Kegan had barely settled down in the living room after dinner when his cell vibrated. He took it out, and read the text message.
“No,” he whispered, dropping the phone. “No!” His voice rose in a cry of anguish as he pounded his fist on his thigh, once, twice, moaning “Not again. Not again.”
Gage was beside him seconds later, grabbing his hand, while Ash picked up the fallen phone.
“Oh, hell,” Ash spat out as he read the text then showed it to Gage. It was short. Six words. Mr. Quinlan is dead. You’re next. Ash dropped the phone, crushing it under the heel of his boot. Only then did he sit down beside Kegan, wrapping his arms around him. Gage did the same. They held him tightly between them as his silent tears fell.
“I killed him.” The tears fell faster. “Just like Tony, I killed Bernie
