Chapter 24
CHAPTER 24
LILIANA
“M r. Emil, I don’t know what to do anymore,” I whisper in the hallway as the paramedic talks to Rachelle.
Somehow, this shit always seems to go down in the living room. I’m glad it stays out of her bedroom so she has a safe place, but I hate seeing her so hurt. I can hear the paramedic checking her blood pressure, and telling her that he’s going to need to start an IV with an antibiotic because she’s dehydrated and to keep her from getting sick from her swim in the creek.
“Come with me,” he mutters, glancing at the living room.
“I’m going in with her,” Julia says as she sees us talking. “Go be mysterious somewhere else.”
Unbidden, a small smile tugs at my lips, despite the rough day. Julia is starting to grow on me. She could have flipped her shit and made things worse, but instead she’s been keeping things calm. She was a nurse once, so it makes sense that she would have a cool head.
As Julia walks into the living room to sit with Rachelle, I follow Mr. Emil to his office. I changed earlier into a pair of sweatpants and a long sleeved t-shirt I had in my bag from spending the night, but didn’t have time for a shower.
All of my energy is focused on Rachelle right now, I can live with feeling a little gross and my hair up in a messy bun on top of my head for now.
“Do you have your phone with you?” Mr. Emil asks, sitting in a chair other than the one behind his desk.
Pulling it out of my pocket, I show it to him as I sit across from Mr. Emil. I don’t often spend much time here, as there’s no reason for it. There’s a cappuccino machine behind him at a coffee nook, books all around us in a library of some sort, and all the furniture is made of dark wood.
It’s the equivalent of a man cave. I will never say that out loud because he still scares me, but it’s amusing to think about.
“Send my son the meanest message you can possibly imagine, please,” he says. “Don’t look at me like that, I’m living vicariously through you.”
Shaking my head, I open my messages, surprised to find there’s one waiting for me from Ignacio. I haven’t checked my phone outside of texting my father that I’d be spending the night here again.
Nacio the douchebag:
Lili are you home yet? I need to know.
Deciding to test him, I lie.
Me:
I’m at the hospital. Ranger found me and was able to fish Rachelle out of the creek. I don’t know if she’s going to make it. It’s all your fault.
“I may be shit stirring,” I tell Emil, glancing up to shrug.
“He deserves it,” he says, leaning back to cross his leg over his knee. “Don’t stop on my account.
With his father’s blessing, I continue to lie.
Ignacio:
Jared told me that the creek shallowed out farther down the mountain. You’re lying.
Me:
No, there are undercurrents, fucker. The ranger and I hiked down to the creek and searched for her. The water kept pushing her head under. Did you know that she can’t swim?
Ignacio:
That isn’t possible. She lived in Florida. How does she not know how to swim?
“Why doesn’t Rachelle know how to swim?” I ask, glancing up in surprise.
“We hit a snag in her swim classes when she was kid,” Julia says, leaning against the door frame. I didn’t even notice her walk up. “Rachelle is fine, she said she was going to nap while on the IV, and the paramedic said that was fine.”
“Rory knows his stuff,” Mr. Emil says with a nod. “So she never learned?”
“Rachelle learned the basics, but the teacher she had as a kid scared her,” she explains. “She figured out enough that she can tread water, but the creek would have been outside of her ability. Even when she went to the beach, Rachelle wouldn’t wade outside of thigh deep in the water.”
“Shit,” I whisper, realizing how close we were to losing her. “She managed to get out because of blind luck. Rachelle told me she wants to learn how to swim. We’re also starting to go for runs as soon as she’s able to. Fuck these guys for forcing all of this on her.”
“What are the odds of Ignacio coming home any time soon?” Julia asks.
Mr. Emil swallows hard, and I imagine he’s thinking about how many of the hidden weapons places she may know about. Ignacio pissed off the wrong mother.
“Very low, mi amor,” he says, watching as she nods.
“Good. I’ll let you get back to it. I am going to make myself a sleeping bag to sleep in outside of the living room in case she needs anything,” Julia says.
“I may do that same,” I sigh. I don’t know if this could fuck with her dreams. It's definitely going to mess with mine.
My phone has buzzed several times during this conversation. As Julia walks away with a nod, I glance down to check it.
Ignacio:
Lili! Tell me the truth!
Ignacio:
Fuck, fuck, is she alive?
Ignacio:
Lili!!!!
My phone rings as I roll my eyes.
“He’s very impatient,” I mutter.
“Does he think she’s dead?” Mr. Emil asks.
“I told him we were at the hospital,” I admit.
“I found the cameras he installed in the house. I had them all removed today, so even if he can access them, he’s blind as to what’s happening inside,” he says. “I’ll have the house swept regularly for any replacements so my son will be unable to do this again. Just because my hands are tied on some things, doesn’t mean I can’t ensure the house is safe.”
Answering the phone at the last moment, I also hit the speaker phone.
“I’m a little busy here. I don’t have time for your bullshit,” I say.
“ I’m not even supposed to have my phone,” Ignacio hisses. “ I need answers, Liliana.”
“You don’t deserve them. Writing horrific things on her skin, drowning my girlfriend, all mean that you can get fucked,” I say.
“ Wait,” he begs. “ If she dies, that nullifies everything the Kings have been working toward.”
Mr. Emil makes a face at his words, because they are selfish ones.
“All you care about is your stupid fucking bet?” I ask him. “I hope you fall into a hole in the woods and a snake bites you, dickcheese.”
Mr. Emil covers his mouth at my words, unsure if he should be horrified or not. I was given free access to say whatever I want. I’m going to take it and run. I refuse to waste the opportunity.
“Damn, that’s cold. Liliana ,” Ignacio complains. “ I need to know .”
“It’s touch and go,” I lie. “Sweet dreams, lard ass.”
“Lili!” he hisses, and I hang up on his ass.
I hope he agonizes about whether or not they killed her. Asshole.
“Well that was masterful,” Mr. Emil says, slowly clapping. “Out of them all, I am glad you’re with my stepdaughter. Bravo. Let him wallow in guilt. It’s late, let’s see if we can tempt Rachelle with something to eat.”
“Yes,” I agree, standing with him. “She hasn’t eaten much today.”
Together, we walk to the living room to tackle something we can actually do. There’s too many uncertainties, but she’s alive and that’s enough for now.
* * *
THEO
Ignacio is acting funny, and I don’t think any of us slept well, despite our best efforts. None of us know if the little mouse got out of the creek alive. I can’t get my heart to stop racing, something that only happens when I’m anxious about a puzzle piece that won’t quite fit.
Jared knew full well the creek doesn’t calm on the way down, but he lied anyway. While it was the perfect way to fuck with her, if she’s dead, it’ll ruin everything.
“Anyone else want to get out of here?” Jared asks ruefully. He had food for a few days, but I don’t think any of us can handle being cut off from civilization for that long.
Without technology, we have no idea what’s going on, and that’s not a luxury we can afford.
“Me,” Elijah says, surprising me. “I want to know if the little mouse made it or not. None of this matters if she’s dead.”
Nodding, I agree. “I don’t have my phone, so I don’t have access to my usual outlets. Let’s find out and then go grab breakfast.”
“Yes,” Nacio says, yawning wide. “I slept like shit.”
Cleaning up our campsite, we pack up and begin to walk back to the SUV. We took my vehicle since there was more room in it, and all of our gear easily fits into the trunk. Once everything is packed up, we climb in. I’m not someone who has to drive typically. I know the guys are all good drivers, so if I don’t have to, I won’t.
Getting into the passenger seat, I smirk at Jared as he climbs in beside me.
“Such a damn passenger princess,” he mutters, closing the door.
“Can you access the camera at my house, Theo?” Nacio asks. “Everything is showing up black.”
Hotspotting my laptop, I fire it up to log into the system. Camera after camera says it’s offline, making me scowl.
“Someone found them,” I reply. “None of them are active, Nacio.”
“Dammit, that’s what I figured. Dad must have found them. I fully expect that conversation to be less than stellar,” he grunts. “How do we go about this? Am I taking one for the team and just going home to see if she’s alive?”
“Are you going to get shot if she’s not?” Elijah asks, wincing. “Your dad is too wrapped up in your stepsister for that not to happen. I mean this in the most creepy way possible.”
“I appreciate that,” Nacio mutters, rolling his eyes.
“We do it together,” Jared decides. “Your dad can’t shoot us all.”
“You’d be surprised,” Nacio sighs.
My finger twitches to a song only in my mind, moving through every possible scenario. I honestly think we may all die today if Rachelle drowned in the creek. Frowning, I begin to look up her name in every hospital database in the city, forcing myself to focus.
“Liliana lied,” I announce. “Rachelle wasn’t in any hospital in the area. So, where the fuck is she?”
Nacio told us he caved and called Liliana, which is why he’s been so off. Once I feel like something is wrong, I’m like a dog with a bone until I find out what it is.
“We’re about to find that out,” Jared murmurs, turning toward the Reyes gates outside of the home.
The gates open as if someone has been waiting for us, and I swallow convulsively. Few things scare me, but Emil Reyes definitely does. Putting away my computer, I can feel my fingers threatening to cramp due to the stress. It never fails to happen.
Outwardly, it looks as if I don’t give a shit,but if anyone would think to look at my hands, they’d know immediately that it’s all an act.
“Alright, boys,” Jared murmurs. “Keep a cool head.”
Together, we get out of the vehicle, walking up the driveway toward the front door, only to be startled by Emil Reyes stepping out of it with a fucking shotgun.
“Dad,” Nacio says, eyes narrowing. There’s no apparent fear that I can see, though he does stop in his track, as do we.
When in doubt, follow his lead in all things regarding his father or the mafia.
“I didn’t think you liked the shotgun,” Nacio says idly. There’s a vein in his throat that’s twitching from the stress of this conversation, the only sign that this is as bad as it seems. Fuck me.
“I ironically decided to take it apart and clean it this morning,” Mr. Reyes says. “I just finished putting it back together. What do you want?”
“I live here, remember?” Nacio asks. “Why do you have the shotgun, Dad?”
“Reminding me that my spunk is the reason you’re standing here instead of having your mother swallow you isn’t going to help,” Mr. Reyes says.
This man is fucking savage. Is it too late to run back to the car?
“Maybe so,” Nacio says. “Is Rachelle inside?”
It feels like a more innocent and neutral question than simply asking if she’s alive.
“She’s not,” Mr. Reyes says. “I also don’t think it’s a good idea for you to stay here for a few days. Julia is currently out for blood. I had to lock up all the knives and hidden weapons in the house.”
I know there are weapons Velcroed underneath different pieces of furniture in case it’s ever needed. It’s kind of mind boggling how paranoid Mr. Reyes is, but I suppose he comes by it honestly.
“Is she alive?” Nacio asks softly. “We really don’t?—”
A slug hits the ground in front of us, making at least two of us flinch. We may act like badasses, but we’re still seventeen and stupid shits. Fuck, my heart is thundering now, the shotgun returning to point up instead of at us.
“I cannot believe this is escalating to this point,” he says. “You allowed your sister to be entered as the King’s bet. She’s innocent in all of this.”
The present tense he uses makes me relax just a little more, but since he is still holding the shotgun, I’m still on guard.
“You married someone with a kid, and basically told me I had to suck it up,” Nacio says, his voice still calm despite his pain. “I handled it badly. It can’t be changed now. If she’s not here, where is she?”
I forgot to check the psychiatric registries. Fucking rookie mistake. If we sent her to the funny farm, all of this worrying is going to make me feel like a real idiot.
“I gifted her a vacation for her birthday, and we decided it was best for her to leave today with Lili,” Mr. Reyes says. “I did not book it under any name that you know, they will only use cash during their vacation, and they will remain unmolested or I will murder the four of you without prejudice. Do not fuck with my daughter.”
I want to remind him that she’s only adopted, however I have some self preservation. Swallowing hard, I gaze at a man who is clearly on edge. The only thing we can do is retreat. The little mouse is alive and on the run to regroup.
She’ll have to come back at some point.
“Yes, sir,” I say, taking a step back.
The others follow my lead, though Jared flinches when Mr. Reyes racks the slide of the gun. It’s a very loud, jarring sound. I don’t blame him for it at all.
“I mean it,” he calls out.
A woman with gorgeous dark hair who looks a lot like Rachelle steps outside, and I recognize her as Julia Reyes.
“Come to see if you killed her or not?” Julia asks, stepping closer to us. “It wasn’t enough for you to write all over her beautiful skin, terrorize her, and then throw a girl who can’t fucking swim into the creek, huh?”
“How can’t she swim?” Jared asks, eyes wide. For someone who lives and breathes the sport, I can understand how it feels like a foreign concept.
“It’s none of your business,” she says.
I wouldn’t mind knowing either, as a complete busybody. Information is power. Julia is walking closer and closer, until she’s right in front of Ignacio. This isn’t going to end well.
“We should really get going,” I begin to say.
Except it’s too late, because she grabs his shirt, pulls him down to her height, and smacks the fuck out him. Nacio is too stunned to move, his eyes wide as he gapes at her.
“You are the worst kind of scum,” she snarls.
Mr. Reyes moves quickly to wrap his arm around her waist and pull her back, his gun out to the side so she can’t grab it from him.
“You’ve angered my wife. Get the fuck out,” he says.
Not needing to be told twice, we walk backward until we can get into the vehicle, the four of us breathing hard as we leave.
“That mama bear is pissed,” I rasp, eyes wide.
“My cheek still hurts,” Nacio says absently, shaking his head.
“I think he really wanted to shoot us,” Elijah adds. “Why do I feel like we need a time machine?”
I can’t bring myself to tell him that history has a way of repeating itself, and that we would probably make the same mistakes.