Page 65 of Romeo
“Anyway, we needed Rip to get to her,” Liv continued the horrid tale. “Because the way the tradeoff had been set up, it would have been a disaster for us. Only O knew where the exchange would happen and when it would happen. So we needed her to give us something…anything really. O adored Rip even though she had left him behind.” Liv rolled her eyes. “Or so she claimed. I mean she captured Rips’ girl Sophia and held her hostage while she had Rip play this treasure hunt game to get her back. Like is that love for a son? Putting him through all of that? I really think that was what pushed Rip over the edge.”
“Over the edge?” I asked, feeling a bit confused.
“The woman was insane and she was evil,” Jarret said. “I mean I sort of knew that when we were all young, but I never guessed she was…” He sighed. “So unhinged that she had committed so many crimes over the years. Caused people such pain. Not just the Walkers but a whole town's worth of people. But yeah, poor Rip, he bore the brunt of it all when she was exposed as a multiple murderer.”
Redemption nodded and went on, “Not just a multiple killer. She ran a slave ring, strip clubs, drug running and all sorts of illegal endeavours. My wife had witnessed O killing a few of her victims and told me that no one knew how many people she had murdered. Rip’s world had been turned upside down. The fact that the person who did all of that and tried to kill us Walkers as well as being bent on ruining our lives, had been his own mother, all along. She had murdered his fatherand then his uncle who had been a surrogate father to Rip. Hell, she confessed to killing Sophia's parents too. All that harm and the pain she had caused. And she had no remorse at all. She had punished the family because she was petty and wanted her sister’s man.”
“What?” I asked him.
“She killed her husband because she was in love with my other brother. Liv and Talon’s father,” Jarret explained. “Olivia had wanted him and resented the fact that her sister Bea had married him.”
“Needless to say, Rip told her how much damage she had done to him and the family,” Redemption said.
“Damn,” Dante exclaimed.
“She had this fixation with Shakespear. So even at the end, she was quoting Hamlet or some shit,” Jarret said. “That is why she called herself Ophelia.”
“All drama and no sanity.” Liv scoffed. “Basically, she was looney tunes, pure and simple.”
I stared at her, then at Redemption and finally my gaze rested on Jarret. “So…My sister is as insane as she was?” I whispered.
He stared back at me and slowly shook his head as he didn’t give me an answer.
I suppose he didn’t have to. I just heard all about the woman who raised Valencia…A female version of Hannibal Lecter.
“We will find out soon,” Stephano replied as he stared at his phone. “I see them at the gates. They are bringing her in.”
I sucked in a breath and then let it out slowly.
“She needs to be secured,” Jarret warned us. “As in tied up. She might really hurt someone.”
I stared at him then looked back over at Romeo. I admit it. I felt scared now. Afraid of what Valencia would be like. For the last seven years, I wondered where she was and what she would be like if I ever found her. Now she had been found and I dreaded it.
Romeo wrapped an arm around my shoulder and said, “We will face it together, Julie.”
I looked up and spotted Max at the doorway. I trembled as I knew what he was here for.
“Sir?” He looked over at Stephano. “Do you really want them to bring that woman in here?”
“Si, Max. We need to speak to her.”
Max nodded then bowed. He then left the doorway.
I stood from the couch and awaited a reunion that I almost knew I would regret.
Chapter Seventeen:Kill You, Kill Me
Romeo
Next to me, Julianna trembled. I felt so bad for her. No, I didn’t blame her for not telling me. She didn't really have anything to tell. Not until she was sure. I hoped this meeting wouldn’t go badly, but according to Jarret, this woman was a lot like this infamous O. I sure hoped not.
We all waited. Then we heard it.
“Put me down, asshole!” a voice screamed.
I held tightly to Julianna’s hand as that voice did sound a lot like hers.
Finally, a very large man showed up at the door with a woman over his shoulder. Tank, I think it was as we’d seen him on the screens earlier. Then another man I recognized as Keys walked beside them.
