“And your memories now?”
“Like Swiss fucking cheese but that final hit in the cage, watching you being knocked out and falling to the mat, unsettled a lot of things in my brain.” He smiles and his eyes look clearer. “It’s not the first time I’ve knocked you out and for a lot less, too.”
“Like for the last slice of pizza?” I snort.
“Or because you took a dangerous job.”
“Or when I stole your skateboard.” I wiggle my eyebrows.
“Yeah! Then sold it to some kid!” He exclaims.
“Because he needed it more than you!” I argue.
“Guys,” Vin interrupts. “As sweet as this is, we have pressing matters to get to.”
“Right.” I nod. “So, I’m guessing you know who your birth father is?” I ask Tommy.
“Yeah, looks like we both come from the same town.”
“My blood and Vin’s blood flows in your veins.” I tell him quietly and then relay the story of his heritage as best I can.
“So, we’re all cousins.” Tommy says and Emmett bursts out laughing.
“No.” I say vehemently. “You and Vin are cousins and then you, Emmett, and I are separate cousins. Don’t lose that in one of your Swiss cheese holes.”
Tommy throws himself back in his chair and lets out his true belly laugh and the sound makes me tear up. Emmett and even Vin laugh along. It’s almost too good to be true.
Finally, when the laughing stops, Tommy’s face turns somber.
“My bio dad is a fucking corrupt cop who likes to help distribute child porn and kill people in his spare time. Now it all makes sense.” He shakes his head.
“What makes sense?” I raise my brow.
“Why I was taken.”
“There’s more,” I cringe. “Tell me you haven’t fucked Marlana.”
“God no.” He shakes his head. “She’s a great friend, but not even close to my type.”
I deflate with relief and both Emmett and Vin laugh.
Tommy looks from them to me and his eyebrows smash together in thought. “What am I missing?”
“You share the same mother.” I bite my lip and count to five before saying, “I killed her, too.”
“Marlana told me. She also said her mother was a bad person.”
“She said that?” Vin asks, clearly as surprised as me.
“Yeah, something about raping a kid and helping a rapist? Fuck, it’s sad that these people are my parents.”
“I will be killing your father, too.” I say quietly.
“What the fuck are you? The Terminator?”
“I’ll be back?” I say in the worst Arnold Schwarzenegger impression.
“You’ve become harder, if that’s even possible and you’ve jumped from beat downs to full out murder. But, something in here,” he points to his head. “Is telling me I can trust you completely. If you think you should kill him instead of a courtroom handing him a sentence, then I’m with you.”
“Really?”
“Yeah,” he smiles at each of us. “We’re family.”
36
“Wow.” Tommy whistles when I press my thumb to the scanner by the front door. “I knew you were rich, but this is rich-rich.”
“I thought the same shit when I first got here.” I chuckle and lead him inside.
“Am I staying in the garage?” I hear Marlana’s snarky voice and roll my eyes.
“Don’t fucking tempt me, bitch. I hate that you’re here but there’s literally no one left to watch you.” I tell her.
“Looks like you’re having my old room.” Emmett tells her. “It’s across from mine, Adri’s, and Travis’ room. So enjoy that.”
“I still can’t believe I’m about to meet my first throuple.” Tommy says and I snort at him.
I lead him over to my aunt and uncle’s old room. I know I said I never wanted it used again but the thought of Tommy being in there settles something in my soul. Like it was meant to be that way.
“Wow ground floor suite.” He whistles again.
“This was my Aunt Debra and Uncle Scott’s room.” I open the door and step inside. “They died last year, actually they were killed by your father.”
“Shit.” He groans and looks around. “Are you sure you want me in here?”
“Yes, I’m sure.”
“I can see why you would want him dead, among other reasons.” He nods.
“Yeah.” I point to his private bathroom. “Get cleaned up because miss Jenna Talia will be here shortly.”
“Jenna Talia, wow.” His eyes widen. “I’ve never said her name like that before, is it some kind of joke?”
“I fucking wish.” I start to leave the room and call back, “I could deal with more jokes in my life.”
I head upstairs and hear Emmett and Marlana bickering down the hall. I ignore it and head to my room instead. Vin is sitting on the bed, staring down at his hands, and shaking his head.
“What’s up?” I ask him.
“I need this to be it.”
“What are you talking about?” I kneel in front of him.
“Like the final fucking showdown, Em.” He looks in my face and cringes. Yes, it’s a mess of bruises from my very best friend. “I don’t want my whole life-our whole lives-to be like this.”
“I can’t guarantee there will be no other battle to fight. I won’t ever lie to you like that. But I will say this, I promise you Vin that after this, my sole focus will be on you and our family. I want nothing more.”
He sinks to the floor in front of me and gathers me up into his arms, “my soul is tired, it just wants to grow old with you.”
I kiss him softly and press my forehead to his. “Let’s go wait for Talia, Travis, and Adri to get here. Then the only planning after this is for our wedding.”
“Really?” His green eyes brighten.
“I promise.”
“I’m glad to see the two of you worked things out.” Jenna looks from me to Tommy.
“Will there be
