Twisted Hearts

Chapter 2: Family Affairs

Gabriel stood at the foot of his father’s house—his family’s house to be exact, with a bottle of wine in one hand and his phone and keys in the other. He lit up the screen; he was only late by a few minutes. Well that’s what his father would say, while in truth he had stood at the door since he had arrived, five minutes ago trying to will himself to ring the bell and face the full heat that was about to be fixed on him.

His jaw clenched as he blew out a sigh, ringing the bell. He waited a few seconds later and the door was opened, his eyes landed on the person who had opened it and his stomach fell. He now was regretting not having just called his father to come open it for him.

Alice—his step sister—stood there with a smile that quickly fell from her face as she stared at him. Her eyes hardened as a scowl twisted her once bright and cheerful smile.

“What are you doing here?” She hissed—her voice filled with disgust.

Before he could answer, a familiar voice spoke from behind Alice. “I invited him sweetheart,” Andrew Hastings appeared at the door, placing his hand over his stepdaughter’s shoulder as he eyed his son; a smile dancing over his features. Andrew was a tall and well-built man; he very much resembled his older son. With his light brow curly hair—now graying with old age—and wise blue eyes. “Well? Why are you just standing there son, come give your old man a hug,”

Gabriel smiled, allowing his father to pull him into his arms and pat his back affectionately. They pulled away and Andrew kept his arms on his son’s shoulders, still smiling down at him. Gabriel raised the wine bottle in his hand. “I brought the wine,”

Andrew took it from his son’s hand and pushed it to Alice, Glancing at her as she still stood in her spot, sending harsh daggers to her stepbrother. “Can you please go place this in the fridge Hun?”

She eyed the bottle with the same disgust she had specially reserved for Gabriel, grabbing it from her father she cast Gabriel one last hate filled glare and sauntered off in the direction of the kitchen. Pretending to not have noticed, Gabriel turned his attention back to his, seeing the crease of worry between his brows as he watched the spot where his stepdaughter had stood.

“So, what have you been up to old man?” Andrew’s attention went back to his son; the worry momentarily leaving him as he led Gabriel to the kitchen.

"Nothing much son, I'm sure you've been up to more interesting things than me,"

“Andrew have you seen Alice?” Gwen Hastings—Gabriel’s stepmother— stopped abruptly in her spot, looking at his father then at him. The shock in her eyes was quickly replaced by a look of distain, though it quickly left but Gabriel noticed. His father’s arm on his shoulder tightened and he knew he had noticed it too. Suddenly, Gabriel remembered why he hated coming over to his father’s house. Gwen was a very nice woman, a nice God fearing woman who despised him for what he was.

“I sent her to the kitchen to put the wine Gabriel brought in the fridge,”

“Okay,” Gwen looked hesitant for a moment, and then her lips pulled up in a tight lipped smile.

“How have you been Gabriel?”

Gabriel shifted uneasily on one foot, glancing at his father to see the relief in his eyes. He quickly guessed that the man had talked to his wife about treating Gabriel a little nicely. He knew that the constant bickering that always followed his visits was leaving a strain on his father. The least he could do was at least try and help keep the peace. If not only for his father, the man couldn’t be placed in a position to choose between his gay son and wife and daughter, Jason was the lucky who didn’t interfere in the fights.

“Good, thank you for asking?” He nodded; Gwen offered his father a brief glance that said. See, I’m trying to act nice with him and turned, walking back in the direction of where she came. Gabriel felt his father relax besides him and he led him to sit at the kitchen counter.

“Coffee or something stronger?” Andrew asked, raising one brow as he looked at his son over his shoulder. Rubbing the back of his neck, Gabriel caught Alice glaring at him as she rushed past the kitchen entrance. He decided that if he was to face his family for the night then he needed all the help he could get.

“Something stronger,” He muttered. His father nodded and went to the counter, pulling out two glasses.

“On the rocks?”

“Nah, give it to me straight up,” He said, ignoring the sharp look his father sent him as he poured them their drinks. Gabriel was no prized drinker, he kept his alcohol consumption to a minimum but he had his moments and this he decided was one of them.

“So, how have you been son?” Gabriel watched his father shift in his seat, eying him with his full concentration. It was always unnerving him when his father gave him that same stare; it made him feel like he couldn’t lie. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat, leaning back to mask his nerves.

“Like I said to Gwen Dad, I’m fine,”

I’m fine. He flinched from the roughness in his voice, taking a sip of the strong whiskey his father had poured him. He looked away from his father as Jason entered the room. Both brothers shared a brief look, before Jason sat down opposing Gabriel. A tension had seemed to grip Jason as he tugged out his phone and started typing away on it.

“Sometimes I just worry about you,” Andrew sighed, raising his glass to his lips. Guilt once again clawed at Gabriel’s gut, this close he could see how tired his father looked, though Andrew Hastings was one of those men who looked and acted ageless, he was aging and Gabriel was missing out on it. Running a hand through his hair, he glanced at his brother noticing the distracted look on his face,

Using his leg under the counter, he nudged Jason, causing the other man to inhale sharply and blink repeatedly. “I think you should be worried about Jason here too,” Gabriel muttered, motioning to his brother with his head.

“Nope, don’t get me involved in any of this. I’m just trying to sort out your schedule for the week.” Jason muttered, looking back at his phone with that same concentration…and worry.

“You know, when I said you could run my business affairs I didn't think you’d take this seriously,” Gabriel's voice was filled with slight amusement as his brother shot him a quick glance. His brows furrowed as he saw unease in that one glance. He felt his gut twist oddly and worry clawed at him as well, though he shook it off in that moment, turning back to his father.

The duo carried out a conversation between them; Jason excused himself a few minutes later and went outside to pick a call. When he walked back into the house he stood at the back entrance to the kitchen which over looked the garden.

His voice was thick with emotion as he spoke. “Umm, Gabe? Can I talk to you for a minute?”

Casting his father a quick glance, Gabriel went and stood outside with his brother, feeling the unease claw at him all over again. Once they were outside, Jason turned, checking that no one could hear them.

“Gabriel this is not good,” Jason spoke low, his voice softened by worry and distress. “Another box has just arrived at you house, this is the third threat this week,”

Cold fear squeezed at his heart, Gabriel stood motionless as he gathered his thoughts, or as he tried to comprehend this, another box? He looked back at the house, seeing his father through the window and felt the fear worsened. What would happen if the threats reached his father’s ears?

He lowered his head, swallowing thickly as he forced the words out of his throat.

“Where is the box now?”

“Still at your house, I had the house keeper to call me if any mysterious packages arrived and she just did. This is getting too much; we have to call the police.” Jason rushed out, panic clear in his eyes. Gabriel exhaled, placing his hands on his brother’s shoulders. 

“Jason just last week I had a federal judge sent to prison for taking bribes in a major case, and that’s the least of it, I don’t trust anyone in the justice system and neither should you. I’ll handle this,” He tried to reassure him, shutting his eyes in exhaustion. He was expecting this; of course it could be the judge or one of the many other people he had sentenced to prison. His stomach churned as another thought crossed his mind. Perhaps it was because of the new case he was about to take.

His brother didn’t look convinced as he shook his hair, wiping at his face with his hand, “It’s too risky Gabriel, and if you’re not calling the police then you should at least get a bodyguard,”

Shaking his head in disapproval, Gabriel squeezed his brother’s shoulder with his right hand. “Don’t worry about me, I’ll be all right.” The lie came too easy, it left a bitter taste in his mouth as he swallowed and added, “And make sure not to tell Dad, I don’t want him worrying about this,”

Jason hesitated, his voice soaked with tension, “I won’t tell him…for now Gabriel,”