“She did as I asked and trusted me to get you, Emmett.” She says while looking at him sadly. “I failed, obviously. Emmanuel was looking for me that night because a few of the documents the FBI showed Raphael could only have come from me.
“He found me, captured me, and let Calen torture me for information for three months. When I wouldn’t break, Emmanuel deemed me worthy to be by his side. I was finally released from my cell and when I went looking for you, you were long gone. Emmanuel assured me you were with the nanny but I could never see you. I tried for months to find out where you could be and I tried to get in contact with Rebecca but was unable to do any of it. Thankfully, I left some money for Rebecca before I came to New York, but it wasn’t nearly enough. I knew I had to find her and help her, especially with a newborn.
“Every time I asked Emmanuel where any of you were, he would just say the same things, that you were fine and doing well. We eventually left the compound and I moved into Emmanuel’s estate. I found out he had a wife, a son, and another baby on the way. You could imagine my surprise since him and I were together in the carnal sense.”
“Ew.” Emmett shudders.
“Oh, knock it off.” She waves Emmett off. “You’re over here with a boyfriend and a girlfriend. You’re getting it a lot more than I am.”
“Ew!” He reiterates and Travis chuckles.
I just want to hear the rest of this story so I can decide if it’s okay to relax or plan how to take this woman down.
31
She has their sarcastic dry humour. I keep seeing all the similarities and the look in her eyes each time she stares at one of her grandchildren. It really tells me everything I need to know. We fucked up. We’ve been chasing down the wrong enemy for nearly two years and the thought of all that wasted time is exhausting.
“Vincent looks like maybe he needs a break.” Jenna says with a small smile.
“I feel exhausted but it’s not because of your story.” I shake my head. “I believe you are who you say you are.”
Her eyes widen and a smile ghosts her mouth, “thank you.”
Em is staring up at me and I finally lower my gaze to hers. “Seriously?”
“Yes.” I answer her and kiss her nose. “But I need more explanations for the tragedies that happened and were blamed on you.” I say to Jenna.
“I promise we’re close.” She nods.
“Please, continue.” Travis says.
“Emmanuel set me up in his house and I played mistress for a few months. It was weird and uncomfortable but I was protected. He gave me updates on you Emmett and also on my daughter and Ember. Everything seemed to be fine and I was patiently waiting for my time to get away. I was still a prisoner in every sense.
“His son was young at four years old when I arrived and I took an immediate liking to him. His mother was huge with child and from what I could gather at the time, suffered from depression. She didn’t want to spend too much time with him and I instead took on that role.
“Carlos was a handful but he was extremely intelligent.”
“Hold on,” Em interrupts her. “Carlos wasn’t your biological son? I have a file that states otherwise, right down to the scars on your belly from cesarean sections.”
I watch as Jenna stands up and lifts her shirt. There’s a few scars running vertically over her torso but none that match a cesarean procedure.
“Again, you received a forged document. That file originally belonged to Emmanuel’s wife.”
“Who would forge these documents?” I ask.
“I’m getting there, sorry if it’s slow. I want to make sure you have all the facts.” She pats down her hair. “I guess I can skip a few years at this point.
“Emmanuel’s wife gave birth to her second son Anthony and when he was three years old, she killed herself. Do I know for sure she actually killed herself and wasn’t killed? No. But I was in love with Emmanuel at this point and believed everything he told me, even about you two being completely fine. He told me he was sending anonymous envelopes of cash to Rebecca and that Emmett was receiving the best education and care.
“I knew in the back of my mind that Rebecca wouldn’t rest until she found Emmett but I also let myself believe that if he was well cared for then surely her raising one child was enough. I know I was wrong but it helped me sleep at night.”
“As a mother, you should’ve known that Rebecca was most likely tortured every day she was away from her son.” I say, anger lacing my words.
“Yes, deep down I knew she would never give up. I want to say I agonized about it, that I wanted Rebecca to claim her son back, but I’d be lying. The years of torture and captivity had hardened me. I no longer cared about familial ties and I grew to just look out for myself.”
“I understand it.” Em says. “But I can’t help the resentment I feel for the life Mom and I lived because of it. Or Emmett for that matter, his was even worse.”
“I had no idea and you’re right, I should’ve cared.” She nods her head. “After Emmanuel’s wife died, he wanted to be married but I convinced him that our connection would be noticed and I couldn’t further my career to benefit us both. It was his idea for me to join congress.
“I quickly moved up in ranks and held a lot of power. I amassed money and slowly hired people to work
