"No, Nova. The man charged was a homeless guy, but he didn't do it. He saw it and gave a statement detailing what he saw. That statement never saw the light of day, they took his signature from it and copied it on a confession..."
"No." I shake my head, this can't be true. I'm confused.
"Your uncle was owed several favours from Tommy Larson. He called in one of those favours. Your uncle and Tommy arranged for the home invasion; they arranged for your parents’ murder."
I stand from my chair. "No, you're wrong. It was the homeless guy," I state, my emotions beginning to overwhelm me. Ice is at my back in seconds, trying to pull me back to my chair. "Get off, you're wrong," I snap.
"Nova." Data steps in front of me. "There's more." I shake my head, tears rolling down my cheeks, but he keeps talking. "You were meant to be in that house during that break in. None of you were meant to survive, not even Mason."
Ice wraps his arms around me, holding me in place, as Data continues. "The only reason Mason survived was because the guy paid to kill them hadn't realised kids were part of the job. He saw your brother and freaked out, and he ran."
"I don't understand, if we were meant to die too then why didn't they just kill us, why didn't they send someone else to finish it?" I sob. I'm not even sure I believe what they are saying. This can't be true.
"Nova." Nitro places a hand on my shoulder, and I turn to look at him. "You came home and found them before they realised that you weren't there. What happened to you and your family was big news, it’s harder to take out a target when they are all over the TV and in the papers.
I shake my head, the tears making my eyes blurry. I can't think straight, this can't be true. I know my uncle is cruel but murder his own sister? His niece and nephew? I turn to look at the men in the room, the faces locked on mine, the look of pity on their faces. I can't take it anymore.
My knees give out and I drop, fully expecting my knees to slam into the hard floor, but Ice's strong grip holds me in place as he lowers me to the floor slowly then pulls me into his lap.
"Shh, it's okay, baby. It's okay. I've got you," he whispers in my ear as he cradles my head to his chest, letting me cry until exhaustion takes hold and I fall asleep where we sit.
Chapter Twenty-Six
"Brother—"
"You should have fucking warned me," I snap at Prez, cutting him off. "I can't believe you did that in front of everyone. Why?" I'm angry on her behalf. Her cheeks are still wet from crying, but she crashed a couple of minutes ago. Her body a dead weight in my lap.
He sighs and kneels in front of me. I watch as he gently moves her dark hair out of her face. "Brother," I warn. He looks like he's about to say something then changes his mind.
"I'm sorry, Ice, I made a mistake. I thought it would be easier to update everyone at once, I didn't think about what it might do to her. I should have taken a minute to think about it." He looks down at her. "Do you wanna take her up to her room?" he asks me.
"No. I don't want to move her, not yet." I place a kiss on the top of her head then look around the room at my brothers as they all watch us. "The looks of pity will kill her, she already feels ashamed of what they did to her."
"What the fuck?” several of the brothers state.
"Ashamed of what?" Gears asks.
"The abuse," Wrath states at the same time Tongue says, "Of what they did to her."
My eyes flick between the two. But as I look at Wrath, I see the recognition in his eyes. Marissa felt it too after she was taken, so he knows how Nova feels.
"The shame is something that she will always live with. No matter how many times people tell her there is nothing to be ashamed of, no matter how many people try and convince her that there isn’t or tries to convince her that it's not her fault, there will always be a part of her that thinks she must have deserved it." There’s pain in his voice as he continues to watch her, his eyes never moving from her face. He's not looking at her with pity, but sadness, a knowing.
"Tongue?" Nitro asks.
He shakes his head. "No. You don't need to know." He walks toward us, stopping at the corner of the table by Wrath. "Ice, I think I can help her, she'll never really get over it, but I can help her learn to live with it. Learn to accept it. If you'll let me?" He stares at me, waiting for me to answer, but it's not my answer he needs.
"It's up to her. I'll ask her, but it's her choice, Tongue. If she doesn't want your help..."
"Then I'll back off, I promise," he says a little above a whisper. I nod, letting him know that I agree.
"Brothers, sit your arses down. Let’s talk while she's still out. Doc, is there anything you can give her?"
"Yeah, I can give her a sedative to keep her out for a little longer, but, Ice, are you okay that I give her it?" I'm grateful that he asks for my opinion. I look down at her in my arms, she seemspretty peaceful right now, but I don't know how long she is going to stay asleep, and I don't want her waking up if we're mid conversation.
I nod at him. "Yeah, give her a little bit. Please."
"Brother, you want me to help you up?" Nitro asks.
