“When I realized it was time, I found out that Jack was having an affair… with Constance Germaine.”
She’s looking right at me and I stare back at her, willing her to tell me she's joking.
“It’s true.” She nods sadly. “I’m sure they planned her husband’s death together as well. I can’t prove that though, it’s just a theory.”
“My mother told me about my grandfather’s death and how they came to work here for you.” I tell her.
“Sharla.” She smiles wistfully. “Just as much a daughter to me as my very own. She was as sharp as a whistle and just as rambunctious as Rebecca. She had so much attitude and would put anyone in their place.”
“Yep.” Em nods. “That’s her.”
I snort and kiss the side of Em’s head. Looks like she’s slowly coming out of her shock. Travis and Adri are so engrossed in the story that they haven’t moved an inch since Laurann has started. But Emmett still looks skeptical.
“Constance and Jack were in love. As much in love as Jack could be, which isn’t much I’m afraid. He also liked to use her as a punching bag but the woman continued to love him. Gradually, I backed off and tried to become a part of the shadows in the house while they played the married couple.
“They hid it well to our children, Constance never allowed Sharla up to the main house and Jack remained hidden most of the time, unless it was to groom our oldest daughter. I foolishly thought the man would let me go now that he had a new love interest, and I broached him with the subject.
“You see, I wanted to leave but I wanted to take my girls with me. By this time, Rebecca was starting high school and slowly withdrawing from her father as she became a young woman. This angered him more and more each day. He berated her constantly, calling her a whore and chasing down any young man that dared to step on our land. Sometimes even brandishing a shotgun.
“He wouldn’t hear of my leaving and he especially wouldn’t let me take Rebecca, although I could take Debra. I became enraged and he cut my throat with his hunting knife. I would’ve bled out on that floor if Constance hadn't found me and stitched me up. That’s when I knew, I would never be free of him as long as he was alive. So started my plans to kill Jack Craven.
“It took a few years to plan and I watched as my girls grew and in Rebecca’s case, fall in love. Raphael wasn’t who I would have chosen for her but at the time, he was a lesser evil than her father, or so I thought. I will always bear the guilt of my part in their meeting.”
“How so?” Emmett asks.
“I knew about the business relationship between both of your grandfathers. Antonio Torres was going to help my husband fake his and Rebecca’s death so they could have a life away from me together. I couldn’t let that happen and when I gained the courage to call the man, I found out his son Raphael had taken over. In a sense, I was sheltered in my life here in Whitsborough, I didn’t have any dealings with Jack’s business associates and I was never accustomed to betrayal. So, at the time I didn’t know that this Raphael had killed his father and brothers, just to take over the Rampage.
“He told me he preferred to be called Ray and promised he would help me kill my husband. He agreed to come to Whitsborough and help with the planning, even going as far as to orchestrate it. He came and he saw Rebecca and I can only imagine he fell in love with her as so many others had. Suddenly, our terms had changed, he would help me kill my husband only if Rebecca could go back with him to New York. I made him agree to eventually take me in as well.
“Rebecca ran away as soon as her father found out about her rape-which nearly broke me in two-and accused her of being the town whore. Robert Greene had just started his reign of terror on Whitsborough and my daughter had been one of his first victims. I only found out about him years later and I was happy to hear he killed himself.”
“I killed him.” Em says and Laurann smiles.
“I know.”
30
The more I look at her, the more I see Aunt Debby. Her eyes are the same and the way her mouth curves into a grin is identical. It makes my chest constrict with how much I miss them but I’m waiting for her to explain her part in their deaths. How could she kill her own daughter?
“It wasn’t too long after that I was ready to put our plan in motion and Raphael sent me the men to help. By this time, Jack and I had found out Rebecca was pregnant and he disowned her for good. I had to play along with the farce because I was planning on faking my death with my husband and I needed Rebecca to believe it.
“I didn’t know she was being held against her will. That I traded her away from one monster only to deliver her into the arms of another. It would end up being my biggest regret.”
“Shouldn’t that be killing your daughter and her husband? They were my parents, loved me unconditionally, and gave me a home.” I tell her as the pounding in my chest intensifies.
“Killed my daughter? Once you become a mother, you will see how that’s impossible no matter the consequences.” She drinks some water and continues, “let me finish and then you can decide whether you want me to leave and we continue our game of who can catch whom, or we join forces and seek revenge.”
I wave her on and cuddle back into Vin’s lap.
“Jack, Constance, and I
