Page 121 of Bound By Her

“Look, I’m not very good at this,” Bryson said, glancing down at the rubber floor.

Kaydon dropped the weights and turned toward him. He was wearing black jersey shorts and no top, sweat pooling on his chest.

Kaydon said, “Take it up with Seth. He’s the one you owe an apology to.”

“I think your right eye would disagree,” Bryson said, pointing to the bluish tinge.

“Seth’s allowed to be mad. I just have to deal with it.”

“Who said that?” Bryson snapped.

Kaydon pointed to the snowflake with the snake on the right side of his neck, next to the lettersBJR.

Owe.

It meant he owed Bryson. It wasn’t a favor that could be paid back. It was a lifetime debt.

Bryson swallowed. He remembered the day Kaydon got that tattoo.

“Fuck that. You are more to me than that, and you know it.”

Kaydon picked up the weights again.

“Do you know how confusing it is to be thankful my brother died?” Bryson asked into the room full of mirrors that forced him to take a hard look at himself.

Kaydon stopped mid rep.

“The thing is, I can’t imagine Luca alive. Not because I don’t want him to be, but because I cannot imagine my life without you.”

“I don’t know what I’m doing. I was never meant to lead this family,” Bryson said, a pain welling up in hischest. “I think it’s pretty clear I’m not cut out for this shit.”

“I think that’s the first real thing you’ve said in years,” Kaydon said, staring in the mirror.

Bryson rubbed his face. “Gee, thanks.”

Kaydon said, “I mean it. You’re always making jokes and cutting loose. You don’t take anything seriously. And I get it. Your dad is…a piece of work. But if you want people to take you seriously, you have to take yourself seriously.”

Bryson listened as Kaydon went on, “I wish for once when you looked in the mirror, you could see what I see.”

Bryson looked at his reflection.

The Nine and their heirs were required to wear a family ring.

One.

Bryson had eight. Not by accident. It was clear he wanted to be seen.

He was a joke.

Bryson looked down at his feet. When he looked back up, Kaydon was right behind him.

Kaydon pulled Bryson into him. A firm, steady presence. His broad chest pressing against Bryson’s back, and Bryson let himself lean into it.

Their bodies fit together like they were meant to.

Like they had always been meant to.

“You are better than your father. Don’t you see it?” Kaydon said.

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