Beyond The Broken Glass3: Finally Mended [complete]

17.) Where To Begin

"So—do you like it?" Taylor asked as she led the way to an open layout home. It was all so beautiful that I was still trying to decide if I was dreaming or not.

"I love it." I finally laughed as I placed Kyson down. He looked every which way as he gripped my shirt tightly. My poor baby was all discombobulated as he tried to take in his new surroundings. "This is our new house Ky."

"Pool!" Mimi shouted as she pointed to the French glass doors. "Swim mommy! Swim!"

"Later." I smiled as she continued to clap and jump.

"Water baby huh?"

"The closest she's been to a pool is a bathtub." I chuckled as I lifted him back onto my hip, ignoring the pain that was now present inside me. I carried him over to the couch and sat him down. He leaned back into the plush cushion as his hands vigorously rubbed his tired eyes. He did glance around before he yawned and laid himself down.

"Someone's very tired." Drew laughed. "Bri, while the little ones get acquainted with the house I would like to speak with you in the office."

"Office?"

"Yes. It's right this way. Taylor will look after the little ones."

"I'll show them their rooms. They're gonna love them."

I was a little reluctant because I didn't know them very well, but I had to start somewhere, letting people back in after all I had been through has proven difficult. I don't trust anyone near me especially when it came to my kids.

He open yet another large set of doors and behind them was a beautiful dark wood office with an even better view. He motioned for me to sit on the couch. As he sat next to me I tried to make myself smaller. While I waited for him to talk he poured himself a glass of whatever was in that bottle. All I know was it was dark liquor and that gets you lit quicker.

"So, I have no plans of keeping you in the dark. Because in reality, you need to be prepared for anything."

"If only Brandon thought the same." I blurted once again. Drew chuckled as he took a sip from his glass. I stared at his hands to see he had tattoos all across his knuckles and giant gold rings. He was dressed in a vibrant burgundy-colored suit with black dress shoes. His hair was jet black and greasy and styled in a side part.

"Brandon has been a lone wolf for most of his life. All he knows is to inform himself and no one else. That's how he survived all this time under his uncle."

"It's been two and half years. You would think he wouldn't see me as his enemy."

"He doesn't. Not with the way he spoke of you." He said as he took another sip. He reached to unbutton his jacket and that almost made me flinch. The last person that did that pulled a gun on me and tried to kill me. "He really does love you. So much so that he thinks he's protecting you by keeping you in the dark."

"What's his obsession with Miami?" I asked him before he could go into a philosophical discussion like Ralph or Rosa always did whenever I tried to probe them for information.

"Darius has planned to set up his life there—"

"So he's following after his late father?"

"Not so much as following after him. It's more so of him claiming what's his."

"And what would that be?"

"Darius had plans to quit the game. Rejoin his family and have his own business ventures in Miami."

"What happened?"

"Death. Darius was killed before he could get back to his kids."

As I processed every word that Drew spoke my heart dropped down further into my lower body. My mind was already spinning me wicked tales about our end game but this was the icing on the cake. My brain swirled round and round at the thought of that being our fate.

I can't raise two kids on my own. I just couldn't. Brandon was always there to pick up the slack whenever my emotions overwhelmed me. He was the muscle and the brain. I just can't see myself doing this without him.

"Brandon is strong. And he's smart too. Don't let his father's end be etched into your brain."

"Tell me Drew—what is the difference? What is the difference between these stories? Because right now they're aligning." I said as the tears began to fall.

"I will never let anyone hurt my brother nor stop him from getting what's rightfully his."

"I can't lose him."

"And you won't."

"Why couldn't he just come here with us and live in this house?"

"His pride would never allow him to just ignore Darius's legacy. He wants to pick up his father's torch."

"He could have just started a business here."

"It's not that simple." He shook his head as he reached to wipe away my tears. Frozen in place as his thumb grazed my cheek. He was gentle though, it did feel rather weird though. To have his hand so close to me. As of late, no man has been this close other than Brandon.

"While you are looking at it from a rather logical point, you're not looking at it from his point. His father was stolen from him and all he has left to remember and honor him by is by picking up his pieces and mending them."

"What business is there?"

"Before Darius met his end he acquired a strip of land in the commercial area of Miami. It lines the waterways and that is very good business."

"What is on the strip though?"

"He can allow whatever businesses he see fit there. He can rent the buildings to other businesses or he can start up his own."

"Like?"

"Whatever he chooses Brielle. The possibilities are endless."

Whatever he wanted huh? Brandon never really talked about his dreams with me. Not in debt anyway. Most of our conversations consisted of survival talk. I barely knew what Brandon was like outside of his survival self. In fact, it made me sad because it felt like I didn't really know him anymore.

"This is for you." He said pulling a phone from his pocket. "Brandon's number is saved in there. Along with myself and Taylor's."

I took the phone and glanced at it. I haven't had one of these in a while. It felt heavy as I handled it with one hand.

"Will you be alright?"

"I don't know."

"Then I won't be too far away." He nodded as he stood to his feet.

"Hey, Drew."

"Yes?"

"Thank you. For everything."

"No need to thank me. We're family." He smiled as he left me in the office by myself to ponder on all he's told me. It really wasn't much but it was a start. Out in the living room Ky and Mimi played with model cars while Taylor braided Mimi's hair.

"Your children are so wonderful." She laughed as they cooperatively played together.

"Are they?" I chuckled as I came to join them. He came and climbed on my lap.

"I got my own room. Did you know that mommy?"

"You do Huh?"

"Uh Huh!" He nodded excitedly. "It's this big!" He held his arms as far apart as he could. "And it got dinosaurs and toys and stuff and a huge tv!" 

"Oh wow! That sounds nice."

"Mimi got a big room too. Hers is all pink and girly and stuff!"

"Brandon told us a little bit about them and we were able to make it cozy for them." Taylor smiled as she watched Kyson beam from ear to ear. "I hope you don't mind."

"No. Not at all." I shook my head. "Thank you! It really means a lot to us that we finally have somewhere to belong and people we can actually trust."

"If you need anything and we mean anything. You can count on us." Taylor said.

I don't know where we'll go from here. But this is a good place to start.