Chapter 40
CHAPTER FORTY
Ezekiel
“We’ve gotta stop meeting like this,” Detective Salvatore is leaning back in the chair as my brothers and I walk into the conference room, a large smile on his face.
“Well, you’ve gotta stop thinking we are the main suspects for every little thing that goes wrong in the city,” I sit in my chair at the head of the table, not bothered to pretend that he’s welcome.
I notice that he came without his partner, detective Burgess.
Instead, there is another familiar face seated next to him, his focus on the file in front of him.
Detective Gerrard, Cain’s friend. The sight of the two men together makes my blood freeze for a brief second before I put my poker face back on.
“Michael,” Cain greets him taking his seat at the table.
Gerrard just nods without lifting his gaze, making me wonder what is in the file that has him so captivated.
“I didn’t realize you two were on a first name basis,” Detective Salvatore points out, curious about the brief interaction between my brother and Gerrard. I shoot Cain a look, wanting to scold him for being so reckless.
“We have worked together in the past,” Gerrard explains finally lifting his eyes to look at the senior detective.
“Right,” Detective Salvatore clears his throat as he turns to face me. We are all ready to hear the update on the Eden’s future. “After speaking with the rescued girls and checking the presented evidence, the Eden Club is no longer being treated as a suspect in human trafficking.”
A sense of relief washes over me at those words. It’s been a long and tough road and it almost ended my family.
“The girls each gave their statement,” Gerrard speaks. “We have enough evidence against Ronan Devlin and Cohen Banks to officially clear the club from the further investigation.”
“Good,” I nod, leaning forward, my elbows resting on the table. “I’m glad that this is has finally been cleared up.”
“You don’t look too happy for someone who’s just been told that they’re no longer a suspect in a case,” Detective Salvatore narrows his eyes, studying my face. I miss Detective Burgess, she seemed to have him under control. Without her being present, the old man is becoming a pain in my ass.
“You wouldn’t look too happy either if someone has been taking your employees and selling them overseas,” I snap back.
“Okay,” Malachi cuts in before I say something that might harm us further. “But what about the events that happened at the port? A lot of men lost their lives.”
Thankfully, no one on our side, but I don’t say that at loud. Detective Salvatore looks like he couldn’t wait for me to give him another reason to start a new investigation on my family.
“You’re not going to be charged for that,” Gerrard explains, his expression cold. “Those deaths were self-defense and will be ruled as such.”
“Right,” Detective Salvatore nods, pulling one of the files from Gerrard. “Ronan Devlin and his men were armed at the time from what we managed to confirm, and they were actively trying to move the girls. We also came into possession of evidence that this wasn’t the first time he was doing it.”
“We will need you to come to the station tomorrow to fill out some of the paperwork since Cohen was your employee,” Gerrard’s eyes meet mine for the first time during this meeting. “But aside from that, I’d say the Eden can put this issue behind it.”
“Thank you for coming,” I get up from my chair and the two detectives follow my lead. “And no offense, but I hope not to see you again around here unless it’s for a fun night out and to grab a drink.”
“The feeling is mutual,” Detective Salvatore laughs.
After the two men leave, I head back to my office. While the Eden’s name might have been cleared, I still have a lot of work to take care of so my brothers and I can fix the damage all of this did to our reputation.
Levi knocks on my office door, cracking it open and sticking his head inside before I even answer. “Care some for coffee?” I notice he’s carrying two large cups in both hands already.
My youngest brother he places the cup on the desk in front of me. “So, what are working on?”
Riley
“Are you going to take that?” Lexi glances at my phone on the coffee table that has been vibrating for a while.
Zeke insisted I take a few days off to recover after everything I’ve been through and my roommates decided to keep me company.
We spent the entire afternoon binge watching movies and eating cheap delivery food.
I have to admit it feels nice not having to do anything, but it’s a feeling I don’t want to get used to.
“Wasn’t planning to,” I admit, not willing to explain anyone why I ended up on the news. I had a few of my classmates call me earlier this morning to ask if I was okay. It was exhausting having to explain what happened to each one of them.
“Then at least turn it off,” Elena adds. “It’s annoying to the point that I’m considering dropping it in the toilet.”
We both laugh at her comment and I lean forward, picking the phone. My heart drops when I read the name on the screen. It’s my mother.
“I’ll take this in my room,” I get up from the sofa and head down the small hallway.
“Ohh, so much mystery,” I hear Lexi tease behind me.
Once I close the door behind me, I take a deep breath, my finger shaking as I slide over the green button. “Hello?”
“Hey, Riley!” Mom’s voice sends me into a spiral down the memory lane. I take a deep breath, reminding myself how to inhale and exhale. “I didn’t think you’d answer.”
“Yet you still continued calling,” I say, doing my best to sound indifferent, but I’m not sure that’s how my words come out.
“I wanted to hear your voice,” she sighs.
“Well, now you did,” I’m about to hang up the call, my finger trembling over the red button.
“Wait!” She says from the other side, stopping me. “When I saw you on the news, I was worried, Riley.”
“I can assure you I was in less danger in that situation than I was when I was living with you and…” The pain spreads from my chest through the rest of my body as I remember those years. “Him.”
“And I’ll never forgive myself for that,” There is something different in her voice as she says those words, but I can’t pinpoint what it is yet. “So I can’t ask you to do it.”
“Why did you call, mom?”
“Because I miss you, I guess.” Her words sound sincere, but I know better than to let myself be carried away by wishful thinking. “How have you been?”
“Can’t complain,” I say, dryly, not asking about her life.
The truth is I just want to end the phone call but for whatever reason, I’m unable to. A part of me wants to hear that she’s okay.
“I’m glad,” she says. “I’ve been sober for five months now, six in a week.”
It takes me a few seconds to process what she’s just shared. For as long as I can remember, my mother has been an alcoholic. I saw her with a bottle of her drink of choice more often than I saw her eat, as I was growing up.
“And I’m no longer with him.” That comes out as an even bigger surprise. The last time I saw her, she was so blinded by her feelings for that man that she didn’t even want to admit that he was abusing her physically or that he’d been abusing me too. “Aren’t you going to say anything?”
“What do you want me to say?” I sigh. “Congratulations?”
“Maybe,” she chuckles, a sound I recognize even though she sounds different. I think she’s starting to tear up, even though I can’t see her.
“If it’s for good, then I’m happy for you,” I respond. “But if you’re going to fall back into all of it again, there’s no point in saying anything, or having this conversation for that matter.”
“You’re right,” she agrees. “That’s why I’m not asking you to forgive me, I know that it’s not something I deserve or that can be instant. But I do hope that we can speak. If you want to…”
“I don’t trust you,” I admit, not willing to compromise my peace, but I also feel the pull to give her a chance and to face it all once and for all. “But we can stay in touch. And maybe grab a coffee and talk.”
“Perfect!” Mom responds. “That’s more than I ever hoped for.”
“Okay.”
“So you drink coffee?” Her voice is full of surprise.
“Like it’s water.” I realize only after the words leave my mouth, that this is the first time I’ve joked with my mother.
“At least we have one thing in common.”
I’m not sure how I feel about having something in common with my mom, but when we end the phone call, I find myself wondering what that was all about. I want to trust my her. I’ve always wanted a normal relationship with my own mom.
That was never an option, but now that there is even the slightest chance that I might at some point in my life be able to, I’m not sure how I feel about it.
I still want a loving mom but I’m not sure my mom is that person. Yet, I’m willing to take one small step toward facing my past and that’s already a win.