Page 106 of Petty's Crime

“Everyone deserves a second chance.”

“We did him wrong in the past,” Dad states, backing up his wife. “Do you know where he is? We’d like to talk to him.”

“He has to be in police custody if he kidnapped our daughter,” Mom retorts.

I know, however, that’s not the way the Devils roll. Worriedly, I cast a glance at Petty, to see how he’s going to handle their erroneous assumption.

But Red stands and beckons Petty to go outside with him. Petty stands awkwardly, bending to lessen the pressure on his ribs, and stiffly follows him outside.

“What’s wrong with him?” Mom asks, obviously just noticing for the first time.

I suspect it would go down like a lead balloon if I told them his wife had beaten him. That she’s a soon-to-be ex probably wouldn’t sweeten the deal. So I shrug as if I don’t know, or can’t be bothered to answer.

It’s only a minute later that Red re-enters. “Rufus,” he starts. “If you want to meet Thorne, I’ll give you that chance. But I don’t think it’s a good idea for your wife to be present. And I’ll be in control of the situation.” He pointedly looks at me, making me shiver as I recall what happened to Saul.

Mom starts to bristle, but Dad seems to grow in stature. “He’s here?” At Red’s confirmatory rise and dip of his head, he turns to Mom. “Let me go check it out first.”

First and last if I have any say in the matter. There’s no way Mom’s going to be confronted with the man who wanted to take his revenge on her. I don’t think he’s going to believe their story for a start. Maybe it’s because I’ve a vested interest, but on my part, I believe them. It doesn’t absolve them from the crime of keeping it a secret that I was adopted all this time. I should have known, should have been eased into the situation, but at least they didn’t compound that by knowingly leaving my twin behind.

I might be a grown woman but knowing I’m not who I thought I was has unsettled me.

When Red beckons Dad to follow him, I stand.

“You stay here, RoseLyn.”

“I’m coming.” I glare forcefully at Red, letting him know I’m not going to be moved. I am concerned about Dad, and whether his weak heart will stand what he sees in the basement. I know Thorne’s demeanour had shocked me, and once faced with who he sees as his number one enemy, who knows what bile and hatred will spill from his mouth?

Red stares at me, but even his glacial look doesn’t have me backing down. With a shake of his head and a quick grin, he states, “Let me see if Cher’s around. She can keep your mom company.”

He taps at his phone, and only seconds later, his wife pops her head in. We leave the two women introducing themselves, but Mom shoots a worried glance after me.

I had wondered where Petty had gotten to, but it all becomes clear as we descend into the basement. Instead of being strung up as Saul had been, both Elton and Thorne are sitting on chairs, their hands cuffed behind them. Cobra and Hammer are standing guard, while Petty’s leaning against a wall for support. His pained expression shows me he’s in dire need of a top up of painkillers.

“What the hell kind of place is this?” Dad blusters as he reaches the bottom of the stairs. I’m only glad they seem to have tidied up and there are no instruments of torture in sight. There is a curtained-off area, where I suspect they’ve been hidden. “Who are these men?”

Red lazily waves his hand toward the one on the right. “This is Elton. He’s a crooked cop who was feeding information to your daughter’s stalker, and to Thorne, who you can see seated to his left.”

“I’m a cop,” Elton says, eyeing myself and my dad, as if hoping to see some compassion. He puffs up his chest. “You people could get into trouble if you don’t release me now.”

Red chuckles. “And with the information we’ve got on your crooked practices, we could end your career for good. I’d be careful about making threats if I were you.”

Elton’s mouth snaps shut.

Dad doesn’t seem to have any sympathy for him. “You were giving Saul information so he could stalk and hurt my daughter?” His question is answered when Elton looks to one side, his guilt apparent without any need for him to open his mouth.

But surprisingly he has second thoughts and starts to speak. “I was doing it for him, not for Saul.” He jerks his head toward the man at his side. “I thought I was helping Thorne find his sister. I wouldn’t have done fuck for Saul.”

“See?” Petty comments from his position where I’m certain he’s using the wall to help keep him upright. “It’s a bit complicated. Elton here is in love with Thorne, while Thorne was in love with Saul. One-sided, unfortunately, Saul was straight. But he wasn’t beyond using Thorne and his connections to get what he wanted.”

Dad looks bemused. He takes a step that places him in front of Thorne. “I’ve been informed you’ve been acting on some misunderstandings, son. My wife and I had no idea that you were Rose’s brother when you were born. We were led to believe otherwise.”

Thorne spits on the ground. “Of course you’d say that.”

“It’s probably hard for you to believe me, but neither my wife nor I would have separated twins.”

“You’re lying.” Thorne scoffs.

“Thorne?” Elton addresses him directly. “You’ve found her now. It’s not too late for you to have a relationship with your sister, even if you can’t forgive her parents, or believe what they’re telling you.”

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