Sitting on a couch longer than most cars, Vincent Black waited to be received by his brother. Le’s assistant, Chan, had been in and out of the room, offering him anything and everything from water to wine, to coffee or tea. Vincent denied all of it as his stomach was far too unstable from worry about his brother to ingest anything other than nervous swallows of saliva. The entire apartment, if that’s what you could call the entire floor of this building, felt off. The lights were off, there was no music. It was void of all the warmth that Le and X had went out of their way to cultivate. Something had happened. Something bad. After about 25 minutes, Xavier emerged from the bedroom, still in his pajamas. His hair unkept, and his face pale. X locked eyes with his brother, and glanced at the patio, to which Vin followed closely. Once outside, Xavier poured a glass of scotch for his brother and himself, and sat down on a high back chair. Vin stood over his brother, the glass in his hand, waiting to find out what it was that has his brother so upset. In a moment he’d be told. And the moment after he’d wished he’d never had known. Because the pain he feels for his brother, as always, is far worse than any pain he’s ever felt for himself. Xavier holds the glass to his temple, and leans forward onto his knees. Exhaling through his nose, he looks at his brother, and sighs. Vin bends down, and locks eyes with his brother, lending him strength.
Xavier Black
” one of the twins…absorbed the other. “
Vincent Black
” …I’m sorry, Mabe. ” Mabe. Short for Maybelline. Vin’s nickname for his gorgeous brother. It wasn’t one that was brought out often, or ever in the company of others.
Xavier Black
” Having to explain to my wife that this wasn’t her fault. That she didn’t do anything. That it just happens. That this isn’t one of the worst things that could’ve happened. I mean, we’re trying to concentrate on the positive. But…it’s… “
Vincent Black
” I’m sorry. You want me to talk to her? ”
Xavier Black
” Candice is in there now. Has been all night. She’s been great. “
Vincent Black
” Makes sense, having been through it before. ”
Xavier Black
” Your male demon even wrote a nice letter about how he dealt with it. It was sweet. “
Vincent Black
” Yeah, the girls teased him about it when they found out. Called him a Call-nible. They even warned Ripley the last kid he was alone with got eaten. But he takes it in stride. Sarah a- ”
Xavier Black
” Yeah well, my kid won’t have her to talk to, obviously. ”
Vincent Black
” She hasn’t reached out? Not even to Le? ”
Xavier Black
” Not yet. And that’s fine. It just makes it easier, really. “
Vincent Black
” Easier for… ”
Xavier Black
” Vin, what do you want me to do? I risked everything to get this guy, and when I had him, I let him go because that’s what she wanted. And she wants to hate me? Fuck it. Hate me. I got bigger things to worry about. ”
Vincent Black
” X… ”
Xavier Black
” She told us she’d be there for us, as our big sister, and we took that to heart. We thought she meant it. Instead she made us love her and then when we did what anyone who loved someone would do, she gets mad. Because we disobeyed her? ”
Vincent Black
” X… ”
Xavier Black
” Don’t think for one second that if the situation was reversed and she went against our wishes, she’d be telling us to suck it the fuck up. ”
Sarah Wolf
” Guess we’ll never know. ”
Xavier Black
” …the fuck are you doing here? ”
Sarah Wolf
” Despite what I think of you, and in the smallest of amounts as it is, your wife matters to me. ”
Vincent Black
” Then why don’t you go see her and leave us alone. ”
Xavier Black
” Since it’s what you do best, and all. ”
Sarah Wolf
” Let’s think about what you guys are best at. Like being broody assholes, and marrying amazing women. ”
Vincent Black
” Cunt. ”
Xavier Black
” Super cunt. ”
Vhodka Black
” LOOK AT THIS EGG! Why don’t we have eggs like this?? This is the coolest…It has a DOOR! Did you know eggs could have doors? Do they have windows, too?? I want three! ”
Xavier Black
” …that’s worth 9.6 million dollars. ”
Vhodka Black
” …ok. So I need…I NEED…someone to come take this from me. ”
Xavier Black
” I’ll take it and put it back. I need to take a shower anyway. Thanks for stopping by though. It’s nice to have family you can count on. ”
Xavier Black
” By the way, I know about Asher moonlighting. He’s back on the active roster as of now or he’s released. ”
Vhodka Black
” MY BABY IS INJURED! ”
Vincent Black
” Your baby is not injured at all. I’ll let him know. ”
Vhodka Black
” I meant like, spiritually? ”
Vincent Black
” Of course you did. ”
Vhodka Black
” …does X know how much eggs cost because he’s paying way too much for them. Costco has so many eggs for way less. I mean, no windows. But they’re kept behind windows.”
Vincent Black
” You really like costco, huh? ”
Vhodka Black
” So many cheeses at such affordable prices. Who wouldn’t! ”
Alexis Austin
” Vin? You see the picture? “
Vincent Black
” No, I, the world’s most distant human being, have decided to call you, my wifes friend, out of the blue for no reason. ”
Alexis Austin
” Don’t give me shit right now. This bitch sent my child mail. OUR child! ”
Vincent Black
” That makes it sound like you, and I, did the thing. ”
Alexis Austin
” That makes me throw up a little. What are you going to do about this? “
Vincent Black
” One, I’m going to make sure my wife doesn’t find out, as are you. ”
Alexis Austin
” Because murder. “
Vincent Black
” Because murder. ”
Alexis Austin
” I’m just glad I got the package before she did. She’s got enough going on right now, she doesn’t need the overflow from your shit. “
Vincent Black
” Do me a favor alexis. Take the mask she sent, and hold onto it. It’s going to be a souvenir soon enough. ”
Alexis Austin
” Yeah ok. “
Vincent Black
” …because murder. ”
Alexis Austin
” Yes. Because murder. “
Vincent Black
” Thomas. ”
Tommy S.
” Vincent. Calling me to tell me you’re married? Again? ”
Vincent Black
” Don’t start. I need help. ”
Tommy S.
” Why am I not surprised? Never call me to hang out, or talk. Just when you need something. ”
Vincent Black
” Question, did we have intimate relations at some point? Are you feeling rejected? ”
Tommy S.
” Jesus, you’ve never understood people. What do you need? ”
Vincent Black
” This woman I’m dealing with. She’s decided to make it personal with my family. I need to find her. ”
Tommy S.
” Yeah let me just pull that out of my ass. ”
Vincent Black
” Tommy. She sent something to my kid. Please. I know it’s hard to only hear from me when I need you, but I mostly think I bother people so it’s hard for me to reach out. I’m sorry for that. ”
Tommy S.
” ..WOW. Fucking Growth!! ”
Vincent Black
” …gross? ”
Tommy S.
” G R O W T H. Give me an hour. ”
Vincent Black
” Murphy. ”
MDM
” Big bad. ”
Vincent Black
” …I’m angry. ”
MDM
” …that a warning ‘r we talking? ”
Vincent Black
” Both. ”
MDM
” ..aye. What about? ”
Vincent Black
” This…Dollface sent a package to my daughter, our daughter, Ripley. She’s trying to get under my skin and she is. I went to her house to tear her apart for it. But I realized it’s what she wanted. So I pretended it was about someone else. I can’t say for sure if she fell for it or not, but… ”
MDM
” …Vin. We need to have a conversation. ”
Vincent Black
” …about? ”
MDM
” About who really sent this package. ”