UNBREAKABLE BOND

***

“That’s enough Chris.” Damon groused when Chris reached for the bottle of Scotch. “You of all people should know that you can’t solve problems by drinking yourself into a stupor.”

“What the fuck do you suggest I do? Huh?” Chris asked hoarsely. “You know you have to start going for your meetings with another person right?”

“Hell, no,” Damon said sternly. “You’re seeing this through to the end and that’s final.”

Chris groaned. “Has it occurred to you that Shane might not want to do business with you again because of me?” Chris spoke slowly but he wasn’t slurring his words.

“He doesn’t come across as that petty.” Damon guffawed. “He’s a businessman. I don’t think some childhood beef would make him throw everything out. He’s too smart to do that.”

Chris shook his head slowly as he looked at Damon. “It’s not petty, Damon. You have no idea just how serious it was.”

But a sorry from Chris would lessen whatever anger Shane had for his friend. “Tell me you did.” The incident happened years ago for fucks sake, and as the saying went, time was supposed to heal all wounds. From the look of Shane earlier

he’d dropped the bombshell about beating Shane Lewis to a pulp. He’d needed a drink and he was

having consumed the greater portion. A second bottle had been opened and it was already half empty. What actually scared Damon was the fact that Chris didn’t even look drunk. The burden on Chris was obviously too heavy to be drowned by

and apologized to him, Damon. Not that it would have been adequate after what

do you mean you

was doing, saw how badly he was bleeding, saw his tears, the hurt in his

“Damnit, Chris,” Damon swore.

I’d done that to Nick. I grabbed my father’s gun from his study on my way out. Then I ran out of the house, into the woods and I

Chris.”

were no bullets. My father wasn’t so silly after all.” Chris gave a humourless laugh. “I cried my eyes out. When I eventually came back to the house…and that was well over two hours later, it was to find the box of dominos which I’d given to Shane as a gift, at my bedroom door. I nearly died when I saw it. I rushed back downstairs to their quarters, only to find an empty room. Then Mr. Watson, the

that?” Damon sounded incredulous. And at Chris’ nod, Damon swore

connection with Nick.” Chris had just left that country house locked since his father passed away two years earlier. “The last image imprinted on my mind,