My mom sits next to me on my bed and looks at me.
“You didn’t eat anything at dinner.”
“I know it’s just that…”
“Your hearts broken.” My mother interrupts me. I widen my eyes at her. “Yeah I know the symptoms.” She smiles. “The first time your father broke my heart I was looking just like you.”
“I’m sorry mom.”
“I know. I’m sorry too.”
“For what?”
She slowly hesitates. Whatever it is, she does not want to confess it to me.
“For being married to your father. I’m sorry and not sorry at the same time. From the moment I saw him, I knew he would be that one. I knew we would have a life full of adventure and consequences because of who he was.” I sit up straight and listen clearly to probably the realest thing my mother is ever going to say to me. “When Christian died, I thought to myself how I wish I could go back and change it all. I could go back and not meet your father and you all wouldn’t have been born and Chris wouldn’t have lost his life so early.”
“Mom”
“Let me finish… I saw the way she looked at you. The way she looked at you is how I still look at your father. Am I happy about who she is? No. Only because I know it brings problems. See Donovan I have regrets and so does your father, but we have to live with those regrets and move on. That’s why your father gave up that life because he had to move on.”
“So, do you still feel that way? Like you should’ve changed everything?”
“Sometimes I feel it sneaking up on me, but then I look at you and Ella and all the memories of Christian and the last conversation we had fill up my heart.”
“What was it?”
“It was before you left for that party. I went to his room to be nosey and ask about you. I asked him how you we’re doing and you know what he said?”
“What?”
“He said Mom, Donovan is a perfect combination of you and dad. Full of heart and strength. He can’t break. He’ll be okay. Then I told him he was really wise for your age. I was teasing him and he laughed. He said that’s what happens when you come from this family.”
I feel a single tear come down my cheek as my jaws clench trying to hold in the rest.
“You see Donovan, that memory gives me hope. You and your sister give me hope. Your father gives me hope. So don’t lose it baby.” She places her hand on my cheek.
“Okay.”
We end our moment in a hug. I instantly flash to the night Christian died and how he didn’t look scared and said it was okay. It may be crazy, but I feel as if, even in death, he didn’t regret being a Pierce.
Claudia
“Claudia, I need to talk to you.” I turn around to see Julia in the hallway.
I just got home and wanted to go in my room and study, which is all I have been trying to do this week, but I haven’t been too successful. All I could think about was Donovan.
“Sure.” I follow her down stairs in the living room where I see them. Suit cases. They’re hers. I glance up at Julia. “What’s going on?”
“I’m leaving.”
“What?”
“I’m divorcing your father.”
“What? Why?” Of course you know why.
She walks closer to me and places her hands on my arms.
“You and I both know that your father has not been the same since your mother. When I met him I thought it would change because I loved him. It didn’t.”
“No, Julia, please.”
“Sometimes you have to let go to be happy Claudia. But know that I love you and I don’t regret knowing you or being a part of your life. Also I’m sorry for being a bitch to you. You were right. It’s time for me to stand up to him, just like you did.” She brushes my hair as she tears up.
“I don’t regret it either. Even when you were being a bitch.” We laugh and I pull her into a hug. “Where are you going?”
She wipes her tears away, letting go of me.
“I’m going back to Boston to stay with my sister until I get a place of my own.”
“Promise you will keep in touch.”
“Of course I will.”
After I help her with her bags we say our final goodbyes.
“You love Donovan Pierce?” She says to me before she gets in her car.
First time anyone has asked me.
“Yes.” I say proudly, clear without a doubt.
“Then don’t give up.”
I watch her as she turns on the ignition and drives off. I’m really going to miss her.
I start walking back towards the house when I see another car pull up.
I wait to see who gets out and its Ella.
“What are you doing here?”
She takes off her sunglasses and walks up to me. “We need to talk.”
We settle in the living room. I still can’t believe she is here. What could she possibly have to talk to me about?
“What do you want?” I watch her as she stands near the fire place studying pictures of my mom.
“Is this your mom?”
“Yeah.”
“How did you feel when she died?” What? What kind of question is that? “Listen I don’t know what your problem is, but you need to leave obviously.”
“Just tell me.” For the first time, I actually sense a calm and serious tone from Ella.
“Hurt. I was hurt, depressed, lost, angry, everything negative, okay?” I blurt out.
“Those are all the things; I felt when my brother died. Before school started I did plan on coming here and automatically hating you, but my brother Christian told us how we didn’t know you and that it wasn’t your fault who your father was. I listened, but then he died. Then Donovan was shipped off to another country and to me he might as well have been dead. I missed my brothers. I missed how my family use to be. So, I took it out on you. I needed someone to hate so I might as well hate the daughter of Henry Stonem. I’m sorry I slept with Eric. It was actually my first time and I actually liked him. He smooth talked me. He acted like he understood me, then when I realized he used me, I decided I might as well tell you.” Wow.
“So, you did.”
“Yeah, I did.” She looks down at her feet then back to me. “When my brother came back, I thought we could be happy again. We could have it all back, but we didn’t. Christian was still gone and that was a void we could never fill. Donovan has always been this brooder since he was little, but he’s gotten worse. Then I finally saw that for the first time in a very long time he was happy. He was happy because of you. He was hanging out with me and cooking with mom, trying to have father and son conversations with dad.” She laughs. I laugh a little with her. “You brought my brother back to life and no matter how much I object to it, him being happy is good enough for me.”
“Thank you. I really appreciate all that, but you do know that I ended it, right?”
“Yeah, which is why I’m here. Emile told me what you said to Donovan, and all I could think about was why? I mean you guys practically made an announcement at the ball, so I kept thinking why would she end it like that? So I did my own investigation. My brothers underestimated me sometimes. They thought all I paid attention to was boys and clothes. Which is half true, but when it comes to something important I think I’m more focused than anyone. So I ease dropped on my father’s phone call a couple of days ago. See my father is a good liar, but I know he isn’t capable of threatening you and your family.”
My eyes widen.
“Yeah, I know. Rick, one of my father’s guards, has a big mouth. But I knew it didn’t add up. My dad isn’t like that. Yes he has done things that are unforgivable, but he really is legit now, so I went through his office and found this.”
She reaches into her bag and pulls out a red folder.
“What is that?”
“It’s everything my father has on your father. Its everything your father has on my father. My father was keeping tabs so he would know what he was up aga
inst when the time was right.”
“What?”
“Just read it. This feud between them goes deeper than anything.”
I take the folder from her.
“Did you tell Donovan?”
“No not yet. I’m going to and when you guys figure it out. You’ll be okay. I’ll show myself out.”
“Ella.” I say as she is walking away. She turns back and looks at me. “Thank You.”
“No problem.” She starts walking away until she stops again. “Claudia.”
“Yeah?”
“I’m sorry for the truth your about to find out.”
After she leaves me with her apology, I sit down on the couch and place the red folder on the coffee table.
What is this? Do I want to read this?
She said it’s everything her father has on my father too.
What has dad been doing?
Chapter
15
“Truth Be Told”
Donovan
“So, what are you gonna say?” Emile asks me as I throw a shirt on.
“I’m going to say I love you and… shit I don’t know.”
I have a plan. I’m going straight to Claudia’s house. I know it’s crazy, but I’m not giving up. I don’t care if her father is there and will possibly have my ass thrown in jail. I’m not giving up. Emile asked Jade for her address and she gave it. She told him Claudia never told her why things ended, but made her promise not to help me get through to her. Jade could see how sad she was so she said screw it. I always knew I liked her.
“Make sure you smell good man. Chicks love a guy that smells good, they can’t say no.”
“I’ll keep that in mind, Emile.” I laugh. Emile always says the most random stuff.
“Donovan.” I turn around to see my sister entering my room.
“What’s up?” I notice her nerves as she is holding sheets of paper in her hand.
“I need to tell you something.”
***************
Fueled with anger I head to the living room. I see my mother and father lying on the couch. I slam the sheets of paper on the coffee table.
“So you threatened her.”
He sits up with my mother and looks at the sheet of papers.
“Who gave you this?”
“I did.” Ella says coming next to me. “Dad it’s time for you to tell the truth. You’re sacrificing too much.”
“What are they talking about Roman?” My mother asks confused.
“Dad threatened Claudia. He told her he would kill her family and friends.” I answer for him.
“Roman you didn’t.”
“I did.” He looks up to see me. “I did it to protect you.”
“I know, but dad that wasn’t your decision to make on your own.”
“I’m your father! I have to do what is necessary.”
“Dad, he’s a fraud! You’re really going to let him get away with all the scams, bribery, and framing?! All because he has a few things on you?!”
“Someone tell me what is going on?” My mother steps between me and my father.
“Stonem found out information that links me to the man who killed my mother.” My father confesses.
My mother grabs the papers and skims through them.
“Well he can’t bring you to trial on just one witness.” My mother says as she reads the document. “Who by the way is a drug addict.”
“But he can tell his brother.”
“Whose brother? Dad, who was the guy?” Ella asks.
“Eddie Valentine.”
We all pause at the name.
“Eddie Valentine? As in the Valentine family?” Ella asks hoping it’s another family.
“Yes.” My father answers.
“You said he was a nobody.” I say.
“He was, but to his brother probably not.”
“Mom you knew?” Ella asks.
“Of course, but we thought no one would ever find out.”
“Well, they did.” I say.
“Stonem came to me the night you and the girl ran away. He told me that if I didn’t do as he said, he would tell Mickey Valentine, that I was the one who shot his brother.”
Mickey Valentine is one of the most notorious gangsters. He’s the one not to mess with. He’s insane. Literally insane. I’ve heard stories about how he loves to torture people. He isn’t like my father, he shows no mercy and anyone that gets in his way is expendable. If you rub him the wrong way, he not only kills you, but your whole family.
“If Mickey found out, he would come kill all of you and make me watch. I couldn’t let that happen, Donovan.”
“I know that, but dad you could have told me. We could have found a way.”
“She is just a girl, Donovan.”
“Dad, she is everything to me! Along with this family she is everything to me. You mean to tell me that if mom was her, and you were me, you wouldn’t do what it takes? I know you dad. You don’t give up. I know that ever since Chris died you second guess yourself but dad you have to let it go. You can’t let Stonem get away with any of this.”
Claudia
I burst through my father’s office as he is on the phone. I slam the documents on to his desk. As he looks at them his eyes go blank.
“Dan, I have to call you back.” He hangs up. “Who gave you these?
“It doesn’t matter. What matters is that you are a liar and a thief.”
“Claudia” He stands up. “I had to do these things to bring these men to justice.
“By committing injustice?! Dad you have framed people, bribed judges, and embezzled money from the city!”
“Claudia, if you were in my position you would understand!”
“No! Dad you tell me all the time to suck it up life is pain, well guess what you suck it up! Roman Pierce threatened me because you threatened him and his whole family.”
I grab the sheet of paper mixed with documents. It has pros and cons. Roman must have written it when he tried to figure out what he was going to do. I read it out loud.
“If Stonem tells Valentine what I did, he will kill my whole family. I googled Valentine, dad. He is this sadistic mob boss whose brother so happened to have died when Roman Pierce was sixteen. I remember you told me the story of Roman Pierce’s first kill when he was sixteen, but you never knew who he killed. Soon I learned it was because that man killed his mother.”
Love and Hate (The Pierce Family Trilogy) Page 22