EVELYN
The rain poured down on us as my mother’s casket was lowered into the ground. It was as if Heaven was shedding tears for her untimely death.
Matthew had been able to get bereavement leave and stood in his formal uniform next to me. My sister Sarah behaved like the spoiled brat that she was, acting as if coming home from boarding school was an inconvenience. What made matters worse was her clinging to Ricci as if he were her puppeteer. They stood across from us in impeccable formal black attire. My sister dabbed her eyes with a tissue, playing the part perfectly.
Ricci was able to use my mother’s death to his advantage by creating a media campaign as the distraught mourning husband. My team stood behind me, ready to attack if needed, but I knew better. Ricci wouldn’t let this opportunity go to waste.
Pretending to be the guard dog of Ricci’s precious auction item, Kade stayed off to the side of me, making sure I was always in his line of vision. Machine stood by his side as still as a statue. Funerals were hard enough already, buttrying not to murder Ricci in broad daylight in front of everyone was a whole new level of hard. And he knew that, just like he knew that with the amount of media coverage the funeral would have, no one would touch him. I hated that he was right.
“I would like to ask that the children come forth and place a flower on their mother’s casket,” said the priest. My body locked up. I wasn’t ready for this. My brother linked our hands together and led me to the front. My sister shot me a glare. What lies had Anthony told her? Did she know he was the one who put the hit on our mother? Did she know he was responsible for our father’s death?
I tossed the white rose onto my mother’s casket as it continued to lower into the saturated ground. Matthew gently squeezed my hand, offering comfort. He was always my anchor. The one person who understood my complicated thoughts that surrounded our family. I wanted so desperately to tell him what was going on. To explain how Ricci took both of our parents away.
Badger extended her hand, reaching for me and I immediately went to her and let her wrap me in her arms as Chief held an umbrella above us. She rubbed my back and spoke soothing words into my ear. The guests around us all started to dismiss themselves as they placed flowers on my mother’s grave. Buddha’s jaw was clenched as he stared at something across from us. I knew he was staring at Ricci. I knew he wanted to kill him for all the pain he caused.
I felt his presence at my back before I saw him. I heard the cool cadence of Kade’s voice as he gave his sympathies to my brother.
“It’s no trouble at all,” I heard Kade say. What had I missed? I looked toward Matthew, confused. He gave me a quick nod.
“Kade is going to bring you home, Evie. I need to sort out some affairs with Mom.”
“Shouldn’t I be there?”
Matt shook his head. “No. I think it’s best if I do this alone.” He looked toward the rest of my team.
He didn’t realize how close to everyone I truly was. He just assumed that we were all just friends who met at work. He didn’t know that I considered my team my family.
Badger gave me one last squeeze before I gave my thanks to those who were still lingering. I searched for Ricci and Sarah and saw them get into their vehicle.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Buddha give Chief a curt nod. I knew that was his signal that he would be tailing them. The rest of the team and guests left the gravesite until Kade and I were all that remained. I let the rain pour down on me as I knelt before my mother’s burial site.
The ground squashed beneath the weight of my body. My clothes and hair clung to my body, chilling me to the bone. This had to be a nightmare. My mother wasn’t gone. Aaron wasn’t gone. I refused to believe that two of the most important people in my life were gone. I refused to face the harsh reality that a part of me died with them.
FORTY-SIX
KADE
It took all of my willpower not to scoop Evelyn up in my arms. I stood back as she crumbled on the ground before her mother’s grave. I knew she needed a couple of minutes to just be with her grief. She needed to say her goodbye.
Butcher, the piece of shit, kept giving me smug looks of victory during the service of his deceased wife. During the service of the woman who he’d been married to for years.
My phone buzzed in my pocket. A text from the devil himself.
Ricci:
Tomorrow. 8 PM. Bring the prize. Olympus.
I scrubbed a hand down my face and let out a curse. This meant that Chief would need to postpone Aaron’s funeral. This also meant that the entire team needed to be on the same page when we went to the auction. Olympus was a warehouse that was transformed into an elite nightclub and owned by thedevil himself.
I shot a text out to my team before going over to the love of my life.
I walked over to Evelyn with an umbrella overhead. I crouched down next to her and tucked some of her wet brown strands behind her ear. She shivered under my touch. “We need to go, baby.”
She shook her head in her hands as she sobbed.
I wrapped my arms around her and whispered in her ear. “I just got word about the auction. I’m so sorry, Evelyn, but it’s showtime.”
The ride home was quiet. Evelyn was passed out on the limo bench next to me with a blanket over her. I knew when she woke up that she would demand some answers. I just prayed that she actually would hear me out before jumping to conclusions.
