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.”

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 that day, Damon could tell he

dropped the bombshell about beating Shane Lewis to a pulp.

the greater portion. A second bottle had been opened and it was already half empty. What actually scared Damon was the fact

apologized to him, Damon. Not that it would have been adequate after what I did to him but...”

mean you

away that very night. When I realized what I was doing, saw how badly he was bleeding, saw his tears,

“Damnit, Chris,” Damon swore.

of the house, into the woods and I kept running. I’ve

God, 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

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

never saw him again…till today. You have no idea the guilt I’ve lived with all these years. I never went to that house again. I just couldn’t. But I haven’t been able to let go of that house either. It’s like…my only 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, of Shane…is not a pleasant one. I tried countless times to find them once I came of age but I never found them. It was like they