Obedience Lessons

Chapter Seventeen

Hey World! Check out the photo I've attached. It's David Santos for those of you who don't know because you haven't watched "Something Like Summer" - which is also an amazing book.

Anyway, he's my pick for Liam and he's fucking hot, so no haters.

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Dylan's POV

In my dreams I've killed my brother a thousand times.

I'll never forget the morning I woke to him, hanging from the ceiling. His suicide note was the cuts to his skin, which bled out beneath him. I hadn't screamed. My mind was blank and a white noise sang in my ears. It was easier when I lost sight of my brother's body, with my vision giving way to a wash of colours.

I heard that they'd found me hunched over his body, trying to warm him with blankets as if I couldn't understand that there was no bringing him back. My mother had watched with dead eyes as they bagged the body while my voice had finally awakened. I lost my mind screaming that day. Some days, I can still see the blood under my nails, and smell the sharp metallic scent on my arms and in my hair. I don't think it will ever wash out. I'd killed him after all.

*Two years ago*

Liam's laugh was like a bell. It thrilled now, filtering through the silence like sunshine in the rainforest and bringing life to the jeep. No one had even cracked a joke, when I turned to look at him from my half-asleep daze he was looking out the window up at the sky at a flock of fiery red birds.

"Why didn't I do this before?" He asked, with a small frown. "I should've seen this part of the operations a long time ago." He'd pestered for this trip to Brazil for the longest while. Ever since I got to come the previous year. He was sick with the flu then and couldn't make it.

My dad had already begun shaking his head, "You have no idea what the field is like here in South America. And you don't need to, we have people for everything else except the big chair in your office. Only you can fill that role."

"What about Dylan?" Liam nodded towards me.

"Me? I'm squashed cabbage over here, don't bring me into it. I didn't even wanna come on this stupid trip." I had been grumpy for the entire flight in, and planned to remain so in their presence until I was returned to my life on US soil.

My father didn't answer, but I think we both knew the answer to that. No fucking queer would inherit shit from me. His words always echoed back to me whenever I needed a pick-me-up. Nothing like an antagonistic father to fuel my ambition. I'd make it, and I'd take pleasure in rubbing his big fat nose in the shit on my heels too.

We always shared a room when we were out. My dad thought Liam could keep an eye on me, to keep me out of trouble. Right. Trouble was what I was full of, I didn't need to jump into it.

I got dressed quickly when I thought Liam was asleep. He was a great guy but the goody-two-shoes needed to learn to break a few rules. Seriously, if he farted I was sure butterflies would come out and do synchronized flight for his entertainment.

I dragged on my high-top sneakers and gave myself a quick once over in the mirror.

"It's almost midnight. You're not leaving this room." A groggy voice came from the other bed in the room. I almost groaned aloud in frustration. Should've waited a little longer. This is what I got for being too fucking impatient.
"I'd like to see you make me stay."