by M. Skye
Richmond walked up and whispered in Tyree’s ear, “I’m just thinking about how much I want to be with my family, and that is enough to silence the voice in my head screaming to kill him.”
“I guess I need to think those thoughts,” Tyree said, “because the voice I’m hearing is telling me to break his neck.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less, but come on. We have something to settle here.”
Tyree walked in, and Richmond hung back for a second before walking in. Once he saw the armed guards walking out, he went in, saw Tyree’s livid expression, and put a hand on his shoulder. “It’s going to be okay.”
Richmond was eerily calm, and Tyree got a bad feeling but brushed it off once he heard Jake’s laughter. When Rock walked over and closed the door, he knew something was up. Watching the two men conversing back and forth, Tyree scratched his head and turned back to Jake. “All right, bitch, let’s talk. Tell me why you put your hands on my wife.”
“Have a seat, boys,” Jake hissed. “Let’s kick this show off.”
* * *
“You have to wake up, kid,” Janelle whispered against Chloe’s forehead. “If you don’t wake up, I’ll never forgive myself. I can’t believe I got you in this mess.”
Mia had been sitting back, watching in disbelief. She still was amazed that her sister was sitting in front of her. They had all been talking for hours, but it still didn’t seem real. After leaving the morgue with Rick and Cassandra, Mia and Janelle had come up to check on Chloe, who still hadn’t woken after her emergency Cesarean.
The babies were both underweight, but healthy. The doctors were hopeful with a few tube feedings they would be fine, but they were going to keep them until they got up to at least five pounds. Little Tristen was already at four, but the girl was only three. Both Mia and Janelle had been to see them and even given the doctors the name for Tristen. They weren’t sure what to call the girl. Chloe hadn’t decided on a name for her yet. Mia said she would leave that honor for when she woke up. She was sure Chloe would wake up.
“You know it’s not your fault, right? She would have never been in that house if I hadn’t told her to stay there. I was so sure he was a good guy, and I let him around her.”
“If I’ve learned anything these past six years, it’s that you can’t read everyone. I used to think Dad was this monster, but never once in the past six years has he let me or Jenna fall in harm’s way. I think we may have been wrong about him.”
Mia nodded slowly. “If he saved you, I know I was. I thought I would never see you again. I never thought you would be standing in front of me, and with a baby, no less.” She laughed with tears rolling down her cheeks.
“Jen is hardly a baby. She’s five going on thirty-five. She’s so smart and such a sweetheart. I can’t wait for you to meet her. She’s going to love her aunt Mia.”
“Where is she?”
“With Karen. I thought, well, I thought they should meet, and I didn’t want her here.”
“Why?”
“I didn’t tell her Jenna was Miguel’s, but I’m sure she figured it out. She looks like a mixture of you and him. I swear, how do all the kids in our family come out looking like either you or him? If I didn’t know any better, I would swear Kyan was his.” She was trying to lighten the mood with jokes, but Mia was shocked by her admission.
“Miguel is her dad? Does he know?”
“No, and before you judge me, I haven’t seen him. We haven’t talked, and I’m not sure if I want to. He never wanted kids, and I didn’t want to blindside him. I wanted to think this out before the time came that I had to face him, but things got crazy, and we had to come. Once Dad figured out Jake was the one behind everything, he had to warn you and Rick. He came to your house one night to talk to you, but you weren’t there.”
“Tyree freaked out. He kept me out of the house the rest of the night, but you’re wrong about Miguel. He has changed so much since he thought you died. He went through a bad patch, but he is a better guy now. I think meeting his daughter will mean the world to him.”
“I don’t know, Mia. I don’t want to bring him into her life and have him freak out. She’s my world, and I can’t have him disappointing her.”
“Let him surprise you. You should see him with the kids. He is the best uncle, and I just know he would be a good father. I can’t believe you’re a mother. My baby has grown up.”
“You’re not that much older than me,” Janelle laughed. “You always did try to act all old.” Janelle wrapped her arms around Mia, and she sank into the hug, enjoying the moment.
Mia let Janelle go and looked back at Chloe, brushing a hand over her cheek. “How did you meet?
“By mistake. I left the house one day, Dad was livid by the way, but I ran into her, and she was crying. I sat and talked to her and figured out that she was afraid of this Will guy. I never put it together that she was Renae’s sister or that the Will guy was Jake’s brother, but I’m not sure how we missed the Renae thing. They look so much alike. Anyways, she would come over to the house and visit me, and Jenna and Dad saw her one day and flipped. He said we couldn’t have visitors or interact with people we didn’t know, but I couldn’t turn my back on her. She was just an innocent kid, and I needed to make sure she would be okay, so I gave her money and told her what to do once she got here. I knew if you met her, you would click. I just know you so well, and that one day you would see her at Gina’s and speak.”
“You had that much faith in me?”
“I was right, wasn’t I?”
“Yeah. I saw her one day trying to juggle one too many plates and grabbed one. We have been cool since then. She said she met someone who reminded her of me, and she even showed me a picture of you and your daughter. I thought . . .” Mia started laughing and Janelle’s eyebrows raised.
“You thought what?”
“I thought your daughter was our sister and that you were some woman Dad was dealing with. I couldn’t see your face in the picture, and I had no reason to think you were still alive. I was pissed because she had Mom’s middle name. She was calling you Lenae, and it never clicked with me because you hate that name. I never thought in a million years you would be calling yourself that.”
“First of all, I wasn’t my idea to use that horrid name. Dad just thought it up because he didn’t want to have to explain to Jenna why my name suddenly changed. He knew it would be easier to explain a middle name rather than a whole new one. Second of all, gross. Who would have another kid with Dad?” She laughed. “People think he’s a murderer.”
“Really? You know some women find that sexy,” Mia chuckled. “But really, though, how did you know about Renae, or even Jake, for that matter? Although I think we should be calling him something else. Isn’t his real name Anderson or some shit? Hell, how did I not know who he really was? I lived with that man for two years.”
“Just because you couldn’t see us doesn’t mean we weren’t there. We would pop in on you guys from time to time, and I would sneak off to see you guys sometimes in the middle of the night. And as for him, he is a con artist to the fullest. Dad says he has been living this lie for over six years.”
Mia took on a look like she remembered something. “A few years back, my first night back here, was that you in Kyan’s room? He screamed that someone touched him. Tyree and Miguel saw this figure on camera, and they never figured out who it was. I never even knew where the cameras were, but Anderson said Whitney helped him set them up.”
“That little dipshit. She was always jealous of us. Her parents treated her like a princess and kept her away from this bullshit we had to endure, and she’s jealous because we got to live this dangerous life? I swear I would have traded with her any day.”
“You never liked her, and you didn’t get to know her like I did. I think toward the end, she regretted everything. Look, you’re getting me off subject, was it you or not?”
“Yeah, it was me. I missed you guys, and I couldn’t risk you
seeing me, so I waited until you were asleep. I don’t know if you took Dad seriously, but really, your house was easy to get into.”
“Okay, okay, I get it. I need to do something about security.”
“Well, duh, you act like you don’t have the funds. Stop being cheap and invest in a high-dollar system.”
“I kind of feel like I shouldn’t need it now that Anderson is caught and I know Dad isn’t trying to kill me.” Mia saw a sadness wash over Janelle. “What’s wrong?”
“I hate that you thought that, because he really loves us. He made mistakes when we were growing up, but you should see him with Jenna. He’s her hero. She worships him. I just wish Kyan could have had that and that Jenna and Kyan could have grown up together.”
“I’m open to getting to know him, but I’m not so sure about Rick. They have shared a lot of bad blood over the years, and I just don’t know if they can bounce back.”
“I hope they can because I can tell Dad misses you both.”
“Yeah, me too.” Mia looked back at Chloe and sighed. “What if she doesn’t wake up? How are those babies going to know about their amazing mother?”
“Don’t think that way. She will. We just have to have faith. I can’t make myself believe that she came this far just to let it end like this.” Just as Janelle finished her last statement, she heard a faint call behind her. She turned to see Chloe’s eyes opening slowly, and she formed a gorgeous smile. “Hey, kid.”
“Lenae? What are you doing here?”
“This is my family.” She reached for Mia’s hand. “This is my big sister.”
“Wow, small world.” Chloe managed a laugh.
“Yeah, it is.” Mia brushed the hair from her forehead. “Now on to business. There is a little girl in there who needs a name. What’s it going to be?”
Chloe pulled herself up in the bed, and Mia gave her the water glass between them. “Thanks.” She took a drink of the water, and Mia smiled. “I think her name should be a mixture of the two women who mean the world to me. Now the problem is figuring out which name goes first.”
“I have first dibs,” Janelle snapped, and Mia rolled her eyes. “What? I’ve never had a kid named after me, and I just thought it would be nice.” They all started laughing, and Mia stopped to look at her cell phone. While looking down, her attention was quickly snapped back when she heard Janelle’s screams and the beeping of the monitors.
Chloe was coughing and shaking, gasping for air. Janelle was trying her hardest to calm her down, but nothing she did worked. In the middle of everything, Mia walked over and grabbed Chloe’s hand. As if things slowed down for a minute, Mia heard the words falling from the girl’s lips clearly and allowed tears to roll down her cheeks. “Take care of the kids. Don’t tell them about me. Just love them like your own.”
Shortly afterward, the nurses and doctors raced in trying to bring her back, but it was too late. Mia and Janelle watched as Chloe’s gown was ripped open and the defibrillator pads were pressed to her chest. The doctor screamed, “Clear,” and the whole room went silent for a few seconds. Mia could hear her heart beating in her ears. Janelle was gripping her hand tightly. Her palms were sweaty.
“Clear!” The doctor’s voice sounded through the room once again as the first attempt to revive her didn’t work. Chloe was lying there, helpless, with the life draining out of her, and all Mia and Janelle could do was watch.
The monitor began to flatline, and after several attempts with the defibrillator, they called it. Mia and Janelle were both drenched in tears, and the only thing Mia could think of was the kids. She would do as Chloe asked and take care of them, but she couldn’t agree to the other part. She would always make sure they knew everything Chloe did to bring them into the world, and she also knew exactly what name to give her new baby girl: Chloe Janelle Johnston.
Standing outside the room, Mia felt herself hyperventilating. “I have to get out of here.”
“You want me to come with you?” asked Janelle.
“No.” Mia squeezed her hand gently. “I need a minute. Go call Miguel. Don’t miss one more second with the man you love and your daughter.”
“How did you know I love him?”
“I know you.”
Janelle nodded and walked down the hall, turning back to Mia once as she reached the elevator. As soon as she disappeared, Mia dug her hand into her purse and pulled out Jude’s letter. Finally convincing herself to read it, she tore the envelope open and sat down in a vacant chair. Reading the neatly scribbled words, she found her emotions taking over.
Aunt Mia,
Well, I’m not really sure if I can still call you that after this. I wanted to write you because I needed you to know how much you changed my life. You and Uncle Ty were the first to show me any kindness in this family, and I know it was mostly because of you. Know that I love Whitney. The rest of this is going to be difficult to say, but I need it out in the open.
I came across these pictures, some with Uncle Ty and some with Jake. I’m not sure what it was all about, and I never wanted to be the one to tell you my suspicions about her, but I think she’s up to something. I didn’t want to believe it. I wanted to think she loved me and only me, but I fear I’m wrong. God, I wish I could have found what you guys have. You give me hope. If I hadn’t witnessed it for myself, I would have never known that kind of love exists.
I may be leaving here soon, but know that it in no way changes anything about us. I still want to be able to visit and call you with my asinine problems. I want you to still see me as family even though things with Whitney have failed miserably. Tell Uncle Ty I’m sorry I couldn’t keep my promise to always take care of her, but I can’t do this with her any longer. There will always be a part of me that loves her, but I can’t get married to a woman I can’t trust.
I love you, and I hope you understand,
Jude
P.S. Tell little man I’ll still come to his games when he joins the football team.
Folding the letter again, she stuffed it into the envelope. Kissing it gently, she placed it back in her purse. “I still love you, Jude,” she whispered into the air. “I’ll always love you, and I will never forget you.” Deciding it was time she found her husband, she set off, thinking there was only one place that would keep him occupied so long: Anderson’s room.
* * *
Tyree let out a boisterous laugh and pulled a chair next to Anderson’s bedside. “Don’t make me fuck you up.” He was calm in his tone, but his demeanor was anything but. Richmond and Rock had been watching him cautiously, trying to make sure he didn’t lose his cool, and so far he had been doing fine.
“Let’s be real, Tyree. Ty,” he snickered. “You can’t do shit to me. You make one wrong move, those guards out there will arrest your ass. Daddy substitute numbers one and two won’t be able to get you out of that. Your hands are tied.”
Tyree lifted his hands and locked eyes with Anderson. “You’re right, I can’t touch you. As much as I would like to rip your dick off and burn it in front of you, I can’t, but what I can do is let you in on a little secret.”
“A secret, huh? You don’t know one. It took you forever to figure out I was the one messing with you. You were so dumb you let me move into your house and spend time with your wife all because she thought I was this martyr. I bet it’s still eating at you that you failed at protecting her. I took everything you had, and you were powerless to stop it.”
“You may have taken it temporarily, but that woman is mine. Her heart, her body, her very soul belongs to me, and I will never lose that. She is the only reason you’re still sitting here talking to me. If she weren’t a factor, I would have killed you. I just wanted to look you in the eye and let you know that you lost. You may have caused a ripple and pitted us against each other for a brief period, but we are stronger than ever.” He stood over him and looked down with such seriousness in his eyes that it startled the men behind him. “You don’t win.”
While Tyree st
epped back into the comforting embrace of Rock, Richmond cleared his throat and looked over at Anderson, crossing his arms over his chest. When he started laughing, Rock and Tyree looked at him in confusion. “You did all this because of your wife. Angie, that sweet little thing, she was something. I remember her. Fondly, I might add.”
Anderson’s eyes went grim, and his lips curved into a hateful scowl. “Don’t you talk about her. You and that bastard took her from me! She was perfect.”
“Yeah, she was perfect. She was an angel. She loved you and only you,” Richmond mocked.
“She was having my baby! It meant everything to us.”
Rock and Tyree looked back and forth between the two guys. When Richmond slammed his hand down on Anderson’s injured shoulder, he let out a loud scream. Richmond only laughed louder. “You meant nothing! You did all this, and you meant nothing. Do you want to know how we got her company and took her away from you? She gave it to us.”
“You’re lying! She would never do that.”
“Oh, but she did. She signed it over to us willingly, and do you want to know why?”
“Shut up!”
“She was fucking John. She wanted to leave you for him, and here’s the real kicker: that kid was his. She thought he was going to leave Karen, and when she figured out he wasn’t going to, she stepped in front of that diesel. It was never about the company, and my family had nothing to do with your little grudge.”
Anderson’s face was filled with disbelief, and Richmond drove his point home. “What was she, like five months? That’s what John said.”
“You bastard! I’ll kill you!” Anderson started rattling the handcuffs on the bars of the bed.
Richmond turned to Rock and Tyree, nodding toward the door. “Let’s go. I think we’re done here.” Tyree and Rock walked out. Richmond turned back and reached for the pillow Anderson’s head was resting on. He snatched it forward. He placed the pillow over his face, tucking it under his cuffed hands to make sure it couldn’t be pushed aside, and walked out, stopping at the door. “Feel free to suffocate. I assure you no one will miss you.”
