Dottie 28.
“Dottie and Dottie’s sisters.” Ezra calls out to us from the doorway of his suite. My sisters have been keeping me company while Ezra dealt with something. He was vague about it, but it must have been important. He’s been gone for hours, so long I took a nap while my sisters hung out. Looking at him now, I see a weight on his shoulders I don’t like, a darkness under his eyes.
With a little help from Blanche, I’m on my feet and hobbling towards him, hunched over like Quasimodo. His eyes brighten as he watches me, a small smile curling his lips.
“Baby.” He breathes out, wrapping me gently in his arms bringing me to his broad chest. I suck in his scent greedily, happy to have him back with me. I want to take away the burden of whatever he’s been dealing with. I want to be a refuge for him when times are rough. “I love you.”
“Love you too, Ez.”
Carefully, he separates us so he can look at me and my sisters. “You’re needed in the war room.”
“Ez?” I question, knowing from the BABs and general talk from the guys, women aren’t in there often. Only when something directly affects them, and they need the knowledge to protect themselves or at least keep from hindering the bodyguards in their duty.
“Come on, pretty girl. I’ve got you.” I know he does, physically, mentally, emotionally. Arm around my shoulders, he walks slowly with me through the maze of hallways in the compound, my sisters trailing behind, until we find a solid metal door. Ezra places his thumb on a scanner and the lock clicks. He meets my eyes once more, then with a heavy sigh, he opens the door and waves us in.
“Goldman Girls.” Moshe greets with a welcoming smile, if not a little strained. “We added some chairs for you, have a seat.” Ezra assists me into a cushy office chair, my sisters on either side of us.
We wait for Moshe to begin, to explain why we’ve been called in here. But it’s Ezra who clears his throat and completely knocks us off our axis.
“Hiram Goldman is dead.” Sophia gasps, and the three of us stretch to touch her as she sobs silently. She wanted him to hurt, logically knew his death was the only answer, but she’s still that little girl who wants her daddy to love her. And now it will never happen. Rose, Blanche, and I accepted long ago that he would never be a father, a dad, a figure to look up to.
“How?” Blanche spits out between clenched teeth. Her cheeks are flushed and the muscles in her neck strain.
“I killed him.” Ezra doesn’t beat around the bush. I take a moment to examine how I feel about that, and I find nothing but relief.
“You had no right!” Blanche jumps up, pounding her chest. “He was ours, mine , to deal with!”
Ezra doesn’t blink as he tells her in a measured voice, “I killed him, so you didn’t have to. His death on your conscience. His blood on your hands. You may think that’s what you want, know in your soul his death is just, but to do it yourself? I gladly took that burden on myself, to spare you and your sisters that interminable pain. And I would do it again.”
I’m stunned as Blanche collapses back in her seat, a single tear falling down her left cheek. “Thank you. I guess.” She mutters and Ezra reaches across me to lightly punch her shoulder.
“You’re welcome, dear sister.” Blanche scowls at him, and he laughs knowing she hates it when he gets mushy with her. And by mushy, I mean literally anything that isn’t an insult.
“Ezra?” His dad urges.
Ezra nods curtly, grabs my hand and tightens his fingers around mine. “Before his death, we were able to get some information out of him. Hiram has been a player in the trafficking world for almost two decades.” All four of us gasp in shock. “He has been using the real estate development firm as a front, using the vacant buildings and residences for…nefarious purposes.” I’m almost glad he doesn’t elaborate; I can’t take knowing the specifics and I think they would completely crush Sophia. “He has made some unsavory connections in Cuba and was set to expand his firm there; with the caveat he provided you as a peace offering.” Ezra stares into my eyes, anger and sadness a maelstrom in their dark depths.
“Thanks to you,” I glance around the room and find Yakov, “and you, that didn’t happen.”
“We’ve been assured that your father’s empire, his people, connections, everything is being handled. However, there are two…uh…situations that will require your attention and decision.”
“Ezra, I like you, a lot, but if you don’t get to the fucking point, I will stab you with my stiletto.” I rear back, hissing in pain as I stare wide-eyed, mouth gaping at Rose. I can’t believe she just said that. Blanche, sure, no problem, par for the course, but Rose? You could knock me over with a feather.
Ezra smiles at Rose, a low chuckle rumbling his chest. “You’re right. No need for delicate speech. You have two half-brothers. 10 and 12 years old.” Ok, forget the feather, a slight breeze could bowl my ass over.
“I’m sorry, what?” I ask in disbelief.
“Based on what he said, and some digging by Yak and his team, best we can gather is that after the four of you left, he impregnated two mistresses or…someone in his custody and killed them after delivery. Your mother is listed on their birth certificates, but we know for a fact that she didn’t give birth to them.”
He pauses and my heart stutters knowing what’s coming. “He killed her too?” I whisper.
“He murdered her in 2012, buried her on his estate and kept it a secret. He’s been using her name and identity for business dealings and the like.”
“Oh, Soph.” Rose scoots her chair back and we all watch as the tender heart of the bunch crawls into Rose’s lap and breaks down. Rose looks at me from over her head and nods for us to continue.
“Our contact in Miami has taken them into custody, but it is not a long-term solution. Uriel and Irving. 10 and 12 respectively. We will do whatever the four of you want—”
“They are our brothers. Of course we will take them in. Do I need to go down there? File paperwork? Or will this contact bring them here?” Blanche is in full lawyer mode, but it’s the fact that she so readily claims them as ours that has me breaking down right alongside Sophia.
“Blanche.” Ezra’s dad says from across the table. “Perhaps you should think about this first. Consult with your sisters. These boys…there’s no telling the kind of life they’ve had thus far.”
“I know exactly the kind of life they’ve had. Because I lived it already. So did Sophia, Rose, and Dottie. I don’t need to ask them; we would never wish that life upon anyone else. That suffering, that fear, that pain. Boys or not, Hiram Goldman isn’t capable of love. Kindness. Compassion. What those two have been through, is exactly why we have to bring them here.” Blanche leans closer to the table and enunciates every word. “Do I need to go get them or will they be brought to us?”
Aaron smiles warmly at Blanche. A fatherly affection in his eyes. I watch my bold and Blanchey sister’s lip quiver with such attention, but she firms it up in seconds and raises an eyebrow waiting for an answer.
“He can have them here within the week.” Yakov tells her. “He’s tying up loose ends to ensure their continued safety as well as yours. Once that is taken care of, he will happily escort the boys north to us.”
“Good. That’s good.” Blanche says, sitting back in her chair. She turns her head to look at Ezra. “Did he suffer?”
“Yes.”
“Did he cry?”
“Yes.”
“Beg?”
“Yes.”
“Is there a body to bury?”
“No.”
“Excellent.” She slaps her hands on the table and pushes her chair back to stand. “Murder and mayhem always make me hungry.” Blanche says, making a bark of laughter escape me. She’s never been involved in a murder in her life. Mayhem…absolutely. “Where’s Devorah? I want some meat.”
Tevye snorts, leaning back in his chair, “I’ve got some meat right here for ya.”
Blanche pauses in her pursuit of food, looks at Tevye, darts down to his crotch, and back up to his eyes. “Not a fan of imitation meat.” The room erupts in laughter, as she continues. “But if I’m going to gorge myself on something, I’m more of a tuna gal, myself. Just ask your sister!”