BLOOD TIES (Decklan Jennings Thriller Book 1) by Philip Duncan (book recommendations for young adults txt) 📕

“That’s exactly where you belong after what you’ve done!” Decklan yelled back, as another bullet struck the same tree.

“You’re going to have to kill me then! Because I’m not leaving this place with you!” Parker said.

Decklan only had his pistol with him since Parker had his rifle and the rest of his weapons were back at his truck. He slid the clip out to take a look.

Nine, plus one in the chamber.

It wasn’t much, but he didn’t need much with his marksmanship. The only problem was he had no idea where Parker was, and it seemed that Parker knew exactly where he was. He was going to have to be careful or he could easily catch one of Parker’s bullets.

“Parker, we both know how this is going to end. Just put gun down and show yourself. Enough people have died because of your actions. I’m tired of death ruling my life,” Decklan said, hoping to convince his brother to give up before it was too late.

“Fuck you, big brother! I’m sick and tired of your holier than thou bullshit that you’ve been spinning since we were kids,” Parker yelled back, in growing frustration.

Decklan could hear the uneasiness in Parker’s voice. It was a tone he had grown accustomed to in war. It was an indication that someone was no longer thinking rationally, and that meant there was no reasoning with them. He knew he needed to get Parker distracted for a few seconds. Decklan didn’t need much time to make a move.

“You’re right, Parker. I have always acted like I was better than you and I have let you down too many times in our lives. I’m sorry, I truly am. You deserved better than that and I should have been there for you more, especially when Mom and Dad died. It was my job as your big brother to take care of you, and I failed,” Decklan said.

Parker didn’t say anything back.

“Parker, I need you to say something.”

Still nothing, so Decklan went to gain some ground but before he could make it two steps, another shot barely missed its mark.

“Shit!” Decklan said as he jumped back behind cover.

“I know what you’re trying to do, and I’m not buying it!” Parker yelled.

Decklan knew it was a long shot that this would work on the first try, but he had to keep trying or he would have no way of getting out of this.

“I’m not trying to do anything, Parker. I promise. I should have told you this a long time ago. I abandoned you when you needed me the most. I let you down, and for that I’ll never forgive myself,” Decklan said, trying to deescalate the situation. “I almost called you a hundred times over the years to tell you how sorry I was. You deserved better than that.”

“I just don’t understand why you left. After Mom and Dad died, we only had each other, and you just left,” Parker said.

This was a good sign for Decklan. Even if he couldn’t get Parker to calm down, he might be able to distract him long enough for him to get closer and possibly figure out where he was.

“To be honest, I’m not really sure myself. I just woke up one day and realized I wasn’t happy and needed to get away, so I did,” Decklan said. “I never even thought how it might affect you until it was too late.”

“You know, I never told you this, but I tried killing myself after you left,” Parker said.

Decklan could hear the emotion in Parker’s voice. The longer this conversation went on, the more unhinged he was getting.

“What! Why?” Decklan said, completely shocked.

“I had lost everyone I ever loved in the span of three months. I was all alone with no purpose. I spent most days drinking and smoking weed. My life had no meaning and I had nothing to look forward to,” Parker explained. “What else was there?”

“There’s always a reason to keep going, Parker,” Decklan said, acting as if the same thought never crossed his mind since losing his family. “There’s always something.”

“Well, that’s not how I saw it,” Parker said.

“So what happened?” Decklan asked, as he was able to slowly start moving closer to where the shots had been coming from.

The fact that he wasn’t dodging bullets meant Parker wasn’t paying attention. The plan was working.

“I found a bunch of pills in Mom and Dad's bathroom. I had no idea what they were, but I figured if I took enough of them that would get the job done. The next thing I know, Emma was shaking me with such force that I came back for a few seconds before passing back out. She called an ambulance and they rushed me to the emergency room. They said if she had been just a couple of minutes later, I would have died.”

Decklan was still moving closer without resistance but needed to keep the conversation going.

“I didn’t know you all had started dating yet,” Decklan said, trying not to say too much so he didn’t alert Parker that he was getting closer.

“Yeah man, she saved my life that day and every day after. She was my angel and my saving grace. Now she’s dead because of me.”

Parker, finally realizing he wasn’t paying attention, turned back around in Decklan’s direction.

“Shit!” Decklan heard Parker say as he started firing more shots into the woods. The only problem was Decklan was no longer in the same position.

Decklan was now close enough and at the right angle to get a visual of his brother. Parker was looking around in panic, not knowing what to do. Even after everything he had done and been responsible for, Decklan couldn’t help but feel pity for his little brother. He knew he wasn’t without blame for how Parker turned out, but it didn’t take away the fact that he made the choices that he did.

Decklan held up his gun, lined up the shot and waited