Page 43 of Carnival
I bite the inside of my cheek. “No.’’
“Did you stop, even for a moment, to think that we might’ve had a good reason for not telling you?”
“You need to stop treating me like a child.’’
“I will, once you stop acting like one.’’ He takes a drag of his cigarette, then looks up at the ceiling. “While you were away… Noelle did some digging on the organization that owns thecarnival. Let’s just say that you’re lucky as fuck that you came out unscathed.’’
My eyes snap to his. “Wait, does that mean they’re in the same line of work as you?”
“More or less,’’ Hudson puts out the cigarette in the ashtray, then leans forward, elbows on the hard, oak wood desk, his chin resting on his fingers. “The organization is directly tied to your biological parents’ death.’’
My heart sinks even further. Aria had suspected it, of course, and tried getting as much information from the people of New Orleans, but still, there was a seed of doubt planted in my mind. Why in the world would someone kill two rich kids?
Oh.
Now that I think about it, it’s not hard to imagine why.
“Aria connected the dots even before she had any solid proof,’’ I sigh.
A look of pure pride is on his face. “She did? That’s my girl.’’
I roll my eyes.
“How ready are you to hear the truth, Rose?”
I take a deep breath, clutching my hands into fists on my lap. I nod my head, straighten my back, and hold the intense eye contact. “As ready as I’ll ever be.’’
“Austin and Kiersten were terrible people,’’ he starts off. “Even from their teen days, they were bullies that never faced the consequences of their actions because their parents always paid off everything, bribing people left and right. And they were directly involved with the… organization.’’
I blink, taken aback. “What?”
Hudson nods. “Noelle’s still looking for the person in charge, but your parents were heavily involved. Mainly, they did operate in New Orleans, but over the years, they did spread throughout the country and eventually all across the continent. Their mask is the carnival, and their targets are carefully selected.’’
“Yes, they only kill the rich, right?”
“Yes, but their reason isn’t as simple as just taking out rich people. Whoever person in charge is, they have a deeper motive.’’
My brows narrow. “If they’ve spread across the continent, and you’re rich, does that mean you’d likely become a target?”
Hudson scoffs, as if I’d asked the most ridiculous question. “Please, say you’re joking. Those amateurs wouldn’t be able to get within a breathing distance from me, let alone have one of their little clowns butcher me.’’
His pride is unmatched, as well as his arrogance. A small smirk tugs on the corner of my lips, and I can’t help but poke the bear.
“If they’re such amateurs, how come you haven’t gotten rid of them yet?”
Well, that wipes the smirk right off his face. He straightens up, fixes his suit, and clears his throat. “Because thus far, they have not been a direct threat. And since we didn’t find the connection between your parents and the organization, we didn’t waste time on them. We have more pressing matters to attend to in our own city than chase down a carnival.’’
I sigh, nodding. As terrible as it sounds, the De Santis family is still a criminal organization, and they won’t risk exposing themselves easily.
“So… if my parents were tied to the organization, why did the same organization kill them?”
“That’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it?” He chuckles. “I highly doubt they had a change of heart and simply wanted out; hence, they were killed to ensure their silence. If that was the case, then it’s better off that they’re dead.’’
“Why?” A small frown tugs on my lips.
“Just because they had a change of heart all of a sudden doesn’t erase everything they’ve done. They did terrible things to innocent people, and no matter how much they’ve come to regret it, they can’t undo it or erase the pain and suffering they’ve caused. Honestly, them wanting out was just pure cowardice. There’s no out in this life. Once you’re in, you’re in until you die.’’
Hudson’s words hit me like a fatal blow. He is right. No matter how much you come to regret actions of your past, the pain inflicted never disappears. And no matter what, in this world, especially in this lifestyle, you can’t simply start regretting it and leave.
