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I don’t have the chance to ask; we both hear yelling coming from outside. Manny quickly draws a gun from behind his back and peeks out the front window.

“What in the shit? My dad’s here, and so are your parents. Shh.”

He places his finger over his mouth to tell me to be quiet when he gently opens the door. We make our way onto the porch without anyone noticing us. Manny tucks his gun into the back of his pants. We stand there listening to them talk about Kryder and whether or not he has been found.

Manny and I exchange a knowing glance. This is the best news we’ve heard all day. That is, until I hear Cain start to yell when my dad drags a man out of the back of the car. A man Cain punches and manhandles. A man now on the ground begging for his life.

And then I hear a name. Every time I hear that name, think about that name, I see red—the bright color of blood. Heated waves of violence take over my body.

Emerald.

I move, my flip-flops slapping against the gravel roughly. I move until I’m standing next to Cain. Everyone’s eyes are on me. Watching, waiting to see what I will do.

I bend down to eye level with this scum of a man.

“You know what? I don’t think you’ll be around to see what I’m going to do to your daughter,” I hiss. “I do believe my father has plans for you.”

“Fuck you, you little bitch. None of this would even be happening if it wasn’t for you. You all have to find her first, and my little girl has been fucking all of you over left and right for years. Right under your noses. And all the while fucking your man,” he sneers at me.

“Watch it, fuckwad. That’s my daughter you’re talking to. I’d hate to blow your brains out right here.”

“That’s okay, Dad. I can handle it. You see, I get why you’re trying to save your daughter’s life. I really do. You love her, just like any parent should love their child. Just like my dad loves me.”

I lift my gaze from this piece of shit and give my dad a loving look. His eyes turn soft and he nods in understanding. Yet I see a warning look in there, too. One that’s telling me to say what I have to say and be done with it.

“But the thing is... and I would listen very closely if I were you... my father’s love outweighs the love you must have for your daughter. My father will always protect me, just like you’re trying to do for your daughter now. But the difference between you and my dad is, he never loses. Your daughter, on the other hand, lied, deceived, and obviously helped a man who wanted me dead. That doesn’t sit well with me and my family. So while my dad is doing his thing to you, I want you to be thinking about the fact that I’ll be doing the exact same thing to your daughter. Your daughter who was fucking my man, along with many others, I’m sure.”

Then I stand. I’ve wasted enough words on this man.

“You’ll rot in hell, bitch!”

“Probably. But just like my husband said... you and your daughter will beat me there first.”

***

“Please tell me you didn’t grow a pair of balls. I love your pussy way too much, baby,” Cain rasps in my ear.

“Very funny,” I retort.

We all stood there watching as my dad bore his fist into Monty’s face, finally shutting him up, before shoving him into his car and taking off with another man in the passenger seat to places I don’t even want to think about.

“I don’t know what came over me. I’m shaking so bad. I would never kill her, you all know that, right?”

I tear myself free from Cain and hurl myself into my mom’s arms.

“Oh, God. What have I done? Dad is going to kill them all.”

“Shh. You have done nothing, honey. They did. You only stood up for yourself and for this family.” Her arms feel so comforting around me. It doesn’t matter how old you are, to be encircled in your mother’s arms is one of the best feelings in the world.

“You can’t and won’t blame yourself. That is a sign of weakness, and this family is not weak,” opines a deep, heavy voice behind me.

The authority and power of his speech has me whipping around to see a man who looks familiar. This is my mom’s brother? Manny’s dad? If I didn’t know better, I would think he and Manny were brothers, now that the two of them stand side by side.

Manny is the spitting image of Salvatore, whose large frame towers over my mother and me. His eyes and facial structure are the same as the man standing next to him. It’s crazy how two people can look so much alike.

“Hello, Calla. I’m your Uncle Salvatore,” he says, opening his arms wide for me to step into them.

I search out Cain, who is standing behind them. He gives me a gentle nod. I’m still shaking when he embraces me, placing his hands on my face and staring deep into my eyes.

“You are simply stunning. A sight for this old man’s eyes. You remind me so much of your mother. Wouldn’t you agree, Cecily?”

“Yes, she does,” she says, stepping between us. “My looks and her father’s character make a lethal combination. And I don’t mean that in a bad way, Calla. I mean it in that you’re a lot stronger than you think. You’re the best thing that has ever happened to your father and me.”

“Your eyes tell me everything you can’t say, Mom. I know you used to be a killer. You wanted to go with Dad, didn’t you?”

Used to be, Calla. Those are the three words you need to hold on to right now. I’m right where I want to be. Do I want to rip Monty, his daughter, and Kryder’s hearts out? No, I don’t. But before I found out I was pregnant with you, I would have shoved your father aside and killed them all without even blinking. But you, my precious one... feeling you move inside of me, knowing I helped create you... I never doubted my choice in giving that up, not once. Not for you. But as for your dad, well... it’s in his blood.”

I shake my head. I don’t understand.

“If you can, then why can’t he?” I whisper so softly, I can barely hear myself.

“It doesn’t work like that for him, honey. If he could give it up for you, he would. Your uncle came here for two reasons. One, to take care of the scum who dared to try and hurt us, and two, he wants to discuss things with you. I’m putting a halt to that talk for a few weeks.”

She faces my uncle head on, her back to me now.

“She needs time with her husband, Salvatore. They both deserve it. You can discuss things with her later. I don’t ask for much, but this time I’m not asking, I’m telling. Give them this.”

“Cecily, I’m not here to pressure her. She can have all the time in the world. In fact, I demand it.” He glances at Cain. “Take her to my suite in the center for a few days. The view is impeccable.”

If I didn’t feel like a ping pong ball before, I sure as hell do now. So there’s to be no more talk of the future, at least for now? That baffles me with the way this family acts. I so want to run to that bottle of alcohol of Cain’s lying on the ground and down the whole damn thing.

“Time with Cain would be great, but really, I would love to just stay here for now,” I state, holding my head high with a confidence I’m not so sure I actually have right now. I’m pretending when deep down inside I’m fucking scared out of my goddamned mind.

“Very well. Stay here and enjoy yourselves. I will be in touch. Right now I’m taking my son with me. We have some things to discuss ourselves.” He kisses both my cheeks delicately and shakes Cain’s hand. “Cecily, you need a lift?”

She nods, indicating that she’ll be along in a minute. Salvatore places his hand on the back of Manny’s neck and the two of them begin to talk as they stride to his car.

“You call me later, sweetheart,” Mom demands.

“Of course,” I say with a heavy sigh. All I want to do is eat, climb into bed, take a long nap, and pretend this isn’t my life. That none of this is actually happening.