**Dear Reedus Fan, I was reading your review for Chapter Twelve, and in regards to your comment about how Conner was going to be in trouble with Murphy, I thought it'd be a fun little update to provide some insight into the aftermath of the airport scene. I hope you enjoy this chapter, as well as the rest of you my lovelies 3 **
"Are you going to stay pissed at me the rest of our damn lives?" Conner shouted through the door; Murphy had locked himself in his room and refused to come out ever since they got back from the airport, and that had been a long time. He assumed at night while he was sleeping Murphy would sneak out, eat, and use the bathroom, but then again Murphy was a stubborn fellow. "It's been like a week Murphy, just let it go." Conner insisted.
"Fuck off!" Murphy shouted from inside his room.
"Murphy she's gone, it's over. Can we please just forget about her?"
Before Conner even had time to blink, Murphy's bedroom door swung open and Murphy punched his brother right in his gut. "Forget about her? Are you fucking kidding me!?" Murphy shouted as he shoved his brother back away from his door. "She was one hell of a woman Conner, obviously you noticed it to or else you wouldn't have fucking kissed her behind my fucking back! So tell me, just how the hell am I supposed to forget her?"
Conner took a step back, trying to remain calm in hopes of getting Murphy to chill out. "Murphy, she's not coming back, you need to accept that."
"I can't!" Murphy threw his arms up in the air. "I could have had something with her, and I can't just go on not thinking about what could have happened if you hadn't pushed her away!"
"I didn't push her away!" Conner shouted now, hurt his brother would even think that of him. "She was going to leave no matter we said, no matter how much we begged. She left to protect us, why can't you see that?"
"You know what, none of this makes me forget the fact you fucking kissed her."
"Oh, now we're back on that?"
"You knew damn good and well how I felt about her, but you fucking kissed her Conner? That's fucked up."
"I made a mistake Murph, I'm sorry, I just got so caught up things, I thought maybe-"
"Maybe what? That what I felt between us was wrong?"
"What the fuck does any of this matter anymore Murphy!"
"It matters because I trusted you." Murphy was no longer shouting. He just stood there, staring at his brother with such a look of disappointment."I told you how I felt about her, and you stabbed me in the back. You kissed the girl I had feelings for. And now she's gone, because you pushed her away, and I'll never know what could have happened between us. That's why it matters Conner. It matters because you put yourself before me, your own brother. What you did hurt me, and you don't even care."
Before Conner could argue, there was a knock at the door. Both the twins turned to face the door, and Conner swiftly (and quietly) moved to the coffee table where his gun had been sitting while Murphy disappeared back in his room to get his own firearm. Conner crept up to the door slowly, pressing his ear to the door.
"Conner and Murphy McManus," a voice called to them from the other side of the door, he had a Russian accent. Conner feared for the worse, the Volkov family sending someone to pick up the pieces. Murphy reappeared in the doorway of his bedroom, his gun ready. "Valentina Volkov sent us." The voice continued. Conner looked to his brother, whose eyes widened as he shook his head yes for Conner to let the man in. Conner was less trusting.
Murphy snuck over to Conner, and whispered to his brother, "If they hadn't been sent by Val, how else would they know she was alive?" Conner remained silent, but realized his brother actually made a good point. If they were coming just to kill the brothers for them "killing" Val and Vlad, why would they say Val sent them? Conner looked to his brother, and with a simple nod stepped back but kept his gun ready just in case. Murphy straightened his posture and opened the front door, very cautiously, as he took in the sight of the two Russians outside. "Is everything alright with Valentina?"
"Of course Mr. McManus." The first one spoke as Murphy stepped aside and let them in. The man looked at Conner as he entered, taking note of his gun. "I assure you, we are unarmed. Ms. Volkov sent us with a message."
"What message?" Conner asked, feeling uneasy about the situation.
"She's sorry." The second Russian spoke. "She wants you both to come join her in Paris."
Conner looked over at Murphy, his face lit like a kid at Christmas. Conner was less optimistic, and simply looked over the two men carefully, "And why didn't she just come here?"
"Too dangerous for her to travel." The first man answered confidently.
"Did you work for Vladimir?" Conner furthered questioned.
"Of course not." The second man answered, "We were hired by Ms. Volkov."
"And what do you do for Ms. Volkov?" Conner probed more, obviously not trusting either of these men in his house.
"Conner." Murphy hissed his brother's name. "What does it matter?"
"I asked you a question." Conner pressed further, keeping his attention on the Russians.
"Research." The second man answered. The second man and Conner locked stares before Murphy nodded his brother.
"Conner, what the fuck are we waiting for?" Murphy urged.
Conner remained silent, keeping his eyes on the Russians for a good long while before looking at his brother, "You really think this is a good idea?"
"I was right about Val, wasn't I?" Murphy insisted.
Conner looked over his brother's face. What if Murphy was right and Conner denied him this after he had already hurt Murphy so deeply? He didn't want to risk their lives, but he was more afraid of risking his brother's happiness. Defeated, Conner lowered his fun and sighed under his breath. "Then we'll go."