Chapter 28

Daniel knew he was taking advantage of his mother, that she wouldn't be able to tell him no. But in truth, he needed this. He had ulterior motives, but at the core of it, he did need closure. All that time he had been trapped in Andrew Troy's prison, full of impotent fury and utterly useless, the world had gone on without him. Warren, Brian, and Carlo had died and been sent off without his ever being there, not for a single second.

His mother knew. This was his way to mourn them, even if was far too late.

* * *

It was three days later when they held the funeral. Only a mock funeral, technically, but it was as solemn as the real one. There was only direct family gathered here tonight, cousins and aunts, uncles. The ones who hadn't been lost to the slaughter too, anyway. Everyone looked exhausted and grim, but they all shared in each other's sadness and held each other up, joined as family.

Except for two outsiders, ones Daniel had specially invited. He hadn't mentioned he would ask th