Tartlet (Turf Wars #4) Page 14

  I swallow. “Thank you. Riggs ... thank you so much.”

  “It ain’t over yet, honey. We’ve got to get him to talk.”

  “When can I talk to him?”

  “Tomorrow. For now, go get some rest.”

  I hand the phone to Eve and Ramona stands, hugging me tightly. “See, everything is going to be okay.”

  “We’re one step in the right direction, but we still have a million more to go before we get what we need.”

  “Maybe so, but some is better than none. Come on, you need to have a shower and sleep. It has been a long day.”

  I hug her again, then Poppy and Eve, before going to the shower and standing under it for a good long time. By the time I get out, they’re gone. I’m here alone, which I haven’t been before. The house feels large, and scarily foreign. I go to Remy’s bed and tuck myself in, pulling the blanket up to my chin and closing my eyes.

  I pray that whoever is out there will help us with this.

  Let the right person get justice.

  Let Constance finally rest in peace where she belongs.

  I must fall asleep, because I’m woken to the door swinging open. It takes me a minute to realize that Remy is standing at the door, arms crossed. I can’t see his face, the room is dark, but by his stance, he’s pissed.

  “Remy?” I ask, sitting up sleepily.

  “Did you think we wouldn’t find out?”

  I shake my head, confused. “What are you talking about?”

  “Your father told us. He told us every-fucking-thing.”

  Oh.

  Shit.

  “Remy, let me explain,” I say, climbing out of the bed.

  “Explain what?” he barks. “How you literally came to the garage so you could steal information and give it back to your father? Now you want us to fucking help you? To help you when you shit all over us.”

  I close my eyes.

  In all of the panic I’ve been feeling, I forgot that I had given my father information.

  Of course he told them.

  He wasn’t going to let that one slide.

  “You need to listen to me,” I say, flicking on the lamp beside me. “I know you’re angry, but I stopped, okay? It did start out like that, but I ended it. I stopped it. I only ever gave him the tiniest bit of information. He asked me to plant that evidence on you, and I didn’t. Not once did I even consider it. Remy, I fucked up, but I stopped it.”

  “You think that fuckin’ matters?” He laughs bitterly, shaking his head. “That little bit of information you gave him could be enough for everything to unravel. You have no fuckin’ idea what you’ve done.”

  I exhale shakily and stand. “Look, I fucked up, but I’m sorry.”

  “You think that matters to me now?”

  “Remy ...”

  “You can get out of my house. Eve will take you. I don’t want you anywhere near me.”

  “Remy, please ...”

  “You fuckin’ lied to us. You lied to us, and we have risked everything to help you. Fuck me, get out.”

  Tears flow forth and roll down my cheeks.

  I grab my things and bundle them up into my arms, and then I rush past him. I reach the front door and turn, staring at him. His face is tight, his eyes narrowed, and he looks like he’s going to flip if I say another word, but I have to say something. I have to.

  “When he wanted someone to go into the club, I offered. I offered because my whole life, my family saw me as nothing. I wanted them to see I was worthy. I didn’t know any of you, and honestly, I didn’t care. But then, I got to know you all and I stopped. I swear to god I stopped, I wasn’t going to help him anymore because I wasn’t going to hurt the people who had been so kind to me. I did do the wrong thing, but, Remy, the second you all mattered to me, I put an end to it. I hope you understand that.”

  I turn and walk out before he can yell at me any further.

  Well.

  Things just went from bad to worse.

  “I’M SORRY, HONEY,” Eve says, handing me some sheets and a blanket. “I know this must be hard.”

  “He hates me,” I say softly. “No doubt they all do. I deserve it, I know, but without them I’m screwed. I wish I could explain it, but I can’t. There is no way I can explain it that they’ll understand. I lied, and I gave out information that could harm them.”

  “You made a mistake. We’ve all made them. They might be angry at you, but they’re not going to let you go away for a murder you didn’t commit. I promise you, they’re not going to step away from this.”

  “Maybe not,” I whisper. “But when it’s done, I’ll never see them again. I think I’d rather go to prison.”

  “Give them time, okay. Just give them time. The club doesn’t take kindly to betrayal but, trust me, we’ve had worse.”

  “You’re all the only family I have left.”

  I take the sheets to the spare bedroom and start making the bed. I’m fighting the tears, the pain, everything. I just want to make this go away, but I can’t. I have to own it, even if it means I lose everyone I care about.

  I didn’t think they’d matter to me, I truly didn’t. If I did, I would have never helped my father.

  I was wrong, but it’s too late.

  Remy hates me.

  I just lost the best thing I’ve ever had.

  All because of my father.

  My god damned evil father.

  I’m ready to see him. I’m ready to tell him all the things I’ve kept bottled up.

  I can’t wait a second longer.

  I pull out the phone and dial Riggs.

  “Not goin’ to lie,” he answers, “don’t really want to hear from you right now.”

  “I know,” I say, taking a deep breath for calm. “But I need to see my father.”

  “He’s otherwise engaged right now and you can’t come out here, remember?”

  “Riggs, please. I know I’m in no place to ask you anything but I need to see him.”

  “Can’t let you do that, Gabriella. Right now, we need you to stay there and don’t say or do another fuckin’ thing. You’ve done enough.”

  “Riggs ...”

  “I said what I said. I’m not changin’ my mind. You fucked us over, be grateful we’re helpin’ you at all.”

  He hangs up the phone.

  I drop it down the side of the bed and close my eyes.

  They’re never going to forgive me for this. Why should they?

  I call Remy.

  He sends the call right to voicemail.

  God dammit.

  I call Rhett, who doesn’t answer either.

  I need someone to talk to. Someone. Anyone.

  I dial Maggie.

  Since the hospital we’ve talked a few times over text, but nothing like the way we used to. Still, she was my friend once and I told her we could be again.

  I need her right now.

  “Hello?” she asks, her voice confused.

  “Maggie, it’s Gabby. This is a friend’s phone.”

  “Gabby, hey, how are you? I sent you a text, I wondered why you haven’t replied.”

  “Do you have time to come by? I can’t talk on the phone.”

  “Is everything okay?”

  “Not really. Would you mind?”

  “Of course. Tell me where you are, I’ll be right there.”

  I give her Eve’s address and then I go into the living area to wait for her. When she arrives, I open the door and the second she sees me, she puts her arms around me and pulls me close. “Oh, honey, what’s going on?”

  “I’ll tell you everything, but believe me, you’ll not believe a single word of it.”

  “That good, huh?”

  “It’s that good.”

  I let her in, introduce her to Eve, and then I sit down, and I tell her everything.

  Every. Single. Thing.

  18

  “YOU SAY NOTHING ABOUT the plan,” Riggs orders before they leave to go to my father’s the next day. “You simply say what you have to say, and then you end the call. We don’t have time for games.”

  I can’t go out to the place they’re keeping my father, because the tracker on my ankle bracelet will alert the police. The only option I have, is FaceTime. Riggs will be setting it up so I can say what I need to say to my father.

  “I’m not going to play any games, Riggs. I know I fucked up, but I’m on your side.”

  “Are you?” he mutters. “Someone will be in that room while you talk to him, because we don’t trust you in there alone.”

  That hits like a punch to the face. They actually think I’d tell my father something that could affect all of this? How stupid do they think I am?

  I say nothing else.

  When they arrive at the location my father is being kept, a call is made to me. I’m put on video chat and watch as they enter what looks like a massive warehouse. It has large fences around it and is pretty secure. When they walk in, I see it’s a lot tidier inside than it is on the outside. There is even a kitchen and living area. I recall Poppy saying she stayed at a location of theirs for a while—this must have been it.

  They go into a bedroom at the back of the warehouse, and standing outside is Adan and Hugh.

  The two of them give the screen a look that makes my body tremble, it’s so aggressive.

  They hate me too, awesome.

  They step through the door, and the first thing I see is a bed that has been pushed up against a wall. In the middle of the room is a chair, and on that chair is my father, bound by chains, his face bloodied, his head hanging. I’m not sure what I expected to feel in this moment, but seeing him like that does shock me. I’m taken aback, and for a minute, I wonder if we’re doing the right thing? Is tormenting someone else really the right way
to go about it?

  Remy is standing beside him with Hank, and Riggs hands the phone over to them. I see a flash of Remy’s face before he turns the phone to my father. That flash is enough to make my heart ache. His expression cold and empty. He doesn’t want to see me, and why should he after what I’ve done?

  “You’ve got ten minutes. Make it count,” Riggs mutters in the background and then a door closes and I figure he must leave the room.

  Of course they chose to leave Remy in here.

  Is that some sort of punishment?

  My father has lifted his head at the sound of Riggs’ voice and his eyes have locked in on the screen that is now facing him. He has a scowl on his face that tells me if he could, he would destroy me. Oh wait, he has already tried that.

  “Not feeling super flash, Dad,” I say, trying to keep my voice calm. “I must say you’ve looked better.”

  He grins at me, showing me bloodied teeth. “You think you’re going to get away with this?”

  I laugh. “Me? Oh, yeah, I do. It’s you who isn’t going to get away with it. You didn’t think I would just let you put me away for something I didn’t do, did you?”

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  Smart. He’s not going to confess when we could be recording him.

  “You know exactly what I’m talking about. What I want to know is, why?”

  “Why the fuck not?” he snaps, spitting blood onto the ground. “You’re the worst thing to ever happen to me, Gabriella. I wish you had died with your mother.”

  Did I ever mention that when my father is angry, he’s awful?

  Like cold hearted, cruelest man you’ve ever met, awful?

  “I’m not here to talk about these things,” I say, keeping my voice calm. “I’m here to tell you that you’re not getting away with this. You will go down for what you have done, you will get what you deserve, not a single thing you do will change that.”

  “You think you’re going to win? I won’t say a god damned word,” he spits.

  “But you will, because if you don’t, you’re not getting out of here.”

  “I’m your father.”

  I laugh, bitterly. “Are you? Are you really? Because fathers don’t do what you did. Fathers love their children and protect them. They don’t toss them to the wolves to get away with their own crimes.”

  “The club won’t help you now they know what you’ve done.”

  “They will help me, but it’s not because I deserve it, it’s because they don’t want to see men like you get away with murdering innocent women.”

  His eyes flash, and he grits his teeth, but he doesn’t say anything.

  “I wish every single day I wasn’t your daughter. I regret every single thing I did for you. I didn’t know it at the time, but these men are more of a family to me than you have ever been. You deserve everything you get and more.”

  “I’ll take you down with me. If I go to prison I promise you that you won’t live to see another fucking day.”

  I lean in close to the phone, grinning. “I’ll take my chances. There are ways, after all, to get rid of people like you.”

  For a moment, for a tiny moment, I see real concern in his eyes. As if he’s just realized we’ll follow through with what we’re saying, and we’ll make sure he goes down for what he has done.

  Reality has finally hit.

  “Anyway,” I say, casually leaning back. “You should know that this is the end of the road for you. I hope you enjoy your prison cell, the beds are really uncomfortable. That bad back of yours is really going to suffer. Oh, and I nearly forgot, the men in there really like men who murder young women ... Oh, they’re going to have a wonderful time with you.”

  He glares at me with an expression that makes my blood practically stop flowing in my veins, but I don’t let him see how much his look bothers me.

  “You’re going to wish you never did this, Gabriella,” he threatens, his voice icy cold.

  “Maybe,” I say, “but at least justice will be served. Tell them where the body is. Do yourself a favor. If you don’t, Brad will. And if you think he won’t, you’re wrong. He wants what you have, he wants to be the top dog, he’ll do whatever it takes to bring you down, too. The choice is yours.”

  My father looks shocked by this, but he doesn’t say another word.

  I yell out to Remy. “I’m done now.”

  He walks over to the door and bangs on it. The phone blurs out a few times before it is handed over to someone else. “Wait, face me to him once more,” I yell.

  The phone turns around. “When you’re sitting in that cell, think about the kind of person you’ve become. I’m your daughter, your own flesh and blood. You don’t deserve the fresh air you breathe. Goodbye, Father. Best of luck to you.”

  Riggs closes the door and has the phone turned back on him, now.

  “I’m done now. Just make him talk.”

  Riggs nods.

  And just like that, we’re done.

  For now.

  REMY AND I ARE GOING to talk.

  I will sit back for a while, but I won’t do it for long. That man is going to face me, because god knows I don’t go down without a fight. I let him have his space, and I get he is angry, but I made one mistake. A big one, yes, but a mistake all the same. If he’s honestly going to give up everything we’ve shared for that, then he’s going to at least say it to my face.

  I go to his house and bang on the door over and over, but he doesn’t answer.

  He gave me a spare key, so I use it to unlock the door and go inside.

  The second I do, I hear giggling coming from the upstairs bedroom.

  Nope.

  No.

  No thanks.

  He is not going to fuck his way out of this.

  I take a deep breath and then I walk up the stairs, head held high, determination strong. If he thinks that’s how we deal with our problems, he’s about to learn the hard way that Gabriella doesn’t take any fucking shit, and she’s not going to put up with this, either.

  I don’t knock, hell, I don’t even pause.

  I shove that door open, letting it swing so hard it bounces off the door stopper and flies back at me. I stop it with my hand. Not quite the entrance I had planned, but things could be worse. It could have hit me in the face. I push it back open again, gently this time, and see Remy sitting in the bed with a gorgeous blond woman. The two of them are fully clothed, I made it just in time it would appear.

  “What the fuck are you doin’ here?” Remy demands.

  “Nope,” I say, shaking my head. “Nope, this isn’t happening. You—” I point to the girl “—get your shit and leave.”

  She shakes her head in confusion, looking to Remy. “Remy, who is this?”

  “She’s nobody.”

  “I’m not nobody,” I say. “He’s only telling you that because he’s mad. He’s also only fucking you because he’s mad. The choice is yours, love. Leave, or I’ll make you leave.”

  She scrunches her face in horror. “Make her go away.”

  “Aw, you see, that’s not going to happen. I’m not leaving.”

  I sit myself down on the end of the bed and flash Remy a smile that very clearly makes his blood boil, because he stands and charges angrily toward the door. “Let’s go.”

  His little girl toy stands and rushes after him.

  “No, Remy, you’re not doing this,” I call, standing.

  “Fuck off, Gabriella. Go home, I don’t want you here.”

  “Yeah,” she calls out. “Just leave us alone.”

  Oh.

  Bitch, please.

  “Nope,” I yell out, picking up one of Remy’s large shoes and rushing out the door after them.

  They’re at the top of the stairs.

  I throw the shoe, planning on making him at least turn around and acknowledge me, but my plan doesn’t go ... well ... to plan.

  The shoe, meant to hit Remy, actually hits the woman right in the back of the head. The problem with this is, she’s just about to take a step and the shoe throws her off balance and she topples. She just ... topples.

  My mouth drops open as she squeals, her body tumbling down the stairs, legs flying everywhere, body bouncing off each step.