Sins of the Father (California Dreaming Book 2)

by Stacey Johnston

“Okay, I am sorry we are dragging you through this again, but at the insistence of Sean here, we have new information about your parents that we need to share with you.”

  Really? Although I shouldn’t be surprised, Sean no doubt still cares for her. The new information must be pretty serious if he is pressuring his father to tell her.

  “So, when we moved your mother’s possessions out, we hired cleaners to come through, as Sarah didn’t want you having to concern yourself with any of it. While they were cleaning the bathroom, they came across some scrunched up paper, thrown into a corner by your mother.”

  Taking a breather, Anthony sips on his water before continuing.

  “Sorry, let’s continue,” he tells us. “The paper was part of the letter your father sent. The cleaners sensed it’s importance, so they passed it onto the caretaker, whom, in turn, passed it onto the C.B.I. Apparently, in the beginning, it was deemed unimportant, so they placed it with the other evidence until recently.”

  Okay now I am intrigued, what could it possibly have in it?

  “Hawke, Sean and I have been looking into a mafia family your father was associated with here in Brooklyn. I had Hawke request some paperwork for me and that’s when we found the letter remnants.”

  For fuck’s sake, get to the point already. I wish they would just tell us what was in it, this waiting game they are playing is fucking annoying.

  “Long story short,” he says, raising his eyebrow at me as if sensing what I am thinking.

  “Your mother knew about the clause in your father’s contracts because he mentioned it in his letter. It was his way of warning you both, seems he did care about you after all. Your mother, though, had no thought for your welfare as she took her own life before anyone else could.”

  Whoa!

  What the actual fuck? Her mother knew and killed herself to stop someone else from killing her and without an ounce of concern for what would happen to her daughter. How does a woman do that to their child? What could honestly go through their head to think that committing suicide would be a better option than taking your child and seeking help or hiding? Sherlyn beside me is speechless. Her pretty face has paled and there are the start of teardrops forming in the corners of her beautiful eyes. I don’t know what I am supposed to do, so I grab her hand, tightening my hold offering as much comfort as I can with my simple gesture. She just turns and looks at me, but her eyes are quietly thanking me.

  “It’s a lot to take in, child, and we are sorry you had to find out like this.” Hawke consoles, from the other side of my girl.

  He had been sitting quietly, as per usual, until now.

  “We were looking at a right time to tell you, but as Sean pointed out, there is never going to be the right time.”

  Tightening of my hand distracts me, forcing me to turn my head in Sherlyn’s direction. Her eyes are no longer teary and she has a look of determination on her face that makes me proud. My girl is refusing to let this bring her down, or at least that’s what I am hoping it means. After everything she has been through, you would expect her to crumble at this news. The devastating effect that Anthony, Hawke, and Sean had envisioned was never going to happen.

  With a continued hold on my hand, she turns back to them all. In a hard, determined voice I hear her say, “Sean was correct, there is never a good time to give bad news. So thank you, Sean, for your persistence.”

  Sean nods his acknowledgment, letting Sherlyn continue.

  “I had already come to the conclusion that my mother knew what she was doing, so this letter does nothing more than confirm what I already believed true. It just means that I will continue to be a target until this killer is found. Are you any closer to finding him?”

  “We are closer, yes, but that’s all I can share with you,” Anthony replies.

  Her question seems to have surprised him.

  “Can you at least tell me if I am safe at the moment?”

  With a strained look, Sean’s father analyses her for a moment.

  “Yes Sherlyn, you are safe in our care and I have to say, I am impressed with this show of strength. I’m proud of the way you are handling this. If I were your father I would be very proud of you right now.”

  Smiling she thanks them all for caring.

  This girl also has me in awe of her. I don’t think I could love her more in this moment if I tried.

  Sherlyn

  I knew it!

  I fucking knew it!

  Oh my… excuse my language. I didn’t mean to cuss but I have believed all along, that my mother knew what the hell was going on. I couldn’t just accept the fact, that she had killed herself, because my father was dead. I was sure that there had to be more to the story, I was just waiting for that story to be released.

  Deep down I knew my mother loved herself more than she ever did me. All the pageants she made me participate in, all the parading around she made me do, was all about her, and her dreams, never about me. I meant nothing to that woman, I was just an inconvenience she was stuck with.

  While I was listening to Anthony and Hawke talk about what they found, I initially became emotional, that I can’t deny. It wasn’t until Stephen took my hand that I realized I could get through this, that my parents and all their bullshit couldn’t hurt me anymore. The support and protection that I have from the Valentine’s, Hawke, and the brat pack meant I would never have to worry again.

  “Hey girlfriend,” Sophie catcalls from the other side of the lobby.

  Good god, that girl is embarrassing some days. Oh, who am I kidding, she is that embarrassing every damned day. It’s obvious that Ben has rubbed off on her and not so much in a good way either. She has become crude and crass, much to the disgust of her father. One final glance at Soph’s father and brother, has me catching Sean rolling his eyes. The slight smirk edged at the corner of his mouth shows his amusement at his sister’s actions, but then in a heartbeat it’s gone, and he is Mr. Serious again.

  I will make that boy talk to me before we all part ways again, you can be rest assured of that. I don’t like the unease that has grown between us. It unsettles me to think he is avoiding everyone because of me, or maybe I am reading too much into it. Anyway, regardless, I need to fix it, so yes, that boy is going to talk to me all right, even if have to pin him down.

  Okay, so maybe I won’t be doing that, but you get my drift, right?

  As Sophie hugs her family, Ben fist pumps with Stephen and I rise from my chair.

  “Let’s celebrate our freedom,” my, at times overbearing friend whispers in my ear.

  She has draped her arm around mine, leading us toward the exit to our awaiting vehicles. For the time being, yeah I suppose we are free, but I don’t like the idea of not knowing what my future will hold. When we settled in at Solana Beach, I made contact with a couple of colleges to see what options I had. I won’t be happy until I work out what I’m going to do with my life.

  Sophie though, that girl has it all planned out. She just wants to sing. She sees herself making it big someday, but unfortunately for her, her parents are making her concentrate on getting an education first. The pressure from her parents about college has seen her looking into the same ones as me. As for mine and Stephen’s future, well that is something we are yet to talk about, but as long as we are together it won’t matter.

  The ride over to the restaurant has been considerably quieter than what I was expecting. I had been counting on a lot more chatter from Stephen, Ben, and Soph than this, and to be honest it is a little unnerving. The four of us decided to travel with Hawke, leaving Luke and Kyle with the rest of the Valentine’s. Pulling up curbside, Hawke makes us wait until he has, what were his words – scoped out the area. It’s still weird listening to him talk like that, all business like. I realize it is a way of life for everyone else, but for me, it just comes across as a cheesy b grade movie, and that amuses me. Signaling, he gives us the all clear. Ben leads the charge and stumbles out onto the pavement. Yanking my hand into his,
Stephen pulls me out behind him, toward the entrance.

  Whatever had shut my friends up in the SUV, must have miraculously passed, because this lot have not stopped rambling since we were seated in the restaurant. Excusing myself, I rise out of my chair, turning to head toward the restrooms.

  “Where are you going, babe?”

  I should have known I wouldn’t be able to escape without anyone knowing. Turning back, I brush my fingers across Stephen’s shoulder to reassure him.

  “Little girls’ room. I promise I won’t be long.”

  Nodding slightly, his face is still one of concern, making me reconsider going alone.

  No… I need to do this on my own…

  For god’s sake, I need to stop relying on others, it’s time to stop being such a prissy child and start working on this anxiety of mine. Now is a better time than ever I suppose. Walking along the corridor, it is a lot darker than I thought it would be. What was I thinking? This is only going to escalate my anxiousness, maybe I should have dragged Sophie along with me after all.

  “Ah there you are pretty one, it’s about time. It would seem that a man has to be real patient to get you alone.”

  That voice, where have I heard it before?

  “Do you recognize my voice Sherlyn?” the man in the darkness asks.

  I hesitantly turn, slowly looking around for the face to match that voice. A voice that seems vaguely familiar somehow.

  “Who, and where are you?” I quietly ask in return.

  “Around,” is all he would say.

  Squinting my eyes, I wait for them to adjust to the lighting. Hastily, I look for evidence of his shadow in the darkness, whilst at the same time, attempting to halt the fear that is quickly threatening to overtake my body.

  “Why would I recognize you?” I question, trying to get a feel of where he might be hiding.

  You wouldn’t think there would be too many places to hide in this corridor, but whoever this guy is, he has found a good one.

  “I’ve always been around you child, always watching. Integrating myself into your family to keep an eye on that father of yours.”

  No surprise there, we already knew he was associated with my father. Let’s see what else he admits to before he tries to hurt me.

  “You see, he went soft when you were born, his precious child,” my hidden enemy spits out.

  You can hear the disgust in his voice, which seems louder now, as if he is somewhat closer.

  “I have watched for the past eighteen years, waiting for your father to fuck up. No one can stay that perfect for too long and fuck up, he did.”

  “He replaced me, did you know that?”

  I have only just discovered what my father has been doing, so what makes this dipshit think I know anything about what happened to him.

  “He took over my role as enforcer over twenty years ago, your father did. I was left to sort through his scraps like a fucking bird.”

  No wonder he was angry. Eighteen years of living in someone else’s shadow would do that to you I would imagine.

  “When that asshole got himself killed, I slid back in and reclaimed my role.”

  He continued, and as interesting as this seemed, I need to escape and get back to our table.

  “Do you know what the juicy part was?” he asks, his voice now deeper and giving off a hint of amusement.

  It’s the sarcasm I’m picking up in his tone that worries me, making me wonder how much longer he will torture me before finishing me off.

  “My juicy first assignment back is eliminating either you or your mother. It’s unfortunate for you that she did the job before I could, but that’s okay because I still got you as my consolation prize.”

  Is this guy for real? What am I supposed to say to him now, and how is it, his voice is so familiar yet I can’t place his face. I’m scared right now, real scared and I’m sure it reflects on my face like a neon frickin’ sign.

  “Still don’t remember me, do you sweet cheeks?” he taunts, more sarcasm dripping from his tone.

  If he wasn’t giving me the creeps before, he really is now.

  “You’re mom and I were close…like real close, if you know what I mean”

  Oh, shit! That’s the creep my mother was having sex with.

  I only spoke to that guy briefly, choosing to disappear to Sumner’s or Tatum’s whenever he was around. The guy was downright creepy and he made my skin crawled every time he came into the room. I never understood what my mother saw in him, but I suppose when you are that wasted, anybody can look hot.

  “You are the creep my mother was in a relationship with. I remember you now,” I acknowledge.

  “That’s not a very nice thing to say, child. Maybe I am a nice, gentle person.”

  Yeah right, and Santa is real!

  “And I think ‘relationship’ is a bit generous for what we were doing. She was a fuck to relieve the boredom, nothing more.” He scowls, stepping out of the darkness, finally showing his face.

  My face picks that precise moment to start heating up, but I am stuck to my spot, frozen, unable to move away.

  “There is nothing nice about you, you tried to kill me.” I finally manage to throw back at him.

  My body is still powerless, suspended of sorts, as I try to make slow steps backward away from my killer. Every movement now futile, my whole body heavily weighed down as if I’m made of concrete.

  “No need to run, pretty girl, I won’t hurt you tonight. I’m only here with a warning for you. I want to reassure you that your day is coming, I will be collecting my prize, but you will have no prior warning and it will be when you least expect it.” T

  His tone of his voice is calm and direct. There is no spitefulness, just a quiet determination portraying in his words.

  “What’s stopping you from finishing me here,” I taunt in return.

  Grinning at me, he inches closer until he is directly in my face. Tiny droplets of his saliva spray onto my face as he speaks, making me dry wretch.

  “Too many agents, and not enough exits. I would never get out of here alive, so I am hedging my bets and being patient. The right time will present itself soon enough my dear, soon enough.”

  Noise from the other end of the corridor distracts me momentarily, shifting my gaze toward the dining room and when I turn back he is gone, returning to his shadows. Forgetting about the restroom I run back to our table, only stopping when I reach the others.

  As I approach the table Stephen rises, “Babe, where have you been, I wanted to come find you, but Sophie told me to give you some space. Are you okay?”

  Ah, there’s my overcautious darling boyfriend that I love.

  Swinging my head, I scowl at Sophie, causing her to frown. Sighing loudly, all eyes settle on me. Grabbing everyone’s attention, I address them all.

  “I know I need to stop relying on everyone and start dealing with my anxiety,” pausing briefly I catch my breath, before continuing. “But I could have really used your over protectiveness just then.”

  Weird looks reflect in their eyes as they try to work out what the hell I am on about.

  Putting them out of their misery I keep going.

  “I know who is after me, and he was just in the corridor trying to terrify me. Well…. let’s just say he did succeed at terrifying me, but now he is gone.”

  I don’t think I have ever seen three people move as quickly, as Anthony, Hawke, and Sean did just then. I didn’t even get the chance to finish what I was saying before they were running toward the restrooms.

  “Have a seat darling, Sophie grab Sherlyn some water please,” a concerned Sarah dictates.

  Sitting down, I take the offered glass from Soph and gulp it down quickly. My pulse feels like it is still beating at a million miles a minute. That was a rush of the wrong kind and I’m tired of being the center of attention already.

  As everyone talks around me and we wait for the others to return, I allow Stephen to engulf me in his arms, smothering me wit
h his protection and his love.

  Sean

  We searched everywhere and found no trace of anything suspicious. What I find strange, though, is how the one tormenting Sherlyn managed to get in and out without our men seeing him. With the exception of other diners, we found nothing. Realistically, the one we were searching for could have been anybody. I believed that we needed to at least check everyone still on the premise, but my father doubted that it would be worth it. He was certain that he would have escaped quickly, not bothering to hang around now that Sherlyn could identify him. He was probably correct, but I felt like we needed to do more. Dad said we would discuss it further back at the hotel, for now, we needed to keep things as normal as we could for Sherlyn.

  Earlier, when she rose to go off to the restrooms on her own, I just sat and watched in silence. Everything in me wanted to speak up and say that someone should go with her, but I couldn’t. It felt like something was off, like really off. For the past few weeks since her attack, she has been flanked by people constantly, so I thought it best to leave her. Well, that was one of my reasons, my sister being the other. I couldn’t help the smirk that escaped when Sophie yelled at Stephen as he tried to get up. He was concerned that she was taking too long and wanted to look for her. Soph scolded him, telling him, that his girlfriend needed some space. She was concerned that Sherlyn’s anxiety and dependency on others would never get better if we constantly smothered her.

  She was right, I get it. I mean, I know that we need to back off, but I just couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong and surprise, surprise I was right. I kept that little tidbit of info to myself, though because it would have done me no good trying to rub that little fact in. I would have ended up pissing them all off instead.

  By the time we made it back to the table, our food had been delivered and a group decision was made to sit and enjoy the meal. Sherlyn didn’t want to leave yet, she wanted to stay, and not let what happened impact on hers, and Sophie’s celebrations any more than it already had. When you consider what she has already suffered through, it wouldn’t matter where we went. If her stalker had wanted to harm her, he would have tried tonight already.