Twisted Revenge

by Danielle James

  Then came the sirens.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Emmanuel

  The main church was full of faces needing to hear a good word, and I was going to give it to them. I looked to my left and saw Camilla fidgeting with her hands, no doubt she was nervous about her father’s fate. She would find out soon enough though.

  She might hate me for a while.

  She might even understand why I did it.

  Either way, I knew she’d need time once the news hit her. I was grateful that she had Xavier to fall back on because I would be on her shit list.

  I knew the risks.

  I also knew she would get over it all because Camilla was plagued and excited by darkness. It’s her pitfall, and it’s mine too. That’s why we fit so well. Our demons know each other. No matter how much she craved Xavier’s light and warmth my cold darkness would always speak to the savage parts of her and she would be mine again.

  Just before I was introduced, I felt my phone buzz in my pocket. A notification that only read a number let me know an account had been emptied and then shut down.

  Dana was dead.

  Wolf had followed through.

  I told Rashad he would feel reborn after he’d rid the world of his sister. I told him I would kill off the old him in return for a new him. A wolf of a man who would follow the alpha and protect him at any cost. He agreed.

  Trevor would take the fall, and it would teach him a fucking lesson in the process.

  With the strings I could pull I could make Trev disappear forever, or be his savior and set him free. It all depended on him.

  “I am honored to introduce this humble man of God. This man that opened his church to us so that we could spread our message of peace. A man who walks right with the Lord always and has saved many lives.” Monique Harris was introducing me and I was ready with a smile. “Can we all rise to our feet for the Honorable Pastor Emmanuel Scott?”

  Claps.

  Cheers.

  Shouts.

  I held the mic in my hand and projected a smile out to the crowd until they settled down. “Good evening everyone.” I began, “You know, I bet yall thought I was going to preach tonight. Didn’t you?” Shouts from the crowd surrounded me. “I’m not going to preach tonight but you might feel like I’m taking you to church. Now we’re here because the police gunned down Miss Harris’ son Dexter in cold blood. He was unarmed. He was a teenager. And now he’s a victim.”

  I walked further out onto the stage and continued. “Dexter Harris is yet another victim of a corrupt system that has infected the entire state of Florida. I say that in order to have peace, we must have police we can trust. I say that in order to have peace, we must clean house so that our good brothers in blue can shine.”

  Claps.

  Cheers.

  Camera flashes.

  “Do you hear me out there? We need our police! We need them to protect us, not kill us. We need someone who will enforce strict psychological requirements so that the cream of the crop can rise to the top. I’m so tired of these same news stories aren’t you?” I looked out into the crowd to see everyone nodding their heads in unison. “I want peace in the streets. I want a strong bond between citizens and police.”

  More nods.

  Claps.

  “Pastor Scott you should run for office!” A random voice called from the crowd.

  Everyone erupted with applause and shouts. A smile spread across my face. I calmed them all down with a hand motion and finished up a powerful speech on peace and police unity that had each person in attendance on their feet.

  Adrenaline was humming through my muscles and limbs. I hadn’t felt so high since I preached my first sermon. When I stepped off stage a crowd of people rushed me. Hands were jutting out to be shaken, papers were being shoved at me for signing.

  One man stepped through the crowd and gripped my hand in his firmly. He wasn’t very tall, but he had an air that I instantly respected. “I’m Dempsey Dunham.” He said moving me away from the crowd. “I’m a political operative and Mr. Scott, we need to talk about your future in politics.” He said nothing more. Only slipped me a stark white business card with his name and number in bold typeface. I nodded at him and just as quickly as he appeared he was gone.

  Everything was moving in the right direction.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Camilla

  Why wouldn’t my dad answer my phone calls? I swear I called him ten times at least. The rally was over and I was standing in the midst of an eerie silence. It was a consuming silence that ate away at me. I stood up from my desk and peered out into the hall.

  Empty.

  Out of the window were tons of headlights that I assumed were from media stragglers. I went back to my desk and sat down, staring at my phone. I wanted to call someone for some reason. I just had no idea who or why. I rubbed my growling stomach and went back out into the hall. This time I was going to steal some refreshments from the rally and take them back to my office so I could work on pushing all the pictures from the rally to social media.

  My eyes felt bigger than my damn stomach as I grabbed cheese cubes, crackers, cookies, water bottles, and mini bags of chips. I returned to my office with my food and dropped the snacks on my desk beside my phone. This time when I picked it up and illuminated the screen I had a list of new notifications, calls, and texts. Christina had called nearly 20 times. How the fuck did that even happen in the few minutes I was gone?

  Panic started as a trickle at first, then it began to turn into a stream as I saw texts asking me if I’d heard or seen the news. I put my phone down and immediately clicked the TV on. Everything was a blur and headlines ran together.

  “First Lady of New Grace Ministries found murdered in cold blood.”

  “Dana Scott, wife to mega-church televangelist Pastor Emmanuel Scott was found dead today, stabbed to death.”

  “Dana Scott of mega-church fame, dead at 41 years old.”

  “Dana Scott, author and wife of Pastor Emmanuel Scott was stabbed to death behind a local diner.”

  I dropped the remote because my hand was shaking too hard. I didn’t know if I was standing or sitting anymore because the room melted away.

  Dead?

  Dana?

  My mother?

  Holy shit.

  “Sources say Trevor White, is in custody…” My head jerked towards the TV. I found the remote and turned the volume all the way up. My father’s mug shot was flashed across the screen. His bruised face and pained eyes cried out to me. I fell to the floor in tears. I cried until I threw up.

  On the desk, my phone jumped incessantly, driving me insane. I grabbed it and threw it against the wall shattering the screen. When my door flung open, I didn’t need to look to see who it was. The air around me even knew who it was. “Why?” I begged instead of asking. He knelt down beside me and said nothing. Rage and sorrow swirled inside of me and I launched my fists at his face. He didn’t flinch. He didn’t move. He let me get it out.

  “Emmanuel…” I sobbed once I couldn’t swing on him anymore. “My dad…he’s…he’s gonna go to prison. I’ll never see him again.” The words choked my throat and I felt like I would be sick again. Emmanuel stood me up and lowered his brow at me.

  “Camilla…did you hear about your mother?” He asked me slow and cautiously.

  “Of course!” My voice ripped through the air. “She’s fucking dead! But my father.” I was consumed again with sorrow. I felt bad about Dana dying, I really did but it paled in comparison when I thought about my father going to jail for something he didn’t do. The thought of not seeing his smile or hugging him gutted me. “You!” I shrieked. “You made it happen!” I began hitting him again but it was no use. I was tired already.

  “I know you hate me, Camilla but right now you need to understand I can either hurt or help your father but he needs to learn his lesson.” I thought about hating him. I did. My mind told me to hate him with everything I had. He was taking my f
ather from me after I’d gotten him back after all the lies Dana told. But I didn’t hate him. I didn’t know how I felt. I was numb.

  “Camilla!” Xavier’s voice bounced off the walls in the hall and I scrambled to get to him. We nearly ran into each other. He grabbed me and looked into my eyes. “I’m so sorry baby.” He said through sad pools of honey brown. My bottom lip quivered until the tears started rolling again.

  “I just…I want to see my dad,” I stammered. Emmanuel came out into the hall and Xavier let out a breath. The two men spoke quietly in the corner while I wrapped my arms around myself trying to pull it together.

  He told me I wouldn’t like it. I knew he would be harsh. I never expected him to do it like this though. “Camilla,” Emmanuel called me over and held my chin in his enormous hand. “I know you’re in shock over your mother right now.”

  “No, I’m in shock over my fucking father being taken to prison over this,” I snapped. Xavier and Emmanuel exchanged uneasy looks then came back to me. “Okay, well we need to pull it together as a unit right now. Not a word on anything yet.” He instructed. Xavier nodded but I could see the disgust in his eyes. “There are probably dozens of media and news crews out there waiting. I need you to put on your emotions right now, just no talking.” He coached as if he’d been down this road many times before.

  Even in the face of death and deceit, Emmanuel was calculated and cool.

  I was still shaking when we emerged from the church. It was 8 at night but the lights from the media made it feel like morning time. I shielded my eyes against the brightness. “Camilla Scott is it true that Trevor White is your biological father?”

  “Miss Scott, how do you feel knowing your biological father killed your mother in cold blood?”

  “Miss Scott, any word on how you’re feeling right now?” All of their voices started to mesh and the colors started to swirl. I swayed and rocked and then I fell.

  When I woke up I was at home. The home I grew up in with Christina and Dana and Emmanuel. The home where I learned to love my little sister and that my mother was a conniving bitch. The home where I learned who my real father was.

  My father…

  Oh my god, my dad was in jail for murdering my mother. I sat straight up but the room swam and my stomach lurched. I heard voices downstairs so I rushed to see what was going on. Maybe it was all a dream?

  Christina saw me first. She ran to me and almost knocked me over. “Cami! I don’t care anymore,” she sobbed. “I don’t care about the petty drama. I forgive you for getting me expelled. I forgive you for Laurel for Dad, for everything.” Her words ran together and I almost didn’t understand a thing she said. I pulled back and looked at her tear-streaked face. I nodded in agreement and we crashed into another hug.

  It didn’t last long though because I had to push her out of the way so I could stick my head in the toilet.

  “Are you okay?” Chris called from the other side of the bathroom door.

  “Yeah…” I spat into the toilet and washed my mouth out. This entire situation had me so fucked up. Xavier, Laurel, Emmanuel, and Uncle Rashad were all sitting around our kitchen table with papers strewn everywhere and containers of Chinese food set out on the counters.

  “Uncle Rashad.” I walked over to him with open arms and he embraced me lovingly.

  “Hey, baby girl.” He kissed my forehead and it reminded me of my father. I stifled a cry. “It’s okay,” He told me.

  Everyone looked at me and I could sense the tension between Xavier and Emmanuel. Neither of them knew who should comfort me. I was so tired of it all. I knew I was the lynchpin but I didn’t care. “No more secrets, okay?” I said slamming my hand on the table. Everyone jumped at the loud noise. “Secrets are just gonna get more people killed.” I swallowed my words and eyed each of them. “Get it all out in the open now. Everyone!” I shouted. My voice was raw with emotion and I could tell nobody knew if I would snap.

  The room was still silent even though I’d instructed them to start spilling shit.

  “Fine, I’ll start,” I said lifting my chin in the air. “I’m fucking Emmanuel and Xavier. Xavier, Laurel, and I had a threesome. I evidently got Chris expelled a month before graduation by planting pills in her locker and telling Brian that she sold them.”

  Silence again.

  “Um…I sell pills,” Laurel said lifting her hand shyly.

  “I lost my virginity to Trevor and now…” Christina’s voice broke. “Now he’s gone, and I loved him.” I swiped away the tears falling from my eyes at the mention of my father and listened on.

  “I really don’t have anything to confess but…I like fucking other women.” Xavier shrugged. Everyone’s eyes darted to Emmanuel next who shook his head.

  “I’m too old for truth or dare.” He said quietly.

  “I think we all know everyone’s secrets. Let’s just figure out this Dana shit.” Rashad said, standing in front of Emmanuel. I eyed him and nodded.

  “Well, who the fuck killed her?” I asked with my hands on my hips. I looked plainly at Emmanuel but he was tight-lipped.

  “It wasn’t Trevor,” Christina trembled.

  “We know who, we just don’t know how and I’m sure that’s in everyone’s best fucking interest,” Xavier said sternly garnering a look of approval from Emmanuel.

  Finally, the man himself opened his mouth. “Everyone in this house right now is officially under my watch as long as you all keep your mouths shut and your opinions to yourself you’ll be fine. I won’t hesitate to handle anyone who doesn’t comply.” Nobody took it for a threat. A chill passed through the room from one person to the next.

  We’d all seen what Emmanuel was capable of, and though we didn’t know how we knew he was the reason Dana was dead and my father was behind bars.

  He would never tell me the entire story, and I would never tell him that I wouldn’t stop until my father was free. Even if that meant I had to stand up to Emmanuel Scott.

  I loved him but I refused to let him ruin my father’s life like this. I would have dealt with almost anything better than this shit.

  As usual just when I think I’ve worked through the darkest most twisted parts of my life, more sprouts up to prove me wrong. Judging by Emmanuel’s deathly silence, I sensed he was keeping much more quiet than the framing of my father and the murder of my mother. Dana’s death signified the formation of an alliance between us all but how long would it last?

  How long before more truths started coming to light and more plots started being concocted inciting some sort of twisted war? I looked around the kitchen from Xavier to Laurel, to Christina, on to Emmanuel and Rashad. Everyone was still holding on to his or her own personal motives. I could feel it.

  “Here Cami, read over this briefing. Tomorrow we have a press conference, then we start planning the funeral.” Emmanuel said. “You all can go if you want, or stay…I don’t care.” He waved his hand and everyone scattered but me. Our eyes locked. “What, Cami?”

  “I want to see my father,” I said sternly.

  “Well, he’s a bit preoccupied at the moment sweetheart.” I hauled off and slapped him in the face. He chuckled and held his cheek. “Okay, I deserved that.” He rubbed the sore spot with his palm and eyed me. “Make me a drink would you?” He stretched out in the chair and put his hands behind his head. Like a stupid love struck puppy, I did as he asked. “Thank you.” He grunted. “I’m tired Camilla. I’m going to turn in after this. You know where you’re sleeping tonight?” He looked at me over his glass of whiskey. My cheeks burned with embarrassment.

  How was I standing face to face with the man that ruined my father’s life and ended Dana’s yet I wanted to lay beside him in bed? I still wanted to fuck him. He could read me like a book because he laughed and shook his head as if my thoughts were on display. “You hate me yet, Camilla?” He asked with a stretch.

  “Yes,” I lied.

  “Come on, I know you can put on a better front than that.” He motioned
for me to pour him another drink and I did.

  “Camilla, what’s up? You with me or you here tonight?” Xavier leaned into the kitchen and asked making me jump.

  “Um…” I stammered.

  “What? You can’t leave!” I heard Chris’ voice squeak. I rolled my eyes and passed Emmanuel his drink.

  “Look…stay here.” Xavier said. His face was drained of its vibrant color and he looked too tired to protest. A part of me wanted him to though. I wanted him to snag me away from Emmanuel like he did when he found out Ava wasn’t pregnant.

  I wanted him to save me.

  Not from Emmanuel, but from myself.

  I was terrified of how I would respond to him once we were alone. Could I love someone as dark as him? If I did would it mean his darkness reflected my own? It was too much. I wanted to call out to Xavier as he left but my words all halted in my throat.

  Christina hugged me while Laurel sat dozing off in a chair in the den. Emmanuel was on his fourth drink and Rashad had disappeared into the guest bedroom. I stroked Christina’s hair and told her to go to bed and take Laurel.

  “I’m not saying do anything…”

  “I know.” She frowned. She woke Laurel up and motioned upstairs. Laurel nodded and followed behind her sleepily.

  Emmanuel and I were alone. “You wanted to go with Xavier, didn’t you?” He asked in a low voice.

  “Yeah. I did.”

  “Why? Are you scared of me now?” It was a genuine question. For once, he didn’t know it all.

  “I could never be scared of you. I’m scared of me.” I told him, looking down. Emmanuel looked at his hands and then back up at me.

  “Why are you scared of yourself?” He asked.

  “I’m scared that nothing will change between us. That I’ll still want you as much as I’ve always wanted you even after knowing what you did.” I pushed the tears back down before they crept up. Emmanuel’s eyes were still fixed on his hands. He twisted the gold band from his finger and let it fall in his glass with a clink. When he looked up at me, I saw what I thought were tears wetting his eyes. I walked over to him and lifted his head up so I could examine him further.