Page 81 of Brandishing Betrayals

It was a lot. I was both emotionally and physically drained. Jenna had been a godsend, organizing everything and running around like a headless chicken. It helped that she was a little more detached from the situation, a little more pragmatic aboutit. She was still sad, but as a doctor, she understood that her father had only been living on borrowed time since his accident.

While I had known that as well, it was harder for me after being here taking care of him this whole time, and knowing in the end, my father had been murdered. I didn’t have the heart to tell her about Hillcrest. Jenna already knew that he’d been harassing me; it would only add fuel to the fire and Jenna would demand I tell the guys. Or she would tell them herself, like my mother was promising to do.

My nerves were shot, having to play hostess and conversate with a million people I hadn’t seen in years was tiresome. Though I had about died when Karma and Arturo Ventura showed up, along with Stephanie Stonewall, and Hunter Maxwell—my ex from college—and his roommate Travis Miles. It had been a blast from the past that had immediately reduced me to tears over the friendships and life that I had lost when I had to move away.

No one had understood why I had left Marcos, Jason, and Nico. I hadn’t been able to tell any of them anything. And then my abrupt move to Chicago had put a strain on my friendships that were already drifting apart after college. Only Slade had stuck around, mostly because Slade had gotten the truth out of me one night in Chicago after a long grueling tattoo session—where I had broken down in tears and confessed everything.

Seeing everyone again today was heartbreaking—the whole damn day was heartbreaking. Even Marcos, Nico, and Jason showed up, which I really hadn’t expected. But I was glad, because they had kept Luke company.

The repast at the house was finally winding down, and my mother and I were in the kitchen cleaning things up, but it was clear my mother was in a tizzy about something. “What’s going on?” I narrowed my eyes on her, trying to keep my voice down from anyone in earshot.

“I’ll talk to you in the garage.” Elaine walked away before I could respond.

I bit back a snarky comment as I followed her into the garage. The entrance was off the hallway that led to my parents’ bedroom. I closed the door behind me as I walked outside. The overhead garage door was wide open on the beautiful summer afternoon, and I was immediately sweating as I stood before my mother, wondering what the hell was on her mind that couldn’t wait until everyone was gone.

“You need to tell them,” Elaine started immediately, turning to look at me with anger in her gaze.

I sighed deeply. “No, I don’t. It’s fine, everything is fine.”

“No, it’s notfine,” Elaine snapped. “Your father is dead because it is notfine! You need to tell Marcos and those boys!”

“I can’t tell them! Hillcrest already killed dad!” I yelled at my mother, losing my cool. Emotions warred inside me; anger, fear, anxiety and grief all swirled within me, threatening to pour out. This was not the time for this conversation, not when we had a house full of guests. “He’s already threatened Luke’s life if I say anything! He already thinks I’m too close to them! He said he would kill them next.” A sob tore out of me. My shoulders hunching in as I sobbed.

“You tell those boys, tell Marcos, or I will,” Elaine said. She spoke so calmly, her eyes drifting over my face and then past me to the inside garage door behind me.

“Tell us what?” Marcos’s deep voice rang out from behind me, sending a shiver down my spine.

A startled ‘eep’ escaped me as I glanced over my shoulder to face not only Marcos, Nico, and Jason, but also Kara. The guys looked pissed off and had clearly heard everything, while Kara looked at me concerned.

Kara pushed past the boys and walked over to me, immediately wrapping her arms around me. “Did we hear youright? Dax Hillcrest killed your father?” Kara’s voice was gentle and soothing as she pulled me into her.

“Yes,” Elaine spoke up. “I walked in on him leaving, the pillow was still over Harry’s face and Dax was climbing out the window. He looked back and I saw his face clear as day. He said if I said anything to the three of you, I’d be next.”

“Motherfucker,” Marcos swore, stalking toward me. “Why the fuck haven’t you come to me before?” he growled.

I flinched away from him.

“Back off, Marcos!” Kara snapped, holding me tighter.

Marcos didn’t budge; he still loomed over me.

I lifted my chin and channeled my rage. “He threatened Luke!” I shouted at him. “He said if I told you guys, he would kill Luke!”

“And why the fuck would he even care about Luke? What’s he got over you? Why does he even care about you?” Jason’s deep voice cut me to the bone.

“I saw something I shouldn’t have. Back then,” I admitted, my breathing labored.

Nico

Finally, we were getting somewhere!I thought as Maya gasped for breath. I pushed away from the doorway and walked over to her and Kara. Marcos hovered over them, but I didn’t care, I pulled Maya and Kara into my arms, holding them both againstmy chest as a way to gather Maya to me, without ticking off Kara. “Little Dreamer, what did you see?” I asked softly.

Maya buried her face in my chest as one of her arms wrapped around me tightly. “I saw him kill someone. Ten years ago, I was at the gas station one night after working late. I was getting gas when Hillcrest came flying in, following this BMW. They both got out of the car, Hillcrest and this older white man—I later found out he was the mayor—but Dax fired several rounds into his chest, killing him. Dax saw me watching them and got in my face, he grabbed my work badge and said he now knew who I was and where I worked, and if I said anything, he would kill me too.” Maya took a shuddering breath against my chest and clung to me tighter.

“Motherfucker,” Marcos swore again.

I met his gaze over the girls’ heads and shook my head, trying to get Marcos to back off. “Then what happened, Little Dreamer?” I asked softly, rubbing her back. I needed to know every single detail. All of it.

“Then he figured out who you guys were, that’s when the flowers started showing up—at work or in my car, taunting me. He started leaving notes that said he would kill the three of you next. Then one day it was like he got bored with it, or something happened with the club, I don’t remember, but he cornered me at the grocery store and told me to leave town or he was going to kill you guys, and give me to his crew to play with.”

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