“Sure.” Akio smirks at the others as he rents the movie from Amazon.
“Where did you get this taste in movies? I highly doubt it’s from Daddy Helix.” Matteo seems relaxed. It’s weird, but also something I feel the urge to lean into and enjoy.
“Ha, nope, definitely from my mom. We used to have epic movie nights when Dad was out of town, kinda like this, actually.”
“Was he out of town a lot?” Declan asks through a mouthful of ice cream. He’s in the chair by my side of the couch, his feet on the same ottoman as me.
“Yeah, pretty frequently.” I dig into my ice cream as I watch the beginning of the movie, but I can’t seem to focus on it with the conversation taking place.
“Did he take Clay with him?” The strange look on Akio’s face gives me pause.
“I mean, I think so. It wouldn’t surprise me.”
“How close are you and Clay?” This time I can see the violence in Matteo’s eyes as he joins the discussion.
“I don't know, Funshine, you tell me? You three are the ones who stalked me for God knows how long.” A mixture of irritation and amusement stirs in me.
“You should stay away from him. He’s bad news.” Akio subtly scoots closer so our thighs are touching.
I circle my spoon in the air indicating my situation. “Yeah, let me get right on that.”
Declan’s still watching the movie, but chimes in, “At least your mom had good taste in movies. Can’t say the same about her men.”
“Hey, watch it.” I’m not even irritated that he doesn't like my dad; it’s just that no one gets to talk about mom like that. “You still have no evidence that he’s involved, so you have no idea what you’re talking about.”
There is a heavy silence in the room, so I take a bite of ice cream to try to cool that sudden spike in temper. So much for letting me pick a movie and getting to enjoy it. Akio finally breaks the tension. “I know we have dancedaround the topic of your mom, but what do you think happened to her?” His eyes soften with his words, lowering my defenses.
“I, uh, I’m torn about it.” I chew my bottom lip while I try to find a way to put all of my thoughts into words. “I want to believe Dad because that would mean she’s alive out there somewhere. Even though he pushed to have her declared dead, he always said she abandoned us, at least behind closed doors.”
“Why would he push so hard to have her declared deceased?” Matteo sounds thoughtful but when I hear such clinical terms like deceased in connection with mom, I can't help the internal cringe I feel.
“Why else? Money. It’s always about money with him.” I shake my head.
“Why would he need more money?” Declan asks. “He’s loaded. Trust me, we know.”
I huff a disgusted laugh. “It's not about need. He always craves more. He grew up with nothing, and mom came from money, so once he got a taste for making it, there was no going back.”
“Did the rest of the family seem more like your mom? I can’t see a decent father approving of a match like that.”
“No idea. Mom really kept us away from her family. She always told me it was for the best and that they were not the kind of people she would raise her daughter around.”
“So she moved you away from them? I thought you were born here.” Matteo’s head cocks to the side, genuinely curious about my life.What in the group bonding is going on?
“No, they live here too. Or, at least, they did. I don't exactly know much.”
The guys exchange a look, and Akio is the one to speak whatever telepathy just took place. “Didn’t you think it was odd that your mom kept you away from her own family? I mean they were in the same city and she didn’t give you an actual reason?”
“I told you the reason.” My irritation is rising.
“Poison, no one is attacking you or your mom here. It is clear that the two of you were close. It just seems like there’s more to the story.”
“She was always honest with me. She didn’t keep secrets if that’s what you’re implying.” But my brain is already calling me a liar. She kept my secret. I will never forget the crack of his skull, the blood. How mom made it go away; then she went away. “That’s why, deep down, I can't believe Dad. She wouldn’t just leave me, especially without saying something. I think she might actually be dead.” I can't bring myself to voice the second part of what I really think happened to her. The part where I think my dad is involved in mom being gone.
Guilt and shame coil in my belly. I set the ice cream down on the table, having lost my ability to eat any more.
“Hey, it’s okay,” Akio says, putting an arm around me. “We don't need to go digging at this right now. If you want answers, we can find them. And if not, well, we don't have to deal with it tonight.” I know that means they believe I will eventually have no choice in the matter, but Akio is giving me an out here and I take it.
While this deal I made with Cerberus finally gives me the chance to get some much needed answers, right now they seem to be digging at the wrong darkness in my life. The one that would end me if it came to light.
