Of course, he did.Asshole.
“H-have they identified the remains?”
Sacha squeezed my arm. “The body they found was burned so badly, it was unrecognizable. Dental records were inconclusive, but they believe it was your brother.”
My heart twisted, squeezing in agony.No. Not Damien. I was coming back for him in a few days. I was coming!
My breath wheezed out.
“And my m-mom?”
Sacha cleared his throat. “She wasn’t home at the time, but when she learned what happened to your brother, she had a breakdown. No one could console her, so she was committed to a mental facility for treatment. I’m not sure of the exact location, but I can track her down if you want.” He paused, his gaze full of sympathy. “I’m sorry, Adrik.”
My stomach churned. This was all my fault. I never should have abandoned my brother.
And now he’s dead.
A sob worked its way loose, unbidden. I turned my face away, not wanting Sacha to see me fall apart.Get a grip, man. You can’t lose it in front of Sacha.
Sucking in a breath, I forced myself to regain my composure.
“Yes, I would appreciate if you could tell me where my mom’s at.”
Sacha jerked his head in a nod. “No problem. I’m sorry about your brother.”
A heavy, painful weight settled into my chest, pressing down hard, sinking in so deep it felt like a giant boulder had taken up residence inside me.
I’d failed Damien. I’d taken too long to go back for him. All the things I’d worked so hard for had been fornothing. I hadn’t done what I promised.
Sacha cleared his throat, obviously uncomfortable. He jerked his head toward my Toyota parked down the street. “Why don’t you leave your car there for now and I’ll have someone give you a ride home?”
“No.” I shook my head. I didn’t want to be around anyone right now. Icouldn’t. “But thanks.”
Sacha hesitated. “Okay. How about you take a few days off? You don’t have to come back to work until Monday.”
I nodded slowly, still numb.
Sacha eyed me with concern for a moment longer, then he turned and went back inside the property, the gates closing behind him.
Ignoring the guards’ stares, I turned and ambled down the road toward my car in state of shock, my heart a shredded, pulverized mess.
My brother was dead.
It was too much. I couldn’t deal with this.
I failed him.
I reached my car, sliding behind the wheel, shock swirling around.
Damien…
My breath hitched.
He was only fifteen. Just a boy…
Grief slammed into me like a locomotive, knocking the breath from my lungs.
I slumped forward, banging my head against the steering wheel again and again as anguished sobs tore from my lungs. “Nooo!”