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Chapter Fifteen
Amelie
Smalls has disappeared, still pissed at me. Kalen and Chelsea are shopping. All I want to do is relax before they get back and Easter explodes throughout the house. Maybe even get a few phone calls in while Kalen is gone. But Dad and Aadi screaming at each other has me running downstairs.
“What the fuck is going on?” I yell, trying to push them apart.
“Nothing sweetheart,” my father says, taking a step back and trying to compose himself.
“Jesus Dad, you need to give it up. We don’t live here anymore and it’s time Amelie knows the truth. All these damn lies are tearing us apart.”
I turn to Aadi. What the hell is he talking about?!
“That’s because you went to work for your good for nothing grandmother,” Dad snaps. He’s always hated his mother for as long as I can remember. He rarely speaks about her and I didn’t know she even lived close enough for Aadi to work for her.
“So we can’t work for her but Amelie can be in The Order? That’s so fucking typical.”
“You know I had no choice, my hands were tied.” Dad is being sincere. I can see it in his eyes.
“There is always a choice! I said no and the reason I went to Grandmother was to protect Amelie. Both Smalls and I did. At least we tried to do something! You just let her go back to that woman who abused her for so many years.”
I gasp and shoot Aadi a look. He promised me he would never tell Dad! Dad was always working and I never wanted him to feel guilty.
My father looks at me and opens his mouth to say something but I cut him off. I don’t want him to apologise, not when payback is coming really soon.
“Let’s back up a second,” I say, holding up a finger to Dad and turning to Aadi. “You don’t live here anymore? Smalls either?”
He shakes his head.
“No. Dad made us come home when he knew you were coming, so that we could play happy families with you and your energiser bunny boyfriend.”
“So where do you live?” I ask.
“Down by The Lakes.”
“The fancy part of town? How the hell can you afford that?!”
“By being a gang banger, that’s how,” my father adds bitterly.
“Dad always forgot to mention his family is loaded.”
“From selling drugs and weapons and god knows what else,” Dad snaps.
“So no different from what you did in The Order, right? I’m not an idiot Dad, Grandma knows a lot about them, and drugs and weapons are just the tip of the iceberg”
“I’m out, and have been for a long time.”
That catches my attention.
“That's a lie. There is no way out. Once you’re in it’s for life.” Guilt washes over my father’s face.
“It’s more complicated than that. Take a seat and I will explain. Aadi, I think we’re done for today. I would appreciate it if you stayed here until your sister leaves but you’re grown, so do what you want.”
I take a seat and Aadi storms from the room.
“So I need you to explain this to me.”
“I can’t go into too many details until you are sworn in officially. But you already know The Order works mainly on favours.” I nod. “When Laura and I fell in love and she was pregnant with Aadi, I wanted out. I made a deal with the entire board. One I knew I would have to cash in eventually, but I figured it would be a vote in favour of them or to try to convince my mother to play nice. When Monty called I knew they had found out about you. I kept mine and Debbie’s relationship a secret because I cheated on Laura and I wasn’t proud of that, but Debbie and I always wanted to be together. The Order didn’t want that at all because it would have tipped the balance of power if we had a child. Anyway, when he called he said his father had figured it out and you would be in danger. They planned on calling in that favour for you.”
