Subtle Endearment

23. A Moment in Time

Ian

"What do you think you're doing here, Ian?" Landon asks from the inside of his house. The door remains cracked as Landon leans on the frame. He's dressed in black slacks and a gray button down. "We need to talk," I tell him. Landon leaves the door open and walks to the comfy couch in the middle of the living room. His apartment is small and comfy, when we got our first cut I'd imagined that he'd buy a luxurious home similar to mine. I guess it makes sense since he'd ran away from such a life. The home he has is the kind you raise children in, the kind that grows old with the owner and sees generations pass. It's fitting of Landon.

"You can't go," I tell Landon wasting no time. "Why not? Madam Melanie was right, what would I do if I was out of Stubborn Elites," Landon says shrugging as if it was as simple as choosing between burgers and pizza. "Don't worry, when I'm boss I'll keep them away from you and Kira. I don't want an unskilled person like you in the agency anyways," he remarks before turning away. "Landon-" I begin. "When I ran away from my parents I didn't think that it was possible to sink this low. I thought that being a Tucker was the most suffocating thing there was but I was wrong," he chuckles.

"Did I ever tell you about how they sent a man to kill me? I guess a month of roaming the streets of New York was damaging their reputation too much. They never cared if I was dead or alive, as long as I was out of sight they couldn't care less how I was." Landon continues shifting in his seat. "It was clear to me even when I was living there. Even though the Tucker's are the poster family on the outside they would beat and harass me. I had an older brother and sister, they were perfect. They listened to our parents every word no matter how dangerous," Landon swallows as he recalls the family he'd left behind.

"I was the only one who questioned them, I was the only one who couldn't turn a blind eye to the things they did. So when I turned sixteen I started to see just how corrupt they were. I remember the look on my mom's face when I told her that I'd seen the son of one of their business partners walk into my sister's room. She dismissed it and said I was crazy for assuming something like that but I'd seen her. I waited for him to leave and I saw her tears. I saw the way she wiped her eyes and acted like nothing happened. It wasn't only her, I'd seen both men and women young and old go into my brother's room too and I'd always assumed I was mistaken since when I confronted him he'd adamantly deny it," he says sniffling with his back to me still.

"The night my parents signed a contract with their top supplier, there was a party held in the ball room of the house. My mom had been really pushy about me being obedient that day. She sent me to my room and just minutes later a man managed to get to the third floor of the house. It's no coincidence that he managed to get past security and knew exactly where my room was," Landon says stumbling over his words. I've never seen him so distraught.

"He pulled my hair and tried to strip me, it was only by luck that I got away. When I ran to tell my parents they scolded me for ruining their night and told me to apologize. I was appalled by what they'd said and didn't even have the chance to respond. They knew. At that moment I ran away and never looked back. Several times I came across men claiming to be sent by The Tucker's to kill me and it wasn't't until I met Madam Melanie that I finally felt safe again. With the help of Stubborn Elites I was able to kill every person that laid a hand on my siblings and I and I can't say I regret it. It's only out of loyalty to my siblings that I spared our parents," Landon admits.

"Listen Ian, Stubborn Elites is by no means good but it's an upgrade from what I had. If it means taking the head spot to secure our futures then I'll gladly do it," Landon says reassuring me. Landon turns back to face me and I can see that his eyes are red from crying. His words mean one thing but deep down I know that he doesn't want this. There's no amount of revenge that can eliminate the trauma he'd experienced.

"Landon, are you okay," I ask. Even though we've known each other for six years I'd never once asked him about his past, it was always the off limits area. Even when I'd opened up to him about my own past, though not nearly as traumatic he'd never hesitated to change the subject afterwards. I see why now.

"I'm fine," he says forcing a smile. Before I know it I've pulled him in my embrace. His body is tense as I hug him and I hold him there until he finally loosens up transitioning his anger into his voice as he screams through tears.

We've both been through a lot but to leave Landon in Stubborn Elites would be betrayal. Even though he won't admit it what he's trying to do is a sacrifice that neither of us wants. Landon is like a brother to me and where I go my family goes regardless of how. Running away won't work and neither will waiting anymore so there's only one way to go. I have to attack head-on.