Page 75 of Romeo
They didn’t immediately reply.
I know what they were thinking, but I just felt like it wasn’t right to keep her tied up.
“As much as I would like to,” Stephano spoke up. “I don’t think we can do that just yet.”
“I agree,” Talon said. “Up until we found out that she is your twin, this woman was doing a lot of damage. Her loyalty has to be to Deacon and O. At least until we know otherwise.”
“I hate him!” Valencia exclaimed.
“Maybe so, but we need to be sure about this,” Redemption finally spoke up. “O herself was very clever at playing games. Deacon learned that from her. Who’s to say that V isn’t a game player with lives as well?”
Valencia gasped. “This is not a game! I was lied to for my whole life. The only family I had…” She paused to shake her head. “...Fooled me. And they gave me a hate for people that didn’t deserve it.”
“Yes, but you also knew about some of her cruelty, didn’t you?” Glory accused. “You had to have seen some of it.”
“I did know that she was tough and she ruled her organization with a harshness. But really…” Valencia looked over at Stephano. “You can understand why she did that?” Referring to the fact that he ran a mafia.
He slowly nodded his head. “I can. However, this O, she went beyond organized crime, mia cara. She participated in borderline serial killings to be honest. Yes, there is a price for crossing the Familia, but to skin people alive? Have women tortured? Sell children as sex slaves? These are sins that I donotpartake in. The Descalia Corporation does business, not mayhem and misery, perpetuated on innocents. At the end of the day? I must face my own family and God. I couldn’t have done what Ophelia did. It was pure madness and for all intents and purposes, she is in hell at this very moment, paying for those horrendous sins.”
Valencia gaped at him as she looked even paler than before. “S-skin people? T-that…” She looked a bit green now. Slowly shaking her head, she said, “I know that no one will probably believe me, but I never saw anyone tortured or killed. Deacon ruled tough as well. I did see that when one of our Russian captains allowed that Jewel woman to be hurt, Deacon had him beaten then sent him away. I wanted Deacon to returnJewel, he had no right to take her like he did. I didn’t understand why he did it. He said Mother instructed…” She shook her head. “I mean O told him to choose her as a wife?”
“See there, my dear?” Stephano urged. “You still feel like she was your parent and Deacon is your brother.”
“He killed that Russian, Valencia,” Talon stated with a growl. “Had him beaten to death, according to Jewel.”
“Also, were you aware that he had a man named Zed in his custody?” Glory asked as she broke her silence.
Valencia slowly shook her head. “No, I never knew….”
“Ms. Regatta, I think—”
“What did you call me?” Valencia asked with confusion in her eyes.
We all paused to stare at her.
This never occurred to me. Of course O never told her. “Your full name is Valencia Celene Regatta,” I informed her.
“T-that’s my name?” she stammered as she looked lost.
“What did you think it was?” I asked.
“Valencia Claire Walker.”
“Oh, wow,” I said as I shook my head.
“I didn’t even know my real name?” Valencia exclaimed.
“O couldn’t tell you your real name, I suppose?” Romeo suggested. “You were a stolen child. So she couldn’t have your last name known.”
“As I was saying,” Stephano continued. “Let’s take this a day at a time. Please cut her ties?”
A minute went by, then Glory stepped up and flipped a jackknife open.
Valencia gasped as she stared at the shimmering blade. After all, Glory had slapped her about a half hour ago.
Glory rolled her eyes at her terror and slipped the knife between her wrists to swiftly cut the ties. Then did the same at her ankles. Finally, she stepped back, still looking troubled as she flipped the knife closed and shoved it into her back pocket. “I hope you all aren't making a dangerous mistake here,” she spoke to the room in general.
With a groan, Valencia stretched her legs out and turned her ankles in a circle. Looking relieved to be free of the plastic ties.
