The office stank of leather and smoke. James followed Ricky into the dim room, his guts churning. The fire crackled, throwing weird shadows on the walls. Outside, the wind howled like a banshee.
Ricky darted in like he couldn't wait to get this over with. James hung back, his chest tight with grief and anger. It felt like some monster was clawing him up from the inside.
Their old man, Victor, was slumped in his big chair, staring at the fire like it held all the answers. His eyes were a million miles away.
James wanted to bolt, leave the old bastard to wallow. But Ricky opened his big mouth.
"We got news," he blurted out.
Victor's head snapped around. "You found out who offed your brother?" he thundered.
James flinched. Ricky shrank back like a kicked dog. It used to be Daniel who'd
