Earl POV

I sat in front of Kane with my desk separating us. I tried to keep my calm and I hoped my anger didn't show on my face. I looked at Marc and waited for him to leave the room as he gave me a nod.

As soon as he left, I asked, "How did you get here?"

"By car," he honestly answered and for the first time in a long time, I really wanted to punch this poker face of his.

"Yes, by car," I repeated with my teeth clenched. "But how in the hell did you find this place?"

It wasn't possible or a simple task as searching on Google Maps. My father made sure of that. Unless you know this place it was nearly impossible to get here.

"I thought I proved my skills to you already," he started making me look at him intently, so he would continue to talk, but he didn't.

"You didn't answer my question, Kane," I sighed as I crossed my arms.

"I followed Ashley," he finally answered making me sigh even harder. It was true that Ashley came to see me yesterday about the Russian family, but for her to not notice... I will make sure to drill that into her mind later.

"So, why are you here?" I asked as he raised an eyebrow as if I should already know the answer. Sorry, if I don't! But to not make a fool of myself, I didn't say anything about that. "Since you're here, do something proactive."

I thought that he would have left the room after I said that, but he just pushed my chair, so he could stand in front of me. I looked up glaring at him, daring him to do something. I will show him some willpower. We had a glaring contest and that man didn't need to blink which I had multiple times. But what caught my attention wasn't that, but a familiar sensation of déjà vu. It was as if I once had a glaring contest with those eyes before. Once I realized that I couldn't... I couldn't watch into those eyes anymore... So, I looked away feeling some unwanted tears coming. I blinked fast hoping it wouldn't fall.

Why?

Why!

Why I could see that person through his eyes?!

"Why are you crying?" he asked with what I thought was a hint of worry in his tone.

Now I was crying. I was such a baby. I used my thumb to wipe the tears away and sniffed a little. "None of your business."

"Is it about him?" he took out a picture and once a glanced at it, my breathing hitched.

"H-how?" I took it from him as I looked more closely at it. I gently touched the picture of his cheek with my finger. "How did you get this?"

"I did some researches about this man," he started making me flinch. "He was working for your father but was also his friend. He took care of Shelby and you when you were little."

"Stop..." I mumbled as I could feel more tears wetting my eyes.

"He was like your older brother and you treated him as such. One day, there was a war and of course, he went to fight, but never came out al-"

"Stop!" I shouted as I stood up and pushed him on the desk with my hand gripped at his shirt collar. I could feel myself crying, but I was so angry... I was furious against him. "How dare you dig into my past?!"

Even though I was the one attacking him, he didn't lose his composure. I didn't see any changes in his eyes, he was still as marble as before. Calm, detached and cold. Yet, here I was, a bundle of emotions that I couldn't even fucking control.

He didn't move, he just laid there with half his body on my desk observing me. I didn't know how long we stayed in this position, but I wasn't angry now, only sad. A hole that man left behind when he died.

"Tell me about it, what happened to him? Who was he?" his voice was so serious yet so soothing at the same time.

"W-why?" I weakly answered as I let go of him.

He sighed and I looked at him. I thought it was the first time I heard him sigh. Was I that annoying or helpless that even Kane would get tired of me?

"You asked me to get you stronger and I will, you only need to do as I say."

"I don't understand how it will help me," I whined as I let myself fall on the chair behind me as he sat off from my desk.

He took my face between his fingers and made me look up. "You can't throw a tantrum each time someone touches a nerve. You can't show any weakness to your enemies, even your allies," he explained as he let go of me, so I could nod. He had a point. He always had. How could he be this strong physically and mentally? "Now, tell me about Louis."

I wasn't even surprised anymore when he knew what his name was. Kane was the first person I ever told his story to. Since he died, I tried to forget him, so it would be more easy to live on without him. I knew it wasn't the right way to grieve, but I just couldn't accept Louis' death. He was more than my babysitter or friend. He was present my entire childhood. He was my brother and father at the same time. Louis, Shelby and I were inseparable. Now that I thought about it, his death may have been one of the main reason why I wanted to leave this place. Since there wasn't a room or a hallway in there that I hadn't made a memory with him.

I missed him so much...

。・°°・(＞_＜)・°°・。

It was hard and a heartbreaking moment to tell him everything, but I finally did it. He knew everything about Louis and I. He even went as far as taking me to his grave. Once in front of his tombstone, I didn't care that Kane was right beside me or that Mark could see me, I just fell to my knees and started crying. It was like reality punched me in the face. How many years passed? Would he forgive me for forgetting him? For not being present at his funerals?

When I had no more water in me to cry out, I just sat there with my forehead leaning on his tombstone.

"Sorry... I never wanted to forget you, but... I'm sorry..." I mumbled as I sniffed.

A long time later, I sat up and I was sure that my eyes were awfully puffy since they were itchy.

"Better?" Kane asked.

I nodded and started to walk back into the house, but I was I intercepted by Mark.

"Boss," he greeted after looking at Kane up and down.

"You're done for the day," I simply answered not having enough energy to even look at the man.

"My apologies, but my job is to protect you at all times," he answered without batting an eyelash.

"I have him," I pointed at Kane who was just behind me.

"But I-"

"Don't question me and just fucking do it!" I snapped my patience running thin.

"Y-yes Boss..." he answered before walking away.

I sighed and walked straight to my room avoiding anyone who wanted to talk to me. I only wanted to sleep. Plus, I didn't want anyone else to see how weak I really was.

Finally, in my room, I heard the click of the door meaning Kane must have closed it. I let myself fall face first on my bed and sighed again.

I started to doze off, but he asked something that caught my attention. "Will Louis forgive you?" would he? "Will he hate you?" he hated me? "Does he still consider you as his brother?"

My heart clenched at his questions. I felt so guilty, was it my fault that he died? If only I went with them, then maybe... Maybe Louis would still be alive. It wasn't sadness, but anger. I was so angry at myself. I deserved to be hated by Louis. I deserved it...

I looked at the man sitting on the chair beside my bed. Those discriminating eyes were blaming me. They were accusing me of his death.

"You're right, it's my fault... So, what can I do to make it up to you?"

I could see Kane's mouth moving, but I couldn't say for sure if it was his words or Louis'. "Accept my death. Accept that I'm dead Earl. Don't run away from it, embrace it."

"How...?"

"Kill me," he answered without hesitation as he extended his arm showing me a gun.

With my shaking hand, I took the weapon and looked at it. It felt so unreal. I had to kill Louis. But he was already dead. I looked up hoping that if I saw Kane, I would snap out of this illusion. However, I could only see those eyes. Louis' eyes. The weapon felt heavy and cold in my palm.

"Let go of me, kill me," Louis repeated making me flinch at his commanding tone.

I lifted my shaky arm with the weapon in my grasp. I couldn't even aim since I was shaking very badly. I had to let go of him and to do that, I had to kill him. It was the best thing to do. Do not hesitate, Earl, just do it!

"Let me help you for that," he approached until my gun was aiming straight for his heart. "Shoot."

I looked up my sight all blurry. If I shoot I will hurt Kane. This was Kane's body! I couldn't kill him. I couldn't because... Because I-I...

"Shoot Earl!" his angry tone made me jump in fear.

"I-I can't! I'll kill Kane... I can't do it..." I sobbed with the gun still pointing at his chest. "I can't kill you, Louis... I'm so so sorry."

"You can and will," I felt his warm fingers touch mine. "For me, do it for me," he said gently as his other hand caressed my cheek lovingly like he used to. "You can do it, kid. How did I teach you? Three steps remember? Breathe, aim and shoot."

I closed my eyes and breathed. My shaking calmed little by little as I took deep breathes. I needed to be calm, so when I aim I will not miss. I will make Louis proud of me like when I hit the target for the first time. When I opened my eyes, I felt determined. I steadied my aim and slowly with any urgency, I slowly pulled the trigger.

The loud sound of the gun when I pulled the trigger woke me up from my trance. I paled when everything started to sink into my mind. Then panic started to fill my entire being.

"What did I do?! I have to get you to the doctor now!" I said all panicked.

Before I could run out of the room, Kane caught my arm making me unable to run any further.

"You didn't kill me, you killed Louis. How do you feel?"

"B-but your wound?" why was he even talking about Louis? He was just shot! I looked at his chest and saw nothing. I looked at him all confused.

"I'm not wounded, it was a blank cartridge," he said calmly as he gently pulled me back in front of him. A blank cartridge? So, he wasn't on the verge of dying right now? Thank god. "How do you feel?"

"Better... I think?"

"Rest," he let go of my arm and I nodded. I needed that right now. A good night sleep and process everything tomorrow with a clear mind.

"Kane?" I called him and he looked at me, "Goodnight."

"Goodnight."