Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 125020 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125020 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
The room is starting to spin. So much flashing before my eyes. Finding out that the photographer from my team in Africa was murdered after he made it back to the States. The car Josh destroyed. That look… Oh. My. God.
I think I really go into shock now that the realization hits me.
Kelex
“Are you fucking kidding me?” I roar.
Jeff shrugs. “Bro, he was dead when my guys got there. Someone slit his throat.”
I had Jeff and his guys go to find Linus for me. I couldn’t send Helios for his own cousin. I thought Jeff could make it happen quickly and quietly. If push came to shove, I could have used him to handle the situation after I got my answers.
“This doesn’t make sense. Why would he do this?” Helios says.
“Whoever killed him probably shut him up so we’d never get those answers. I bet if we did some digging, this would all lead back to one person,” Jeff says.
“My father. He’s been calling Shawna. Can you believe that shit?”
“What does he want?” Jeff sits up and asks. “What has she told him?”
“Nothing. She doesn’t know anything to tell him. He wants to have dinner with her. Monday at Château Brione.”
“You should go instead. I’ll go with you. That would shock the shit out of him.”
“If I go, I’m going to kill him.”
“I think you should go. See if you can find out if he’s connected to this. I still can’t believe my cousin would do this.”
I turn to Helios. “Maybe you should take some time. Head back home to be with family,” I say.
“My duty is here with you. If Linus did this, I wouldn’t be able to be there the way I should. This has brought our family shame. I’m not ready to look Basil in the eyes.”
I nod. The Papadopoulos family has been loyal for years. This would be a hit to their pride.
“I think I will go to dinner in Shawna’s place. It’s time Baba and I have a talk.”
Chapter 67
Talk to Him
Shawna
It’s been five days since the shooting and Josh doesn’t allow me to go anywhere by myself. He also won’t allow me to sleep anywhere but under his roof.
I can’t shake Lex’s words from my head. I’m married to a man I really don’t know. That look has been right beneath the surface all week.
My thoughts have been racing with what all that means. However, I freeze outside of True’s room when I hear what sounds like sniffles. The next thing I hear is the sound of a phone ringing on speaker.
“Hello.”
“Hey, Dad.”
“Truman,” a man replies stiffly. “How are you? How’s Catherine?”
“We’re fine. Vernice is doing well too.”
I move closer to hear better. True takes a deep breath as if frustrated.
“What can I do for you, Truman?”
“Dad, I need you to sign the papers. It’s been four years. We want to be adopted. I want that for my sisters. Please.”
“Do you have any idea what that boy has done to my life? Why the hell would I sign my children over to him?”
“Because you don’t want us,” True bellows. “Stop being selfish. Stop punishing me and my sisters for your crimes. Don’t do this to them.
“It was me. I saw you with your girlfriend, I told Mom. In two years, I’ll be eighteen, but I’m not ready to take custody. Josh will take care of them, so I have a chance to be a proper man and start a life.
“Let him take care of them. Sign the papers, give up your rights. Let them have a father.”
“What difference does it make? You were always a mama’s boy, making things bigger than they needed to be,” the man snarls.
“It makes a difference to us. To them, Vernice especially. Why can’t you understand that? You’ve never wanted us, so what’s the big deal?
“Mom got pregnant with me and you were stuck with your little Black girlfriend. Do you know how disgusting it was to keep hearing that?
“Better yet, to hear my own father repeatedly ask why we came out so dark? You’ve never wanted us because you’ve never believed we were yours. Just sign the fucking papers.
“You won’t have to question anything else about us because we never want to see you again. I fucking hate you,” True sobs into the phone. “Just let us go. Let someone love us, set us free.”
“I’m not going to do that, Truman. If that boy doesn’t restore all he’s taken from me, I’m not going to lift a finger. My wife is gone. You children don’t know me. He took everything from me.”
“And yet, you won’t do right by us. You’re a narcissistic asshole. This has always been about you. How you will look, how you feel, what you get out of everything.
“You didn’t even call me for my birthday. Do you know how old your daughters are? Do you know my mama died apologizing for you? Her last breath was wasted saying she was sorry about you,” True snarls.