Free TYLER (Blake Security Book 2) by Celina McKane Page B

can’t go looking like that.”
    I looked down at myself again. I remembered Dad throwing me out. I couldn’t go by there and change. I picked up the phone at the bedside and dialed in Sam’s number. When Sam answered, I said, “Man, I need a huge favor.”
    *****
                  I found out from Sam that Brandon was being buried that afternoon as well, two hours after Mom. The parish was so small that they were being eulogized and buried both in the same place. By the time Sam brought me some decent, clean clothes and I showered and got back to town, I was too late for Mom’s church services. I got to the graveyard as the pastor was speaking. There were a lot of people there, and I stood in the back where I wouldn’t have to endure their stares, or worse yet, my father’s rage again. I knew that most of those people would be attending Brandon’s burial as well. His church services should be over soon, and they would bring his body out. I thought about Ariana. What must she be going through? What must she think of me? It suddenly dawned on me that I was in the hospital for three days and she never came. Her brother was dead and that was horrible…but wouldn’t she have come to see me if she knew that I was hurt? Jesus…what if she never wanted to see me again?
                  As Mom’s services came to an end and people lined up to file past the coffin and wish Dad well, Brandon’s family arrived for his burial. I didn’t see any of them at first. My eyes and mind were focused on the box they were going to seal my mother into the ground in. I just felt something on my arm all of a sudden, and I turned around. It was Ariana. I felt relief, until I saw the fire in her eyes.
                  “What happened, Tyler? Why was Brandon driving your car? Why was he drinking and driving? He never did that. Zoe said when she left him at Sam’s, he was completely sober.”
                  My head was still fuzzy about the details. I wasn’t sure where to start. I tried by saying, “My mother died…”
                  Ariana’s face softened. “I know. I’m so sorry for your loss. But Tyler, my family is devastated, and we need answers.”
                  “We don’t need any answers! Right here is your answer!” Ariana’s mother had arrived. “I told Brandon—and I told you too, Ariana—he’s bad. I told you both he would get you into trouble. I had no idea he’d kill your brother, my only son!”
                  I was looking at the two women, feeling like I was in a state of shock. Ariana’s eyes were accusing, and her mother’s were full of venom. Meanwhile, my own mother lay dead four feet away. Nothing could be worse than this.
                  “Mrs. Douglas…I’m so sorry about Brandon.”
                  She gritted her teeth and reached out like she was going to slap me. Ariana put her hand on her mother’s arm and stopped her. “I hate you. You should have died and not my son!” she spat out. I looked at Ariana again and wondered if she felt the same. She was still looking at me, but I couldn’t read her thoughts. I looked over towards my mother’s grave again, this time locking eyes with Dad. His eyes told me exactly what he was thinking. I’d never been in a place before where so many people despised me.
                  “I’m sorry,” I said, as I backed away. I walked as quickly as I could across the grass of the cemetery. I could hear Ariana and Dad yelling my name. There was nothing more they could say to me that I wasn’t saying to myself. I’d single-handedly destroyed two families in the space of three days. I had to get out of there and go where I wasn’t able to hurt anyone I loved ever again.
     

CHAPTER ELEVEN
    SEVENTEEN YEARS LATER
    TYLER
     
    Mortar fire was so common that my teammates and I hardly even noticed it anymore…but that morning it was