“Finley, would you get Beckett something to drink, please?” Beckett caught my less-than-pleasant expression.“Water will be fine. Not too much ice. Add a slice of lemon.” He reached for my hand and electric currents blazed up my arm. “And don’t spit in it.”“That’s a lot to remember. You’ll understand if I forget at least one of those commands.”

“Beckett removed her hand. “Go up there with my brother. Don’t fight my battles for me, Livia.”

“I want to go into the sympathy card business. . . Forget sappy messages about overcoming. I want ones that say NOW YOU’LL BE A LESSER PERSON THAN YOU WERE or WE CANNOT POSSIBLY UNDERSTAND or I CAN UNDERSTAND BECAUSE SOMEONE I KNOW DIED TOO or maybe something about how grief can make your skin feel sore and bruised and electric because that’s how my skin has felt ever since, except for my hands.”

“Where’s the bride-to-be?” Beckett held his arms open for Kyle and gave her a gentle hug. “Good on you, Fairy Princess, making an honest man out of my boy here. Jesus was treating him like shit; he was never getting laid. I hope you two have a million damn kids and name them all Beckett, boys or girls.”Kyle returned the hug and smirked. “We might name our dog Beckett, if you’re lucky.”Beckett laughed a bit too loudly. He seemed desperate to make up for lost time.”

“Why can’t you remember your Shakespeare and forget the third-raters. You’ll find what you’re trying to say in him- as you’ll find everything else worth saying. 'We are such stuff as dreams are made on, and our little life is rounded with sleep.''- 'Fine! That’s beautiful. But I wasn’t trying to say that. We are such stuff as manure is made on, so let’s drink up and forget it. That’s more my idea.”

“Rick, you sick, ass-sucking fuck, I want you to know I’m not here because you beat me. I’m not even here just because you beat children. There are lots of ways I could get you for that. But you’re going to die like the gasping pussy you are because…” Beckett advanced until he was nose to nose with Rick.“You.” Beckett pushed on Rick’s shoulder until he kneeled.“Touched.” Beckett leveled the pistol between Rick’s eyes.“My.” Beckett cocked the hammer with a quiet click.“Brothers.” Beckett smiled as he pulled the trigger.”