Chapter 5 #3
“Is it true?” I ask. “About my father?”
“Yes, and if you didn’t know, they found his dead body earlier this evening.”
I cover my mouth, hiding a gasp. Hearing him confirm it is a sucker punch to the gut. I’m also worried the cops or public may believe I’m involved in his death. If they watch the cameras, they’ll see me fleeing the scene with a group of men carrying guns.
Will people think I did it for money?
For my inheritance?
Though now, it’s nonexistent, apparently.
“Did he set up anything for me?” My voice shakes as the words leave my mouth.
“No.”
My heart skips a beat.
“There’s no money for you, but I can help set up an arrangement.”
“What kind of arrangement?”
“I’ll get you a home and give you money, and we can vacation together. You treat me well, and I’ll take care of you. I’ll also cover all your legal bills.”
Wait … is he …
I clench my fist around the phone, wishing I were in front of him right now.
I’d throw something at his head and take all my frustrations out on him.
What a freaking creep bag.
“You’re married,” I snarl. “I went to school with your daughter.”
The fucking nerve .
“And?” he huffs out. “This is a good offer.”
Jesus .
It seems the only way women can get help around here is with sex.
Men will find any way to manipulate us if we’re down on our luck.
“Are you asking me to be your mistress?” I snap, making sure I’m hearing him correctly. Or possibly giving him a chance to correct himself.
“Genesis, that’s not what I meant.”
“Then please explain what you meant because it sounds like that’s your proposition.”
He clears his throat. “You do for me. I do for you.”
I grip the phone tighter. “I’m not that desperate.”
I hang up on him.
It’s just me, myself, and I.
Or me, Julian, and possibly a baby.
“Let’s go.”
I whip around at Julian’s voice to find him standing in the doorway, buttoning a clean shirt with his pants still on. “I thought you were showering.”
“Change of plans,” he says, his strong jaw clenching. “We’re leaving now.”
I follow him down the stairs, nearly falling on my face since he’s walking so fast.
When we’re in the Escalade, I hold up my phone. “I need to call my mother.”
Calling her should’ve been my first priority when I got my phone.
But deep down, I know she knew about the contract with the Russians.
After my father’s first affair, she watched him like a hawk. She tracked his locations, checked his text logs, and made him spend nearly every hour with her when he wasn’t at the office.
“Put it on speaker,” Julian demands.
“What if I want some privacy?” I buckle my seat belt.
“What if I throw your phone out the goddamn window?”
I side-eye him but unlock my phone. “It seems you at least left her number.”
“For you, though she doesn’t deserve it.”
“Don’t insult my mother.”
“She deserves more than insults after what she did. She signed the contract to sell you off, along with your father. She knew what would happen, which is why she fled the country.” He points at my phone. “Call her. Put it on speaker. Let’s hear her bullshit excuse or if she’ll even own up to it.”
My chest tightens at the ugly truth, and I want to vomit. “Wait, she left the country?”
He nods, disgust on his face. “She flew out on a private jet early this morning. Just like your father, she knew what was coming today.”
A tear slips down my face, and I hurriedly swipe it off my cheek.
I hit her name, and she doesn’t answer my first call.
Or my second or my third.
It takes four tries before she does.
“Mom, where are you?” I rush out, hearing reggae music in the background.
“Oh, hi, honey,” she sings out. “I’m just in Tahiti.”
Yes, she fucking sings it.
“Why are you in Tahiti?” I bite back the urge to scream that at her. I want to hear her sorry excuse for ditching my ass first.
“Mama needed a little vacation.” She sounds as interested in this conversation as I was in Henry’s offer.
“Bullshit,” I hiss, losing that restraint. “You fled.”
She’s quiet.
“Dad is dead.”
“What?” She at least shows emotion when hearing this news.
Not a lot, but some.
“Dad. Is. Dead,” I stress.
“How?” Her voice breaks just a twinge.
“He shot himself in the head in front of me.”
Technically, it was behind me, but semantics.
I wince at how cold my voice sounds. It’s as if Julian’s attitude toward death has suddenly rubbed off on me.
“Honey,” she says, her voice as smooth as, well, honey, “I’m so sorry.”
“What are you sorry for?” I ask. “For his death? For taking the private jet without me? You left me here to deal with the consequences of your actions, yet you made sure you were safe from them.”
“I didn’t have time to call you. You know how bad traffic is in the city. I had to get out of there. I’ll try to find funds to get you here soon. Just hang tight?—”
“Have the jet come back and get me right now. If it was that easy for you, then it should be for me.”
“The jet is parked. If we move it, the Feds will take it. Flying to the States isn’t an option right now. We have to wait until all this clears up.”
“Did you know about the contract?” I snarl. “The one that sold me off to a Russian psychopath?”
Her silence confirms she did.
“Did you know?” I grit out, needing to hear her admit it.
“I’m so sorry. We had no other choice.” Her voice perks up, further increasing my annoyance. “Consider it a compliment. That a man of his wealth and status found you worthy of a million dollars.”
Julian curses in the background.
Although he is one of those men.
I’m pretty sure I also hear him call my mother a cunt.
“How could you?” I say, fighting to control my emotions. I refuse to let her hear me break down. “As a parent, you’re supposed to protect me.”
A chuckle leaves her.
Yes, a fucking chuckle.
“Now, how was I supposed to do that, Genesis? I’m far too old for him, and you’re soo much prettier.”
“And you’re dead to me.” I end the call.
All I’ve gotten today is betrayal.
Tears build in my eyes.
My mother has always been selfish, but I looked past her faults.
My grandparents are dead.
My parents deserted me.
No siblings.
All I have are friends.
And Julian, it seems.
“Wait,” I say when Julian cuts a right, driving in the opposite direction of my apartment. “This isn’t the right way.”
“We need to make one quick stop,” he says, making another wrong turn.
I recognize the building.
I’ve been here with my father.
I grab Julian’s arm when he puts the Escalade in park. “What are you doing?”
“No need to worry,” he says, opening the glove compartment and pulling out a gun with a silencer at the end. “I have to make a quick errand, and then we’ll go to your place. Start a list of what you need.” He tugs away from my hold and opens the door. “Stay in here.”
Before he gets the chance to lock me in the Escalade, I jump out. “I’m coming with you.”
“Don’t say a motherfucking word,” he warns, snatching my hand, his grip so tight that I can’t pull away. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you that this wasn’t a good idea.”
I, of course, say words.
I plead with him to stop as he drags me toward Henry’s law firm.
I know Julian enough to know he’s not here for a simple chat or for legal advice. His gun and the anger burning off him confirm it further.
He shoves the gun into his waistband and swings open the door. It’s late, and most of the offices are closed. Only a few people are in the entrance lobby. I struggle to keep up with him as he leads me straight to the elevators. A couple attempt to join us, but he closes the doors in their faces.
“Rude,” I snarl at him.
The elevator chimes, and my hands sweat when the doors open. The bright lights of the firm’s lobby nearly blind me.
“Sir,” the young secretary says when she sees us charging toward Henry’s office, “you can’t?—”
He points the gun at her. “Sit your ass down. If you call for help, I’ll push you out the fucking window.”
She drops back into her chair, and I whisper, “Sorry, but listen to him,” as I’m pulled toward Henry’s office.
Julian kicks the door open even though there’s literally a door handle, and I doubt it was locked. Startled, Henry jumps to his feet. His face pales as his gaze bounces from Julian to me.
“Julian …” His words trail off as his eyes find mine. “Genesis?” His voice trembles with fear.
“Sit down, Henry,” Julian demands.
Just like the secretary, Henry collapses in his chair.
Julian releases my hand, and I don’t move.
Stupid Henry suddenly reaches for his phone. Julian advances toward him and sweeps his arm along the desk. Henry’s computer, phone, and papers fall to the Berber carpet.
Julian aims the gun at a quivering Henry.
Henry’s back straightens, and he holds up his arms.
“Now, Henry,” Julian taunts, standing directly in front of him, “you told Genesis you’d help her, correct?”
Shit.
He must’ve listened to our phone conversation.
“Yes,” Henry stutters, his entire body shaking.
Julian walks behind Henry’s desk, stopping behind him. “And what was your offer of helping ?”
Henry violently shakes his head, not answering.
Julian grabs what little hair Henry has and forces his head back until he’s looking him in the eye. “What was your offer, you fucking maggot?”
“I … I only said we’d vacation together, become friends—that’s all.”
Julian’s hand leaves Henry’s hair to wheel out his chair. “Get on your knees.”
Henry stands and tries to make a run for it.
He’s too slow, and Julian catches him from around the neck and shoves him to his knees.
Henry stares at me in horror as Julian tucks the gun back into his waistband, grips his head with both hands, and plunges his thumbs into Henry’s eyes.
He wails in pain, thrashing his body to the side to break loose.
I gasp, covering my mouth.
While I’ve always known Julian was a violent man, I never witnessed the full extent until tonight.
“Now, apologize to her,” Julian says, removing his thumbs and forcing Henry to look at me.
“What?” Henry cries out, his eyes starting to swell.