Derek’s hand shook as he unlocked the door to Jace’s room. Talking about him had been…cathartic, he supposed. The way Joe had reacted had helped ease the pain and grief Derek inevitably felt when he thought about his brother. The brother who had fallen so far and been unable to ask for help to climb out the hell he’d created for himself.
“You don’t have to,” Joe said, putting his hand over Derek’s before he could turn the knob to open the door.
“Yes, I do. I have to lay his ghost to rest.” Taking a deep breath, he let them into the room. It was exactly how he remembered; only now it seemed sad, pathetic. “A wasted life enshrined,” he said under his breath.
“Not at all,” Joe replied. “There’s not a damned thing wrong with remembering someone you loved.” He went to one of the shelves, loo
