Chapter 35
CHAPTER
THIRTY-FIVE
ISLA
“What do you mean you can’t find him?” Julius paced back and forth in his lawyer’s office, pulling his hair back.
I sat in the chair in front of his attorney’s desk. A lawyer he’d been using for over a year as he tried to adopt Kraven. That was only one of the things I learned about Julius in the past week of dealing with the fallout that was Justin.
I couldn’t get too upset about Julius keeping things from me, considering I was doing the same. That didn’t stop the hurt I felt that he couldn’t trust me with his plans, especially since I kept asking him about exactly that.
Not only was I learning new things about Julius but his parents were included as well.
We hadn’t been able to locate Joe for the past two weeks.
He was MIA, and without him, the detention center holding Kraven wouldn’t release him.
Once he turned eighteen, we could request to go before the judge again, but that could take months to get approved.
When it came to the law, nothing moved fast.
Justin suffered irreparable damage to his jaw or some bullshit like that. Guys like Justin had to win no matter what, and that was what this situation felt like. I wasn’t sure why he waited so long, though he was still within the statute of limitations to file a case.
I tried to stay quiet, blend into the background, and help where I could to find Joe.
I didn’t want to burden Julius with any more drama or questions, so I pretty much just listened to how shitty this whole ordeal truly was and stayed silent.
His lawyer did most of the talking, and seeing the two-inch-thick folder that he held in his hands, full of their parents’ rap sheets, told me everything I needed to know about their upbringing.
I wondered what else Julius had kept from me.
I couldn’t help it, particularly now. Listening to all this new information was upsetting for many reasons, and, again, I tried my best not to make it about me. It wasn’t.
Not in the least.
“I have my best guy trying to find him,” he announced.
They hired a private investigator.
Where is he getting all this money?
The question loomed in my mind, though the answer was not far from reach. However, I tossed that aside, telling myself he was better than that. He wouldn’t resort to what I was thinking. It all fit together, though. All the pieces to the puzzle of why he was so private made sense.
“I’m not impressed,” Julius replied, bringing me back to the present.
“Julius,” he coaxed. “You need to calm down, okay? We’re doing the best we can, given our circumstances. Your brother can take care of himself in there. He’ll be alright.”
“After everything I’ve told you about my brother, do you really think he’ll be able to keep his mouth shut? The second someone challenges him, whether it’s another inmate or authority figure, he’s going to lose his shit if he hasn’t already.”
“I haven’t heard anything.”
“Doesn’t mean it hasn’t happened. We both know how these centers are run, Mark.” Julius leaned against the wall. “I can’t believe Kraven! How can he do this to me? Does he even care about how fucked we are right now? No! Of course he doesn’t! He doesn’t give a shit about anyone but himself!”
Their lawyer proceeded, “I understand you’re pissed, but what about if we look for your mother instead?”
He didn’t hesitate in spewing, “Not a chance in hell.”
“Julius…” I rasped, low and transparent.
“All she will do is cause more chaos,” Julius explained. “She will do more harm than good.”
I blurted, “Then you’re just going to let him rot in there?”
“Whose fault is that?” Julius shouted.
I fired off, “It’s Justin’s! He’s the one who started it!”
Julius’s stare instantly went wide as he shot back, “You knew about this?”
I bowed my head for a second, realizing what I just did.
I wasn’t family, so I wasn’t allowed to see Kraven.
I didn’t know what I could or couldn’t say, and I refused to get him in more trouble than he was already in.
I respected our friendship and didn’t want to betray his trust, knowing it was hard for him to trust anyone.
Fully aware that I was probably the first person he had confided in.
Julius stood in front of me, raising my chin to meet his eyes.
“The fuck…” he breathed out. “This is one of your little secrets, isn’t it? This is what you’ve been hiding from me? What you’ve both been hiding from me?”
I swallowed hard.
“Answer me!”
“Yes,” I replied, feeling ashamed.
I hated that he thought I was choosing sides when, in reality, I was desperately trying to remain neutral.
He winced, letting go. To say he was wounded was an understatement.
“Isla,” his lawyer announced. “You were a witness to this crime?”
“Yeah.” I spoke the truth.
“Why am I just now hearing about this?”
“I… I…”
“She’s protecting him, Mark. It’s that simple.”
“It’s not about protection, Julius. I just didn’t want to say something that could hinder his case.”
“That’s the definition of protection, Isla.”
“Julius, please don’t—”
“I don’t want to be involved in this moment between the two of you, so I’m just going to cut to the chase.
What you say to me stays between us. Even if you do say something that could hurt his case, we can use it to our advantage.
If they want to play dirty, we can go as far as adding you to the appeal to show trauma from what you witnessed.
If we can prove Justin started the fight, and Kraven was simply defending himself, we have a defense there. ”
“Okay,” I responded, on edge.
Pulling out a tape recorder, he set it on his desk. “This is only for me, but I need you to tell me everything that happened that night, beginning with what started it.”
Through the corner of my gaze, I watched Julius listen to every word I confessed as if it tasted like pure vinegar.
Once I finished, his lawyer insisted, “This is good. This works in our favor, guys.” He stood. “I’m going to go discuss this with my partner. I’ll be right back.”
After he left, Julius asked, “Was this the first time you screamed out his name, Kitty?”
He had never called me that.
“Was this the first time you spoke?”
Unable to speak, I nodded.
“You’re speechless now? How convenient. You know, the only times we argue are when it comes down to you and Kraven.”
“I didn’t think—”
“You’re right, you didn’t.”
I grimaced, not trying to hide it. “I don’t know what I can say or do to make this better, but please know that I tried my best to stop what was happening between Justin and Kraven, and it’s the only reason I talked to Kraven first. If it wasn’t for them fighting, it would have been you.”
“Is that supposed to make me feel better?”
“No… yes… maybe…”
“You’re protecting him, and I’m over it.
I have no idea how I’m going to get him out of this one, and a huge part of me wants him to pay his own consequences.
I’m exhausted from having to cover his ass and save him yet again.
I’m suffering the repercussions of his bullshit, and I struggle with giving a shit. ”
“Julius, you don’t mean that. You’re just upset, and you have every right to be.”
“Kraven has no idea the shitstorm he’s started. If we can’t find Joe, he’s stuck there until the judge changes the order, and you know how that goes… He could be stuck in there for months, regardless of him turning eighteen next month.”
“I know this doesn’t excuse anything because violence never does, but Kraven was just defending me. Justin wouldn’t let up. It’s almost like this was his plan all along.”
“Yeah, well, Justin and Kraven have a long history of getting to each other.”
“Yeah, Kraven told me why.”
He eyed me cautiously. “It’s just a rumor.”
“Not to Kraven or Justin, is it to you?”
He shook his head. “I don’t care either way.”
“Is that why you don’t even want to try to bring your mom into this? She could be your only hope.”
“If our mother, who abandoned us, is our only hope, then we’re fucked.”
“Yeah, but—”
“But nothing. You don’t get a say in this, Isla.”
“I’m not trying to have a say. All I’m trying to do is make you aware that without her, Kraven might be stuck in there.”
“Again, I’m trying to find the will to give a shit.”
“I understand. Truly, I do.” I got closer to him. “But I’ve seen your memories, Julius. Your mother did love you. She wouldn’t have kept—”
“I’m not going to stand here and waste any more time discussing her with you.”
“Julius, please…” I begged. “Just try to see reason.”
“What makes you think we’re going to find her? She’s been gone for seven years. She could be dead for all I care. And judging by her lifestyle, I wouldn’t be surprised.”
“I think you’re making a mistake,” I adamantly argued. “Kraven was just defending me. It’s not his fault.”
He took one last look at me, stating, “If Kraven’s going to allow other people’s choices to dictate who he fights, then the line forms after me.”
I knew he meant it.
Because, unfortunately, there was no saving Julius from himself.