Chapter 2 #2
Alexander nodded several times. “No one is good enough for you. You can afford the world’s best doctors and you’ve had a couple of them, yet you can’t stand a single one of them.
And don’t say it. You’re pissed that you aren’t immortal.
Well, guess what. No one is. And for fuck’s sake, we’re not getting any younger.
You’ve run full speed your entire life, refusing to back down or even take a vacation. ”
“I take vacations!”
“When? Tell me the last time.”
I was eager and ready for an instant retort. Until I realized I couldn’t remember. Huffing instead, I looked away, cognizant that he was walking closer.
“Yeah, that’s what I thought. You’re no good to the Prince organization like this. Every single member of your family is sick to fucking death of your self-serving attitude. Even Emmeline.”
Emmeline. Our younger and only sister, the little mafia princess who floated around like a butterfly. Loving everything and everyone.
Except for me apparently.
“Have you even performed your exercises?” Now my brother was invading my privacy.
“When I have the time.”
“Montgomery. Do you have any fucking clue how lucky you are to even be alive? One centimeter difference in the bullet’s trajectory and we wouldn’t be having this conversation.
On top of it, you were told that with regular exercise to strengthen your muscles, you’ll lose the cane and the limp almost completely.
But instead of following through with the man’s sage medical advice, you brood. You drink. You argue with everyone.”
“What is this, some intervention?” Hearing the utter hatred in my tone truly bothered me. Our entire family had been close through thick and thin, hardships and tragedies. We butted heads often, but at the end of the day, we had each other’s backs. We’d take a damn bullet for each other.
But I was still furious he’d interrupted my evening.
“Call it what you want. You need help and—”
“I don’t need another goddamn doctor!” My entire face hurt from my jaw clenching.
He remained his usual calm and collected self while I was going off the rails.
Again.
“It’s become painfully apparent to anyone having the misfortune of being in the same room with you, including strangers, that neither doctors nor conventional medicine of any kind will do a damn bit of good.”
In a surprise move, his voice had risen, matching mine in pitch, tone, and volume. “Then what do you suggest, brother? Holistic medicine?”
I’ll be goddamned if his eyes didn’t light up, a slow and sly grin crossing his face. “You could call it that.”
“What?” He was far too pleased with himself.
“Vermont.”
The single word was completely unexpected. “What did you say?”
“Vermont, as in Stowe, Vermont, a town in a state in the Northeast.”
“Glad to know your geographics studies hit home with you, but what the hell does Vermont have to do with me?”
“That’s where you’re going.” Alexander had developed a shit-eating grin on his face.
“Did some wayward employee escape to Vermont that I need to catch?”
My brother shook his head. “Nope. You won’t be doing any work.”
Now I was confused. “I’m not following you and it has nothing to do with my glass of whiskey. Speaking of which…” I threw back the remainder of the liquid, enjoying the slight burn in the back of my throat.
“The family owns a house in Vermont. We own eight or so throughout the world, typically used for vacations. Something you wouldn’t know about. That’s where you’re going.”
My brother rarely stunned me, but this was one of those times. “For how long?”
“A month. After that, we’ll reevaluate.”
“Oh, fuck, no.”
“Oh, fuck, yes.” His eyes twinkled again. As his grin widened, he edged closer, grabbing a clean glass from the bar, pouring a hefty shot then refilling mine. Afterwards, he lifted his glass, not asking for but demanding a toast. “Here’s to you getting the help you need.”
“Some famous doctor?”
“Nope,” he chortled, popping the p, something he’d started doing soon after meeting Catherine. “Nature. Snow. Mountains. Clean air. A small-town feel. Nice people, but I assure you they won’t take your shit either. They’re down to earth, but don’t like bullshitters.”
He was serious. “You’re out of your mind. There’s too much work to do here.”
“Nothing your brothers and sister can’t handle.” He took a sip without our glasses clinking, holding the smooth liquor in his mouth. Even sighing in satisfaction after swallowing.
He always did enjoy being a showman.
“Are you expecting me to go mountain climbing?”
“Maybe.”
“Not with this leg.”
“Then go fishing. I’ve heard ice fishing is an interesting hobby.” He thumped his glass on the bar, winking before turning toward the door.
“What in the hell am I supposed to do there? I’ll go fucking nuts.”
He stopped long enough to twist his body toward me.
“Read a book. Something new for you. It’ll give you a chance to use that Harvard education you were given.
Explore the town. Talk to people. As long as you don’t bite their heads off, you’ll be fine.
” His eyes lit up seconds later. “I know. You could go on a date. Now, I realize that will terrify you even more than almost losing your life, but I assure you the chicks won’t hurt you. Unless you want them to, of course.”
I hated when he laughed as if he was the all-powerful man in town.
It’s not that I hated nature. I adored the wilderness, especially the bayou, including alligators. What I didn’t like were people. And he knew it.
“Thanks for the offer, bro, but I’ll return to physical therapy instead.”
He was in the doorway before responding. “You know, when I woke up this morning and looked in the mirror, do you know what was staring back at me?”
“Attila the Hun?”
“Close. The Don of the Prince family, which means I’m in charge of a billion-dollar empire. Every operation. Every employee. Every soldier. And even every family member.”
“Thanks for the lesson in the chain of command. What’s your point?”
He tilted his head, the sarcastic smile turning into a smirk. “It means, little brother, I’m not asking you to go to Vermont. I’m ordering you to. You’re leaving at nine in the morning. The jet is fueled and ready. And you know how I don’t like my orders disobeyed. I tend to get very cranky.”