Angel of Justice

Taking a Chance

Axle and Harley sat like dutiful sons at the breakfast table with PJ and Jared sitting across from them, Brenda, or the wicked b***h of the North as the twins like to call her sat at the head of the table scrolling through her phone. Her overly Botox filled features gave nothing of her thoughts or emotions away.

Axle stared, trying to find any resemblance between this woman and the young beauty whose image he had stared at for hours the last two nights and could find none. His stepmother's hair was a dyed dull brown and frizzing from the constant dying. Her eyes were narrow, small and dark , though that could be due to all the treatments and surgeries she used to fight appearing her age. Her voice only has two levels, pathetic simpering or loud screeching. No, he concluded, Angel looked nothing like her mother.

"That b***h!" Brenda's sudden screech broke the usual silence of the mandatory Saturday morning 'family' breakfast. "She dare!"

PJ a younger, masculine version of his mother sighed, "I suppose you saw the lottery page then." his deep voice sounded bored and a bit resigned.

Jared the complete opposite of his brother in looks and temperament, chuckled "Of course she did, she's always checking the big winners for the next love of her life."

Axle ducked his head to hide his smile, while Harley chuckled beside him, not one to hide his disdain of the woman their father had married.

Brenda snarled at her youngest son "Your sister is apparently the sole winner of the 2.47 billion dollar jackpot. That's billion with a b!"

Jared shrugged, "Good for her. Axle would you pass the coffee over."

"Don't you think she owes me, us, for the disgrace she caused. Not to mention I gave birth to that wretched little piece of trash, she owes me her life. I'll of course let her continue her pathetic existence as long as she hands over the money."

Jared sighed "Mother, really? Twenty years ago you left dad for their" he waved a hand at Axle and Harley "father. I don't think either Angel or Paul owe you anything. While they live in some little cabin practically in the woods, you live here in the lap of luxury. Leave them be."

For a stunned moment everyone just stares at Jared, who calmly went back to eating his breakfast. And in that moment Axle thought he might have found an ally. But PJ's next words crumpled that notion.

"You're just trying out the big brother cares personna. You think if you act like you're on their side she'll give you a cut."

Jared grinned,"Busted. Do you think she'll fall for it?"

Brenda went from raving to simpering in a heartbeat "My poor boys have missed their sister so, we should all make a real effort to be a family again."

Axle was disgusted and a bit in awe of their acting. They should have gone into the entertainment industry. He thought with disdain.

A few hours later Axle was sitting in his home office debating on whether he should take a chance and reach out to warn Angel. But before he could decide about that, he did take the opportunity to anonymously send the security file he'd been holding onto for twenty years.

The sounds of Brenda's screech, PJ and Jared's yells and bellows was like music to his ears. At the desk next to his Harley laughed. A full body, gut clenching, tears streaming laugh.