Jake was about getting into his car when he saw Blake walking towards him with a huge grin on his face. He opened the car and hopped in and waited for that lazy fellow. Maybe Blake had something to tell him? But they’ll meet at home right? And was he still around at this time?He watched as Blake hopped into the car and started strapping his seat belt. Jake was confused, why was he here? Definitely not to go him with him right? Where the hell was the car he kept hounding him for?”Why are you in my car and not yours?” Jake turned to him and asked calmly.”Don’t tell me you forgot” Blake asked in disbelief.”Forgot what?” Jake was confused. What was he supposed to remember?”Outing Bro! Outing! How could you forget something like that?” Blake mentioned with a dissappointed look.”You must be out of your mind. I’m not going, so get out of my car this instant” Jake said with a frown. He was exhausted from the day’s job. Sitting through meetings, reviewing and signing files, and the out operation inspections…he was just too tired, he needed rest.”I’m not” Blake refuted stubbornly.”We are going out and that’s it””Blake!” Jake called loudly, his voice filling the car.”What? Why is it that you agree to go out with your friends in a heart’s beat but never me? Let’s be real, the only time we ever went out was when you returned but even then you ditched me twice. Twice!!” He said raising two fingers at Jake.”On Saturdays were supposed to be our bonding time, but no, you went out again and quarrelled with me all through the remaining part of the weekend” Jake stared at him as he rambled on.”We stay under the same roof now, but I still don’t see you. You’re always in the study working or with grandpa working. I’m just saying I miss hanging out with you bro, just like we used to before you left” He wasn’t trying to be clingy, but he really missed doing all the stuffs they did as brothers, even when their father was alive.”It seems you’ve all grown up, everyone has and I’m just the only one who hasn’t” He said with a pained expression before reaching for the door. Jake watched him as he reached for the door, his seat belt was still strapped in, his shoulders slouched, he pouted his lips and faked those misty eyes. All these signs were too familiar. Blake was putting up an act again and he sure deserved a Grammy for it. Jake closed his eyes and sighed deeply. This guy was never going to change.”Alright fine” Jake said as he turned away from the sulking Blake. “Where do you want us to go?” Jake finally gave in.”Really?” Blake asked with a sunny smile. His method always walked on his brother.”Yeah, so say it before I change my mind””To the club big bro” Blake chirped excitedly.”Club?” Jake was confused. Why the club?”Yes…that’s our first stop. I’ll tell you where next after that. But first you have to loosen up first okay” Blake was feeling super excited, which was making Jake anxious. Did he really make the right decision? He’s never comfortable when Blake goes into this happy mode. It usually doesn’t end well for him, because they always go to places he’d never want to. But the club was not really a bad idea. Some alcohol could do him some good by easing his knotted nerves.”You do know how to be a pest” Jake sighed again as he turned on the ignition.”You still love me anyway. It’s not easy having a gorgeous brother like me. It’s a privilege bro, a privilege” He declared with a proud smile.”Tch..Conceited fool” Jake muttered under his breath as he drove out of the car park.”You can’t pull any stunt on me tonight. Tonight is completely dedicated to me. No women and no friends” Blake reminded him. On several occasions, Jake has ditched him and he’d run after a pretty girl to bed her. Jake didn’t reply, he kept driving without sparing him a glance.”You’re not saying anything””I’ve heard you. Now shut up before I throw you out of my car” Jake said glaring at him.”Okay” Blake turned on the stereo to search for the song to put them in the right mood for tonight.The first song that came playing through the radio was ‘Brother’ by Kodaline.When Blake heard the song he felt like it was a familiar song but he couldn’t recall where he must have heard the sound track.I’ve got you brother-er-er-erI’ve got you brother-er-er-erOh brother, we’ll go deeper than the inkBeneath the skin of our tattoosrThough we don’t share the same bloodYou’re my brother and I love you that’s the truthWhen he heard the singer sing, it was then a chord struck in his head. This was Jake’s and Kyle’s song. He quickly turned to Jake and he could feel the incoming storm from his face. His anger was evident in his eyes and from the day he was holding the wheels.”Turn it off” Jake said icily. It was as if the temperature of the car had dropped below 10°C.”Y-yes -Yes” Blake stuttered in fear. How could he not remember. He almost smacked himself hard. He wouldn’t blame Jake if he turned around now and ask them to go home instead. He could tell how angry he was. The slightest memory of Kyle or sound of his name would make Jake go berserk, like was he was out to kill someone.Blake cautiously watched Jake from his peripheral vision. He didn’t know what to say. It would be better if he just kept quiet, so Jake would quickly get over it.The rest of the drive to the club was quiet, but the awkward atmosphere has dissipitated by the time they got there and Jake’s mood had improved.”Jake why is it always the Grandhill’s” Blake complained with a pout.”Because it’s the best there is. No one bothers you and no reporters. Privacy is top notch” He said as he took off his jacket and removed his tie. He unbuttoned the first two buttons and slightly ruffled his hair, giving a gorgeous and sexy look. Blake looked at his brother in awe. Though he has always seen this, he still wasn’t used to it. How Jake always transformed himself from a serious citizen of a country to a play boy.”Have you done what I asked you to do?” Jake asked as they walked to the club from the car park.”What was that?” Blake asked back feigning ignorance. Jake paused and glanced at him with a scowl.”I remember now” He admitted biting his lips in annoyance.”And?””Why can’t I have a secretary? The salary is a measly one and I know you can afford it, but you just want to be stingy to your own brother” Blake said with a hurt expression.”That’s only because I was unfortunate to have a lazy who hates to work but has a PhD in spending money” He hissed.”Thank God you know I’m lazy. Then let me be man. Just let me spend the money while you work for it. I’m generous right?” Blake said wriggling his brows playfully, while Jake eyed him. Sincerely, he really hated working. He’d love if he could stay at home all day and have the time of his life.”You’re so irresponsible””Guess who I got that trait from?” Blake asked.”I don’t want to know” Jake replied walking ahead.”Your father. That’s who I got it from” Blake yelled from behind with a smile on his face.”Who unfortunately is also yours. I wish we can do something about that” Jake said, his lips curving up into a smile. He’d never wish for another brother, even though this one was close to being useless, he still loved him the same. Blake was his cup of tea.They walked into the club. Jake was about heading for the VIP side as usual when Blake held him back and requested for them to sit at the bar since they won’t be staying for long.Blake ordered drinks for them as they sat down on the high stools at the bar counter. Blake noticed Jake look through the room full of people. He knew that look very well.”You are not thinking about…””Little guy relax. I’m just being curious” He said raising his glass to his lips.”Jake, Blake” A voice called out softly from behind them. Jake could feel his blood boil like it an autonomic reponse the moment he heard that voice. Blake was also surprised when he realized who had called them. His eyes darted to Jake and he could feel his aura change.”Jake” Blake called out softly but his voice was full with fear. Blake turned to Kyle and dangerously glared at him in a that demanded him to leave. But remained stubborn, he moved closer to Jake and called his name again.’He must really have a death wish’Jake turned to him, his eyes were cold and murderous.”Jake I’m sorry. I know I hurt the famil…”Everyone was surprised because Kyle didn’t get to finish his sentence before he found himself sprawled on the floor, with blood slipping out of his nose.”I dare you to call us your family one more time” Jake yelled angrily.Kyle had not expected his words to earn him a blow from Jake. Well, not that he didn’t expect it, it was just too sudden. He had not even seen Jake leave his seat.”Jake…I’m sorry” Kyle tried apologizing again, as he tried standing up from the floor. The scene had attracted more than a few eyes towards them. Jake was a popular figure not just in the club, but in the country at large. The ladies eyes were always glued to him and that earned him a lot of envious glares from his fellow gender every now and then.Jake turned back to the counter, gulped down his drink and Blake’s too, then he turned back to Kyle, he held him tightly on his collar and pulled him out of the club.Kyle willingly let himself get dragged out of the club by Jake. He was certain there was more to come his way, but whatever Jake threw at him, he knew he deserved every bit of it and even more.”Jake, you have to stop. Come on bro” Blake pleaded. He wasn’t truly concerned about Kyle, he just didn’t want his brother to go too far. Jake had a fiery temper which he keeps in check, but when he went lost it, there was nothing that could stop him.”Jake please, let him be. Dad won’t come back even if you kill him” Blake added.”Then he should go join him and get his retribution” Jake said with a dead pan voice as he lunged another blow at Kyle’s face when they got to the underground park.”Jak…””Shut up you piece of shit” Jake cut in with another blow aimed at Kyle’s stomach, taking Kyle a few steps back before sprawling to the ground.Jake rolled up his sleeves as he slowly walked to where Kyle was. Kyle had blood slipping out the side of his mouth. Every blow from Jake was deadly as they carried the guilt and pain that he has harbored for 5 years.For Five years he had tried talking himself out of the fact that his father’s death was his fault. That he was not to be blamed, but no matter how he thought about it, the truth wouldn’t change.The truth was, he had brought a traitor into his home, into his family. He had made his father, his entire family accept and love Kyle like their own, but what did he get in return for his show of kindess …Betrayal.Kyle had betrayed the entire Family and turned the peace they enjoyed into chaos.”Do you know what I regret the most?” Jake asked lividly as he bent down and pulled Kyle up by the collar again. Kyle felt weak on his knees and the pain he was feeling intensified as Jake picked him up. He looked at Jake waiting for him to continue.”It was picking your sorry ass from the street” Jake said as he dealt him another blow.”I picked you off the street and brought you home, to my house, to my family and they accepted you. They showed you much love than your stupid fucked up parents who abandoned you could ever give you. I called you….my brother” Jake kicked him hard as he said those last word with great difficulty. Kyle groaned in pain with his hands wrapped on his stomach. He didn’t plead for Jake to stop, because he couldn’t bring himself to. Every word Jake said was true.The Beau’s had loved and accepted him, yet he failed them, he broke their trust.”My father took you as his son, never once did he ask me where I got you from even as a child, nor did he treat you any less than he treated Blake and I. But what did you do?” Jake at this point was losing his mind.”You slept with his wife, you piece of shit, you animal” Jake pounced on him and dealt more lethal blows.Blake ran up to Jake and pulled him off Kyle when he saw that Jake was completely losing it. Blake landed on the floor when he trieed pulling Jake. Jake was too strong for Blake to control, especially when he was this angry.”Jake stop, you’ll kill him” Blake yelled as he pulled Jake by his arm again.”Let go Blake” He yanked Blake’s hand off his. “He should just die. Maybe that will make me feel a whole better. Don’t tell me you’re feeling sorry for him?” He asked as he turned to Blake, who was now standing.”No” Blake hurriedly replied. He wasn’t feeling sorry towards Kyle, he just didn’t want his brother to be responsible for whatever would befall Kyle. What if he killed at this rate? What would happen?”Just don’t kill him with your own hands” Blake said wearily.”Didn’t he know dad was sick? That he had a heart condition and yet he did something that killed him” He yelled angrily as he stared at Blake. He returned his attention back to Kyle who was bleeding from every part of his face.”Didn’t you know how much he loved his wife? How he treasured her selflessly even when he shouldn’t. You knew all this things and yet he defiled his matrimonial bed under his very own roof. The same roof which has housed you since you were a child” He couldn’t control himself. He kicked Kyle on his chest, and blood spurted out of his mouth, but that didn’t bother him.”I asked you if you knew if dad was hiding something, if by chance you knew anything that we didn’t know, but what did you say? You lied to my face and said he was fine” Jake kicked him hard on his knee in anger.”And in all this you still killed him with your shameless act. I warned you never to return and yet you returned with that bitch””I pray you die, that you both die and rot in hell. Because even if the heavens forgive you, I won’t forgive you, because you don’t deserve it. I swear Kyle I will kill you in this life and every other one I meet you” Jake swore with all his might.He still hasn’t forgotten how his father had struggled for his life on that day. How his father held his hand tightly when he took his last breath. Jake couldn’t imagine the kind of pain his father had felt on that day. Finding his beloved wife in bed with his son – since that was what he called Kyle- was a heart wrecking experience. That kind of betrayal was horrible. It was something his father didn’t deserve.Henry was a good son, a great dad and a lovely husband, whose only fault was loving and trusting the wrong people. Henry catered for Kyle from the first day Jake had brought him home on his way from school. Kyle was about same age as Jake, but slightly younger. Jake had seen this harmless kid living off dirts just close to his school. Even as a child he had compassion on him and he befriended him and shared his meals with him everyday as he went to school. As time past by they became close and when Jake found out that Kyle had no parents and was kicked out of the child system because of his medical condition and was abandoned at the hospital where he absconded from, Jake took pity on him and brought him home.Henry accepted that little boy and commended Jake for being a good child himself.Kyle as a child suffered from two deadly diseases. Pheochromocytoma and Epidermolysis bullosa. Henry and his father took him and together they fought hard for Kyle’s life, till he got better. Henry sent him to school and gave him a job. How nice should one be?Jake had carried the guilt of his father’s death in his heart. What if he hadn’t brought Kyle home years ago? Would his father be alive, if he had been a little more attentive of the things going on with his father? Maybe if he had known his father had a serious heart condition, he would have relieved him of his duties at the company much earlier. Maybe he would have fought hard for him too, just as he did for Kyle.He had brought the devil into his own home who in turn murdered his father with his shameless and wicked act. Jake didn’t know how to forgive himself, but he kept going as far as he didn’t see Kyle or Hillary. And this was why he had left the country after his father’s death.”Ja-ke, I’m -so-rry” Kyle struggled to apologize as he struggled to breath. Jake had dealt him several deadly blows and he could barely keep up, his eyes fluttered lazily with blood covering them.Jake was about to make a move on him again, when Blake suddenly pulled again.”Jake that’s enough. He will die, look at him” Blake said pointing at Kyle.”Stop, it’s enough. Killing him now, would only ease him off his guilt and that would be mercy. You’ll only create a leway for him by killing him here and now””I think there are better ways to get revenge on him. Let’s keep him alive for another day” Blake adviced. He knew only this kind of thoughts would make Jake let go of Kyle.Jake turned to Blake before turning back to Kyle. He didn’t want to stop, he was too angry to. But he also knew that Blake made alot of sense.Killing Kyle now would be too nice to him. Death would be too much mercy for Kyle and Hillary. He’ll make their lives miserable as much as he could, and he’ll never forgive them. Never!He looked at Blake and took the handkerchief he was stretching at him. He wrapped it around his wounded knuckles.”Call an ambulance. This idiot still has the EB thing. Make sure they keep him alive” He said with a cold tone, before walking away to his car.Blake looked at Jake’s back before glancing at Kyle who was still struggling to breathe. He hissed loudly before calling an ambulance.. There was more to come…Hope you can imagine the beating?
WATCHOUT FOR EPISODE 48
