Page 7 of Scarred Sins
“You forgot,’’ she repeated slowly. “You forgot your mother’s birthday? What did I do to deserve this? I should’ve had a third kid; maybe the third one would’ve loved me. You and your sister are monsters.’’
I roll my eyes, trying not to laugh at her antics. “Mama, your birthday is in November.’’
Silence greets me back. Knowing my mother, she’s soundlessly fuming, trying to get me to go back home. It’s been a while since I visited, and she misses me. Dad’s almost always working these days, and since Mom decided to turn herself into an alcoholic housewife, she’s been bored as hell.
“Well,’’ she clears her throat. “At least you know when my birthday is. Now, I’ll freeze all of this food, and you better be home next weekend; otherwise, I might be tempted to come to you.’’
I sit straight in the chair. “That is not necessary. I’ll be home, I promise.’’
“Good,’’ she humps in triumph. “Now, the second reason I’m calling you is that your father told me to send you a message, since apparently you blocked his number.’’
For a damn reason. Dad acts like a clingy girlfriend, texting me every ten minutes if I don’t respond, and when I do, it’s followed by a big paragraph of how much he misses me.
“What does he want?”
“For one, you’ve blocked him,’’ she repeats with a snort. “And secondly, the agreement between Hudson and you was one job per month. You’ve been in that town for over six months and haven’t taken any of the clients, honey. Hudson won’t just be giving you money so you can laze off.’’
“I’ll just live off your money.’’
“As if,’’ she snorted. “You’re a grown-ass adult; you go and make your own money. But seriously, Hudson needs a bit of help. Clients are coming in a lot lately, given the political state of New York. And he can’t do it all alone.’’
My brows narrow in suspicion. Noelle Campbell is not the woman to beat around the bush, though right now, it seems as though she’s struggling to put into words what she’s truly thinking.
A lazy grin tugs on the corner of my lips.
“Mama, are you bored? Is this your way of asking me to take on my part of the job?”
“I mean, only if you’re too busy.’’
I laugh. “I’ll be home next weekend, and we’ll discuss it then. You can dust off your favorites; you’ll need them.’’
Like a child, she squeals in happiness. “Thank you, sweetheart. And please, for the love of God, call Aria. She’s moping around.’’
“Will do.’’
“I love you.’’
“I love you more.’’
She hangs up the phone, undoubtedly to tell Dad that I agreed to let her take over my part. Turning into a housewife was never going to last. I knew it from the get-go. Just like her son, she needs the thrill that sitting around will never give her.
We’re too alike for our own good.
Noelle Campell and Hudson De Santis are assassins. They were the definition of enemies, always at each other’s throats, trying to kill each other. Mom killed Dad’s brother, and Dad almost killed her. Yet now, they’re madly in love, just like they were over twenty years ago when they started their relationship.
We’re a family of assassins, with a legitimate company and work to cover up for our favorite pastime.
I was raised knowing what my parents do for a living and knew how to keep my mouth shut. On the outside, Mom is a housewife, and Dad is the wealthy CEO of an oil company. On the inside, the two can bring even the devil himself to his knees.
By the time I was six, I was able to assemble and disassemble a gun in less than sixty seconds. Soon enough, I was introduced to various types of guns, knives, and all the fun toys Mom and Dad cherish.
However, it was my choice to join in on the family business.
I wasn’t asked; I wasn’t forced. As soon as I turned twelve, I expressed my desire to be trained just like them. They are two weapons that are lethal to anyone they deem a foe. And even foes second-guess their decisions in the presence of my parents.
Through their trials and tribulations, they found solace in each other. A love so deep that nothing could ever sever their bond, even in death.
At one point, Mom’s throat was slashed. She was in the hospital for too long, and the first few nights, Dad was in the hospital room with a gun pressed against his temple. He was going to kill himself if she died.
