Retaliation #Wattys2015

Recovery and Redemption

Lexi POV:

I'm worried. My husband has been so detached lately. I asked Johan to speak with him but I don't know what it will accomplish. Has Ethan's vengeance gotten someone hurt or killed? Did something happen to Brock or Mei? He won't talk to me! He just shakes his head or nods or responds in few word sentences. I can't get too stressed or worried, lest it harm the baby. I feel a gentle hand rub my belly and I see Sue standing next to me, with a small smile on her face.

"He's going to be alright." she whispered. "My boy is a strong man and he will heal. He needs time to let his head readjust to things."

I smiled at her. I love how much she adores Ethan and I love how fast Ethan got attached to her. Their relationship is the way I always imagined a mother-son to get along. I wish I had that sort of relationship with my parents.

Unable to hide my curiosity, I quietly walked up the stairs and heard talking coming from my room. I stood by the door and heard Ethan's elongated American accent and Johan's harsh clipped tones speaking about the Skyfort. I stood and I heard Ethan talk about how Jordan had made contact with him and helped him find the fort. HE then mentioned Peter and Dad being in the building before I heard about Peter bludgeoning my father to death. Then he talked about how he and Peter had a vicious fight before he threw Peter into the fireplace and watched as my brother burned to death in front of him.

"How do I tell Lexi I killed her brother? I know she hated him and he wanted to kill her but I know in someway she cares about him! I never meant to kill anyone! I wanted them to lose everything not be battered and burned corpses! I'm alive, they're dead! So why do I hear them in my waking moments?! I hear Peter scream as I throw him in the fireplace and as flame engulfs him. I see Kevin getting his skull bashed in whenever I close my eyes! Why won't this end?! PLEASE! HELP ME UNDERSTAND THIS!" he cried out.

My heart broke at hearing this. My husbands guilt was eating him alive. I have to do something or else it will consume him entirely! Johan began speaking and his words came out bristling with pain." I was your age when I killed for the first time. It was a tax auditor who was convinced I was hold out on the government. He was right of course but I didn't have the reputation that I I do now. I wanted him to back off. To give up his search and leave me alone. I only ment to scare him not kill him but when he died...it opened a floodgate. I stopped appreciating the value of life. Death was my sustenance. Susan was pregnant with our daughter and all I could think of was who to kill to intimidate the rest into backing off. I lost it all because of that hunger. I had millions of dollars at my disposal and any woman I could have wanted. But I lost the things that made me a man. My daughter died. My soulmate was to afraid to be with me. My compassion and mercy decayed and left me as a broken shell of what I could have been. "

I heard him take a breath. "The difference between us now though is that I had a choice...you didn't. Peter and you would have never left the other alone. Peter threatened what you love and you were a rival he wasn't going to suffer. One of you was going to die. It was either you or him."

I heard a clapping sound and saw that he had put his hand on Ethan's hot and toned back...urgh! Damn pregnancy hormones!

"Don't make my mistakes son. Instead of pushing away your loved ones...bring them closer. The three of them are going to need you before long. My grandson is getting bigger, your wife is 3 months shy of giving me a second grandson who Susan and I are elated for. Use Peter's death as a reminder that if he lived...all you cherish would have died before you. Please my boy. Don't become like me. Remember the one''s that love you and what could have happened if Peter had won that day."