Chapter 14: Your brother

"What are we waiting for?! Let's go kill him! He can't get away this! He--"

"I'm not telling you who it is." He deadpans.

"What?" My voice comes out as a venomous whisper as I stare daggers at his head.

He sighs before pulling the cigarette from his lips. "I don't see the point, he only had a problem with your dad. Why get involved? What's done is done."

Clenching my fists, my vision is tainted with blood. How can he be so cruel! This is his brother we're talking about! If it were him, dad would've already had the head of his killer. Dad loved him, cherished him, he is family. But of course, family means nothing to John.

"He was your brother, he loved you." My voice is filled with anger and venom but it doesn't seem to bother him.

He let's out a snort before rising to his feet and approaching me with a dark look in his eyes. I'm not going to lie, uncle John is a pretty intimidating guy. His muscles weren't hidden under his stylish black suit, his six foot three inches height made him look even scarier.

But if dad was to stand beside uncle John, trust me, you would be more afraid of my dad. Something about my dad radiated power and authority. His aura, his presence, his eyes demanded fear and respect.

The scariest part is he didn't even have to try. I never felt intimidated by him, he was my dad. If anything, I felt safe, I loved him. He always taught me to stand tall with my head held high no matter the situation.

And that's exactly what I'm doing now.

Uncle John's eyes are dark as he looks me in the eyes. His voice is deathly deep as he says: "Love? A brother that owns the power I've always craved since I was a child loved me? A brother that had the eyes and hearts of our parents and everyone I ever loved loves me? A brother that took everything I ever wanted loves me? A brother that stole the love of my life?!"

I pinch my eyes shut at his last statement. It's no secret that my mom was indeed uncle John's lover. She was his girlfriend at first but without warning she fell for my dad and dad fell for her.

But dad never intended on taking her, he respected uncle John and kept his distance from her. But the day uncle John learnt of their feelings for each other, he became furious. He hit my mom.

That was his only and greatest mistake.

It led to a bloody fight between uncle John and dad. Thankfully, my grandparents stopped them before they killed each other. They told uncle John they were so disappointed him.

So the story goes.

I don't know why, but I know that broke him.

Dad took away the love of those he loved. Because of that, uncle John became distant. Dad tried to reconcile with him, but little did he know there was nothing left to reconcile with.

That's why my siblings and I hate coming here. We're the constant reminder of what he could've had. Of what he always wanted.

Uncle John scoffs at my silence and heads back to his desk, but I finally gain the voice to speak. "But he was still your brother."

"Unfortunately." Is his only reply.

"Please, I have to avenge him, He was my dad. I'm not asking for your help, I just need the name of who's behind this. I--" I stop myself when I realize I'm about to cry.

No, I refuse to look weak in front of him. Swallowing the lump in my throat, uncle John faces me.

"Would you have done the same if it were me?" His words shock me to say the least. My eyes meet his which hold so many emotions.

Hope.

Doubt.

Sadness.

Vulnerability.

Fatigue.

My heart shatters for the man before me. The story of uncle John is one of the fees things that has made me cry in this life. I remember asking mom why Uncle John is always bitter, she told me everything. From the first day they met, to the last Time he said he loved her.

The day I was born.

Uncle John still loved her after all the pain he went through, after she married my dad. Does he still love her? That is the question.

"As bitter as you may be at times, you are still family." An emotion flashes within his eyes but he averts my gaze. "And I still love you." He stiffens but still doesn't look at me.

"What did you say?"

"You may not believe it, but I love you uncle John." He remains silent. "If not for dad, then do it for the woman you once loved." I leave the room without another word, hoping my words can change his mind.