Seduction In Ink

Chapter 34

Brothers United

The air outside their apartment hung heavy, mirroring the tension that thickened within. Tyler's heart raced as he fought for the right words. With each passing second, the weight of the moment grew heavier. He knew what was coming—something that would change everything between him and Zek.

As they finished eating, excitement subtly shifted to unease. Isabela observed the brothers' wordless encounter and felt something stirring but not sure what. A knot in her gut foreshadowed a major surprise.

Zek sat back, appearing calm. His demeanor, however, hid a storm brewing inside. He couldn't shake the feeling that whatever Tyler was about to say would be significant—life-altering.

Tyler hesitated, bracing himself. "Zek, there's something I need to share with you," he began, his voice measured but tinged with uncertainty.

Isabela's worry deepened as she caught the tension. "Tyler, what's wrong? You look like something's been weighing on you."

Zek remained impassive, though a flicker of anticipation glinted in his eyes. "Go on, Ty. We're listening."

Taking a deep breath, Tyler jumped right in. "I've been digging around... looking into things about our parents." His words lingered in the air, casting a shadow over the room.

Zek's face tightened. "Our parents?" he repeated, his tone cautious. "What about them?"

Tyler pondered. "I discovered some... things the police didn't tell us." He placed the envelope on the table between them, the weight of it landing with more than just paper inside.

Zek's confusion deepened. "Are you saying it wasn't an accident?" His voice quivered slightly as anger began to churn beneath his confusion.

Instead of answering, Tyler gestured to the envelope. Zek wasted no time. He tore it open and sifted through the contents—photos, reports, witness statements, all tethered to the crash that had claimed their parents' lives. As he examined each piece of evidence, his disbelief grew. The photos showed their parents' car mangled beyond recognition, but more disturbingly, inconsistencies screamed from the investigation reports. Something didn't add up.

Among the documents were witness accounts—people who had seen strange activity before the crash: a suspicious figure near the car, odd tampering with the engine, and a distinct smell, like fuel lines that had been deliberately tampered with. Zek's hands trembled as the reality sank in.

His emotions surged, anger rising to the surface. "F*ck!" The curse exploded from him as his fist slammed into the table, making Isabela jump.

"Zek, calm down..." Tyler stepped forward cautiously.

"When did you find this out?" Zek glared at his brother with a furious voice.

Tyler glanced at Isabela, seeking reassurance before answering. "I didn't set out to investigate our parents' deaths, Zek," he said, voice quieter now.

Before he could continue, Zek lunged toward him, grabbing Tyler by the neck. Isabela gasped as Zek shoved Tyler into the living room and onto the couch.

"Zek! Stop! You're hurting him!" Isabela's voice cut through the chaos, and she gently pried Zek's hand away from Tyler's neck. "If you want to get to the truth, violence won't solve anything."

Zek let go, eyes still burning with fury. He retreated to the opposite sofa, brooding in silence. Isabela rushed to Tyler's side, concern etched on her face.

"Are you okay?" she asked softly, touching his arm.

"I'm fine," Tyler tried to grin while rubbing his neck. He gathered the documents and laid them out on the coffee table, the weight of what he'd uncovered pressing down on them all.

"I knew this would be hard," Tyler began, his voice steadying. "That's why I hesitated to tell you. I didn't believe it, but the proof is here."

Zek sat still, his head lowered as Tyler continued. "I didn't plan on finding this. I was investigating something else when the investigator found this information. I'm as shocked as you are."

Isabela, sensing the gravity of the situation, spoke up. "Maybe it's time to find the truth once and for all."

Tyler nodded, turning back to Zek. "I get why you didn't want to dig into this back then. Our youth led us to trust the wrong people," he said, voice heavy with emotion. "But now, I need your help. We need to find justice for Mom and Dad."

He rose, pacing slightly before looking back at his brother. Zek remained motionless, eyes fixated on the evidence, wrestling with the truth.

For a long moment, there was silence. Then, slowly, Zek stood. His fists clenched and unclenched, emotions swirling inside him. Memories of their parents—of love, warmth, and loss—flooded his mind. But with those memories came an overwhelming need for justice.

With a deep breath, Zek met Tyler's gaze, determination hardening his features. "Count me in," he said, his voice firm, resolute. "We'll get to the bottom of this. Together."

Tyler blinked, a mix of relief and gratitude washing over him. He grasped Zek's hand tightly. "Thank you."

Isabela smiled softly, tears brimming in her eyes. She took their hands in hers, a symbol of their newfound unity. "We'll make sure your parents get the justice they deserve."

At that moment, a sense of determination filled the room. The road ahead would be long and filled with obstacles, but together, they were ready to face whatever came their way. United as a family, they would uncover the truth and bring peace to the ghosts of their past.