It's Above Me Now.

7: A Fresh Start

Unexplainable feels filled me as I hopped out the shower and gazed at myself in the mirror. Phil was dead, murdered by my father. He betrayed me, true, but did he really deserve to die? I let it happen and did nothing to prevent it. Should I have jumped in front of the bullet? Taken a further stance? Only God knows what would have transpired if I made those questions into a reality.

Eyeing the fancy ass dripping faucet gave me a reason to smile. When Dylan and I were much younger, we made a game out of counting the drops of water dripping from a tap. I would always let Dylan win, and he'd get to decide what activity we did that day. Sounds silly, but it was our entertainment back then.

I squeezed the tap tighter to stop the excess water. Where the fuck was Dylan anyways? I hadn't seen him since I got back to the mansion. He wasn't answering my calls or texts, and that was seriously messing with me. Although he was two years older than I was, I still made it my business to take care of him. He could be a little absentminded at times.

There was a light tap on the bathroom door and Veronica entered. She was looking quite unsettled, and I silently prayed that she wasn't coming in here to tell me anything disturbing. Tightening my towel around my waist, I leaned back on the sink and prepared myself for whatever was about to come out of her mouth.

"Your father and I need to know that you're going to be okay with everything that happened." Veronica started, sitting down on a small stool and folding her arms. "We understand that Phillip was a big part of your upbringing, but when someone tries to use you as a pawn for their own advances, we have to take these mishaps very seriously."

"What was Phillip's advances?" I questioned. "Why aren't you and Ruben lathering me down with an explanation right now?"

Veronica rolled her eyes like she was growing tired of the conversation already. She shifted in her seat and fiddled with her earrings. What the hell was she hiding?

"An explanation for what? Your father and Phillip always had a very competitive, dysfunctional relationship. Like brothers do. I guess Phillip thought he would have even the score if he'd killed you." Veronica answered.

"But why would he want to kill me?" I pleaded. "Obviously there's something going on between Karin and Ruben, but how does Phil fit into the equation? I've known Phil for a long time. He wouldn't voluntarily do this."

"A man points a gun to your head, threatening to end your life and you've got the nerve to stand here and defend him?!" Veronica snarled. "Is it Stockholm's syndrome? Is that it? Do we need to call the family doctor? Chance, I understand that today's events have been a bit traumatizing but that does not give you the right to dig your nose in the past and connect shambled dots. You've been given a new life, literally. You're rich now, your parents are well respected and recognized. We've created this life for you and ourselves. Do us a favor and add to our strong, powerful legacy. Don't weaken it with foolishness from the past. Phillip is gone, get over it."

I let her response settle and thought a bit. Ruben and Veronica was scared shit about what I could possibly find out if I began digging. It was all over my mother's face. I had to find out, and I had to do it quietly. Just as I was about to open my mouth to formulate another question, Veronica bounced up with a renewed energy and clapped her hands happily.

"Ruhan and Vashawn are outside waiting." Veronica announced. "They're the top stylists in the country. Seeing that you are a Moss man, you need to dress the part. Your father is soaked in expensive fabrics, so should you. What do you think of cashmere? I need to show you Dolce & Gabbana's new collection. That might spark your interest."

When my mother pushed me out to my vast bedroom, I made a promise to myself to find out what the real issue was between my father, uncle and Karin. The fact that Veronica was trying to sway me from doing so was certainly tickling my senses.