Both brothers watched her, piecing together what her life must have been, what she'd given up, and why. Silence stretched as she watched her brothers' anger slowly fade into realization and concern.
“Who was it?” asked Marcus at last. “I mean, we all know it was the gang, but how could you know who in particular?”
Kyara shook her head.
“Let it go,” she said, “It's still better if ... I don't want you getting hurt.”
“Hey, I can take care of myself,” said Marcus, but Kyara shook her head.
“It wasn't enough, OK? And you didn't see them, you didn't talk to them. They will kill you if they think you know.”
“Which raises the question,” said Trip, always the deeper thinker, “why they didn't just kill you.”
Kyara didn't answer, avoiding his eyes.
“Yeah, see,” Marcus jumped on the thought, “they're full of empty threats. So tell me. Tell us. We have the right to know.”
Kyara kept her mouth shut.
“Goddamnit,” cursed Marcus, yelling again. “Just say it.”
“That's enough, Marcus,” said Trip firmly.
“No it isn't fucking enough,” yelled Marcus. “She needs to tell us. We deserve...”
“I said, that's enough,” stated the huge elder brother, his deep voice getting louder for the first time all night. “You agreed to keep it in check if I let you come with me.”
“That was before...” tried Marcus again, but Trip cut him off once more.
“Before nothing,” stated Trip flatly. “Take a breath, or you can fly yourself home right now.”
Marcus stood from the table abruptly, every inch of him protesting the constraints he was under. Without a word, he left the room, slamming the door behind him.
I wonder what he'll do when he realizes he just stormed into the bathroom? Kyara had to wonder, too tired and worried to find much amusement in it. She let her eyes return to her older brother.
“He agreed to keep it in check?” she asked tentatively.
Trip shook his head.
“He wanted to come up here with handcuffs and a sack and bring you back. We had to have a long talk before I agreed to pay for his plane ticket.”
Kyara took that in.
“I though his physical trainer job was paying well?” she asked, her exhausted mind flitting over insignificant details instead of returning to the real topic.
“Not as well as being a lawyer,” pointed out Trip.
“Oh, right,” said Kyara. The side-conversation dwindled away.
“It was Devante, wasn't it?” Trip asked into the silence.
Kyara's head jerked up, her mouth falling open.
“How did you? How long have you known?” she asked, astonished.
Trip shook his head.
“I had my suspicions when you were going out. You just confirmed them, was all.”