The Other Brother (14 page)

Why had Isaiah come out there? If Isaiah thought he was going to win him over like he'd charmed everyone else, he was wasting his time.

Sipping a beer, Isaiah strolled across the patio. He motioned for Gabriel to follow.

Grudgingly, Gabriel shuffled forward. Isaiah wandered toward the koi pond, which was nestled in a grotto on the other side of the immense patio. A small waterfall cascaded into the pond, water sparkling like silver in the moonlight.

"What kinda fish are in there?" Isaiah asked, pointing with his beer bottle.

"Koi," Gabriel said. "Japanese fish"

Isaiah chuckled. "You've gotta be kidding me. So now black folks got Japanese fish?"

"It was my mom's idea," Gabriel said. "Gives the landscaping a touch of class. But you probably don't know anything about that"

Isaiah only smiled at Gabriel's jibe.

"I love your family, man," Isaiah said. "They're great people. You were blessed to grow up in a place like this, around folks like them"

"Yeah, it was nice," Gabriel said. "I feel very protective toward my family, you know."

"You should. What good son wouldn't?"

"Even if that means I sometimes have to do things my father doesn't want to do. It's only to keep my family safe. That's what matters most to me"

"Sounds fair."

"Look" Gabriel tossed his beer into a nearby trash can. "Let's cut the bullshit, okay? I know why you're here"

"Really? So why am I here, Gabe?" Isaiah appeared to be amused.

"Come on, man. Do I need to say it? My dad's a millionaire; we've got a booming business-a business I've worked in my entire life. You think you're going to pop up on the scene and get your piece of the pie. That fifty grand he paid you made you greedy for more"

"So it's all about the Benjamins, you think?"

"I'm not gonna stand back and let you do it," Gabriel said. "I want you to stay the hell away from my family. My dad is feeling too guilty to do the right thing, but I'll be damned if I let you come in here and fuck up everything we've built together."

"You've got me all wrong. It's not like that, little brother."

"I'm not your little brother, asshole. This conversation is over. Remember what I said. You've been warned"

Gabriel spun to leave. Isaiah clapped his hand on his shoulder. He squeezed, stabbing his finger into one of Gabriel's nerves.

Gabriel let out a soft cry. His legs turned mushy.

Isaiah pulled Gabriel beside him in what would have appeared to be a brotherly gesture to onlookers-but fury bunched his features.

Fear swelled like a balloon in Gabriel's chest. He wanted to fight back, but the agony in his shoulder had immobilized him.

"I've had enough of your smart mouth, motherfucker," Isaiah said. "You don't know who you're talking to. Do you know what I could do to you?"

His forefinger dug deeper into Gabriel's nerves. Gabriel bit his tongue to keep from howling.

"You're wrong-I don't give a fuck about your family's money," Isaiah said. "If I wanted to, I could go into the house right now and tell your daddy to write a check out for me for a hundred grand, and he would do it. Believe that"

He drew Gabriel closer. Their faces were only a few inches apart. Gabriel smelled the beer on Isaiah's hot breath.

"But I don't want money," Isaiah said. "Know what I want?"

Trembling, pain shrieking in his shoulder, Gabriel shook his head.

"I want to tear your family apart," Isaiah whispered. "Starting with you, you spoiled fuckin' brat. Daddy's given you everything you've wanted for your entire life. What did he ever do for me? You don't deserve anything you have. And I'm here to take it all away including that fine piece of ass in there you call your fiancee"

"No," Gabriel said weakly.

"When I'm through with you, I'm going to take care of your daddy," Isaiah said. "I want him more than I want you.

I'm going to get him for what he did to Mama and me. I swore on her grave that I would get him, no matter what. I'm keeping my word."

"Leave us alone," Gabriel said.

"Oh, I'll leave your mama and your sister alone," Isaiah said. "The way to destroy a family is to take away the men. That's been happening to our people for generations, you know."

"I'm not gonna let you get away with this."

"You can't stop me," Isaiah said. "They won't believe a word you say. Want to try it?" He released Gabriel's shoulder and pushed him aside. "Run in there and tell them everything I just said. Go ahead"

Gabriel moved away, massaging his aching shoulder. But he didn't run inside the house and share Isaiah's evil machinations.

Because Isaiah was right.

His family wouldn't believe him. Isaiah's plan was too bold, too malicious to be believed. His family, already aware that he didn't trust Isaiah, would suspect that he was spreading lies to turn them against him.

Isaiah smiled. He sipped his beer and belched.

"Taking it all away, little brother," Isaiah said. "Piece by piece."

"I'm going to stop you"

"How're you gonna do that? Daddy's not gonna help you this time."

Gabriel turned away.

"Daddy's on my side." Isaiah laughed.

His laughter followed Gabriel all the way inside the house.

Chapter 24

(I oon after his encounter with Isaiah, Gabriel announced to U everyone that he was leaving. He claimed that he had a stomachache, which was true. Isaiah's threats had induced a sickening dread in his gut.

From the moment he'd first met Isaiah, he'd known the guy was trouble. First impressions were never wrong.

But what was he going to do about it? He still had no answer. Isaiah, who'd masterfully charmed his family, held the upper hand.

As Gabriel walked out of the grand salon to a scattered chorus of good-byes, Isaiah winked at him.

Dana left with Gabriel. Although they had not resolved last night's argument, seeing him so obviously ill at ease had likely summoned her mothering instincts.

"I'm sorry you don't feel well," she said as they walked to their cars. "Want me to sleep over so I can keep an eye on you?"

Gabriel thought about the snake, possibly roaming loose somewhere within his house.

"You mind if I stay at your place?" he asked.

"Worried about the snake?"

"Honestly? Yeah"

"I don't blame you. Sure, you can stay with me tonight."

They got in their cars. As Gabriel backed the Corvette out of the driveway, Isaiah and Pops stepped outside the front door. Pops put his arm around Isaiah's shoulder. They held drinks in their hands, like hard-partying frat boys.

Daddy's on my side.

They grinned and waved at him.

For his father's benefit, Gabriel returned the wave-albeit, halfheartedly-and then drove away.

Dana lived in a sixth-floor condo in Atlantic Station, a trendy live-work-play community just north of downtown. Formerly the site of a steel mill, the district was touted as a city within a city, with an abundance of retail and entertainment venues, wide sidewalks, narrow streets, and vast underground parking areas. The in-town condo market had been booming of late, as well-heeled residents migrated from the suburbs to the city. Using money bequeathed to her by her deceased parents, Dana had snagged the property before prices had rocketed into deep space.

Dana's dog greeted them at the door. It was a lively Bichon named Mandy. Mandy scampered around Dana and Gabriel, yapping happily.

"Hey, pretty girl," Gabriel said.

Dana scooped up the dog in her arms. "I'm taking her out to potty. Why don't you lie down and relax?"

Dana talked to him so sweetly that he could almost believe she'd forgotten about last night. He sat on the sofa and stretched out his legs.

Dana had decorated the two-bedroom unit with cranberrycolored draperies, earth tone accent rugs, cherry-wood furniture, and numerous Annie Lee figurines, many of them depicting children at play. Reflections of the happy child hood Dana had lost. Nevertheless, it was a tranquil place, and as Gabriel rested his head against the cushions and gazed out the floor-to-ceiling windows at the dazzling Atlanta skyline, he felt some of the day's stress drain out of his body.

Then Isaiah's leering face invaded his thoughts.

I want to tear your family apart.

Gabriel switched on the television and channel surfed, trying to find something that would distract him from his worries. He settled on a rerun of Law & Order; he liked the show. The good guys usually prevailed in the end.

Dana returned. Mandy bounded across the floor and hopped on Gabriel's stomach.

"Ouch," Gabriel said, sitting up. He scratched Mandy behind the ears and the dog whined with pleasure.

"Careful, Mandy, you're going to hurt Daddy," Dana said. She sat next to Gabriel and removed Mandy from his lap. "You want something for that stomachache?"

"Nah, I'll try to sleep it off"

"I knew you'd say that" She looked at him closer. "What's really wrong?"

"A stomachache, like I said."

"It's your brother, isn't it?"

"He's not my brother."

"Biologically speaking, that's what he is," she said. "I don't know why you don't like him. He seems like a really nice guy to me, so down-to-earth and humble."

Isaiah had fooled Dana, too. This was as bad as Gabriel had feared.

"Dana, that guy is bad news, trust me"

"Trust your gut feeling, like you said earlier?" She looked doubtful. "But I like him, and so does the rest of your family. So why are you the only one with this `gut feeling' that he's so terrible?"

Gabriel pinched the bridge of his nose. He wanted to tell her what had happened. But he kept his mouth shut. It might start another argument.

"Are you jealous of him, like Nicole said?" Dana asked.

"What?"

"Are you upset that you aren't the only son anymore?"

"That's bullshit," he said. "Do you really believe that about me?"

Dana leaned against the sofa cushions, Mandy on her lap, wagging her tail.

"When it comes to your relationship with your family, I don't know what to believe about you anymore," she said. "We still haven't talked about this hero-worship thing you have with your father."

"I don't want to get into that tonight."

"And I can't help thinking that you're threatened by the idea of another son stealing your father's attention away from you."

"Damn it, it has nothing to do with that, all right? Do you know what Isaiah told me? He said he wants to tear my family apart. Starting with me. He wants to take away everything I have including you. Yes, you." He pointed at her.

She stared at his finger, skepticism forming in her eyes.

"And when he's through with me, he wants to take care of Pops"

"Take care of him?" Dana asked.

"I don't know what the hell he meant. Kill him? I don't know. But Isaiah told me that tonight, and I know he was serious."

"Why would he say something horrible like that?"

"Revenge," Gabriel said. "He wants revenge for Pops abandoning him and his mother, leaving them to have a rough life. He vowed on his mother's grave that he'd get revenge."

Dana pursed her lips, her face troubled. Gabriel got an awful plummeting feeling in his stomach.

"Do you know how ridiculous that sounds?" she said. "He wants revenge? How about he just wants to know his family? Do you have any idea how it feels to grow up without your family? Do you?"

Shit, Gabriel thought. He'd unknowingly touched a raw nerve. He'd momentarily forgotten that Dana's parents had died when she was a kid.

"I can't believe you'd make up some shit like this," Dana said. She got to her feet. She was shaking; Mandy spilled out of her arms and scrambled across the floor, seeking cover.

"I didn't make it up," he said. "Do you think I'm lying?"

Her upper lip quivered. She wouldn't look at him.

"Look at me, Dana. Do you think I'm lying to you?"

Reluctantly, she looked at him. Tears shone in her eyes.

"I don't know what to think," she said. "The weird way you've been acting ... I don't know anymore. I'm sorry."

If their relationship had been represented by a stone sculpture, a jagged fracture would have cracked down the middle at that moment.

Gabriel could not think of anything to say. He wished he hadn't said anything. Why hadn't he kept his damn mouth shut?

Dana marched past him and out of the living room.

"Dana, come back," he said. "Let's talk about this."

He heard her opening a door, grabbing something, closing the door.

I've really screwed up, he thought. He wanted to repair the situation, but didn't know how; everything he said seemed to be the wrong thing. He and Dana had never been so out of sync with each other.

Dana came back, carrying a pillow and a blanket. She dumped them on the sofa beside him.

"What's this?" Gabriel said.

"You're sleeping out here tonight," she said, and went back to her bedroom and slammed the door.

Chapter 2 5

he evening had gone even better than Isaiah had planned. While he had expected his charm, humor, intelligence, charisma-and dashing good looks-to eventually win over the Reid clan, his reception was warmer than he had anticipated. The Reids were so determined to present themselves as a charitable, Christian family that they made his task immeasurably easier. He was quite certain that the mother, Marge, was outraged over his very existence; and he figured that the daughter was shocked; and he understood that his father was ashamed. But they were willing to set aside their private pains in order to do the right thing and welcome him into their circle.

He couldn't help but admire them. They were, indeed, a picture-perfect family, so remarkable that it seemed unreal-a living, breathing cast of characters from a TV show, like Father Knows Best or some other outdated program that espoused moral values that no one cared about anymore.

But Gabriel ... now, he was something else. His little brother was fast becoming the black sheep of the clan.

Isaiah sat in the Reids' enormous, sumptuously decorated grand salon, sipping cognac just like his father, who sat beside him. His stepmother, or whatever she was to him, was drinking chamomile tea, and Nicole nursed a Coke. They were filling him in on their lives and asking him questions about his background and his plans.

They asked: Are you moving to Atlanta?

To which he responded: Maybe. I'll stay here for a few weeks and see how I like it.

The real answer, which he kept to himself: I'm here to stay, folks. You aren't getting rid of me.

They asked: What kind of work do you do?

His answer: When I was incarcerated, I learned how to work in a print shop, so that's what I've been doing. I love to work.

Real answer: Please. I'm a hustler. I haven't worked a legit gig in years and I'm not starting now.

They asked: Do you have any children?

His answer: No, I haven't been blessed with any kids yet. I'm waiting to meet the right woman to marry first.

Real answer: I've got several kids, so I've heard, but I've never seen them, and don't care if I ever do. Those women were having babies to try to trap me.

And on it went. Sometimes he gave them the unvarnished truth; sometimes he gave them the truth, with embellishment, for the sake of dramatic effect.

But most times, he lied shamelessly.

Throughout, they listened as if he were a soothsayer, smiling and nodding.

Life was so funny. Last year he'd been sharing a prison cell with a serial rapist, facing a murky future. Now, look: his rich father's family was entertaining him at their multimillion-dollar estate, listening raptly to every word he spoke.

If only Mama could have lived to see this.

He could imagine what Mama would say, in her raspy, smoker's voice: `Ask that rich-ass daddy of yours to give us some money. Shit, he ain't never done nothing for you. He owes us."

Isaiah sipped his Remy Martin and smiled at his new family.

I'll get something better than money, Mania. I'll get justice.

When the tall, ornate grandfather clock in the cornerthe damn thing probably had cost several thousand dollars, Isaiah thought struck eleven, Isaiah drained his cognac, placed the snifter on a nearby marble table, and stood.

"It's time for me to go back to my hotel," he said. He faked a yawn. "It's been quite a day."

Pops looked at his wife and she nodded, almost imperceptibly. Clearing his throat, Pops turned to Isaiah.

"We'd like for you to stay with us, son," he said. "It wouldn't be right for you to stay in a hotel."

Isaiah wanted to laugh. These people were a trip.

But he said, "I appreciate the offer, but I can't do that. You weren't expecting a houseguest. The hotel is fine"

"What hotel are you staying in?" Marge asked.

"It's a Days Inn, in Marietta," he said.

"No son of mine is staying in a Days Inn when he could be staying at my estate" Pops said. "You're staying here with us, Isaiah, and that's the end of it." He softened his words with a smile.

"He could stay in Gabe's old room," Nicole said. She glanced at her parents. "Right?"

"That's exactly what I was thinking, dear," Marge said.

"Well, well." Isaiah gave them his best aw, shucks grin. "I guess I'd better go get my stuff."

A few minutes later, Isaiah returned inside the house with his suitcases. Nicole met him in the gigantic, soaring foyer; the area was nearly as big as the project apartment he and Mama had used to live in.

"You had your luggage in your car?" Nicole asked, head cocked.

"I don't believe in leaving personal belongings behind," he said. "A habit I picked up from living in places where your stuff could be stolen. I keep my things close at hand."

"Oh," Nicole said. Her look of surprise was so genuine that Isaiah had to choke back a laugh. This girl, a bona-fide black American princess, probably would only have consented to roll through Isaiah's old hood in a police-escorted, armored truck. She had no street smarts whatsoever, no idea of how people lived in the real world.

But to her credit, she was cute, so he could cut her some slack. Short and slender with a gymnast's firm figure, she was a redbone, with auburn hair and hazel eyes. She wore dainty glasses and had the manner of an intellectual-or a nerd, even. She was the kind of girl who'd want to visit a science museum on a first date.

But in Isaiah's experience, girls like Nicole, the geeky girls, often were the biggest freaks. All that bottled-up brainpower found its truest expression in the bedroom.

"I'll take you to Gabe's room," she said. "Follow me ""

"Lead the way," he said.

As she ascended the curving staircase, he admired how her tight ass worked in the khaki shorts she wore. He wetted his lips. He'd like to get his hands on that booty.

A stern voice in Isaiah's mind admonished: She's your half sister, man. You shouldn't be looking at her like this. But Isaiah smothered the voice. He didn't know this girl. If he'd met her on the street before today, he'd have had no idea that they were related, and neither would she. So who cared?

"This is a beautiful house," Isaiah said.

She shrugged nonchalantly. "I'm glad I don't live here anymore. It's too old."

"Too old?"

"Yeah, thirty years old or something like that. I keep telling Daddy he needs to buy something more contemporary, but he's settled here, looks like."

Isaiah was perplexed. This girl had grown up in an ele gantly appointed mansion, and all she could say was that it was too old?

If she'd been his mama's daughter, Mama would've slapped the shit out of her for saying something stupid like that.

He followed her down a hallway so wide he could've driven his Chevelle across it. African-American art in gold frames hung on the walls, each of them expressing a familial theme. Isaiah would've bet his right testicle that they were originals, not replicas.

They arrived at a door. Nicole went inside first and switched on the light.

"Wow," Isaiah said.

The bedroom was probably the size of the entire first floor of Grandma's home. A Chinese sleigh bed dominated one area; large windows offered views of the dark woods beyond the house; a big television and stereo system took up space on another side; a bookcase packed with titles stood near the bed. A computer and printer sat on an oak desk.

"Will this be okay?" Nicole asked.

Are you serious? This is the nicest room I've ever stayed in in my life!

"This will be great, thanks," he said.

She went to another door off the bedroom. "Here's the bathroom"

It was a full bathroom with a shower stall, double sinks, and whirlpool tub. He'd never been in a whirlpool tub. He might be drawing a bath tonight.

He went back to the bed and, out of habit, slid his luggage underneath, drawing a strange look from Nicole.

"I'll go get some fresh towels for you," she said. "Be right back"

He sat on the bed and ran his hand across the duvet. It was as silky as a dream.

Nicole returned, her arms laden with fluffy towels. "Here they are," she said. She headed to the bathroom. "I'll put them in here for you"

Isaiah went to the bedroom door and closed it. Locked it.

He was about to do something dangerous. He didn't want any interruptions.

Nicole strolled out of the bathroom, running her fingers through her hair. She didn't notice that he'd shut the door.

"Anything else you need?" she asked.

He sat on the bed.

Attempting to do what he planned was risky, but he thrived on risk, danger.

He inhaled a deep breath.

Focus.

Psychic energy flickered at the base of his spine, developed into a current of power that surged up his back and burst into his brain. A vein pulsed like a small heart in the center of his sweat-filmed forehead.

Command.

He fixed his gaze on Nicole, who watched him expectantly.

"Actually, I do need something else," he said. He made a come-hither gesture with his index finger. "Get over here"

She did as he ordered, walking in front of him. Her eyes settled on something behind him, a vacant look to which he was accustomed when exercising his talent on people.

She wore a pink halter top, the fabric outlining her round, perky breasts.

He licked his lips. He put his hands on her breasts. He squeezed.

She sighed softly.

"Feel good?" he asked. "Tell me it feels good."

"It feels good," she whispered. Her eyelids fluttered behind her lenses.

Isaiah's erection throbbed against his slacks. Although Nicole's shapely body was a turn-on, what titillated him even more was exercising power over her. This woman was his. She would do anything he wanted. Anything.

He slid his hands to her hips, kneaded them between his fingers.

"Hot body like yours, I know you're a freak," he said. "But you hide it behind those glasses and your little geekprincess attitude. You can't fool your big brother."

She only stood there, blinking slowly, allowing him to feel her up.

He loved, loved, loved this.

He rose off the bed.

"Get on your knees," he said.

She hesitated, as though some small part of her consciousness was alert, resisting him.

He concentrated, drilled his gaze into her eyes.

"On your knees," he said firmly.

She knelt in front of him. His rock-hard dick was only inches away from her face.

He cupped the back of her head in his hand. He pulled her head forward against his groin.

"Feel that?" he said. "It's going to be in that sweet pouty mouth of yours in a minute."

She whimpered. A sound of anticipation or fear? He didn't know. Didn't care.

"Unzip my pants," he said.

Hands shaking slightly, she grasped his zipper, tugged it down. His dick strained against the confines of his boxer shorts.

Isaiah was about to command her to open her mouthwhen he heard footsteps creaking along the hallway outside the bedroom.

A knock tapped against the door.

"Are you kids in there?" It was Marge.

Isaiah quickly zipped his slacks. He focused on Nicole. She gazed up at him, face placid as a pond, awaiting instruction.

"Stand up," he said. And she did.

"Once I snap my fingers," he said, "you'll remember none of this. You'll be feeling just fine again. Okay?"

She nodded. He hurried to the door. Looked back at Nicole and snapped his fingers.

Nicole blinked.

"What happened?" she said.

"You were showing me around" Isaiah opened the door. Marge stood outside with an inquisitive expression and Isaiah reasoned that motherly intuition had brought her there.

"Nicole was about to give me a tour of the rest of the house," Isaiah said. "Ready, Nicole?"

"Sure" Shrugging, Nicole came out of the bedroom. "Follow me"

Isaiah smiled at Marge, who hesitated, and then returned the smile. He followed his little sister on a tour throughout the rest of the estate.

It was so wonderful to be a member of the family.