Action Now, Forgiveness Later
EVREN
The restaurant is quiet. Much quieter than the last time I was here, when I met Kallie’s sister, Mel, for the first time. But this seems like the best place for what I’m doing.
I glance down at my phone, noting it’s been literally two minutes since the last time I looked. My anxiety is spiking. It’s been on the rise ever since I walked out of Kallie’s house. I rub absently at the ache that lives rent-free in my chest, willing the pain to subside just a little.
Just until I can plead my case.
I grab a menu and glance over the listed items, not really seeing the words, simply staring at the paper.
“Evren?” says a voice so close to Kallie’s, it makes my heart stutter.
I jerk my head up, ensuring I’ll have whiplash from the force, to find Mel standing in front of me, looking slightly concerned.
I stand up and offer her a seat. “Mel, thank you so much for meeting me.”
She gives me a once-over as she sits. “I won’t lie, I was surprised to get your message on social media. You were kind of vague, though, so I’m curious what this is all about.”
After unloading on my parents the other night, Dad's epiphany of possibly being the solution to Kallie’s problems got my wheels turning.
My parents and I brainstormed on the best way to help Kallie without my direct involvement.
And by direct involvement, I mean not giving into my demonic instincts and obliterating the fuckwad known as Kallie’s ex-husband.
The issue was how to connect Kallie with my dad without her finding out his connection to me.
The solution…her sister.
Once I found her on social media, I sent her a message telling her I had important, time-sensitive information for her and asked if we could meet. She responded almost immediately, and we set the day and location. Now she’s here, and I have my chance to plead my case.
“I’m sorry for the cloak-and-dagger routine. That’s typically not how I do things. If you haven’t guessed, this has to do with your sister.”
“Hence the cloak and dagger, so even if Kallie were to find out about the meeting, she wouldn’t know it has to do with her. I could pass it off as being about the financial advice I mentioned being interested in when we met.”
I cringe, rubbing the back of my neck.
“Sorry about that, too. I had every intention of looking at starter investments for you, but then…”
“Then that sorry cocksucker of a lowlife ex-husband went and weaseled his money-grubbing, self-centered, egotistical, soul-sucking self back into my sister’s life and fucked everything up.
” Mel hisses as she grips the edge of our table so hard the legs lift on one side, and there’s a very real possibility that the wood will crack.
The waitress who had been approaching blanches and scurries away to another table. Mel takes in a deep breath and blows it out.
“Feel better?” I ask as she continues to deep breathe and releases her death grip on the table. The table falls back with a loud thunk as its legs return to the floor.
“Not even close. I am not one to hate, because that is a lot of energy wasted on someone not worthy of my time. But in fuckwad’s case?
I tetter back and forth between hatred and homicide.
The only downside of homicide is that it would take me away from Kallie, and I won’t do that to her, no matter how tempting it is.
To say I loathe that fucker is being kind. ”
Well, if there were any doubt in my mind that Mel would commit murder for her sister, it’s been erased.
And filed away so that if by some miracle, my plan works and I get her back, I will make sure to remember Mel’s birthday, bring her flowers whenever I bring Kallie flowers, and never under any circumstances piss her off.
She releases one more breath before meeting my eyes. “Let’s hear it.”
Now it’s my turn to deep breathe. This is my one chance to beg Mel for help and win Kallie back. A cold sweat that breaks out along my brow has me reaching for a napkin. Mel watches me, slightly arching a quizzical brow. Even she knows a fire demon breaking a sweat is not normal.
Here goes nothing.
“I don’t know the fine details, only what I briefly looked at the night—”
I have to pause and choke down the overwhelming wave of emotions that threaten to drown me. I clear my throat and close my eyes, taking in and releasing a shaky breath. When I open my eyes, Mels expression has softened to one full of sadness and sympathy.
“Since the night we broke up. I only glanced at the legal documents. From what I saw and the little that Kallie mentioned, Matt—”
“Fuckwad,” Mel interrupts, drawing an amused smirk to my face.
“Fuckwad,” I correct, “is claiming that Kallie withheld income, implying that he’s entitled to more money from the divorce settlement.”
Mel’s face morphs back into wrathful fury. “Yes. Motherfucker said she already had the grocery store contracts in place before the divorce was finalized.”
“Cockless fuck.” I seethe right along with Mel.
I huff out a breath and continue on. “What she needs is a forensic accountant. Someone to deep dive into her finances.”
The waitress, looking skittish from Mel’s earlier outburst, stops by the table to ask if we want anything to drink. I order a water while Mel passes. When the waitress leaves, Mel leans on the table, hands clasped.
“That’s what her lawyer is suggesting. The problem is the cost. Kallie is supposed to drop off all her finances on Tuesday, which she’s going to do, but she’s freaking out about how she’s going to afford it on top of the lawyer.”
The ache in my chest throbs knowing my mate is distressed. I push the feeling aside and focus.
“I think I have a solution to that, which is why I called.”
“Lay it on me.”
”You may not like it.”
Mel lays her hands flat on the table and levels me with a stare intense enough to blow up concrete.
“Listen, Evren, Kallie is my sister, my best friend, and the only family I have. If there is even the remotest possibility that you have a way to help her, I wanna hear it. Bonus if it doesn’t end with me going to prison. I was not meant for orange.”
A chuckle slips past my lips despite the serious nature of what I’m about to pitch.
“Alright. So we both know Kallie doesn’t want to burden anyone by asking for help.
She was very clear that she didn’t want to involve me in this.
The thing is, I have a way to help her indirectly.
My dad was a forensic accountant before he decided to become a CPA.
If we can get him her financials, he could do the work and then represent her in court with her lawyer. ”
Mel leans back in her seat and crosses her arms, silently studying me. I sip my water, and the sweat that began on my brow now drips down my back. Just as I’m about to tell her to forget the whole thing, she speaks.
“To be clear…your dad is a former forensic accountant?”
I nod.
“And if I can somehow get hold of all Kallie’s financials, he can do the deep dive to prove she never hid any money from the dickless worm?”
“Yes.”
“So you’re suggesting I lie to my sister?
Because there is no way in all the hells that she will ever give me her financials willingly, in order to have your dad, a forensic accountant, prove that she is innocent and owes fuckass zero money?
Free of charge? Well, free minus the cost of the lie, because you pay a price for every lie. ”
I swallow hard and nod. “I am. And I am not one to endorse or encourage lying. I’m only suggesting it because I want to help her. Not being there for her to lean on, to support her when she needs it the most…it’s killing me.”
She regards me in silence again. “You do look like shit,” she says matter-of-factly.
“Feel like it too,” I mumble as I await her decision and judgment. Because if this blows up in my face and Mel tells Kallie what I suggested, I’ll never get Kallie back.
She cracks her neck and sits up straight. I mirror her, awaiting my fate.
“Action now, forgiveness later. I’ve got an idea, but it’s going to take some planning.”
I release the breath I was holding as my shoulders slump.
“I’ve got all the time you need.”
“Good. We need to find that waitress. I’m gonna need planning fuel.”
“Evren? Do I need to get the door?”
“I’ve got it, Mom.”
That should be Mel, gods willing, with everything we need.
My palms turn clammy as sweat breaks out along my brow.
My nerves are kicking into high gear. Part of me feels overwhelming guilt over what Mel and I are doing.
I just keep telling myself that we’re doing this because we love Kallie and are doing what we can to help her.
If she finds out before we can pull this off, I’ll lose her forever.
The thought is like a punch in the gut, leaving me gasping for air.
Even so, if it helps her even a little, it’ll be worth it.
But if we succeed…once I’ve won her back, I’ll spend the rest of our lives making it up to her.
I wipe my brow and run my hands down the legs of my pants, then open the door. Mel stands on the other side, looking calm and collected in her casual jeans and t-shirt with a messy bun, holding several thick file folders.
“Hey, Mel. Come on in.”
She steps inside, eyes taking in every detail of my lavish home. Kallie did much the same when I finally gave her a proper tour. With clothes on.
Just the memory of taking her in every room, on every available space, has me groaning.
“You good, Evren?” Mel asks curiously, quirking a brow just like her sister.
“I’m good,” I say, clearing my throat and leading her to the dining room where Dad has set up his computer.
“Kallie was right, your home is very nice.”
”Thanks. To be honest, it hasn’t felt very welcoming without your sister here,” I say, rubbing my chest.
When we reach the dining room, both my parents stand next to the table, waiting. I watch Mel as she takes them in, wondering when, or if, Kallie ever meets them, if she’ll react the same.
They make quite the pair. My Dad is just as tall as I am, nearly seven foot with his horns.
We share the same coloring: crimson skin, black horns, and orange eyes.
Streaks of gray pepper his red-and-black short, wavy hair and goatee.
He’s most definitely embraced the easy-going retired life and has the physique to match.
In contrast, my mom is about two feet shorter, even with the tiny curved grey horns that twist into tiny points.
She also has red skin, though hers is a deep garnet in comparison to our vibrant crimson.
Mom’s hair is braided into two pigtails that just reach her shoulders, with silver weaving its way through the black.
To her credit, Mel doesn’t stare or let on any surprise. She walks up to them and extends her hand.
“Hi. I’m Mellodie, Kallie’s sister. Please call me Mel.” She says, shaking my mom’s hand.
“It’s lovely to meet you, though, I do wish it were under better circumstances,” Mom says, clasping Mel’s with both of hers.
Mel gives a sad smile, then turns to my Dad. “I truly appreciate what you’re doing. Kallie will too, once she pulls her stubborn head out of her ass.”
Dad snorts as Mom snickers, and I try to tamp down the irritation I feel at the dig at my mate. It doesn’t matter that it’s from her sister, or that she is technically right.
Dad releases Mel’s hand and lays it on my shoulder. “Relax, son. She doesn’t mean any harm.”
Mel turns an incredulous eye at me, taking in my suddenly rigid posture.
“Listen, brother, from everything I’ve heard from Kallie, and from the lengths that you are going to in order to help my sister, I know you’re a great guy.
However,” she pauses, turning to face me fully, placing a hand on her hip, “when my sister is acting like a stubborn ass, I’m gonna call her a stubborn ass, and you’re just gonna have to deal with it.
With you being all googly-eyed at her, someone has to keep her ass grounded. ”
Mom giggles, walking over to wrap an arm around Mels's shoulders. “Oh, you are fabulous, dear. I can’t wait to meet your sister.”
I watch as Mel softens, giving Mom an adoring smile. “She’ll love you. Hell, you aren’t even going to be my in-laws, and I already love you. I think what you and Evren are doing for Kallie is beyond incredible.”
Mom gives Mel a squeeze and looks adoringly from me to Dad. I can already see she is adopting Mel as hers, too. I let the tension seep out of me and enjoy the happy moment before weakly retorting, “I do not have googly eyes.”
Everyone laughs and moves to sit at the table. Mel begins pulling various stacks of paper out of the folders, as well as a thumb drive. When she’s done, she turns her attention to Dad, holding up the thumb drive.
“This is the security key to her bank accounts. I have the password for the two-step verification. We’ve been with the same bank forever.
Kallie uses it for both personal and professional banking.
What you’ve got in front of you is her tax history, personal and professional, from 3 years before she married dick weasel to the present. ”
Dad reaches forward, hand extended. Mel places it in his hand, expression tentative but hopeful. He wraps his massive hand around the tiny object, holding it delicately, looking her in the eyes.
“This is everything I need. I don’t take this task lightly. Not just because of professional pride. This is personal.” He says, turning his focus to me briefly. “This is for my son’s mate, for family.”
Mel looks to me, eyes slightly wide, clearly having noted my dad’s use of the word mate, before turning back to my dad and giving a quick nod.
“Let’s get started,” I say.