The Almighty Tom Sullivan

Chapter 002

"Prepare everything for my arrival," Tom said, his voice cold and commanding.

The voice at the other end of the line was steady, from Joshua, showing much respect to Tom in silence.

"How's everything back home?" Tom asked, pacing the room now.

"It's not good, sir" Joshua admitted. "The family's been in chaos since your disappearance. Everyone's fighting to take control, but Gabriel… he's been getting a lot of support."

The bitter bile rose in his throat as Tom's jaw clamped down hard. Gabriel, his supposedly trusted brotherly friend, leading the pack to steal his rightful place. That betrayal had rankled deep, though not nearly so much as the outrage of him poisoning Tom's food. His voice barely above a whisper: "Gabriel. that sly rat."

Joshua's voice cut in, almost as if sensing Tom’s thoughts. "He’s convinced some of the elders that he’s the rightful leader, but the rest are divided. They’re just waiting for someone strong enough to unite them."

Tom clenched his fists. "They’ll know soon enough," he said, his tone sharp. "I’m coming back to reclaim what’s mine. I’m the true general. Let them know I’m returning."

"Yes, my lord. It shall be done," Joshua said respectfully.

Tom cut off the call, putting down the receiver with a resounding finality. His head was in a whirlwind, but one thought remained at the center-Lisa.

He needed to find her and take her along with him. She had stood with him when no one else would. He couldn't leave her behind.

He looked at the broken glass on the floor.

"They made her suffer because of me," he whispered to himself. "But no more."

He knew what he had to do.

*************

Lisa stepped into her grandfather's mansion, the soft hum of laughter, clinking glasses, and the strains of music floated in the air.

A few guests looked at her as she passed, their eyes cutting into her with pity.

"She looks so pathetic," someone murmured just loud enough for Lisa to hear. "Imagine throwing away her life for a poor loser like Tom."

Lisa kept her gaze forward, pretending not to notice.

Another voice joined in, a woman's scoffing laugh. "He must have used some kind of charm on her. No other explanation for this… embarrassment to the Winchesters."

Lisa firmed her fists, burning as she tried to ignore them.

As she moved further into the room, her mother approached her, her eyes scanning Lisa's plain dress.

"My, my, Lisa…" Her mother's voice was soft, but her tone was riddled with disgust. "Look at you. You've lost so much weight. All that time spent caring for that… retarded poor loser must have worn you out."

Lisa swallowed, forcing herself to appear calm. She wanted to say something, to defend Tom, but she knew her words would only make it worse.

Her mother went on with a mocking smile. "Maybe it's about time you reconsidered this little… mistake of yours. You had so much more potential, Lisa. And now look at you. Dressed like… this."

Lisa's throat clutched, but she refused to let the tears fall. She straightened herself, looking her mother right in the eye. "I came to honor Grandpa's birthday, not to discuss my choices."

Lisa followed her mother through the crowd, toward her grandfather, who sat in a grand chair, his face stern as he accepted lavish gifts from guests. She took a deep breath, hoping he'd be glad to see her.

As she approached, his cold gaze fixed on her. "Lisa," he said, voice flat. "What are you doing here?"

Lisa forced a smile. "Happy birthday, Grandpa," she said softly, ignoring his tone. She held out her gift—a leather-bound journal.

He looked at the gift she had in her hands, his face contorted with much irritation. "A journal?" he scoffed, holding the thing up as if it was worthless. "Is this what you bring me? A notebook?"

Delilah, dressed in designer wear clinging to her, stepped forward and looked at Lisa from head to toe, narrowing on the journal in their grandfather's hand.

Really, Lisa?" Delilah sneered, her voice loud enough to draw more attention. "You come here, and this is what you bring? A piece of street garbage?"

Lisa turned to face her sister, keeping her voice steady. "It wasn't meant as disrespect, Delilah. It's a gift. Just because it doesn't cost a fortune doesn't mean it's worthless. Show me some respect.

Delilah snorted, crossing her arms over her chest. "You actually expect respect for simply sitting in a chair? Respect is about money, about living in reality-and not on some poor sap like Tom, and calling it love."

Lisa fisted her hands at her sides, holding down the surge of anger. "I wouldn't expect you to understand. Tom is worth more than dollars and cents to me.

Delilah laughed coldly and mockingly. "Worth more? Look at you, Lisa. You're practically a nobody. No real future, no status, just playing house with some nobody."

Lisa looked back into her sister's face and tried to control her temper. "At least I have something real. Not just a quick marriage to a rich man, just so you can divorce him and steal half his property."

Delilah smirked, crossing her arms as she looked Lisa up and down disdainfully. "You really think clinging to a nobody makes you special, Lisa?" she said. "Every day, you're practically begging him to remember you're married. What's the point? He'd be better off if he—"

"Enough." The word cut through the room, from their grandfather's lips, silencing Delilah. His gaze swept over everybody. "Take a seat. All of you. You can continue this nonsense later."

Lisa frowned at Delilah, then held her gaze steady, concealing the hurt and anger inside her.

Delilah simply shrugged, unbothered, and turned away.

Lisa reached for a seat like the rest, but her grandfather rose up, his hand raised and staying her.

"Not you, Lisa," he said cold and judgmental. "You don't deserve to sit-not after your… choices-and certainly not after presenting me with that absurd gift, which is a journal?" He laughed icily at her. "You should not be even let near this mansion.

"Out of respect for the family name, I've allowed you here tonight. But don't think that means acceptance, Lisa," he said, turning his back to her.

Lisa looked down. The guests resumed their whispering, their quiet murmurs full of pity.

The doors to the hall burst open, and the murmurs died in one accord. All eyes were now set on the doorway as a tall figure dressed in a crisp, expensive beach shirt with white trousers entered into the hall.

The attention fell on him, and his good looks stirred murmurs through the room.

Lisa's heart skipped a beat as she turned to see Tom standing there, looking every bit the man she ever imagined, but looked even stronger and more assured.

Her mother's face contorted into one of pure disgust. "What's this poverty doing here?" she sneered. "Did you bring this… disgrace into our home, Lisa?"

Tom was cool, calm, and collected as his gaze scanned the room, finally coming to rest upon Lisa's grandfather. "Anyone who disrespects my wife disrespects me," he said in a low, even tone.

Laughter erupted among the guests as Delilah took the lead, her jeering blatant. "You think you deserve respect?" she shot at him, crossing her arms. "You don't even know who you are, Tom. You're no one.

More laughter erupted as jeering eyes darted around the guests, but Tom did not flinch; he smiled faintly, allowed them all to laugh.

"Is that what you think, Delilah?" he asked, his eyes never straying from her face. There was even an edge in the amusement in his voice.

Delilah raised her chin, disregarding him. "You are a forgotten nobody, clinging on to Lisa because you are nothing without her," Delilah spat.

Tom's smile grew, and he met her gaze with a calm that silenced the laughter in the room. "You think I don't know who I am? That I don't remember?"

Then he turned to Delilah, his voice low and firm.

"I remember everything."