Page 35 of Hidden Truths

“Last night, I’m not gonna lie. She was blitzed when I walked in the door. I just feel horrible that we’ve been staying with the neighbor lady so much. It’s been a long time since I’ve had anyone to talk to. The guys were my friends until I turned ten. Since then, I’ve only been bullied and beaten on daily. They’ve done nothing to stop it even if they haven’t been active participants. Everything I do is for Vinnie. Now that I have money, I’ve got some decisions to make. One of those is whether I truly follow through with the wedding to him. Especially after Marianna beat the hell out of me about a month ago. I no sooner heal from one incident and another one takes place,” I tell Maria as we continue making our way through the store and add things to the cart she’s pushing while I carry Vinnie on my hip.

“Arabella, I’m so sorry. It seems as if you know what you’re doing and you’re taking the steps to ensure your brother is safe. As I said, he’s safe, clean, fed, and there are no signs of abuse. You’re doing the best you can do, Arabella. I don’t know anyone else who would have taken on the role you have without any hesitation. As long as you keep doing what you’re doing, I’ll make sure you get custody of Vinnie when the time is right. Steps have to be taken and I’ll let you know when it’s time for you to take that step. I’ve got your back, Arabella.

“Now, as for Kash, I want to beat his fucking ass for what he did to you with those stupid fucks he calls friends. I’m pissed at all of them. The situation isn’t one I know anything about. Kash is open with me, but there are still things he holds close and doesn’t talk about. Have you talked to him about expectations and all of that? I know he’s busy as fuck preparing everything for the wedding. If that’s not what you want to happen, then you need to make sure he knows that now. Don’t let them take the choice away from you, Arabella. Though, I will say Kash is the best of the group and you don’t know what he’s willing to do for you,” Maria says, her voice just above a whisper as we continue through the store and picking things up to add to what we’re buying.

Maria is definitely buying more than I am for Harlow. Her daughter is gorgeous and I have a feeling she looks a lot like Kash’s brother. There are hints of Kash and Maria mixed among her features. However, the hints of Kash are a lot stronger than those of Maria. So, I’m guessing she takes mainly after her dad who’s not around to see her grow and become the beautiful, sweet angel she is currently.

After getting everything we need, Maria and I go through a fast food place to grab some food and a bottle of water so I can make Vinnie a bottle. I’ve got baby food in the diaper bag already. Instead of heading home, we make our way to one of the parks in this part of town. Maria and I set up a picnic and feed the kids before we eat our food. When we’re done, we spend time playing with them in the park and make memories with Vinnie and Harlow. It’s one of the best days I’ve had in a very long time. We only leave when it’s time for me to drop Vinnie off with Mrs. Andrews so I can get to work. Maria’s going to give me a ride there so I’ve been able to stay out with them longer than I thought I would.

***

Work is unusually busy. It must be because the football team has a home game today. It seems as if everyone has left the game and is now making their way here for something to eat. The other waitress isn’t running off her feet as much as I am and it's showing by the amount of her tables that I’ve taken over. No one wants her to wait on them as they watch her slowly meander from one group to the next. She’s spending most of her time flirting and gossiping rather than doing any actual work.

Now, I’ve got a table full of cheerleaders. Including Karmen. The second they walked in the door, I knew they were gonna cause trouble tonight. Karmen’s eyes narrowed on me and she made sure to head for a table in my section instead of the other waitress. Marianna isn’t with her tonight, but Collette is. So, I’ve spent the least amount of time at their table and only show up to take their order and deliver their drinks. Now I have to go back to deliver the food they’ve ordered. Sal keeps his eye on me when I head for them because they’ve been loud and talking shit about me since they walked in the door. Yes, I’ve heard every single word they’ve had come out of their mouths.

I set down all the plates in front of each girl around the table. When I turn to leave, Karmen calls out, making me stop in my tracks.

“Bitch, I don’t know where the fuck you think you’re going!” Karmen’s voice is loud as fuck and I know she’s got the attention of everyone in here.

“Is there something wrong with your order?” I question her, watching as Sal comes out from the back to listen in on what’s being said.

“Yeah. Sal, can you come over here please?” Karmen asks, making her tone seem innocent while being offended at the same time. “Sal, this waitress has been rude to us from the second we sat down at that table. She’s barely taken our order, has mumbled under her breath about us, and now, there’s hair in my food. I want her fired right this second!”

“That’s not gonna fuckin’ happen, Karmen. You don’t dictate what goes on in my pizzeria. Arabella is the best waitress I have and if anyone’s being rude in this situation, it’s you and the rest of the girls here with you. You’ve done nothin’ but talked about her, laughed, and tried to get her to mess up your orders by makin’ them as complicated as you can. Still, Arabella has held her head high, written down your demands, and made sure you got what you wanted to eat and drink. She’s taken over tables that aren’t hers so I don’t expect her to bend over and kiss your asses because it’s what you’re used to. There’s no hair in your food. If there is, it’s from one of these girls or yourself. I checked the plate and watched Arabella make her way over to you. Quit being a petty bitch and get the fuck outta my business. After payin’ your bill and makin’ sure you leave a good tip for Arabella because she’s been puttin’ up with your bullshit the entire time you’ve been sittin’ here,” Sal says, defending me as he stands in front of the table full of girls and raises an eyebrow in her direction.

“We’re not paying for food that we can’t eat because she’s tainted it in some way. We have been innocently sitting here, talking amongst ourselves the entire time. You have no proof we’ve done anything wrong and I demand you make us new food and bring it out yourself so this piece of shit hasn’t been anywhere near it,” Karmen demands, her voice raising several octaves so all attention is on her and only her as she continues to make an ass of herself.

“You are not only goin’ to pay for the food that’s been made for you, but you will leave a tip as I just said. You are no longer welcome in my establishment for any reason. I don’t cater to spoiled princesses and entitled bitches. I have the right to refuse service to anyone I choose and all of you are now on the permanently banned list. You’ve ruined it for your friends. All of my staff will know what the hell has happened and that none of you are welcome. And, yes, I do have proof because there are cameras all over the place and they include audio,” Sal states, his voice rising even more because I know he’s making a statement about this situation because he will always defend his employees when they’re in the right and he feels I am in this situation. “If you don’t leave now and pay, I’ll be callin’ the cops. I’m sure the last thing your parents want is for you to be brought up on charges from me. It’s bad enough that you’ve been banned. That also includes them because none of you are good enough to be in the presence of Arabella. You can be the one to deliver that news.”

Karmen remains in her seat for a minute while the rest of the girls pile out after all tossing in some money to the center of the table. As Karmen goes to get out of her seat, Sal stops her. He doesn’t move until she stomps her foot and pulls some money out of her pocket before tossing it on the floor at her feet. A sneer covers her face when she looks at me. I know this is going to make everything with her so much worse. Especially when I look to the side to see Collette no longer pretending to be completely innocent. She’s glaring at me as if I’m the one who made the decision to ban her from Slice of Heaven. This is all on her and Karmen. She can hate me all she wants because that’s never going to change. We might be blood relatives, but she can go to hell if she believes I’m ever going to make her feel welcome after all the bullshit she’s done to me and said to others while trying to make herself feel better than she does.

When they finally all leave, everyone in the front claps and thanks Sal for kicking them the hell out. I can’t help but laugh because it’s not the reaction I expected from anyone. Sal checks on me before returning to the back and making the food everyone has ordered. I continue on with my tables and taking care of them after cleaning up the mess the girls made at their table. The rest of my shift goes by almost in a haze as I try to think of how the girls will attack me when I see them again. It won’t be long before Marianna finds out what happened and I don’t want that girl anywhere near me because she’s worse than Collette and Karmen put together. But, I can’t change anything about what happened now and I’ll survive any attack they launch against me because I have no choice in the matter.

Business

Fallon

AS A WAY to get back at me because I’m not doing as my father wants me to do, he’s forcing me to go watch him conduct business in the poor section of High Point tonight. He knows I hate going with him because I can’t stand the way he does business. Instead of taking care of the innocent lives in that section of town, he makes sure to keep them down and hold every single thing against them. It doesn’t matter that there are people who want to get out of that part of town. Or that most of the people there are honest and innocent but have no options to get out of that part of town because of the circumstances they face in life on a daily basis. When I take over from him, the first thing I’m doing is making sure that those who are truly innocent and just trying to get through each day the best they can are given help and know they aren’t going to be shoved into a pit or something and forgotten about like they have been for years. There will be a mandate that all first responders are sent there instead of being held back and not allowed to go there for any reason. That’s a rule my father put in place because he’s a greedy, selfish fuck who truly doesn’t give a fuck about anyone but himself

So, I’ve gone to practice and gotten back to the house I share with the guys to shower and get ready for the next few hours filled with pain and rage like I always feel when it comes to dealing with my father for any reason. I’ll have to spend time in the gym when I get back because that’s the only way I’ll ever be able to get rid of the rage instead of taking it out on everyone else around me. The guys know what I need when it comes to dealing with my father and I have no doubt Dante will be in the gym with me so I can spar in the ring with him. Yes, there’s a ring in the gym that not many know about because it’s not advertised. The only reason it's even there is because Dante paid to have it installed and only a select few people are allowed to use it. They have to go through Dante and not many people want to fuck with him for any reason. He’s an asshole on a good day and he doesn’t have many of those because of everything that’s happened since that fateful day we had to stop being friends with Bella.

After showering and going through my routine in the bathroom, I head straight for my room. My hair is carefully styled because I know my father hates my long hair. It’s one of the ways I’ve rebelled because he can’t control how I wear my hair any longer. Today there’s waves in my hair because of the product I use in it. I’ve got my hair tie on my wrist so I can put it up the second I leave my father’s presence. For now, it won’t look as if I’ve been running my hands through my hair like I typically do when I don’t have to see my father. The only time he doesn’t bitch is when I’m at a game. My father doesn’t do a damn thing to me there so far because he’s got to put the perfect appearance on so he plays the role he’s created for himself and doesn’t say a word about my hair no matter how I wear it. Which is usually down and covered in sweat from being in my helmet for so long.

Anyway, I pull out my black suit and one of the black fitted shirts I wear with it. Black hides a lot of shit and it’s why I have so many suits and shirts in the color. There’s rarely a time when I wear white or any other light color because it shows too much that I don’t want others seeing depending on what’s going on in my life. Getting dressed, I go to my dresser in the walk-in closet to grab a pair of black socks. I feel like I’m going to a funeral or something. I guess in a way it’s the same thing because any time I deal with my father slowly kills me. He’s going to put on a show tonight in front of me to show me exactly how much power he feels he has. I can’t wait to fucking bring him down for good and take over the poor section of town to improve things.

We all know that’s where Arabella’s been living and it’s the last place we want her to be. There’s drugs, prostitution, gang wars, and people breaking into one another’s houses for anything of value. None of us know if she’s been hurt or attacked while there because she refuses to open up to anyone. I don’t even think Brock knows that much about her life because she shut down the day of her birthday when we turned our backs on her and started hanging out with Karmen and the rest of her slutty friends. They might have been in elementary school, but they were already starting to show how they were going to turn out by the way they would dress on a daily basis. I couldn’t stand spending any amount of time with Karmen but didn’t know any better at the time. It’s when all this shit started because my father got it in his head she’d make a good wife for me. That’s a fucking joke if I ever heard one.

Anyway, we don’t even know which house Arabella lives in there. The ones I’ve driven by on a regular basis while looking for her are so fucking rundown and I hate to think of her being in a place that looks as if it’s falling down and a strong wind will knock it over. I want to get her out of that section and into the mansion sooner rather than later. The major holdup is Collette and getting her the fuck out of there. Then there will have to be some repairs made because she’s made a fucking mess of the place. Yes, we’ve snuck in there and looked around when we know she’s been gone. Collette’s living in the mansion alone and it looks as if a tornado has gone through the place with how much trash, debris, and clothes are all over the place. Kash is going to do everything in his power to make sure Arabella never sees her grandparent’s place the way it is now.

After getting my socks on while thinking about Arabella and everything we plan on doing to earn back her trust, I put on my shoes while sitting on the edge of my bed. I’m taking my time and it’s going to make me late. The only thing my father realizes is that I’m not about to ride to the meeting with him. I’ll drive myself and that way I can leave when I want to because there’s no way in hell I’m going to spend any more time with my father than what I absolutely have to. It’s the one thing he hasn’t fought me on because he knows I’ll refuse to show up if I have to ride with him. I’ve done it before. Ever since the day he fucking set me up and my sweet Bella pulled me from the abandoned gas station after it exploded with me still inside. He doesn’t know that I realize he set me up that day and I’m not about to advertise it to the world until we have everything in place to take every single one of them down.

The second I’m dressed, I stand up and sigh. I’d rather be in the living room studying for my classes like my father wants me to do on a daily basis. Until it comes to something he wants to do because his words are law according to him and I’ve got the scars to prove it. There’s nothing my father can do to me that he hasn’t done before. The man is abusive and it rolls over to every single aspect of his life. He’s the one who has made me the complete fucking dick I am on a regular basis. At the end of the day, I know my actions are my own and my reason is that it’s been beaten into me, literally, to not have any emotions or feelings about any situation I find myself in. So that’s how I’ve lived my life. The colder I am and the less emotional I act toward everyone around me, the easier it is to keep the mask in place.

“Headin’ out to the dreaded fuckin’ meetin’ tonight?” Dante asks me, sitting in the recliner he’s claimed as his since we moved in.

“Yeah. You gonna be up for a session when I get back? I have a feelin’ I’m gonna need it tonight. He was way too excited about havin’ me there to witness whatever is goin’ on. That usually only happens when he’s about to torture someone for some slight he sees that they’ve committed against him. Not The Faction, against him,” I ask Dante, as Kash and Braxtyn come in the house from wherever they’ve been since their classes ended.

“I’m always up for a session, Fallon. You know this shit. At the end of the day, I’m never gonna not want to be in the ring. Let me know when you’re almost back and I’ll start to get ready to head to the gym. We’ll warm up together. If the rest of you fuckers wanna come with us, make sure you’re here and can get ready when Fallon and I are,” Dante says, his voice showing how annoyed he is that I have to go to this fucking place tonight.

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