Chapter 12
CHAPTER TWELVE
Lily
We’re finally in Chicago and Tristan and I are headed to my parents house.
We’re going alone to talk to my parents, but the others will join us when I text.
Tristan and I felt that it would be better if we didn’t overwhelm them with everyone.
But the closer we get, the more nervous I get.
I don’t know how to tell my parents that I have a stalker.
And one that’s making everyone crazy. From what they’ve been saying, the fact that whoever it is, is playing a bigger game with me.
“Could this stalker be the reason that Carson left me?” I ask Tristan.
“What do you mean? Are you asking if this person could’ve hurt Carson?”
“Yes.”
“Sure, anything’s possible. Especially in a situation like this. We asked Sebastiano and Francesco to look into Carson’s disappearance. They wanted me to ask you if you’re prepared to know what happened to him.”
“You’re asking me if I’ll be okay if he’s dead? Or if he just left me for whatever reason?”
“Yes. Because no one knows what really happened yet.”
“I’ll be okay. I’m not alone in this and everyone I have around me makes me feel stronger.
Will it hurt knowing he left me on purpose?
Of course it will. But I’ve also had two years to get over him.
And now I can see all the things that he was that I didn’t like.
Things that I never would’ve seen if he had stayed with me.
And I know that because I never saw it before. ”
“Like what?”
“He never wanted to kiss me in public. That always bothered me because I’m an affectionate person. I like holding hands and hugging. But he only did that when no one was around.”
“Did you ever think about leaving him?”
I think about that for a bit. Because there was a time I thought I wanted something more.
“There was a time I thought he was cheating on me. He was staying later at practice and I couldn’t be there because I was doing my internship at the paper.”
“Did you ever find out if he was or not?”
“Not solid proof. But when I think about it now, I think he was.”
“I’ve never heard you say you think that Carson’s dead. Why is that?”
“Because I don’t think he is. He took most of his stuff when he left. The things he left were things that we shared. But his clothes? Most of it was gone. All our pictures and things we got together, he left.”
I can see that Tristan’s having a hard time with what I’m telling him.
“Talk to me. I want to know what you’re thinking.” I say to him.
“I hate that you went through that with him. I want to take all of that away for you and make it so you never met him.”
I watch his expressions as he talks. I’ve never felt so wanted by anyone before. I take his hand and kiss it.
“We all have to go through things. And going through it made me who I am. And I have you now. You make me feel special, in a way that I’ve never felt before.”
“I’m going to spend the rest of our lives making sure you know how special you are to me.” He says as he squeezes my hand.
We finally pull into my parents driveway and I take a deep breath.
“You’re going to be okay. Everything that you’ve told me about your parents tells me that they’re good parents. They’ll just want you to be safe.”
Tristan comes around and opens my door. He takes my hand as we walk to the front door. I have a key, but I ring the doorbell anyway. My mom answers the door and before she says hi she’s hugging me.
“I’m so glad you’re here. We’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you too, mom. This is Tristan Langford. Tristan, my mom Michelle and my dad, Carl” I say as we step inside the house.
“It’s nice to meet you, Tristan.” My parents say as they shake his hand.
Tristan takes me hand again as we follow my parents into the living room.
“Is everything okay?” my dad asks.
“I need to tell you both something. I didn’t want to tell you before because I didn’t want you to worry. But Tristan thought it was better for you to know.”
My parents are staring at the two of us. I nod at Tristan to tell them.
“Lily has a stalker, we don’t know who it is yet. But it started a couple of weeks ago. I’ve been assigned to be her bodyguard. I work for Grayson Calhoun, owner of Lone Star Securities.”
“Wait. If you’re her bodyguard, why are you holding her hand and treating her like a boyfriend would?” my mom says to Tristan.
“Because I care about your daughter. She’s very important to me, but I’m still here to protect her too.”
“Isn’t that a conflict for your job?” my dad asks.
“I care about Tristan too, Daddy.”
“I understand that, baby. But that’s a conflict for a security detail. What if you miss something because you’re not watching your surroundings?” my dad frowns.
“Normally I would agree with you, sir. But I’m not alone in protecting Lily. My brothers are with me. They didn’t come with us because we felt it would too much for all of us to be here at first. But they’re about five minutes away if you’d like to meet them.”
“We would like to meet them. I want to know who’s taking care of my baby. Are you from Texas?” my dad asks Tristan.
I text Paisley to let her know that they should all come here now.
“I was born and raised in Valor Springs. When I was eighteen I joined the Marines and I just got out earlier this year.”
“Are you back living in Valor Springs?” my mom asks.
“No. I live in Lake Renegade, here in Illinois. I’m going to be joining the Sheriffs department.”
“Then why are you my daughter’s bodyguard?”
“Grayson and I went to high school together. We ran into each other and he knew I just got out of the Marines. He needed extra help and he trusts me.”
My dad doesn’t look like he’s convinced and it’s annoying me. But before I can grumble at him, the doorbell rings. Suddenly the house is loud and doesn’t seem as big as it normally does. I see another two guys walk in with them that I don’t know.
“Mom, dad, you know Paisley and Cora. This is Eros, Apollo, Keegan and Armando. I don’t think I know you two.”
“I’m Lorenzo Mancini.”
“And I’m Celestino Bastianini.”
My dad looks at all of them and shakes each of their hands.
“Mancini? As in the mafia Mancini?” my dad frowns.
“Yes, sir. My papà is Enea Mancini.”
“I’m not sure that makes me feel like my daughter is safer now.”
“Dad…”
“I’m sorry, Lily. I grew up here and I know the stories of the Mancini’s. I don’t like that you’re with them.”
“I understand how you feel, Mr. Westbrook. But the stories you grew up with isn’t what my family is now. We’ve changed a lot. My cousin is the Sheriff of Lake Renegade—”
“And you? What do you do for the family?”
“I’m a lawyer. I handle all legal issues for Lake Renegade.”
“But you’re still mafia, right?”
“Well, yes. But that doesn’t automatically make us criminals.” Lorenzo frowns. “My family has worked hard to change the way we do things.”
I can see my dad wants to argue with Lorenzo, but the look my mom’s giving him makes him stop.
“Thank you for taking care of our baby. We’ve been trying to get her to move back home for two years now. We’ve even told Paisley and Cora they should move here.” My mom chuckles.
“Would you both like to come with us to Lake Renegade? We’re headed there now.” I say to her parents.
“That’s a great idea. Maybe that will make you feel better about all of this.” I say before my parents can say no.
“Sure. Give me a few minutes to get ready. Are you sure your family won’t mind?” my mom asks.
“Not at all. In fact we’re having a barbecue tonight.
It’ll be a lot of fun. Our family does a big barbecue once a month.
And I should let you all know that my family is the Cimaruta Motorcycle Club.
And I know there’s stories about us too.
But like the Mancinis, we’ve changed our ways. ” Celestino says to everyone.
I’m not sure if my parents believe Lorenzo and Celestino. But I need them to accept Tristan and because of that, I need them to be okay with his family.
My parents take their own car, so now we have three cars going.
“I don’t think your parents liked me.” Tristan sounds so sad.
“They just need to get to know you. And even if they never do? I don’t care. I choose you.”
It takes us a little over an hour to get to Lake Renegade. The town is beautiful and when we get to the property that the families live on? All I can say is wow.
“There’s a campground in the middle, we can hike and swim. And there’s otters.”
“Otters? Like sea otters?”
“Well we have river otters, since we don’t have salt water.
But they’re all adorable. Ours is more of a conservation type set up.
The people who stay at the campgrounds are able to see them, but not touch them.
But the family can play with them, you just have to sit through a tutorial that teaches you how to be around them. ”
“Omg. I can’t wait.” I giggle.
To say that Tristan’s family is big is an understatement.
There are so many of them that it’s going to take me a long time to remember all of them.
But every one of them gives hugs and makes you feel like you’re already part of the family.
My dad is in awe over meeting his favorite hockey player, Declan O’Reilly, of the Chicago Redhawks.
He’s married to Giovanna Mancini. And I found out that there are three other players in the family.
Not to mention Gianluca Mancini, he’s the third baseman for the Chicago Panthers.
“We have a surprise for Cora.” Tristan whispers to me, just as I hear Cora scream.
“Is that Twisted Bonds?” I gasp as I see Tristan nodding.
“Hey everyone, these monthly barbecues are the best. The only downfall is that I need to hit the gym harder tomorrow.” Jagger Peligue laughs.
“So we hear that there was a birthday a few days ago. Is Cora here?” Presley Peligue says.
“She’s here!” Paisley and I yell as we push Cora towards the stage.
Presley puts his hand out and helps Cora up onto the stage.
“Happy birthday Cora.” He smiles at her as he kisses her cheek.
The band surrounds Cora and engulfs her in a group hug. I can see the tears running down her face and it makes me have to wipe mine. I’m so happy for her.
Unknown Text: I hope you didn’t think I gave up. Just because you ran away to Chicago, doesn’t mean you’re safe. I’ll be seeing you soon
I immediately show Tristan the text and we go and find Sebastiano.
“I actually hoped that whoever it was had given up. I guess fucking not.” Sebastiano sighs.
“Why are they waiting so long in between? I know it sounds stupid, but it would be easier if they would just come out and fuck with us already.” Tristan frowns.
“I agree, but maybe this one means they’re going to finally show their face to us.”
“I just want Lily to be safe. I’m tired of wondering if every person I see is going to try and hurt her.”
“We’re going to figure this out.”