“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
