by C. A. Rene
“What’s going to happen now?” Adri whispers.
“Whatever Em wants to happen. With one exception.” I answer her.
“What’s that?”
“I’m going to kill Moore.”
“We all are.” Travis growls and my eyebrows shoot up in surprise.
“We are?”
“Yeah,” he nods. “He fucked with our family and got one of us killed. We pay him back with Greene's revenge.”
“I like that.” I grin at him.
“Like what?” Em asks as she walks-slowly-into the room.
Still no regrets.
“They’re talking about revenge.” Emmett stands and pulls her in for another hug. I watch as he buries his head into her hair and I know I’m witnessing the bond twins possess.
“My jam.” Em purrs and I just want to drill into her pussy again.
Her eyes meet mine and I give her a grin. I see you Baby girl, the way you’re walking tells everyone I fucking own you.
Travis pulls her over to him and she burrows into his chest. This is our family, nothing between us, no lines drawn. We love each other hard and we’d kill to protect our sanctity.
Adri is next as she wraps her arms around Em’s waist.
“I’ve been so lost without you. We’ve never been apart this long.” Adri tells her and Em wipes a tear from her eye.
“Never again.” She vows.
Finally, she turns and makes her way to me. I’m sitting on the single chair and she just curls herself up in my lap and sinks her face into my neck.
“This is what home smells like.” She murmurs into my skin.
“That’s because it's where you belong.”
She kisses my cheek and adjusts herself in my lap, I’m betting Baby girl is sore.
“Where’s Moore?” She asks.
“How’d you get out?” I counter.
“I promise that story is going to take a lot of explaining. Let’s hear the Moore situation first.”
“We received some information yesterday.” Travis starts. “An envelope was left at the doorstep. The video showed a man with a fedora on and a scarf wrapped around his face. Nothing stood out.”
“This envelope contained actual court ordered documents stating that Moore is in Witness Protection.” Adri cuts in.
“But not just that,” I say softly into her ear. “Also where he’s being held in Witness Protection.”
“I’d cream for that information, you know, if my pussy wasn’t broken.” She grumbles.
I snort and everyone else just looks different shades of amused, except Emmett, he looks slightly sick.
“Now, your turn.” I nudge her.
28
How do I tell them this and not start a world war three? I don't know how to articulate my truce with Talia and somehow keep them calm at the same time.
Because of this woman, Adri was illegally adopted, Travis and Vin's father had dealings with her, and Emmett and I lost our aunt and uncle.
I could say I agreed to just about anything to get out of there but that's not completely true. I was intrigued and still am. I want to know what she knows and I have so many questions regarding the dealings she's had with my family.
I take a deep breath, "Talia."
"What?" Emmett leans forward.
"Talia sprung me out of jail." So far so good.
Vin is like a stone statue behind me, unmoving. Travis looks like he's trying to Google Translate whatever the fuck I just said, and Adri is as white as a ghost.
"Explain." Emmett says quietly.
"I have nothing right now except I've been acquitted of murder in the first degree and she was there when I was released. I signed some papers which I left in the fucking limo so hopefully she brings those, and she told me she wants a truce for today to discuss things."
"Brings those?" Vin murmurs darkly.
Always so fucking observant, "yeah." I nod and a nervous flutter attacks my insides. "She's coming here to have a meeting."
"A meeting?" Emmett's eyebrows shoot up. "A certified villain will be in this house."
"One would argue I'm a certified villain, too." I tell him.
"You're having a parley." Travis nods.
"Exactly!" I snap my fingers. "A Parley!"
"A parley is done when opposing sides decide to try to come to an agreement," Vin is still speaking too calmly. "Is that what this is?"
"It's a ceasefire to find out information." I hold my hands up.
"It's a good idea." Travis nods, which shocks the fuck out of me but he's always been the most logical one.
When everyone turns their eyes on him, I sigh in relief.
"It is." He nods. "Think about it, this woman has had her hands in so many pots and she would know way more than us. She has years on us and she's always a few steps ahead, there's a reason for that. I want to know what she knows."
I've been nodding my head this whole time, almost frantically so and Vin slips his big hand through my strands and clenches a fist near my scalp. I suck in a breath and I'm rendered shocked at his new dominant behaviour, I'm not sure I like it yet.
He pulls my head back, "stop nodding. You already made a deal with the devil and we can't back down. It's done. When does this parley happen?"
I swallow down the slightly fearful reaction I have to his stern words, "today."
I make my voice strong and sure. I am Ember fucking Torres, no one-not even my soul-will intimidate me.
He releases my hair and nudges me from his lap. "I guess we should prepare then, huh?"
I stand and watch as he speaks to Emmett. "Get shit together, this could be an ambush. This would be the perfect opportunity to take us all out in one shot. We need to arm ourselves." His narrowed eyes slide to me, "would have been better if we had a bit more time to call in some forces but it is what it is."
I watch as he turns and walks out of the family room. This is the most detached I've felt from Vin. He's not treating me differently really, he's just different and I understand why. He was taken, beaten, starved, and held at knife point. That changes a person.
I won't push him and I can only hope he comes around.
"He's been through a lot." Travis echoes my thoughts.
"Yeah, I know."
"So have you, don't think we've missed the bruising on your face."
I don't answer and instead just shrug.
"Find each other again." Travis says as he leaves the room.
"Ember?" Adri says from behind me.
"Yeah." I turn and look at her.
"Carm left something for you."
"What do you mean?" I question her.
"It's on the desk in your office."
"It's a large manila envelope." Emmett cuts in. "I would've opened it but it didn't have my name on it."
I rush out of the room and right into my office, only to find Vin sitting on the chair in the corner.
"I thought they would tell you." He says as he scrubs his hand over his chin. "I won't be left in the dark any longer Em. You will open that with me here and then you're going to tell me exactly what you found in his office."
I should feel some sort of anger towards his attitude, not this throbbing in my very broken vagina.
I don't bother to answer him because whatever, so I sit at the desk and stare at the envelope with Emberlise Torres written on the front.
I flip it over and rip open the flap to slide the documents out. On top is a letter in Carm's writing and the overwhelming rush of despair chokes me for a few seconds. I will never see him again. I won't be called Hermanita again. I gather myself and begin to read the letter.
Emberlise Torres,
Don't get mad, that's your name.
Reading that line takes me back to when he sent me the knife to Vin's cottage so long ago.
I want to start by apologizing to you. I'm sorry it took me so long to give you my complete loyalty and you kn
ow why. I know you took that file from my office and I know you know what it all means.
With that being said, it's no excuse for what I've done or better yet, what I haven't done to help you. Inside this envelope is everything I ever found on Jennifer Talia and kept to myself, including all business dealings through Love the Tots. I know I lied to you when I said I found nothing.
There were a lot of illegal dealings with them but I can't see anything really wrong. They took children and infants from terrible homes and sold them to better homes. Yes, they made a profit but foster care is worse in a lot of cases.
If you're reading this then I didn't make it out and I can only hope you did. If you did then don't blame yourself because I did the right thing. I saved you.
Emmett needs you more than he ever needed me. I can see your bond and in a year it's so much stronger than his and mine. I leave him in good hands and I know you can take care of him. Let him take care of you too, he's more than capable even though he can be an idiot at times.
You are the strongest person I have ever met, you see something impossible and work tirelessly to make it possible. You face down the most formidable opponents and laugh as you watch them fall. I have never been so proud of anyone in my entire life. I don't fear the Torres name ending with you having it.
You are not our father, you never were anything like him. He led out of fear but you lead out of respect. I am trusting the Rampage to you, the Head corporation to you and finally, the Torres empire to you. I trust you will do what's right, you always do.
I'm ending this on a confession and since I am already dead, you can't kill me. I slept with Marlana. I couldn't help how drawn we were to each other and now that I'm dead, please continue to keep her safe. She can change. She can be good.
I love you and please tell Emmett I love him too. He was always a better person than me and his heart is ten times bigger than yours and mine.
Your big hermano always,
Carmelo Torres
I wipe the tears from my cheeks and hand Vin the paper. He squeezes my hand before he takes it. As he’s reading that, I begin sifting through the papers on his desk. Some I already knew from the file I took but others are a complete surprise.
I really need to know what the fuck Talia is up to.
All our phones ping with an alert and I know it’s her coming up the drive. Call it intuition or some shit.
“Bitch is here.” Emmett snarls as he opens the front door.
I’m not going to ask him to be nice, she is a bitch and to be honest, I may not be so welcoming either. After all the shit I read in that file, I want to throttle the little woman.
“She kind of reminds me of those old school supervillains that were short and bossy and the henchmen were always big and dumb.” I state.
“I don’t care.” Emmett shrugs. “I’ll still sink a knife in her eye.”
Sounds about right. He is wearing his belt of knives.
I stand out on the front step with him and watch as three SUV’s follow behind a limo-not unlike the one I rode in earlier. Four men get out and walk to the limo, opening the door for her fucking majesty.
“Is this real?” Vin says from behind me, his voice sounding amused.
“She is on enemy territory.” I shrug. “I killed her son.”
“Carm killed her son.” Emmett corrects.
“No, it all started with me.”
“Shut up and get your heads straight.” Vin snaps. “We need to be focused.”
There goes my broken vagina again, she’s straight up loving asshole Vin.
Talia gets out of the limo and raises her hand to wave at us, like we’re her fucking groupies.
“Bitch…” Emmett begins and starts to stalk towards her.
I reach out just in time to grab the back of his shirt and drag him back.
“Keep a calm head, Mano.” I ground out.
“Trust me, Emmett.” Vin cuts in as he watches Talia walk towards us. “I will hold her down for you if shit gets out of hand.”
“That sounds close to non-consent and kind of gross.” I mutter.
“Fuck off.” Vin snorts.
“Hello.” Talia says as she faces us in her scarf and sunglasses. “This is a nice house. Debra and Scott had excellent tastes.”
“Don’t fucking say their names,” I growl and step forward.
“Yes!” Emmett says excitedly. “Can I get stabby?”
“Guys.” Vin says in warning and I look up to see three men with guns drawn.
“Let’s talk and clear some things up, shall we?” Talia asks with her head cocked to the side.
I get the distinct impression that this bitch isn’t all there.
We all back up collectively and move aside for her to step inside first and followed by her three armed guards.
“Follow me.” I tell them and lead her to the kitchen. “Want something to drink?”
“Yes, please.” She sits at the table. “Anything sealed.”
I snort and pull out a bottle of water. Hope the bitch drowns on a mouthful.
Adri and Travis come into the kitchen. Adri warily watches Talia and Travis doesn’t bother to keep the disdain off his face.
“Talia,” he growls. “You’ve been a thorn in our sides.”
“Call me Jenna.” She glosses over everything he’s said.
“Jenna… Talia?” Emmett looks around the table at each of us. “Is this a bad Austin Powers movie?”
Adri was taking a drink while Emmett was talking and now said mouthful is sprayed all over my face.
“Funny.” Talia chuckles. “Very much like her.”
“Like whom?” I ask as I wipe the water off my face.
“Your mother of course.”
The room becomes still with silence and the tension is weighed down like a humid summer day.
“I’m going to need an explanation.” I say quietly.
“That’s why I’m here.” She nods. “But let’s start with the information you possess regarding your brother Carmelo Torres.”
“No.” Emmett seethes. “We call the shots and you are never to speak his name.”
“Hold on.” I say to him. “This is important.”
Emmett looks at me with shock and I reach across the table to grab his hand.
“I didn’t purposely keep any information from you guys, I did it because I couldn’t validate any of it. Carm had a file in his office that contained a letter from Talia here and a DNA test.”
“DNA test?” Emmett’s brow is creased in confusion.
“Yes. One that states a certain Jennifer Talia to be his biological mother.”
“That’s impossible.” Emmett shakes his head.
“You’re correct.” Talia says as she sips her water. “Ember dear, those documents were forged as you well know.”
“Yes,” I agree. “Carm left me an envelope containing proof that Talia is not his mother and he had only just found out the truth last month.”
“Why did you lie to him?” Emmett’s chair screeches as he goes to stand.
“I didn’t.” Talia shrugs. “But I have an idea who did.”
Emmett sits back down and motions for her to continue.
“I’ll start at the beginning.”
29
There’s just something so oddly familiar about this little lady and the feeling is creeping me out. I can’t put my finger on it but every time she cocks her head or shrugs, it throws me off.
She seems slightly unhinged-not that that’s uncommon in this town-but not in a maniacal way, more subtle and… medicated maybe?
“I’ll start at the beginning.” She states and waves her hand about her head.
With that movement I’m knocked into a state of shock. I know why this woman is so familiar and I open my mouth to say it but she beats me to the punch.
“My name is Laurann Jennifer Craven.”
No one speaks.
No one moves.
I can hear the creaks of the house, the wind hitting the window panes, and the accelerated breathing of my family.
“Well, I’ve captured the house boys.” She says with a giggle that matches Ember’s to the T right along with that wave. “I am Ember and Emmett’s grandmother.”
Em’s mouth is opening and shutting like a fucking fish and Emmett looks like he could pass out.
She finally removes her sunglasses and I can see it in the shape of her face, so much like Ember and Emmett’s. But, it’s her eyes that finally sells me. They are Debra’s eyes, a dark chocolate brown.
Em sees it and covers her mouth. She looks over to me and I stand. She needs me and I will always be there when she feels weak. Family makes Em weak in the best possible way. It gives balance to all her fierce strength.
I come to her, picking her up, and placing her back in my lap.
“Yes, you’re Sharla’s boy.” Laurann nods. “Rebecca would be proud to see her daughter with you.”
“You don’t look like your wedding photo.” Emmett is the first to speak.
“No, I wouldn’t. I’ve had work done to look unrecognizable.” She lifts the scarf off her head and points to a scar running from her ear to her collarbone. “I had many enemies in Whitsborough because I killed my husband. After he tried to kill me, of course.”
“I’m so lost.” Em shakes her head.
“Bear with me,” Laurann says as she smooths down her mahogany hair. “I’ve never told this story.”
She takes another sip of her water and looks at Emmett.
“I’m sorry you never knew your mother, you are so very much like her. It makes my heart ache with how much I miss her.
“Rebecca was eight years old when I started to notice how much Jack watched her. At first, I chalked it up to her enigmatic personality and how much she loved life. Debra was different, she was an old soul in a young girl’s body. She saw things in a different light and could sense evil in a way Rebecca couldn’t.
