I didn’t want to do this, the choice was taken from me and now I won’t be able to lose it to Adri like I planned. My crying becomes sobs and I feel the sting of my father’s slap on my cheek.
“Get the fuck out.” He yells, “I make a man out of you and you cry about it?”
“I didn’t… want… to do… it.” I get out between sobs.
“Are you a little faggot?” He sneers into my face.
“No!”
“Get out!” He screams and turns to undo his belt. Tonya hasn’t moved from the desk and I can only guess this was a two for one deal. I pick up my jeans and boxers and run out of the den, leaving the sounds of Tonya’s pleasure behind me.
20
The rest of the week goes by without much drama. Jeremy has been away all week so I haven’t had the chance to speak with him. Hopefully, I can get it done next week. I also reported Sonja’s disappearance to a fat, lazy cop who asked the most ridiculous questions. He did promise me to look into it, whatever. I called her cell phone another twenty times this week with the same response, voicemail.
It’s Friday evening and we’re preparing to tell Adri about Ember’s extra curricular activities. Tomorrow morning, we are driving to New York and much to my disapproval, Ember thinks it’s time Adri knows the truth, starting with this. Emmett has gone to pick her up and from his constant humming all week, I’m guessing they have been pretty active. I’m happy for them and I’m especially happy for Adri, she deserves it.
“I really don’t know if this is something Adri should know about, let alone watch.” I shake my head.
“Bro, it’s gonna happen sooner or later. She’s a part of our family.” Vin stresses.
“I just don’t think she’s made for this type of life.”
“Adrianna is a lot tougher than what you’re giving her credit for.” Ember retorts.
“I’ve known her since pre-k,” I raise a brow at her, “I think I would know her better than anyone.”
“You sure about that?” She questions, “you were MIA for a few important life developing years.”
It’s a low blow but an honest one. Fuck, I can only hope she’s right because the Adri I knew before could never handle watching her friend beat someone to death, or plan a hit, or handle a boyfriend who was sexually assaulted most of his life. I fucking hope E’s right.
I hear the front door open and their voices drift into where we’re sitting in the family room. Emmett is laughing and Adri is whining, I feel bad because her perfect little bubble is about to burst.
“Don’t look so fucking worried,” Ember says. “Trust me.”
“I do.” I nod.
“Hey guys,” Adri comes in and heads straight for me. I stand up and pull her into my arms. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah,” I let her go. “Ember wants to have a meeting.”
“Sounds good.” She sits right beside me and Emmett takes the seat next to her.
Ember looks between the three of us and a crease appears between her brows. I’m pretty sure she’s starting to catch on to what’s going on with the three of us. I actually hope she figures it out before we have to sit her down and blow her fucking mind.
Ember leans forward and rests her elbows on her knees, “remember when I told you last year that I fought in illegal matches while I lived in New York?” She asks Adri.
“Yes,” a grin lightens her face, “and I asked you if you took a pound of flesh for your mob boss.”
Ember laughs, “yeah. Well, you were close to being right.”
“Get the fuck out.” Adri leans forward too, “you used to kill people for the gang?”
“I didn’t kill, no.” Ember shakes her head, “just roughed them up, maybe broke a few bones.”
“Fucking right you did.” Adri says, shocking the shit out of me. “Are you back to doing that again? Is that why I heard you say something about a planned fight?”
“Kind of. You know Carm…” Ember waits for Adri’s nod, “he runs the gang in New York.”
“Okay…” she drawls.
“It used to be our father’s position.”
Adri’s huff has me turning my full attention on her, “You already told me this. He was murdered.”
“Yes,” Ember narrows her gaze. “By me.”
“Why?” Adri asks without much emotion.
“Well, he kidnapped me, forced me to fight and I found out he killed my mother.”
“How did you do it?” She asks.
“I tortured then shot him.”
Adri looks at each of us in the room and then faces back to Ember, “judging by everyone else’s lack of surprise, I guess I’m the last to know.”
“Yeah, it’s not something to be taken lightly.” Emmett mutters.
“You don’t say?” Adri says sarcastically. “I don’t want to be left out anymore. I can take it.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” Ember nods and that murderous grin lights up her face. “I actually have some fights that are to the death. This weekend is one of them.”
“To the fucking death?” Adri screeches. “Why?”
“Because I’m hired to do so.” Ember shrugs, “I only kill people who truly deserve it.”
Adri sits back and crosses her arms over her chest, “tell me everything, from the beginning now.”
A few hours later and Adri now knows almost everything. Almost… Ember hasn’t told her about anything pertaining to me except the fact that she killed our father because he was terrible to Vin when he was a child. She hasn’t told her about killing my mother or anything regarding Coach and my father being the Whitsborough rapist. I guess she’s leaving that to me.
“Wow,” she mutters, “my best friend is an assassin for hire.”
“Are you okay?” I ask her with my hand on her
