BLOOD TIES (Decklan Jennings Thriller Book 1), Philip Duncan [bill gates book recommendations TXT] 📗

and skilled soldier and probably knew the same about Langley, but two against a small army was nothing short of a massive disadvantage. Vladimir was smart, cunning, resourceful, and did anything to get the job done. His lack of compassion for human lives made him exponentially more dangerous because he wasn’t concerned with collateral damage. He was even willing to sacrifice his own men if it was for the greater cause. This guy was a Russian Genghis Khan.

“What’re the chances that Vladimir and his guys are on their way here now?” Decklan asked, already assuming the answer.

“If we are assuming that he’s the one responsible for your family, then that means he knows where you live. So the chances that he’s coming now could be high. However, if there is one thing I have learned about him over the years, it’s that as reckless as he can seem, he never does anything without a plan,” Langley said. “My best guess would be we have some time before they come knocking.”

“That’s reassuring,” Decklan replied sarcastically. “So what do you think our best move is right now?”

“We know that he was following us, because how else would he know we were at the docks? But with that being said, I think our best move is to stay here and try to utilize home court advantage. No one knows this house better than you, so we need to make sure there’s not anywhere they can get in and catch us by surprise. If they want to take us on, they will have to come through the front door.”

Decklan started showing Langley every point of entry. The front door, the four windows in the dining room, the two in the front of the living room, a side door leading into the kitchen, the window above the sink, the back door leading out to the back porch facing the beach, and all the windows in the basement, along with both garage doors. Then they went upstairs to check all the windows. Each one brought up painful memories of what once was, and Langley could see it in Decklan’s face.

“Hey man, I can check out the rest up here. Why don’t you go back downstairs and put some coffee on? It’s going to be a long night.” Langley said kindly hoping it would help ease the pain for Decklan.

Without responding, Decklan turned and headed back downstairs. He knew eventually he would have to face the pain head-on. Eventually, if he lived through what was going to take place, he would have to pack up and move. There was no way he could bear the thought of living in this house every day, knowing what it used to be like. But for now, he had to push through and finish what he promised he would do so his family could rest in peace. He had it in his head that they couldn’t be at peace as long as the men responsible were still free. He imagined that they were living in eternal pain and misery until he stepped up and finally did something to help them, since he failed so terribly when they were alive.

I’m so sorry. I should have been here. I should have protected all of you. Please know this is not your fault, it’s mine. I promise I will make this right. I love you three so much!

It had been almost a month since their passing, but it still felt like yesterday. People said time heals all wounds, but that couldn’t apply to this. Nothing and no one could ever prepare him for the pain of losing a child, much less two. And to lose them in the way that he did—it was unimaginable, but it was his reality. He knew Langley felt the same kind of pain but wondered if it was the same as losing them so young. At least his son got to grow up and live life a little. Decklan’s kids didn’t even get to see their teens, and his precious princess never saw double digits.

God, if you can hear me, I need you to answer one question. Why would you allow this to happen to my family? Why would you allow two young and innocent souls to be taken away in such a brutal way? It doesn’t make any sense to me. What could I have done for you to allow this to happen? They were just kids.

Decklan wasn’t expecting answers to his questions; he just wanted God to know how pissed off he was.

Langley finally made his way back downstairs and the house was secure. He looked over at Decklan. “Hey, I know you and your brother aren’t exactly best friends, but do you think we should give him a heads-up about what happened at the docks?”

“I’d say if he was still having us followed, he already knows. I suspect he will try calling me or even stopping by sometime soon,” Decklan replied.

“Do you think it’s worth trying to get his help? Since he is the chief of police and all.”

Decklan shook his head. “I don’t want him knowing about anything we are doing. He’s not an idiot and he knows how I am. I’m sure he knows I’m not just going to sit back and watch from the sidelines.”

Langley could tell Decklan didn’t want to keep talking about this, so he didn’t press any further. The last time Decklan needed and wanted his brother’s help, it didn’t turn out well. And it wasn’t just with his family’s murder; it had always been this way. Part of why they were never close, besides Decklan going off to the military shortly after their parent’s deaths, was because Parker wasn’t exactly mister reliable. Decklan lost count of how many times he needed his brother’s help, and each time had the same result. What was worse than that was the fact that Parker expected everyone to drop what they were doing to help him out when he needed it.

In the span