Epilogue
GRACELYNN
“ Y ou know Dad wants you nowhere near this right?” Casey chided. “Plus, you might break a nail Gracie-Poo,” he mocked.
He threw the apple at me and Gianna moved quickly to catch it, taking a bite.
“You know what’s funnier?” She cackled. “When dad finds out who she’s seeing.”
“What’s wrong with Micah?” I asked curiously.
I felt a presence behind me, and a hand clasp down on my shoulder. My father was a quiet, serious man, only talking to us or my mother; which was weird considering he’s a nurse, he should like speaking with people. He was the best dad though, whenever we needed him, he was there. Once he threw a plate full of food at an ex of Gianna’s when he told her she had too much food on her plate, then shoved the steak down his throat. Or, the time I was being harassed at a party on campus and Casey showed up with dad, let’s just say, now I was not allowed to go unless I had supervision. If it wasn’t one of my siblings, it was Lorenzo Vitale; Casey’s best friend.
Today my father was dressed in a white button up and a red tie. He had been dressing like that a lot lately and I wondered why.
“Can all of you meet me in your mother’s office?”
“Do you mean the attic?” Casey laughed, but my father was less than amused, staying silent with his lips pressed together in a tight line.
Quickly, the twins strode toward the stairs leaving the both of us to stand in silence. I smirked and held my hand out, allowing him to put the card in my hand.
“When are you going to find someone to do this to? That's not me.” He chuckled. “Maybe your ‘Amore,’ I’d be okay with you and him.”
“Better than Princess, poor Mom.” I giggled. “Lorenzo is just a friend, Casey’s friend, Never going to happen.”
“I was just a friend once too,” he smirked.
“Dad, when did you know…That you loved mom?”
“The first time I saw her,” he replied confidently. “She stood at the threshold of this home, scared to come in, and I put her chips into a bowl because she refused to eat them directly out of the bag. It’s the small stuff that counts Gracie; that’s what you should love and appreciate. And I was lucky enough to watch your mother grow into the woman she is; I almost lost her, but real love, it’s compassion, understanding, and most importantly, forgiveness.”
Forgiveness . Out of everything he had just told me, that was the word that stuck out. I never wanted to disappoint him, I just wanted to stay his little girl forever. And I’m afraid no man will ever measure up.
“You’re not a nurse, are you?” He smiled and rubbed his stubble with three of his fingers in reluctant thought.
“Yes I was, but first, I was hired to be your mother’s bodyguard.”
“I've seen the pictures in your wallet daddy, and the hairstyle wasn’t it. What a scandal,” I laughed.
I was my father’s prodigy. He always pushed my education, keeping me away from the family business, little did they know I was doing my part. I snuck in places I shouldn’t during my brothers fights, or the races my sister and her boyfriend participated in. Rowan Anderson always made sure his kids were survivors, and that we knew every way out of a situation, and the scars that littered his body gave good reason why, although they didn't talk about the past much with us.
“Dad, my boyfriend will be joining us for dinner, mom said to invite him. Please don’t embarrass me.” I said nervously.
“Great, you can take his credit card then,” he teased, taking it back. “Thank you very much.”
“He doesn’t really do that,” I grumbled. I rolled my eyes and headed to my mothers office, with my father in tow.
As I walked into the office, I came face to face with my siblings, and three of their friends, and watched as my parents embraced before he took his post by the bookshelf. My parents looked so poised and professional, it was almost intimidating, Then my mother spoke.
“Thank you for joining us, please have a seat,” she motioned to the three empty seats before continuing. Although, I was surprised I was included at all. Previously, I had never attended a meeting. I was kept far away, or so they thought.
There were three others sitting in the room with us Oakley Davies, Grayson Ashwood, and Lorenzo Vitale. Lorenzo stared me down, like he wanted to devour me; but I would never do that to Casey. Masks sat in front of everyone but me, and I sat back, confused as to why I was even here, but listened anyway.
“For years, Arthur Davies, had run a task force to take down the auctions, and forcible sale of women and men in the area.” My mother started. “He has since retired and now it's time for the next generation to take over. These masks will become a part of you, when you are in it; you are a completely different person, with a mission to complete. You all need to learn to separate what you do out there and what you come home to. You will all see things that are inhumane, and downright immoral. It will eat you alive if you internalize it; trust me. These masks allow that; they hide who you are to keep you safe.”
Oakley respectfully raised his hand before addressing my mother. “Protecting us from what exactly?”
“It’s no secret that over the past decade the Walkers have slowly moved back into our territory and countless have gone missing, including some of our own. It's up to the six of you now. Rowan or I will give you orders and give you all information needed. And most importantly, stay alert, stay vigilant, and stick together. Rowan will debrief all of you soon, for now, get to know some of the men who have been with us, ask your mother Grayson; your father as well Lorenzo and Oakley.”
Maybe they just forgot mine. We all nodded and I huffed kicking the chair out to stand up, but I walked behind the crowd; as always. The pesky annoying little sister.
My father threw a whistle my way. “Come sit Gracie, I have something special for you.”
I sat down, eager to see what they had for me when my mother opened her desk drawer and fished around. She locked eyes with dad and smiled before reaching over to hand it to him, and he turned it over and over in his hands, reluctantly handed it to me.
I gave him a disgusted glance looking upon the smooth white surface. “It still has blood on it.”
His face darkened for a moment and he took a deep breath, looking like he went to another place for just a moment. “Gracelynn, that was my mask once upon a time, it helped me become the person I needed to be to save your mother, to eliminate everyone who hurt her. I want you to have this one. You are my best girl and I have no doubt you will make us proud.”
I looked upon the mask in shame. If only he knew. I couldn’t take this. It should have gone to Casey or Gianna, my dad was going to be so disappointed in me. I was twenty-two years old and I wanted a choice.
“Do I have a choice? I am not trying to sound ungrateful, it's just…”
“You always have a choice,” my mother cut in lovingly.
“Was it the Walkers who hurt you?”
They nodded in unison, but my dad kept his head down. And I decided I needed to tell him, and figure out what to do next. My eyes glossed over and I took my father’s hand. “Dad, I have to tell you something…” I whispered, but we were interrupted by a knock at the door.
One of my mother’s men announced that he was here and I immediately pulled my hand away, suddenly feeling clammy and my stomach knotted. I didn’t know .
Later that night we sat at the dinner table and enjoyed our normal teasing and general conversation. My mother thought it was important to do dinner every night, and I loved how close our family was. But everything was about to change.
“I didn’t catch your name kid,” my father called out. He was intimidated by my father, like everyone else, my legs shook uncontrollably, and I swore the whole table shook with my anxiety. I felt a hand on my knee rubbing soothing circles, and noticed the hand belonged to my sister. She was trying to reassure me that it would be alright; but we all knew my father.
I always wanted to be a part of the action, but right now, at this moment I wished I would have never gotten involved, and now I was afraid I was in too deep, I loved him. I don’t deserve his mask.
“Sorry sir, it’s Micah Walker.” he replied. The whole room went silent before a glass shattered.
“Rowan,” my mother scolded, grabbing a napkin, and tended to the small cuts he’d created. My father’s eye twitched as his face moved between the both of us.
I could tell the gears turned for my mother, but the haunting look my father gave will be etched in my brain forever.
In an instant he was across the table with such force, Micah was thrown from his chair and the two wrestled on the floor. My father had him on his back, both of his large hands wrapped around his neck, squeezing.
“Stop! Mom do something!” I screamed. She sat calmly and shook her head. So I took it into my own hands, grabbing at his shoulders to try and pull him off. I had never seen him like this, and my mother just sat there with a vicious look in her eye. What did the Walkers do to them, to elicit so much hate?
“Rowan,” my mother challenged calmly. “We do not under any circumstances go after children.” In realization he let go and clambered slowly to his feet with a vengeful look in his eyes. I kneeled down and scanned over Micah’s injuries. I couldn’t believe my father.
“Gracie,” he whispered, and I looked into his remorseful eyes. “Please, don’t do this–your mother…. Who’s his father.”
“I have only met him a couple times, its um jake…or justin, maybe–”
“Joshua,” he said with malice. “Joshua Walker.”
“Daddy, I’m taking him home, and I’m staying there for a few days.”
Micah grabbed my hand softly and rubbed his thumb across my hand. Did he know? About his family.
All I wanted was to find a love like my parents had, and now I was questioning my place in this world, in his. “I need to make sure he’s okay.”
“The fuck you are Gracelynn.”
His tone wouldn’t scare me this time, I shook my head, washing away what I had just witnessed from the man who rocked me to sleep at night, held me during thunderstorms, and protected me fiercely. He reached for me and I took a step back, slowly, Casey helped me pick him up and carry him to the car. Before I got into the driver's seat, he ran out following us, and even attempted to take the keys out of the ignition.
“I love you dad, but don’t call me, I need time. He loves me and I love him. Just because there is animosity between families, doesn’t mean maybe, I can't help make it better.”
I gave him a sorrowful glance as the tears streamed down his face. My father never cried and this just added to my confusion and anger.
“Gracie, if you go; I’m afraid I’ll never see you again. They are going to hurt you, they are going to hurt my little girl,” he said through choked breaths.
Without a word I drove off and he hit the trunk hard, hoping I would stop. Instead, I gazed in the rearview mirror as he dropped to his knees, my siblings becoming specs on the horizon.
It’s been a year now, and I still remember that day clearly. Maybe if I would have listened to my intuition when things seemed suspicious; I would have seen it coming. I rubbed my bruised wrists from under the chains that bound them and a sob forced its way out of my throat as Mr. Walker entered with two other men. They yanked me up and dragged my weak form to a room with bright lights and mirrors. A chain hung from the ceiling and I froze, seeing a tripod in the corner with a camera attached. It was nothing new, a new girl featured every week. I had stopped hoping someone would find me a long time ago, every few months they moved us around; keeping under the radar. They pushed me forward and I obediently lowered to my knees, keeping my eyes down, allowing my hair to fan over my face; knowing that making eye contact would be cause for punishment. They fastened the chain around my neck and left me waiting for who or how many…I would be servicing tonight.
I want my dad.
Why couldn't I listen?