Darkness Before Dawn

on Cole's shirt and let go of Connor's hand as I wiggle myself out of Cole's hold.
    "I'm fine," I whisper to them, looking them both in the eye for assurance, before taking a step toward the men. Both Cole and Connor move with me, and it occurs to me that the two men standing behind me can take the men before me in a fight if it came to that. I close my eyes and pray it doesn't come to that, though. Liam's and Camden's eyes have been locked on me the entire time, both in amazement and apprehension, and I imagine it has to do with the fact that I look so much like my late mother.
    "Speak," I say, crossing my arms in front of me and tilting my head at Brian in expectation. He chuckles and shakes his head in disbelief, looking from me to Liam and Camden. They all seem to agree on something as their mouths turn up for a second before they look back at me.
    "I really didn't know where you were. I swear on that. I found out when Benny called trying to cut a deal with me," Brian says, shaking his head. "I would have looked for you."
    "Why was I with Aunt Shelley and why is her picture in your house?" I demand.
    Brian exhales before his mouth settles in a grim line. "She was my ex-wife, your grandmother. I had no idea she had you. I didn't know you were alive! She disappeared on me—I only knew she was alive because the kids would come over wearing things that I knew she had made for them; but she didn't want anything to do with me. I respected that and stayed away. I'd burned her enough times to make her suffer anymore," he responds quietly before taking out a pack of Benson & Hedges cigarettes from his pocket and lighting one up.
    "Did you know she was sick? For YEARS she was sick! For YEARS she cried every night! For YEARS she talked about love and how you don't give up on real love. For years..." My broken voice trails off when my throat begins to tighten.
    Cole places his hand on my shoulder and kisses my head, pleading with me to calm down. And in that moment I am so disgusted to be associated with these people, even if it's just by name, even if it's just by blood, that I'd do anything to erase the memories from that part of my life out of my head forever.
    "Why are you two so fucking quiet?" Cole snaps.
    I look up to see both Liam and Camden staring at us before ducking their heads. Brian steps forward, flicking his cigarette as he points an accusing finger at Liam.
    "You fucking knew, you little bastard!" Brian says gruffly. "YOU MOTHERFUCKER!" he screams at Liam. "YOU KNEW WHERE SHELLEY WAS ALL ALONG!"
    "Brian-" Liam starts before Brian's fist connects with his jaw, rendering him speechless.
    I gasp just as Cole pushes me behind him, holding my arm with his left hand so I don't move. I sneak a look around him to watch Connor step forward and grab his grandfather. Brian looks at Connor in confusion.
    "Grandpa, let me handle this," Connor says, pacifying his grandfather with a hand on his shoulder.
    Brian shakes his head somberly and looks at Liam again. "You fucking knew where she was? YOU KNEW WHERE SHELLEY WAS THE ENTIRE TIME? WHERE YOUR OWN DAUGHTER WAS?"
    "SHE WAS SAFE THERE, BRIAN!" Liam shouts back.
    "SAFE MY ASS! WHO ELSE KNEW?" Brian demands.
    Liam closes his eyes and takes a breath before opening them again. "I only knew when Blake was at Shelley's. I lost track of her when she was taken away from there because Mark wouldn't give me any information. Cam knew where Cole was, but never touched base with Maggie, so we didn't find out when Blake got there."
    "Maggie? Our friend Maggie?" Brian growls. "And how could Mark tell you and not me?"
    Liam shrugs. "Marky got one of guys not to kill the kids somehow but knew they'd go back for them if they were somewhere obvious. I knew they hadn't gotten killed, so I started asking him, following him. But like I said, Marky's smart, wouldn't leave trails. Cam wanted to set up a bank account for Cole, and Marky drafted everything for it. Maggie's information was there."
    "You knew where I was all those years and you didn't even think of getting me? Of visiting me?" Cole asks, his voice barely a whisper.
    "They would've killed you!" Camden grits. "If I had gone there, they would've killed you! As it is, Benny trailed everything back there looking for Blake, and look at what happened to Maggie then!" he continues.
    "DON'T BLAME THIS ON BLAKE!" Cole screams, his breathing becoming ragged.
    "I'm not blaming it on anyone but ourselves, Cole! It's nobody's fault but ours! I'm