petulant bullshit aside. “Me and Dom will cover the garage, and once it’s up and running, I’ll figure out a way to get us through the gate.” He ruffles my hair, and I slap his hand away as he finishes, “and we all know this asshole’s going to Harvard or Yale or some shit.”
“Guess that makes you the horse,” I clip to my brother.
“No, little brother,” he counters as we stare off, our tension much harder to ignore due to our earlier fight. Mostly because he refuses to let me join him in France and thinks I’m blind to what he’s started in Paris. Of the company he keeps and the constant danger he’s putting himself in.
“You’re the horse,” he declares as he looks between the three of us, “as of this moment, I no longer exist.”
After hashing out a little more strategy, I join my brother, who stands a few feet from the fire.
“What about Helen?” He stares back at me with unguarded surprise.
Until minutes ago, I was his gifted teenage brother and a tool capable of getting him out of tight situations along with doing recon that helps him gain ground where he needs it. To him, I’m supposed to be satisfied with the breadcrumbs he selectively decides to feed me while he keeps me a safe distance from his overseas dealings. At this point, I’m keeping my own secrets and choosing when and how I reveal them.