“Hi, Dad. How are you?” Felix asked, settling on the sofa.
Brett sat beside him, though on the edge rather than relaxing into it.
“Good. Finally got the car running again, but who knows how long it will last.” He folded the paper and set it aside. “What’s got you visiting at this time of day?”
“We need to talk to you about Uncle Frank.”
Stephen nodded slowly. “I thought you might have more questions after our last conversation. What do you need to know?”
Felix leaned forward. “Uncle Frank was part of the Cage payroll, wasn’t he?”
Stephen tensed and then stared at the TV, though Brett could see he wasn’t watching it. After a few seconds, he faced them again. “Yes. I don’t know how long he was involved with them, but I do know that when he turned twenty-four, something happened, and he changed. The only reason I know something was because Frank got drunk once—it happened rarely—but he told me to always be careful, always look over my shoulder, always be aware of my surroundings because the Cages could be there. He said they would use our family against him, to pull him back in, so he needed to make sure we could protect ourselves.” He rubbed his hands together. “He never spoke of it again, and anytime I tried to get him to, he closed off. I know of the Cage family; everyone does.” Brett tried not to flinch. “But I didn’t pry. I thought it was all over and done with once you were born. We’d never had any problems with them.”
“I’m sorry your family was involved,” Brett said. “I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.”
“I know. You got out. Frank got out. Unfortunately, they don’t always like people who get out.”
Felix straightened. “What do you mean?”
“Frank wasn’t killed by a distracted parent. That was the cover story. It was a hit.”
Brett stood and paced behind the sofa. “My father was…” He couldn’t finish the sentence, the anger pulsing inside him so strong he wished his father was still alive so he could hurt him. He faced Stephen. “I’m so sorry.”
“It wasn’t your fault. But you need to hear what I’m saying. Just because you’re out, Brett, doesn’t mean they like it.”
Felix twisted on the sofa to look at him. “Maybe that’s the reason,” he said.
“What?” Brett frowned at him.
“We keep wondering why Venus is doing what she’s doing. Maybe it truly is just because she wants you back in, like I said before. If they kill everyone around you, you won’t have anyone, and therefore, you’ll be the machine they can use as a weapon.”
Unfortunately, his mother came in as he said those words, and Brett had to catch her when she stumbled while carrying the tea tray.
“Sorry, Mum,” Felix said, taking it from her and setting it on the coffee table.
Ruby waved him away. “It’s not like I don’t know what’s what. I just wasn’t expecting it, that’s all.” She left the room again.
“Will she be okay?” Brett asked, staring after her.
“Yes. I’ll check on her once we’re done here,” Stephen said, picking up his drink.
“We’re meeting with Venus Cage this afternoon,” Felix said, taking a sip of his coffee. “She wants to talk, apparently.”
Stephen shook his head. “I wouldn’t recommend it. She’ll have contingencies. If you intend to walk away from that, you need them, too. She’ll play dirty, as they all do.” He had the grace to look abashed. “Sorry, Brett. I don’t include you in this.”
“They haven’t been my family for thirty years,” Brett said. “I don’t know who they are any longer.” He glanced at his watch. “We don’t have much time, Felix.”
Stephen rose at the same time Felix did. “Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.”
They headed down the hallway, and Ruby came out of the kitchen to say goodbye, but Felix asked him to wait a minute because he’d forgotten to ask his dad something. That left him with Ruby.
“You’re good for him.”
“We’re…” They had said they were going to tell his parents, but he didn’t want to do it alone.
“I know you’ve finally taken that step. I can see it in the way you move together. It was fluid before, but now it’s like you can anticipate everything he’s doing and vice versa. You’re good for him, and he’s good for you. Don’t mess it up.” She smiled when she said it, and Brett couldn’t help the flush in his cheeks.
“I love him,” he whispered.