Chapter 46
“Get on your knees!” Joanie ordered again impatiently.
Holding her waist tightly despite the painful spasm and the freezing temperature, plus the fact that she was standing there like a wet dog and knew she was probably dying, brought the fury clear to the surface. “Joanie, listen to yourself. You’re killing for her like you’re cooking eggs. Do you hear yourself? Is it easier for you to pull that trigger than to talk to your mother?”
Joanie lowered the gun slightly. “What are you talking about?”
She really didn’t know what she was talking about, but she remembered listening at the door and she remembered when Parker was telling her things that he mentioned. The full grace of God had brought it to the light in her mind because she had not been even thinking about Joanie’s reasons.
“Y-Your mother…” She winced at the pain that was racking her body. “She’s the one that revealed everything to Parker so he could find out the truth about the past. About the day… the day my father died. She knew everything, didn’t she? That’s why she stopped speaking to you.”
“SHUT UP!!!” Joanie screamed.
“T-That’s why she stopped speaking right, Joanie? I’m dying anyway. Tell me,” Charisse said.
Joanie rubbed the tears that had come in her eyes. “You don’t know! She let him hurt me. She...” She gripped her chest and sobbed. “I-I talked in my sleep. I talked and she figured it out and she asked me… I told her the truth and she … she tried to make it right by getting rid of him. I saw her put the poison in his food over and over again until… until his body… she killed him as if I was supposed to forgive her, but she should have… she should have known.”
Charisse couldn’t believe the confession that Joanie had just revealed. “No one suspected that your mother slowly poisoned your father. Did any of your brothers know?”
“N-Nobody... Nobody knew but I’d see her doing it and I never said it.”
“So why were you angry?”
Disgustedly, Joanie seethed, “Because she had nerve to be mad at me when she accused me of helping Cheyenne and your mother get rid of your father when she did the same. She told me to leave them alone. She told me to stay away from them, but Cheyenne was my only friend! She didn’t see that no man would ever want me because he ruined me. And no one would be my friend. Look at me! Look at me! I’m fat and ugly.”
“Laurie killed to help you and m-most likely she was angry with herself because she didn’t protect you. Just because your mother killed a bad person so easily you think that makes you a killer? It doesn’t Joanie. My mother was greedy and my father w-was weak. But I’m neither.” She could feel the pain coming back again and braced her body for it. “The blood running through your veins is hers, but you witnessing that makes you a little girl who didn’t understand adult things and still harboring hurt for someone who took away y-your innocence.” Charisse calculated that she could make her move when Joanie came forward to press the gun against her head. All those damn movies she watched and books she read in her sheltered life had to help her now somehow. Hopefully it would help her fight her way out of this and then leave enough clues to let them know she had tried to fight before the hemorrhaging killed her.
Joanie’s hand shook a little. “She didn’t understand me.”
“You never let her. You stayed away from her because you just assumed she didn’t. But you’re wrong, Joanie, and she forgave you before she died.”
Startled, Joanie said, “She died?”
“Yes. About nine months ago.”
The woman looked very confused. “You’re lying, Charisse. Cheyenne told me she was still paying the bills for her. I wanted everything anonymous because I thought she wouldn’t have accepted it. And that’s why I was helping Cheyenne steal Parker’s money to get the rest to pay Cheyenne back all these months. Cheyenne promised to do it if I never told anything about Parker’s money… and this plan…” Tears streamed from her eyes as she realized she had been betrayed. “Tell me you’re lying.” There was desperation in her tone of voice.
Charisse knew she didn’t need to tell her that she was lying. Just looking at Joanie’s face puff up even more becoming blotchy and even fatter clearly told Charisse she was getting through.
“Cheyenne would have told me if she was dying.” This was almost a question.
“She d-didn’t, Joanie. Cheyenne kept that knowledge away from you, but then you have to wonder what else is she keeping from you. How much money you thought you were getting that you didn’t get?”
Joanie could barely see straight as she continued to hold the gun at Charisse, almost looking as if she was going to put it down.
At that moment a tremendous pain hit her like a car and Charisse was very close to passing out. “Stop letting Cheyenne use you Joanie. She has no blood on her hands. She’s used her own family and ruined our lives. You really think she cares more about you than herself? You’re not a killer, Joanie.”
Raising the gun back and starting to step forward, Joanie hissed in a sinister way, “That’s where you’re wrong, Charisse.“
Charisse found the strength the lunge forward pushing down Joanie’s arm that held the gun and then trying to stab at the bottom of Joanie’s lungs. For the second time that day, Charisse saw shock in Joanie’s pudgy brown face.
Just as the blood gushed over Charisse’s hand, the gun went off and Charisse felt something ripping her apart from inside out. She didn’t have a chance to relish her victory or at least hurting Joanie as she fell to her knees. Screaming as the pain pounded her already weakened body; Charisse knew her death was near.
“They’ll know I fought to live, Joanie!” she raged through her suffering. “They’ll know.”
Joanie pressed her hand over her stomach to stop her bleeding. The knife was on the ground, but Charisse had missed the mark. Still Joanie wailed as she fully realized what Charisse had done.
Raising the gun up to her again, Joanie trembled.
“Go ahead and shoot me, Joanie. I’m already d-dying!” Charisse used her anger to keep herself going, wanting to drive guilt into Joanie’s heart since no one else would witness her death.
She followed Joanie’s eyes that were looking in horror, as there was a pool of blood around Charisse. Her body was so weak even Charisse was amazed that her heart still beat strongly.
In a plea, she begged, “Just make sure that my babies never get hurt like we were, Joanie.” Unwrapping her arms from around her stomach, she put her hands together as if in prayer. “I-I’m making you their godmother, Joanie. T-That means you have to s-show… show them r-real beauty is on… on t-the inside and they are strong, smart… a-and they mean s-so much to me.” She wrapped her arms back around her stomach as the pain returned with such force it sent her on her back and she howled as if her bowels shot out of her.
Joanie’s face still looked horrified as Charisse felt her heart couldn’t take anymore and her body was giving away. Tears ran down both their faces, as they both knew the inevitable. Charisse didn’t need a bullet to kill her. Her body was dying. Soon her heart would catch on and then there would be nothing else.
“T-Tell them… tell t-them their m-mother found a… a reason t-to live… p-please,” she forced out before she felt her heart slowing down and becoming still because she knew death would overtake her soon.
***
Parker was so angry that Chyna had the nerve to die on him without fully giving him an answer to his question and leaving him with doubt about Charisse.
Could his new wife have planned all this? Were her intentions when he had picked her up at the facility to infiltrate into his heart, gain Chyna’s trust and ruin any of Cheyenne’s plans been her intentions?
Charisse was from a family who waited and plotted revenge even if it took forever. Could she have a bone of deceit running through her like a Mississippi mudslide?
Kimberly drove him to Mandingo who had made an immediate page to the house.
“I could drive over there myself. You should stay with the baby at the hospital,” Parker insisted.
“It’s okay. She was fine after the stitches and my brother is having fun keeping her company. This is important. Even Jaelen’s meeting us over there.”
Parker was seriously trying to feel something but knowing that Charisse and his children were either missing or dead made his whole body just want to go into a hysterical fury.
“Onyx is here,” Kimberly said in dread as they pulled up to see a large burgundy Expedition with gold trimming parked behind a black Expedition with tinted windows on the front of the vehicle.
Parker jumped out and Onyx was dressed as usual looking furious as hell.
Mandingo jumped in front of her blocking a roundhouse she was about to deliver and Parker was amazed at the large man’s speed and his gumption for even fighting Onyx when most men would have jumped out the way.
“It’s not just his fault. I’ve never failed a job, Onyx. It’s just as much mine. Kick my ass before you kick his.”
She angrily poked a finger in his chest careening her head up at him. “Don’t worry, you’re on my hit list, bitch.” Moving around Mandingo, she sneered, “Is this your idea of helping her? With fucking people like you around, she didn’t need enemies did she?”
Parker’s hurt lurched at her cruel words. “I did what I thought was best Onyx. I didn’t know.“
“You didn’t know what?! That your wife was a deceitful bitch and her twin was ten times worse? You are dumber than shit! I wouldn’t have left if I thought you couldn’t handle it and I fucking hate being wrong!” Since she didn’t want to hurt him yet, she kicked a garbage can nearby puncturing a hole in the steel surface. “I want to break you in half!”
“Calm the fuck down, Onyx. Kicking his ass is not going to resolve anything – yet,” Jaelen said coming up. “Now tell him what the forensics found.”
“Top floor where Charisse stayed, they found traces of blood,” Mandingo explained.
“Chyna’s?” Kimberly guessed.
“Yes and Charisse’s.”
Parker clutched his chest feeling as if he were unable to bring in enough air to breath. “How much?”
“It was also determined that there was birth fluid as well mixed in,” Mandingo finished. “From the amount found they think that she may have given birth to the babies and took off.”
“That’s not like Charisse,” Kimberly protested. “She would have stayed. Have they checked the entire house?”
“Yes, they have, but a neighbor did say that right before the explosion they saw a car pull off from the home,” Jaelen said.
“Charisse didn’t have a car,” Parker said confused. “And if she did have the baby, doesn’t she need medical attention? She could be bleeding to death.”
“She is strong,” Kimberly defended. “Dr. Redmond even said she is strong enough to have births naturally. Even if there were tears there wouldn’t be enough to kill her unless she didn’t receive medical care in a day or so. If we find her before then, she could be alright.”
“And what about the babies?” he asked desperately.
“As long as they are with her, they’ll feed off of her,” she assured Parker. “I’ve went over with her repeatedly until it was almost natural for her.”
“But you forget, she cares more on dying than she does living,” Jaelen sneered. “Do you really think she’ll care about the babies?”
“Shut up Jaelen Gates,” Kimberly said becoming angry. “She’ll care more about those babies than anyone else in the world.” Turning to Onyx, she snapped, “She’s not dead. I know she’s not, Onyx and you need to prove it!”
“The blood was all from the pregnancy according to the tests, although since it was done on the scene we can’t be absolutely sure until forensic calls me back with the lab results,” Onyx said.
“So where could Charisse be?” Parker questioned.
Mandingo’s phone went off and he showed it to Onyx after reading it. Since Jaelen was close he also leaned in and saw the screen.
“What is that?” Parker demanded to know.
“The answer to your question.” Onyx snatched the phone from Mandingo. “Follow me,” she ordered.
Before anyone could do anything else, Onyx had jumped up in her Burgundy Expedition and drove off.
“I’ll stay here!” Kimberly said. “Go!”
Jaelen, Parker and Mandingo jumped into the other Expedition and followed the speed demon.
“At this rate, we might make it to the cabin in an hour,” Jaelen said holding on in the back and looking for an extra seat belt to strap on just in case.
“How many hours since all this?” Parker checked his passenger seat belt strap. “How long was I really out?”
Mandingo looked at his watch. “If she had the baby before the explosion, it means that in all it’s been a little over two hours.”
“You didn’t have to hit me.”
“I didn’t hit you that hard,” Mandingo denied.
“What was the message?” Parker asked.
“Joanie’s credit card was used this morning at the airport to garner a Ford Focus - the same car seen leaving your home before the explosion. There’s a tracker on it, but it delays and we can only go where the car has been.”
“And where has it been?” Jaelen questioned.
“The cabin.”
Chapter 47
Parker knew they were going to say the cabin, but with so much doubt in his head about Charisse and Chyna he needed more proof of who was really telling the truth. Now that he knew Chyna was telling the truth about that part, he had to wonder what else was Chyna telling the truth about.
No part of him felt that Charisse could be deceitful, but he had been a fool before when he had made decisions on his personal life. Hating that he could never be successful at personal relations, yet over successful at business was a fault about him he didn’t know he could ever change. His heart desired a woman that could make him happy and he had thought for so long that it would be a storybook way to get there. Yet, for the first time in his life he had found that woman in Charisse, but he didn’t want to make the same mistakes he had made again by trusting a woman and then turning around to find out that she wasn’t what he wanted.
He also knew time was passing and the longer Charisse was without medical attention the shorter her life span could be. Not a doubt in his head stayed around to make him think that Charisse would want to hurt the babies, but his heart was unsure about her own well being.
True, he wanted the babies very much, but he also wanted to share raising them with Charisse – his wife. She had never given him an answer as to what she wanted to do and how long she wanted to be there for him.
“So as far as you know, Charisse was alive during the birth and she could still be alive now, right?” he questioned Mandingo.
“Could,” Mandingo stressed, concentrating hard on keeping up with Onyx’s lead foot. “I tracked traces of her blood and birth fluid to the outside in the driveway where it disappeared, which could mean she was placed or she put herself in the car that drove away before the explosion. What’s strange is the way she got in the car. If I determine correctly, she didn’t get in the back seat or the front seat by the way the car had to be parked in the driveway.”
“You think they put her in the trunk?” Jaelen asked in disbelief. “She just had a baby for Pete’s sake.”
“As if Charisse’s well-being ever mattered to them before,” Parker muttered angrily.
Jaelen’s phone rung. “What is it, Onyx?” he asked when he answered. “Yes, I know the layout of the cabin…” He sounded confused. “What? … Yes, there is.”
“What did she want?” Parker asked.
“She wanted to know was there a clearing near or by the cabin put in when the Bellini’s came up two years ago in their helicopter for that meeting. I told her it was.”
Parker wished they could get up there faster, because he kn
ew time was running out. The driving would take too damn long! And time was wasting. Charisse and the babies would need medical attention even if it was a healthy birth just like Kimberly said. He looked up in the sky. There was a snowstorm brewing and he knew out by the cabin it would be horrendous conditions if Charisse was out in the elements.
Suddenly, Mandingo jumped off the freeway that led to the city airport.
“This isn’t the way to the cabin,” Parker pointed out angrily. “And we’re running out of time!”
“Onyx must have something else planned,” Jaelen assumed as Mandingo took a corner almost on two wheels.
By the time they pulled up on a landing strip at the airport, Parker was glad he didn’t have motion sickness by the driving skills of Mandingo.
Onyx was talking with a pilot inside of a warmed up helicopter about twenty feet away and motioning them to come.
Parker knew he didn’t care what he was paying her. Onyx Heart was worth every damn Benjamin.
When they were strapped in, Onyx said, “Okay, boys, hold on. We’ll be at the cabin in less than twenty. Parker, see can we get any kind of transportation delivered for our convenience.” She was sitting by the pilot and she took control of the helicopter lifting it off the ground as if she had been doing it since she was born.
***
Seeing Cheyenne’s face was a shock as he came through the door. She was just as shocked. Parker got over it and grabbed her by the neck, lifted her two feet off the floor and pressed her back against the door. “Where the fuck is Charisse?”
Cheyenne was fighting to breathe and talk, but the steel grip he had around her neck didn’t give her any leeway.
“You’re killing her, Parker. She’s no good dead,” Jaelen pointed out behind him.
Suddenly the sound of a baby wailing took Parker by surprise and he dropped Cheyenne to the ground and proceeded all the way into the cabin.
When Cheyenne tried to follow after catching her breath, Jaelen held her arm only letting her stay by the door. Onyx walked past both of them and went over to where Parker stood.
His Substitute Wife... My Sister Book Two Page 23