Chapter Eighty-Eight

Dominic chuckled as John and Amelia played a game of paddy cake on the couch, trying to figure the game out as John stumbled along. He jumped as the doorbell rang, standing to go see who was there. He opened the door, his muscles going taught at the sight of his new uncle standing before him. "What the fuck do you want?" He growled, pushing his fear down and letting his anger show.

Asher held his hands out, palms up to show that he meant no harm. "Clarissa called me, she wanted me to try and talk to you boys."

Dominic felt Mary's hand on his back, knowing better than to slam the door in Asher's face like he wanted to. "Stay away from John." He warned, stepping aside to let the man inside of the house.

Asher nodded, reaching a hand out to shake Dominic's. "I heard what you and John have lived through… and I wanted to try to make amends."

Dominic's lip curled, as he started back for the living room without another word. He caught John's eye, giving the signal to be ready for something to go wrong.

John nodded, shrinking back into the cushions as Asher walked into the room. He pulled Amelia close, wedging her between himself and the back of the sofa. He made sure to keep himself between her and his father's long-lost triplet. He curled his lip as the man came closer, holding an arm over Claire as if to protect her from him as well.

Clarissa sat beside John, noticing how on edge he was and reaching out to try and touch him. "Pumpkin…" She smiled as he turned to her, noticing that his eyes had the yellow tinge of fear to them. "I think you should give him a chance."

Asher looked at the group of teens, his fight or flight reflex trying to kick in from the unease of all the teens glares. He met the eyes of Dominic, noticing how he was keeping a close eye on him and trying to stat between him and John. "I guess I should try to explain." He moved to take a seat beside one of the teens, startling when they shot away from him. "What did your parents tell you about me?" He asked, looking to John and Dominic for the answer.

Dominic narrowed his eyes, crossing his arms as he looked at the man. "Nothing. We didn't know you existed until yesterday, when you scared the fucking shit out of us."

Asher nodded, pulling an old yellowed paper from his shirt pocket and handing it to the boys. "This is the last I heard of you boys."

Dominic snatched the paper away from him, making sure John had his eye on him before he began reading. "Asher, I regret to inform you that the children have died. My son, Johnathan died at birth when the cord snapped his neck. Dominic died a few weeks before due to unknown causes, Rueben and Juanita simply woke one morning to a dead child in the crib. We've already held their funerals, so please don't bother to return to the family you left. Sincerely your brother Jacob." Dominic looked up at his uncle, fire in his dark eyes. "You left us?"

Asher dropped his gaze, knowing that he needed to be submissive to the boys in this situation. "I was told it was a hopeless cause to stay, that you would die before you reached a full year of age. And Beverly wasn't carrying right, she told me that her pregnancy felt wrong, and when I came to help out the day before Dominic was born, I was doing laundry and I noticed that she'd been spotting. I thought for sure that she was miscarrying."

Dominic scoffed, throwing the letter at him. "So, you decided to leave us to be beaten and abused." He pulled his shirt off, showing his own scars. "This is what we had to pay for your actions. We paid with blood." He turned to John, watching as his cousin's eyes turned pitch-black with hate. "The least you could have done was stick around to see if we would live."

Asher nodded, remembering Dominic as a frail newborn in the NICU. "I wish I could change what happened to you boys. And if I could take your place I would."

John shook his head, picking up a piece of paper and a pen to scribble a few words down. "No you wouldn't. You're one of them. They don't give a fuck about what we went through."

Asher read the words, remembering how John's voice had blown the night before. "Can you speak?" He asked, wondering what the extent of John's injuries had been.

John shook his head, looking to Claire in hopes that she could explain. "His vocal cords are too strained to use right now, he can't talk for a few weeks." She took his hand, kissing his cheek. "But we're figuring it out."

Asher nodded, handing the book back to John jumping as Dominic's stance became aggressive when he got close to the younger boy. "Your band won the battle." He smiled, looking at the shock on John's face. "I brought over the money and some paperwork for record labels for you to look at." He placed a few envelopes on the coffee table, watching as the little black-haired girl who John had introduced as Allison picked them up.

"Thank you, Sir." She smiled, taking the papers to the next room.

Andy stood, walking after his girlfriend to try and escape the tension of the room. "Keep an eye on John, he's not acting right, and Dominic can only watch one person at a time."

Allison nodded, peeking around the corner at the leaders of the group. "I wish John could talk, it'd make it so much easier."

Andy sighed, taking her hand as they walked back to the group. "To be honest, I'm kinda glad that it's quiet for a while." He chuckled kissing her cheek. "He makes the most noise out of all of us."

"Only because you two are always getting at each other." She giggled. "I mean it's like a couple of moneys trying to get a rise out of each other."

Andy shook his head, jumping as John twitched. "Stay here." He rushed to John's side, making sure his friend was okay. "Seizure?" He asked, pausing as John went still for a moment.

John waited for a few minutes, before answering, heaving a sigh as he realized his body had only been faking him out. He jumped as Asher moved, shielding Amelia with his body.

Asher froze, noticing John's reaction. "John, just because I look like your father, doesn't mean I act like him." He looked between the boys, trying to show he was telling the truth. "I'd never thrown a punch until yesterday, and I only did that because I was pissed at my brother. But believe me, I would never hurt you two." He took a breath, shaking his head as he spoke the next sentence. "It sickens me to think what they did to you boys."

John felt Claire at his back, looking over his shoulder to see her soft eyes. "Give him a chance." She smiled, kissing his lips to try and ease his stress. "I think he really wants to try."

John looked between her and Asher, turning his eyes up to Dominic with a short nod that told him that Asher was on trial.

Dominic nodded, speaking to the group. "He's on trial."

Asher smiled, happy that the boys had decided to at least give him a chance. "Thank you."

Dominic curled his lip, glaring at him. "It wasn't my choice. If it was up to me, you'd be hanging from the tree out back by your neck."

Asher pressed a hand to his throat, swallowing at the threat as something told him it wasn't empty.