Prologue

  Autumn — Fifteen Years Ago

  “Let’s get going, boys,” William Anders hollered toward the upstairs bedrooms where his two sons, Bradley and Daniel, lie. He had been in the kitchen preparing a hearty morning meal while listening to the news murmuring from the TV in the adjacent living room of his sprawling, marble-trimmed home.

  A small voice echoed from upstairs, soft and half-lost against the high ceilings. “Okay, Dad, I’m almost ready,” called twelve-year-old Bradley from his room. “I’ll be down in a minute.”

  William didn’t hear it. Or maybe he chose not to.

  He rose from the recliner with a grunt and strode toward the grand white staircase. “I said hurry your asses up,” he barked, boots thudding against the marble. “You’re gonna be late for school!”

  At the landing, he veered left and swung open Daniel’s bedroom door, flipping the light switch with a practiced flick. He wasn’t surprised to find his eldest—sixteen just last week—still sprawled atop his comforter, face buried under the pillow. Typical. Mornings were a war of attrition with that one.

  William crept in. Daniel’s low murmur drifted through the room like a sleep-stained radio. It was nonsense—dream-talk, probably—but familiar. He had a habit of falling asleep with the phone pressed to his cheek, whispering into it long past midnight, on long talks with his girlfriend.

  Bradley, now dressed in black shorts and a white T-shirt, tiptoed up to the doorway and leaned in, setting his backpack quietly beside him in the hallway. A sly grin crept onto his face. He loved watching this part.

  William, grinning like a trickster general, yanked open the blinds. Morning sunlight sliced across Daniel’s face. Still no movement. He reached for the pillow.

  “I love you, Collie,” Daniel mumbled sweetly.

  It was like a gunshot in a library.

  Bradley slapped both hands over his mouth to stifle the burst of laughter threatening to explode. William’s shoulders were already shaking. Daniel, sleeping peacefully in a dream-world touchdown zone, had no idea.

  They knew Daniel was dating Lena. The idea of him being gay? Not a concern—just hilarious ammunition.

  “Daniel,” William said, deadpan.

  No response.

  He leaned closer. “Having a good dream?”

  Daniel murmured a sleepy, “Yes.”

  “Well, maybe,” William added with rising volume, “if you got off the damn phone and slept like a human, stuff like THIS wouldn’t happen!”

  And with that, he snatched Daniel’s hand and foot, yanked hard—and dumped his son flat onto the hardwood with a thud.

  Daniel groaned and cracked one eye open just in time to see William offer him a hand. He reached for it on instinct.

  Squish.

  The raw egg exploded on contact, yolk and albumen smearing down Daniel’s forearm and face.

  That woke Daniel up—in a hurry. He launched to his feet with a curse, shaking his goo-covered limbs as Bradley howled.

  “You’re an asshole, Dad,” Daniel gasped, wiping slime off his cheek.

  “I know,” William said cheerfully, unfazed. “But you love me anyway.”

  Daniel chuckled through gritted teeth and pulled him into a hug.

  The hug lingered—longer than Bradley expected. And even though William cracked jokes and slung eggs, the way he gripped Daniel’s back suggested something heavier.

  A mother-shaped absence still echoed in this house. And lately, the Anders men had grown closer—one defiant breakfast at a time.

  “Go on,” William said softly. “Get ready for school.”

  William and Bradley descended the stairs side by side and moved into the kitchen, where the sizzle of a hot skillet welcomed them. William grabbed a pair of eggs from the fridge and cracked them directly onto the griddle. A rich aroma of bacon already clung to the air.

  A few minutes later, Daniel reappeared at the top of the stairs, freshly dressed in tan khaki shorts and a black button-down. A navy Dallas Cowboys ball cap sat backward on his head, and his eyes were still half-lidded with sleep.

  His sneakers thumped against the marble steps as he made his way down. By the time he reached the bottom floor, the scent of breakfast had wrapped around him like a hook.

  Daniel took a seat beside Bradley at the dining room table. Plates were already waiting—steaming eggs and crispy bacon, toast stacked neatly, glasses of orange juice reflecting soft sunlight off the polished wood. He dug in without hesitation.

  “So,” William said casually, lifting his mug of coffee, “did you two sleep alright?”

  “I did,” Bradley chirped. “I had this dream that a giant dinosaur was chasing me. She was not nice.”

  William chuckled at that, rubbing the sleep from his face. Then he turned his gaze toward Daniel. “And you, Romeo? How were your dreams?”

  Daniel hesitated. “Actually… I had two. Last one, I was dreaming about football.”

  At that, Bradley nearly choked on his juice.

  William gave him a knowing smirk. “Football, huh?”

  “Yeah,” Daniel said, chewing. “It was kinda intense, actually—Collie caught this insane pass and—”

  Bradley was vibrating with laughter now, and William could not hold it any longer.

  “Been having some other thoughts about Collie, too?” he teased, biting back a grin.

  Daniel blinked, confused. “What are you talking about?”

  William leaned forward and said whimsically, “I love you, Collie.” He nailed Daniel’s sleepy tone perfectly.

  Bradley burst into open laughter.

  Daniel froze, face flushing bright crimson. “I said that?”

  “Oh yeah,” William nodded. “Right in your sleep. Clear as day.”

  “I mean… I had just thrown a game-winning touchdown to him in the dream,” Daniel muttered, ears burning. But the laughter was rolling too hard now. He shifted in his seat, desperate for an out.

  “I also had a dream that Mom was still alive,” he blurted.

  The room went quiet. The sharp clatter of silverware against porcelain echoed like a gunshot.

  Bradley’s glass trembled in his hand. His eyes welled up instantly, lip trembling, tears falling freely as he dropped his gaze, and the glass to the floor, which shattered and spilled the orange juice everywhere.

  Daniel looked at him—and the guilt hit like a freight train. “I—I didn’t mean—”

  Bradley rose quietly from his chair and walked out of the room, breakfast untouched and forgotten.

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  Daniel stared after him, throat tightening. “I didn’t mean to upset him,” he murmured.

  “I know,” William replied quietly, voice steady but eyes distant.

  A long silence settled between father and son, the weight of an absence pressing at the edges of the morning. The laughter from minutes ago had vanished, replaced by the echo of old sorrow.

  William let out a slow breath, then stood up and gathered the plates with practiced ease. “Go grab your stuff. I’ll warm his food back up when he’s ready.”

  Daniel hesitated, nodding once before slipping away toward the hallway.

  William carried the plates into the kitchen but paused beside the marble counter. For a moment, he simply stood there, unmoving. Then he reached for his coffee, took a slow sip, and blinked against the sudden sting behind his eyes.

  Daniel headed upstairs, but rather than going to his own room, he stopped at Bradley’s door and waited for a long second before knocking softly.

  “Hey, Brad? Can I come in?”

  There was a pause. Then a muffled, quiet, “Yeah.”

  Daniel opened the door slowly.

  Bradley was sitting on the edge of his bed, elbows resting on his knees, head lowered, his thumbs nervously worrying at the fabric of his shorts. His eyes were red, his mouth pulled tight.

  Daniel stepped inside and gently closed the door behind him.

  “I’m sorry,” he said, voice low, stepping closer. “I wasn’t thinking.”

  Bradley shook his head slowly. “It’s not your fault.”

  Daniel sat beside him on the bed. “Still. I should’ve known better. I know you still miss her.”

  They sat in silence for a long beat, the muffled ticking of the hallway clock filtering through the door like the slow drip of a memory neither of them wanted to touch.

  “I dreamed about her last week,” Bradley said finally. “She was in the kitchen, wearing that dumb apron that said, ‘Kiss the Cook,’ even though she never let anyone actually kiss her while she was cooking.”

  Daniel smiled faintly. “She’d whack you with a spatula if you tried.”

  “I didn’t want to wake up,” Bradley whispered. “It felt real.”

  Daniel swallowed the lump in his throat. “I miss her too, you know. Every single day.”

  Bradley’s voice cracked. “It’s not fair.”

  “I know,” Daniel comforted. “It hasn’t even been a full year yet since she died. We are all still adjusting. It hasn’t been easy. I still cry sometimes, too. You are not alone, Little Bro.”

  Daniel reached over, wrapped an arm around his brother’s shoulders, and pulled him in. Bradley didn’t resist. For the first time that morning, he leaned into the warmth, into the comfort that only his big brother could give.

  “We still got each other,” Daniel said, quietly but firmly. “And Dad. That’s what she’d want. Us sticking together.”

  Bradley nodded against him.

  After a few moments, Daniel stood and offered his hand.

  Bradley took it.

  “Come on,” Daniel said softly. “Dad’s probably worried you’ll starve if you skip bacon.”

  Bradley almost smiled. “I’d never skip bacon.”

  And together, they stepped back into the light and returned to the kitchen, where Bradley decided to finish his breakfast.

  The rest of breakfast passed in quiet routine. William cleaned up Bradley’s mess, and once everyone was fed and dressed, they piled into his SUV and headed off to their schools.

  That afternoon, Daniel slid into his usual seat beside Lena, bypassing the lunch line. He’d never liked school food—it ranked somewhere between soggy cardboard and mild punishment—so today, like most days, he’d brought his own. Just a couple of ham sandwiches and a crumpled bag of chips. Nothing fancy.

  He tore open the chips. Lena grinned and slipped her fingers into the bag, snatching one like a thief in daylight.

  Daniel growled playfully, low and territorial like a dog guarding its bowl.

  Without missing a beat, Lena flicked his nose. “Bad puppy.”

  He gave a theatrical whimper. “Ow.”

  They’d been dating for just over three months, but it already felt like it had been longer. They hadn’t rushed into anything physical—no kissing, no pressure. Mutual respect was their rhythm. Still, every glance was heavy with something unspoken. Something soon.

  She reached for another chip. He caught her hand mid-theft, his fingers folding softly around hers. She was already looking at him. Their eyes held for several moments. Both of them were silently contemplating whether or not this was the right time.

  Daniel was the first to conclude that it absolutely was, and with no further hesitation, leaned in.

  When his lips brushed hers, it felt like stepping off a cliff and finding wings. She kissed him back, arms sliding around his neck like she’d been waiting her whole life for that one moment. What started as the most tender moment they’d shared was quickly ruined when…

  CLANG.

  A lunch tray slammed onto the table.

  Daniel and Lena pulled apart quickly, flushed and flustered. So much for the perfect moment.

  “Hey, break it up, numb nuts,” laughed Collie, dropping into the seat across from them.

  Both Daniel and Lena shot scathing looks at Collie for a moment for ruining their first-ever kiss. Even though the moment had been rudely ruined, the moment Daniel looked back at Lena and saw how she was looking and smiling back, her hand in his, he smiled wide and unashamed—he knew it was worth it.

  Collie arched an eyebrow at his stepsister. “You’re really kissing this guy? He eats dirt off the football field.”

  Daniel fired back with a one-finger salute.

  Collie returned it with flair.

  “I love dirt,” Lena shot back, snickering.

  They all laughed.

  Despite being related by marriage, Collie was fiercely protective of Lena. Daniel still remembered the first time he’d asked for a date—how Collie had stared him down and said, “You hurt her, I’ll find out. I know where you go to school.”

  Now, the dynamic was easy, playful, even familial.

  “You boys ready for the big game tonight?” Lena asked.

  Daniel and Collie chimed in unison: “Yup.”

  The Eagles had clawed their way to the playoffs for the first time in nearly thirty years. Tonight’s game was the final regular-season match. The opponent? The state’s top-ranked, undefeated powerhouse.

  “If we win this,” Collie grinned, “those Bulldogs are gonna get flung back where they came from while we scream, ‘Back that ass up!’”

  Cheers erupted from nearby tables.

  “Go Eagles!” someone shouted, and soon the whole cafeteria thundered with the signature two-stomp-clap rhythm of school pride.

  Daniel slid his arm around Lena’s shoulders—just as the loudspeaker crackled.

  “Daniel Anders, please report to the principal’s office.”

  His stomach sank. What now? He reluctantly rose to his feet and began making his way out of the cafeteria toward the main office. By the time he reached the entrance hall, his pace had settled into something measured. He collected himself and then entered the office, immediately noticing his father inside, alongside Principal Calloway.

  The visual demeanor William was projecting was quite the opposite of his usual laid-back, more playful persona. He looked like he’d seen the end of the world.

  “Dad?” Daniel asked. “What’s going on?”

  “You’re going home for the day, that’s all,” Calloway said quickly. “You’re not in any trouble.”

  Daniel heard the principal’s answer, but he absolutely didn’t buy it for a second. His father was the only clue he needed. This certainly wasn’t like him.

  “Then what’s wrong?” Daniel looked at his father. “Dad?”

  William’s voice was clipped. Urgent. “We have to go. Now.”

  “Why? What happened?”

  “No time—just move.”

  He grabbed Daniel’s arm and pulled him into the hallway.

  Lena and Collie were standing just outside the door as William and Daniel stepped out into the hall. As usual, since they’d started dating, Lena followed Daniel, and Collie usually followed her whenever he could, a testament to their close-knit friendship.

  “Where are you going?” Lena asked.

  Daniel glanced back, still confused. “I don’t know!”

  Lena and Collie thought about skipping school and following, but ultimately decided against it.

  “I love you, Daniel,” Lena said as she wrapped him up in a sweet embrace and kissed him fiercely. Moments later, she pulled away with a huge smile on her face and retreated to the cafeteria with Collie following close behind.

  Daniel climbed back into his father’s SUV at the same time as William, and they didn’t hesitate. They reversed, then pulled away as the tires kicked up smoke and squealed their protests.

  Daniel was growing increasingly concerned at that moment. He had never seen his father in such an anxious state. He struggled to make sense of the change, but nothing came to mind.

  “Dad, what’s the matter?” he asked with concern.

  William kept his eyes focused on the road and didn’t answer.

  Daniel didn’t press the matter. He felt sure that William had a valid reason for acting in the manner he was. He looked in his side mirror and noticed that a black SUV was behind them, a short distance, being driven by a single male occupant. He thought nothing of it. It was purely mundane—until his father turned down a side street.

  The turn down the side road wasn’t unusual. His father always followed the same route to pick up his children from school. It was simply the easiest route to take. But this time, when Bo turned, so did the other SUV.

  Again, nothing to arouse concern. Nothing out of the ordinary. Then out of nowhere, the driver of the trailing SUV started accelerating hard.

  “Dad, there’s a car following us,” Daniel exclaimed. “He’s speeding up! He’s going to ram us!”

  And he did. The driver smacked into the tail end of the car, causing it to jolt violently. Daniel and William’s bodies responded accordingly.

  “Fuck,” William yelled.

  The other driver backed off, sped back up, and rammed them a second time. On the second strike, the rear window of William’s SUV shattered. William swerved, ran partially off road, but quickly corrected and returned to the pavement.

  Daniel didn’t say it, but he was terrified beyond belief. This other driver was really being aggressive, trying to wreck them out and trying to either injure or kill them. Neither of the outcomes was inviting. Yet, Daniel kept his composure, though he had gripped the armrest and handle so tight that his knuckles had started to ache.

  The other driver sped up again. Only this time, he didn’t ram them. Instead, he diverted into the oncoming lane and appeared as though he was about to pass, but he pulled up alongside them and matched William’s speed.

  Daniel and William shot a glance at the vehicle. They were unable to see much through the tinted windows. The passenger window of that SUV rolled down, and two loud shots rang out. Blood erupted from the side of William’s head towards Daniel, splattering all over his face.

  “DAD,” he yelled in horror as he processed what had just happened. His father was shot once on the left side of his neck and head, just above and in front of the ear.

  William slumped forward as his SUV veered sharply to the right, then hit the ditch and started rolling sideways. Wreckage and debris were flung into the air as it tumbled at least two full rotations before coming to rest on the roof.

  At the end of it all, the SUV was a mangled heap of destruction. William and Daniel were dead. The second SUV sped away and disappeared. Police would later find it abandoned and set ablaze, leaving behind no trace of who had been driving it or who it had belonged to. By all accounts, this absolutely could have been the perfect crime.