to the front porch.
Tyler was right though. My days of being an actual rock star were behind me. I couldn’t stop picturing what we’d do with the house. The porch steps were wide enough for an array of pumpkins, gourds, and hay in the fall. I saw myself on an extension ladder with a string of tangled up Christmas lights over my shoulder, cursing as I tried to get them hung up, embodying the truest spirit of the holidays.
Even the one side of the front yard… it had a perfect slope for sledding in the snow.
Inside the house, I whistled when I saw that all the walls were missing on the first floor. It was down to the bare studs.
“Looks a lot worse than it is,” Tyler said. “The house is in great shape, Silas. There’s some updating that needs to be done with the electrical but nothing dangerous. I just wanted to make sure it’s all up to code though. I’m picky with certain things.”
“Whatever it needs, Tyler,” I said. “And if you need any more money just let me know.”
Tyler paused in the kitchen. “You’re all in on this, huh?”
“You still doubt me, huh?”
“Maybe that’s just the protective brother in me.”
“Worst case, Tyler, I turn out to be a piece of shit,” I said. “At least your sister will have this house to live in.”
“Alone?”
“I said worst case,” I said. “That will never happen. I’m not my…”
Father. Stepfather. Pick your poison, Tyler. You had the perfect family life growing up. Mom and Dad together. Nothing but love. Sad that your father died. But… my father never wanted me. And my stepfather wanted me to be a personal punching bag for him.
“Hey,” Tyler said. “The windows in the kitchen. I know they look good right now. They’re old. My worry is in the winter it’ll be drafty and cold in here. I’m only saying something because I’m here and we’re working. You can wait if you want, but…”
“Get it all done,” I said. “Everything, Tyler.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah. Just one thing.”
“What?”
“Let Mila know. Give her some options.”
“Okay,” Tyler said. “I’ll give her a call in a bit.”
“She mentioned something about going to the ranch,” I said.
“Good. Maybe she can find my brother.”
“Find Crosby?”
Tyler smiled. “Nothing. Family joke. Crosby sometimes gets tied up with a woman. He’ll never commit to someone. But if it lasts beyond his normal one-night stand rule, he’ll lose himself a little. He’ll disappear for a few days or a week or two. Then the spark dies out and he’s back to normal.”
“Ah, got it,” I said.
“Family isn’t so perfect, huh?” Tyler asked.
“No comment.”
That got Tyler to laugh.
It was a short lived laugh though.
I saw the way Tyler’s face dropped so I turned.
There were two people in my kitchen I didn’t know.
Two men in really nice suits.
One taller than the other.
One with dark blond hair. One with brown hair.
The one with brown hair had a little scruff on his face.
The one with dark blond hair had a square, clean-cut jaw.
I could tell they were brothers by their noses and eyes.
“Silas,” the brown haired one said to me.
“You are?” I asked.
“Eric,” he said. “This is my brother, Giles.”
“Beautiful place here,” Giles said.
“Silas,” Tyler said. “This is Eric and Giles Lovor.”
My lip started to curl. “Lovor.”
“This is a really nice place,” Giles said.
“Look, I already had to deal with your… whoever…”
“Our father is John,” Eric said. “You also met our Uncle Jefferson and Uncle Judd.”
“Are you here to apologize for the way they acted?” I asked.
“Not so much,” Giles said. “We’re here to kind of remind you of why they were here.”
“Let me walk you two out,” I said.
I looked at Tyler and nodded.
Tyler and me, side by side were a force to be reckoned with.
As we stepped toward the two brothers, they slowly backed up.
They had size of their own. They were suit strong though. That was different than being strong from working construction like Tyler. Or surviving a life on the road like me.
Once we were all out on the front porch, I felt a little better.
“Listen to me carefully,” I said. “There is no reason for you to be here. Everything is taken care of. We all know that. Tyler would never do shitty work. I would never allow it. If you don’t believe me, you can ask him about the time we fought each other.”
“It’s true,” Tyler said. “Bloody noses, black eyes and everything.”
“So, again, it’s time for you to leave,” I said. “And your entire