by C. A. Rene
He stumbles forward but remains on his feet. He swings around quickly and his elbow connects with my left cheek again and I feel the skin split. I’m not sure what exactly triggers it, maybe the slow trickle of blood, or the pain that’s jarring through my head but I roar as I jump and punch him once on the right cheek and then three more quick blows to the soft spot just under his ribs.
He stumbles again and falls to one knee. I rush forward as I feel the blood drip off my chin and roundhouse kick him. My foot connects with his temple and he falls face down to the mat.
I roll him over and he startles, his hands coming up to his face. Before I know it, I’m straddling his midsection and pummeling his face with my fists.
I hear my name being screamed and it breaks through the red fog. I look up and see my family lined up against the cage and it’s Travis’ voice that filters through.
“Ember! It’s done!” He says.
I look down at The Bishop and his face is a bloody pulpy mess but his chest moves. The fucker is still alive.
I get off him and shake his blood off my fists. I can hear the crowd roaring and the MC trying to scream something over the noise, but I don’t care.
I want out of this cage and into Vin’s arms.
“He wants to talk to you.” Carm tells me when I finally leave my room.
Vin had to butterfly bandage my cheek and my ribs are sore as fuck.
“Why?” I ask Carm.
“I’m not sure but he says it’s important. I’ll have a guard inside with you.”
“That’s unnecessary.” I wave Carm off.
“Ember…” he begins his warning but I’m ahead of him and walking towards the room I know The Bishop is in.
“Em.” Vin calls out. “I’ll be right outside the door.”
I nod and turn the corner to where the room door is. Without bothering to knock, I open the door and enter the room.
He’s sitting on the bed and his face looks like a mottled work of purple and blues.
“I remembered what the sight of blood did for you.” His voice is deep. “Forgive me for hitting you but I needed a fair fight.”
“You wanted to talk?” I cross my arms over my chest and lean against the door.
“Yeah,” he nods. “I know what happened the first night we fought, I’m sorry.”
I nod but words escape me. Talking to him propels me back to that night and I feel all the overwhelming sadness and despair.
“I also know it was Raphael. When I was brought on here as a fighter, he was still in jail and I never met him. I heard stories of his ruthless personality and disregard for life. I came here not to fight you but I knew it was the only way to get you to listen to me. Don’t trust a Torres, none of them.”
“I’m a Torres, Bishop.”
“My name is Johnny.” He says and groans as he grips his jaw. “I know what you are and it’s not a Torres. You are not like them.”
“Who?” I walk forward. “Who’s them? I only know Emmett and Carm.”
“I don’t mean the bloodline. I mean this whole organization. Everything under this roof and beyond is Torres. I came here because I heard you were back and I heard how you were connected to this place. I wanted to warn you.”
I can’t say I understand what the fuck he’s talking about but a part of me has already come to this same conclusion. I already know who I can and can’t trust. At least, I’m almost there.
“Thank you.” I nod.
"Here." He holds out a card. "It's my number if you need me. I'm part of a large network of hired muscle. If you need an army, I can bring one."
I stride forward and take the card. "While Raphael was in jail, did you spend much time here at the base?"
"I was here for fights and sometimes called in for meetings. Why?"
I pull out my phone and find the picture of my grandparents. I hold it out to him and point to my grandfather.
"Do you recognize him?"
He takes my phone from my hand and scrutinizes the photo. "No."
I reach out to take the phone when he says, "but this woman is slightly familiar. There's something in her face that reminds me of someone but I don't think it was here at the base."
"She passed away a long time ago." I take the phone.
"Maybe it's her face." He shrugs. "Sometimes people just have familiar looking faces. You kind of look like her."
"These are my grandparents." I say. "Anyways, thanks for this." I hold up the card and turn to leave.
"Ember," he says before I open the door. "Watch yourself."
I give a quick nod and open the door. Both Vin and Carm turn and watch me closely as I step out and shut the door.
"Everything okay?" Carm is quick ask.
"Yeah." I shrug.
"What did he want?" He continues to inquire.
"Just to apologize for what happened the last time we fought." I shrug again.
"What happened?" Carm has lost his fucking mind, there's no other explanation.
I stop suddenly mid step and turn to look at him, "my mother was murdered by your father." My voice is low and deadly.
"Oh," he has enough sense to look chagrined. "Sorry Hermanita, my head has been all over the place."
"Let's head to your office, I need to discuss a few things." I look at Vin, "get everyone ready to leave."
Vin nods and heads off in the opposite direction. I lead the way to Carm's office with him following close behind me. I can feel the tension he's exuding and it's stifling. I know I snapped on him but honestly my mother's death will never be an easy subject for me to discuss.
I open his office door and step inside. His desk is a mess of papers and stacks of money, this must be my fight earnings.
I take a seat at the desk and he sits at the opposite side.
"Ember..." he begins but I cut him off.
"Carm, it's fine." I rub my temples. "What have you found out about the adoption agency?"
"There is no such agency now. They are completely closed down."
"Okay... but what did you find out about them? They must have a paper trail of when they were open and running. Something."
"There's no paper trail left behind. I tried looking through government files and found nothing legit with the name Love the Tots.” He’s looking me in the eye and I growl in frustration.
“You never did answer me about the picture of my grandparents. Did you recognize them?”
“Sorry Ember, I’ve been crazy busy.” He scrubs a hand down his face. “I’ve never seen them in my life. They were never here.”
“I see.” I nod and feel a sudden onset of despair.
Every lead I get pans out to nothing. Talia is slipping further and further away.
“Don’t give up, we’ll get something.”
“Yeah.” I nod. “Find something useful for Marlana and I don’t mean your bed buddy.”
“You got it.” He nods. He gets up from his chair to embrace me. “Are you sure this is the life you want, Hermanita?”
“It’s the life I chose, Carm. I will see everything to the end.”
“I don’t doubt you.” He kisses the top of my head. “Have a safe drive back.” He hands me five of the ten stacks of bills on his desk.
“Thanks.” I cradle them in my arms and wait for him to open the door.
I follow the hallway back to my room and see Vin there with our bags. “Nice stacks.” He grins.
“All in a day's work.” I push them into my duffle bag.
“What did you learn from Carm?”
“I learned that we're on our own.”
I’m stuck in a car with a singing Emmett and a giggling Adri. I should’ve somehow snuck into the Hummer with Vin and Travis.
“Ember,” Emmett calls back to me.
“Eyes on the road, Champ. You hurt Shelby and we are squaring up.” I mutter.
“Can we go by the cemetery and see our grandparents grave
s?” He skates over my comment like I didn’t just threaten him.
I’m tired as hell but I don’t want to deny him. It’s our family after all.
“Yeah, but I’m dead on my feet. Can we make it a quick one today?”
“As long as we can drop by the mausoleum so I can drop off flowers.” He gives me puppy eyes in the rearview mirror.
I nod and rest my head back against the seat. We enter Whitsborough-the sign reading 'Love thy Neighbour'-and I snort at how serene it looks.
Soon enough, the cemetery pulls into view and Emmett stops at the front office. None of us know where exactly our grandparents are buried and this cemetery is quite large.
I watch as he comes out of the office and gets back in the car.
"They bought a large plot on the outer edge, an older part of the cemetery rarely visited anymore. They said the ground is a bit rougher back there." Emmett says as we drive past newer tombstones.
"Sounds like an adventure today." I say around a yawn.
"My grandparents are buried around there too." Adri adds. "We never visit them because it's not really tended to back there."
"Hmm."
I watch as the tombstones gradually grow darker and more obscured by weed growth as they get older. The trees are larger, casting more shadows than sunlight and the overall feeling this far back is creepy.
Emmett stops Shelby and we all lean forward to look ahead. It's dense with foliage and the tombstones are half buried in the tall grass.
"This is kind of scary." Adri whispers and Emmett nods his head.
"Oh come on, Pussies." I huff. "Let's get this over with."
I get out of the car and start walking along the overgrown cobblestone trail. I swat aside grass as I go, trying to read the names on the tombstones.
“Fuck,” I gasp. “This one is 1920.”
“Over here.” I hear Adri call out.
I turn and see her about thirty yards to my right. I trek it over to her and Emmett, trying not to trip on tree roots.
“Do you find it strange that our aunt and uncle didn’t upkeep their graves?” Emmett asks me as he pulls away the grass and weeds.
“Kind of?” I shrug. “Or it’s just in a weird spot.”
It’s just their names and the dates. Nothing about being loving parents or rest in peace. I can admit that’s slightly strange, even the most disliked people get an R.I.P.
“Laurann J. Craven and Jack R. Craven.” Emmett reads.
I hear a twig snap behind us and turn to try and see through the dense trees.
“I’m done here.” Adri says, throwing her hands up and walking back to the car.
“Me too.” I shoulder bump Emmett. “Kiss the stone or whatever and let’s bounce.”
Emmett rolls his eyes and crosses himself then follows me back to the car.
“A quick stop at the mausoleum and then we can head home.” He states as he turns the car around.
“I don’t want to go back to those graves,” Adri rubs her arms. “It felt haunted.”
“It’s a cemetery, Adrianna.” Emmett scoffs. “Of course it’s haunted.”
“I know what you mean.” I reach forward and squeeze her shoulder. “I felt it too.”
We pull up to our nice manicured mausoleum with zero weeds and beautiful stone angels carved into its walls. A drastic difference to the graves we just left behind.
Emmett leads us up the walkway and unlocks the door, holding it open. When I step inside, I exhale a sigh of relief. My mother is here along with my ma and dad. I can feel them in here more so than anywhere else.
“Ember,” Emmett calls me. “Over here.”
I turn to look at him standing in front of Travis’ birth mother’s grave. I wanted Sonja in here too because she was just as much family as the rest.
“What is it?” I ask as I get closer. I swear to God, if something happened to her marker, I would sue the fuck out of this cemetery.
Emmett is pointing to the empty slot underneath Sonja’s as I stand beside him. When I look closer I see there’s an inscription.
Thomas Williams - You were always family no matter the blood. Rest in peace.
“Tommy?” My voice is hoarse as my hand reaches out to touch the brass plate. “But how?” I feel the tears gathering in my eyes.
“We found out he was cremated and his foster home put him in a generic hole in the wall at the cemetery in New York. I know who he was to you and thought he deserved better.”
Adri comes up beside me to wrap her arms around my waist, hugging me close. “He’s family too.” She whispers and I lose it.
I haven’t properly grieved Tommy. I have been pushing it down deep inside and telling myself one day I will acknowledge what happened and my part in it all. But now I’m forced to do it and even though I’m happy he’s here, I can’t afford to lose myself in grief.
My hand shakes as I run my fingers across his name and my mind spirals through all our memories. He was my first friend, he taught me how to ride a bike, took care of me at school, and finally, worked for a gang together.
He came to every one of my fights and made sure I was always home safe. When we lived in the projects, he would stay with my mom when I had to work, just to make sure she was safe. Tommy was more than a friend, he was my brother, too.
He's dead because of me.
My psychotic father thought he was a traitor because he wouldn't help them take me. Because he warned me they were coming and he tried his best to get to me first. His loyalty to me cost him his life and I could do nothing to prevent it.
His face swims before my eyes, dark eyes, shaggy dark hair, and skin the colour of honey. The pain is crippling and I can't stop the sobs that break free from my chest.
I never got the chance to tell Tommy how much he meant to me and the impact he had on my life when I had no one else. He saved me from certain death inside my burning home and I watched helplessly as he was killed.
"Ember." Emmett's arms encircle me and crush me to his chest. "He knew how much you loved him."
I continue to pour my feelings out into Emmett's shirt and my body shakes with the force of my sobs.
"Tommy was complicated with us but he was always protecting you. Whenever Carm wanted a meeting he would refuse and tell him he'd pass along any message. None of us could get close to you, that's why I never knew you existed. He loved you and he knew you loved him too."
I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket but I don't have the energy to pick it up. After the fight and now this, all I want to do is get home to Vin and snuggle into his warmth.
Soon after mine stops, Emmett’s starts up. Since he still has me in his arms, Adri digs around in his pocket and pulls it out.
“Hey Trav.” She says in a low voice. “What?”
The sudden spike in her voice has me turning quickly. “What is it?”
“Where are you?” She asks into the phone and then puts it on speaker.
“Just past the Whitsborough sign. He just took him in. I’m going to head to the station.”
“What the fuck is going on?” I say exasperated.
“Moore just arrested Vin on suspicion of murder.”
19
I don’t remember leaving the cemetery, I can’t even remember how the hell I got us to the station so fast but I finally come to my senses when I pull up beside Travis and the Hummer.
“Where is he?” I jump out of Shelby and Travis grabs my arm.
“We have to be smart, E. I want to storm in there too but we have a lot of blood on our hands. I called my father’s old attorney, he’s going to call the station and get back to us.”
“I’m going in there.” They know better than to try and stop me because at this point I will lay anyone flat who stands between me and my man.
The door flies open and the cop sitting at the front desk stands abruptly.
“Young lady-”
“Where’s my fiancé?” I
cut him off.
“Who?” He looks confused.
“Fuck!” I turn on him. “Where is Moore?”
“Chief Moore?” He stutters a bit.
“No idiot, Demi Moore.” I growl at him. “Obviously, Chief Moore!”
Someone grabs my arm but I shrug out of it. I don’t care if I’m acting irrational, I want my soul back.
“Chief Moore is on vacation for the next week.” The cop’s face looks completely lost.
“That’s impossible…” Emmett’s voice drowns out as I let everything sink in.
“We need to leave now.” I turn and head out of the station.
“Wait!” I hear Emmett calling. “What’s going on?”
I get back to Shelby and stand there quietly. I need to do this right, there can’t be any mistakes. I turn and look at Travis.
“You know what this is right?” He nods solemnly. “Call the lawyer off, none of this can be done by the books.”
“Guys?” Adri’s shaking voice cuts through. “What’s happening?”
“Was Moore in uniform?” I ask Travis.
“No,” he shakes his head. “Street clothes and an unmarked vehicle. I told Vin to stay in the car but he just told me to call you.”
“Moore has taken Vin.” I begin to pace. “It’s payback for fucking up his little side business here in Whitsborough.”
“What will he do to him?” Adri asks.
“If it was me, I'd do nothing and use him as a bargaining chip for the bigger player.” I mutter.
“That would be you.” Emmett says. “Sorry Ember but I’m not trading you for anyone.”
“That would be my decision, Emmett.”
“Like fuck it is!” He bellows. “I just found you, you’re my family! You’re my twin!”
“If everything goes right, nothing will happen to me Emmett.” I see the pain in his eyes and I want to soothe him. But I know the words coming from my mouth will mean nothing if something has happened to Vin.
“Call Carm please. I’m going to need his help and resources on this one.” I ask Emmett.
“What can we do?” Adri asks, pointing at Travis and herself.
