There’s Something #5
I grumbled, “Luke is still trying to ruin my life.” If I could go back in time, I’d tell Melanie about him.
She totally had mob ties, I’d bet my life on it.
NO! That whole group definitely formed their own like secret mob group.
Holy shit! I was in that group. Look at me, being a part of the mob in so many ways.
Those thoughts amused Sassy which made me happy since she’d been said because of Alon. Now, she was deeply amused. My thoughts circled back to Luke. I still couldn’t believe that he’d had a hand in killing his own child.
I knew my ex was convincing when he lied, but I still fell for it.
Hopefully, Delana’s eyes were open now though.
I knew Luke was awful, and I still believed him when he said he had nothing to do with it.
I needed a distraction. I needed to get Delana word that he was a liar.
I went into my room with my computer and fired up my laptop.
I opened my email and clicked the first one.
Odette,
We didn’t get to talk when I last saw you. I’m sure you have questions about why I didn’t let everyone know you were visiting. I don’t want you to think I wanted that conversation to hurt you, I didn’t. I just don’t want you to be fooled by a false face.
Alon is a good man. Unfortunately, he’s guilt ridden and he doesn’t understand that Morgana is lost to us. I grew up with your mom. She was a good person back in the day. I’m sure you rolled your eyes there, but she was.
Morgana was a happy, loving child, and Alon missed the change. He thinks it was him finding happiness after her mother that changed how their relationship was. Alon makes it seem like it was a long time, but it wasn’t.
I’m not going to downplay what happened to your mom. I’m also not going to make it out like it was this travesty everyone gives Morgana a pass on. It was only three weeks before Noxus came into your mom’s life and realized that old ways were still enforced elsewhere.
Three weeks was enough for some trauma, I’m not saying it’s not. I’m saying your mother saw the way everyone treated her by letting her get away with whatever she wanted. It became Morgana’s crux. I think she was over it within a few months.
Morgana just saw her dad giving her whatever she wanted when she played that card about his new wife hurting her. Alon used to be so strict with her. Everyone bowed to whatever Morgana wanted after that and she loved it.
Then she met someone that in her own words said it changed everything for her.
I found that odd, but I saw her slowly change over time.
Change is never something that happens overnight, is it?
I thought after she had Caspian everything had gone back to normal but saw her manipulations still present.
Serenity saw Morgana for who she was too. I think that drove Morgana into madness. Serenity was not going to be manipulated, and she set to work on opening Caspian’s eyes. Noxus’s love for Morgana kept her around though.
I don’t want you to think your mom didn’t love him and your brothers. She did. I think she still does. Morgana just didn’t like when her age old excuse, of why she did something, led to consequences. She did NOT like Caspian telling her no, and that she did something wrong.
I’m sure after decades of never hearing you were wrong, or the word no, it was astonishing to hear it again. Noxus telling Morgana she was wrong is something I’ll never forget. The look on your mom’s face has been etched into my brain.
I think about it a lot these days. Morgana never expected Noxus to say that to her. Let alone for him to say it in front of others. Noxus didn’t even make an excuse for her. Everyone always excused Morgana’s actions. This one was just too far out there for anyone to agree.
I have theories, but I can’t really share them at this point in time. Serenity and I think Alon has been in contact with Morgana. I hope I’m wrong and your mom didn’t tell him her plans or about you or your brother.
I can’t rule it out though, and I don’t want you to. As a group, we are good with our words. We are good at drawing people in and captivating them. You met Luke, so I’m sure you know how captivating he is when he wants to be.
We are a bit like magicians distracting you on your left as the trick happens on your right. I’m not saying never have a relationship with Alon. I’m saying be cautious. I’m genuinely sorry if that conversation hurt you. I just wanted you to have one situation where your eyes are open.
You might be at an advantage, where most aren’t, about blind spots with family. I just worry because I know you want one. Maybe Morgana’s walling you off has made you realize family can betray you. I learned the hard way.
Gosh, this might not be coming out right. Alon might not betray you. I just don’t want you to jump into trusting him if he apologizes. Let that man prove himself. My Lux is watching him in case he does know where you are.
If Alon knows, then we’ll follow him and get to you. Be safe Odette, and if you ever need anything you come back to our office. We will protect you and bring you home.
Beatrice
I sat back, contemplating my choices there.
A small part of me wanted to go get on a bus and run to her.
Another part believed Alon would be watching for just that to happen.
That’s the type of chess game Melanie taught me.
Even Beatrice referred to it saying the trick happened where you weren’t looking.
Then the largest part of me would miss Keaton if I left.
I couldn’t just leave him and go where my family was.
I needed him, but I also needed them. They appeared to be in the middle of some mob war though.
The scary part was I didn’t know if they knew who they could trust. If Alon was on mom’s side, then they were in danger.
I shook myself. Noxus didn’t seem to buy what Alon was selling, and Caspian seemed very savvy. Actually, all my brothers seemed annoyed with Alon. I had to trust they knew what they were doing. The question was, what was I going to do?
Was I going to run to Beatrice and my brothers? Or was I going to stay and defend myself from Luke, with Keaton? What would Melanie do? How would she see this plan? Moves and countermoves were being made all around me.
Ultimately, it came down to wanting to be with my brothers but not being able to leave Keaton. Plus, I was worried if I showed up where they were, and Grandpa Alon betrayed them to hand me over; they might not get over it.
Mom’s actions genuinely seemed to bother my family a great deal.
To me, mom was never great. She’s always been neglectful and abusive.
To them, mom was loving. Hell, she was their mother.
I couldn’t take someone else from them. They gave me everything I’d been longing for.
I could repay them by not having another person betray them.
I went to bed. When I woke up Keaton was sitting on the foot of my bed. I asked, “Key?” He turned and caged me between his arms. My boyfriend practically vowed, “I won’t lose you, nor will I let anyone hurt you. You’re mine.”
Keaton brushed my hair behind my ear, “You are who I want to wake up to in the morning. I want to see your sweet smile and to talk to you about anything and everything. I want to know everything about you and give you all of your dreams. I want to marry you and spend the rest of my life with you. I want to have beautiful little blonde haired babies running around.”
I giggled, somewhat shocked by this declaration that seemed out of nowhere.
Sassy was screaming the song she always did around Keaton, quite happily.
Keaton rubbed my cheek with his thumb, “I want to hear that giggle every single day of my life. I want to see that light in your eyes. I want you, Odette.”
I admitted, “I want you too.” Keaton asked, “What’s your full name?” I snorted, “My mom didn’t give me one, I’m just Odette.” Keaton apologized, “I’m sorry.” I shrugged, “I get a lot of new last names. I just don’t know what mine should be. Maybe one day, I’ll meet my dad and he can tell me.”
Keaton whispered, “I’ll help you if you want. My dad has a facility that does DNA testing. Maybe we could find your dad that way.” I smiled, “Maybe. Let’s get through your senior year first. If my mom comes back and wants to move, we will have to find him. He kind of owes me getting custody.”
Keaton asked, “What’s stopping you?” I whispered, “What if he doesn’t want me? It would kill me if both of my parents didn’t want me. Or if he just wants to use me as a pawn. Everything’s just so confusing right now.”
I admitted, “I keep getting these headaches. I feel like I’m on the brink of knowing something then it just goes away. Or I lock it away for future thought. It’s all so muddled, except for you. What I feel for you is scary and all encompassing. You are my reason for staying here. I love you, Key.”
Keaton slowly kissed me and clothes slowly were taken off. Everything between us was so tender. It was crazy, but I knew I wanted this for the rest of my life. I might only be sixteen, but Keaton Daniels was it for me.
I was head over heels in love with this man, and that was never going to change. We were going to make it through everything that was crazy in our lives because we had each other. We never talked about what happened to the guy who broke into their house.
I noticed there were a lot more people around me lately. Sassy never hissed though, so I figured they were ok. In my mob book, Liam had people on Connie at all times. That was totally what this was, I had guards.
School had gotten back to normal, then April hit.
I was with Keaton getting a driving lesson.
I was getting decent. I was actually beginning to think I’d never be a super great driver, just one that could pass the driver’s test. I could totally scare off some mob people with my driving though.
I was confident in that detail since I wasn’t the best.