The Brightest Star

Chapter 1

Wearing a cap and gown, I accept my diploma and smile for the cameras. My eyes scan over every seat in the audience, unable to locate my brother. There's a lump in my throat for the rest of the ceremony and once we toss our caps, I'm out of my seat and looking at the crowds.

I knew my parents weren't going to come. They had given me a half dozen reasons why they couldn't make it. The plane tickets were expensive; who would watch the house; it's going to be too hot for them. I didn't really care, because Anthony promised he'd be here. He fucking promised me.

I move past the happy families, out of the arena, to the parking lot. I pull my phone out as I walk and dial my brother's number. The phone rings and rings until eventually cutting to his voicemail message. My brows furrow as I unlock my car and slide inside.

The engine purrs to life and I try my brother again. Again, there's no answer. Maybe he lost his phone or his alarm didn't go off. Maybe his charger broke and his phone died and he's had no way to let me know. That's probably what happened.

Tony is remarkably responsible. He's only 24 but you'd never guess that from talking to him. He found his place in the world in crypto-finance and has had a well paying job since he graduated college. He did the things you're supposed to do; go to school, get a job, get an apartment. He's the reason we were able to get out of our hometown in the first place.

We've always been close, even when we were kids. He's only two years older than me and growing up the way we did, it makes sense that we're close. I used to hang out with him and his friends all the time but he never let me feel like I was bothering them. When he makes a promise to me, he keeps it. Which is why I'm pulling my car to a halt outside his apartment building.

I shrug off the stiff graduation attire and climb out of the car. I walk right into the building and jog up the stairs to his apartment. I knock on the door and wait.

"Tony," I call out as I knock, "open up."

When there's no movement on the other side, I take out my phone and call him again. I can hear his phone ringing inside so I take out the spare key I have and let myself in.

My eyes go wide and my stomach drops. A shrill scream escapes my lips and my hands come up to cover my mouth. I run across the apartment to the living room and drop to my knees.

"Tony!" I exclaim, tears clouding my vision.

Crimson is splattered across the walls and furniture. My brother lies beside the coffee table. Blood has soaked through his shirt to pool on the ground around him. I shake his shoulders, hard. His eyes are open but they are glazed over with loss of life.

My hand comes to cup his cheek as tears spill down my face. This wasn't supposed to happen. Not here. Not after all this time.

"No," I choke out, tears freely falling down my cheeks, "why now?"

I thought we got away. I really thought we escaped them. But when my hazy eyes look up, there is a warning written in blood.

You know who we are. You know what you've done. 1 / 3

A choking sob leaves my throat and I hug my brother's lifeless body. My mind is a racing mess as I struggle to breathe normally. It feels like the air has been knocked out of my entire body.

I pull back with tears still falling down my face and close his eyes. I sniffle and wipe the tears with the back of my hands before reaching into his pocket and pulling out his wallet.

I take out the business card for a club. He always told me that if something happened to him, to go to this club, ask for the boss, and show them my necklace. He said they would protect me, no matter what. He's never steered me down the wrong path before, so I glance at my brother one more time before leaving.