Chapter 68: Chapter 17

JACE

A year has almost passed and high school is finally behind us. Cami and I are working together in my downtown office, tackling paperwork. Tamara is out of our lives, last we heard she had her baby but was struggling to find the father. The latest news is that they found him, but he wants nothing to do with the child. It’s just Tamara and her parents now.

I can’t fathom how anyone could abandon their child. On a brighter note, my little brothers are now part of our lives and they are quite the handful. They keep my parents on their toes, already showing interest in a pair of twin girls. I tell them to wait until they’re older, but they insist they know what they’re doing. I guess time will tell.

Jocelyn is still on maternity leave, dealing with her twin boys. After the trouble she went through, it seems fitting she ended up with two boys. Mandy’s kids, Mason and Missy, are growing up fast.

They’re six and four now, busy with school and preschool. The look on the secretary’s face when Nate walked into the elementary school with his kids was priceless. Two generations attending the same school. I heard she made a snide comment and Mandy threatened her with a gun.

Now, Mandy can only visit the school when she’s not carrying a firearm. But she makes sure to be there every day, just to annoy that woman. She may not be armed, but she still has access to a gun.

I’m sitting at my desk, going over the same paperwork for the fifth time. I keep glancing at Cami, who’s asleep again. She’s been different these past few months. She comes in full of energy, then needs her daily nap. She hasn’t been sick, so we don’t think she’s pregnant.

I’ve been watching her closely, and she hasn’t harmed herself. She’s been good about discussing her feelings with my family, and they’ve set up a code word for when she needs to talk. But I still can’t figure out what’s going on. My thoughts are interrupted when Mandy and Nate walk in.

Mandy looks at Cami, then hands me a bag. I’m confused, but she tells me to open it. Inside is a pregnancy test. I laugh, but when I see she’s not laughing, I stop and stare.

“You can’t be serious?”

“Do I look like I’m joking?”

I glance at Cami, my mind racing. Could she be pregnant? We’ve been so careful, always using protection. Am I ready to be a father? I take the test to Cami and gently wake her. She starts crying when she sees the test and Nate and Mandy standing there.

“What if I am pregnant, Nate?”

“Then Nate and I will be here for you both! We’re a big family, and no one is ever alone.”

She nods and goes to the bathroom. We wait, and after a few minutes, she comes out crying, holding the test. I wrap my arms around her and see that it’s positive. I look at Nate and Mandy, shaking my head. Mandy hugs Cami, and Nate pulls me into a hug.

“Mom and Dad are going to be thrilled! So will Peggy and Henry. They love having all the kids around!”

“I know. I just wish it hadn’t happened so soon. But I’m happy.”

I decide to take Cami home for the day. We ride the elevator down in silence, each of us lost in our thoughts. We get to the car and before I start it, I look at Cami.

“Cami, are you okay? This is a lot to take in, but we’re not alone.”

“I know. It’s just a shock. We’ve been so careful.”

“I understand, but something obviously didn’t work. But we’re here now, and I’m happy. I couldn’t imagine a better mother for my children.”

“Do you really think so?”

“There’s no doubt about it! Let’s head home and break the news to Mom and Dad.”

Her smile mirrors mine as we head back to our family estate. As we approach, Jesus greets us, hopping onto the SUV.

“Jace, my man, congrats! And you too, Cami!”

“Thanks! But how did you find out?”

“Come on, you know your family! Baby news is always a big deal here!”

I can’t help but laugh as I glance at Cami. Jesus hops off and swings the gates open for us. As we drive down the driveway, it’s clear everyone is outside, eagerly awaiting our arrival. I spot my parents, Jocelyn, and Jessie, all practically vibrating with anticipation.

The moment I park, Cami’s door is flung open. She’s quickly ushered out of the car to a chorus of congratulations. I watch as they all swarm her, then notice Peggy and Henry in the doorway, both beaming.

I have a feeling those two might end up together. I see the way Henry looks at Peggy. Actually, I’d rather not think about it. My dad claps me on the back as we head inside, where I find Anthony and Marcelo on the couch, clearly upset. I join them, their somber faces turning to me.

“What’s up, guys? Why aren’t you at school today?”

“Our goddesses moved to another town.”

“Listen, if they truly are your goddesses, your paths will cross again. I promise you. You won’t know when or how, but it will happen. And when it does, you’ll know it in your gut. All you can do now is train hard, so when the time comes, you can protect them.”

They both hug me before retreating to their rooms. I have no idea where the girls have taken Cami, probably online baby shopping. My heart aches for the boys. To know who their goddesses are, only to have them taken away—it’s a tough pill to swallow.

***

CADEN

I can see the boys are hurting. What they don’t know is that I know exactly where their goddesses have moved to. They’re in the next town over, their dad having landed a better job. Once they told me who they were, I did some digging.

Their dad is always away, working and fooling around, while their mom is constantly drinking and having affairs. From what I’ve gathered, they fight a lot. It’s a miracle the kids are still there, considering the domestic violence reports. The social worker assigned to them is useless. Once again, kids are slipping through the cracks.

I’ve alerted my lawyer and asked Leon to keep an eye on things. If I need to step in and rescue their goddesses, I will. But ideally, the boys should be the ones to do it. I’ve told my lawyer that I’m willing to take custody if it means keeping them out of the system. I won’t let them be destroyed by a system that doesn’t care about them.

I see my boys in pain, but I know it will only motivate them to train harder, to become stronger. When the time comes to step in, we’ll be ready. I watch them chat with Nate before heading to their rooms. After a few minutes, they reappear, ready to work out. They know their limits—I don’t want them overdoing it. Frankie and Tank are usually good at keeping them on track, but today they’re on their own.

I join Nate on the couch, a drink in hand to steady my nerves. I’ve been anxiously awaiting news about a shipment coming in. Frankie and Tank had offered to help Vinny and his son take custody of it. My phone finally rings, displaying Vincent’s name. I answer quickly, worried something’s gone wrong with the shipment since neither Tank nor Frankie are calling.

“Vincent, is everything okay?”

“Caden, we were fucking ambushed! There are bodies everywhere! Oh God, Caden! Get everyone here, I’ve been shot. My dad…he’s gone! I can’t find Tank or Frankie! Caden!”

“We’re on our way! Hang in there!”

By now, everyone’s attention is on me, waiting for answers.

“Everybody, into the cars! We have to get to the port immediately! Frankie and Tank are missing! Vinny’s gone! Vincent’s been shot! Let’s move!”

We all scramble toward the SUVs, sending out urgent texts to meet at the port. We pile into the vehicles, peeling out before the doors are even fully closed, and scoop up Jesus on our way through the gates.

After a ten-minute drive, we arrive at the port to find the police already there, the area cordoned off with crime scene tape. I leap out of the still-moving vehicle with Nate, sprinting toward the tape. The officers lift it for us as we run underneath, turning the corner around the building to a scene of yellow tarps scattered everywhere. I spot an ambulance loading up Vincent and I sprint toward it.

“Who did this? Who was it?”

“Angelo, Angelo Ortiz,” he manages to whisper.

“Where is he now?”

His eyes go blank as his head drops and his breathing ceases.

“Damn it!”

I dial Leon, instructing him to locate Angelo immediately. I need him found. I dart around the scene, lifting tarps in a desperate search for Frankie or Tank. Nate’s scream echoes out, drawing my attention to two tarps. His face is pale as Jessie grabs him, tears streaming down his face. No, not my guys. Not now. It feels like an eternity to cross the distance to them. As I approach, I’m terrified to look, but Rita and Anna deserve to know.

I lift the tarp and my vision blurs as tears well up. Jessie and Nate’s screams echo in the background, but my mind is numb. He got Tank and Frankie. Why would he come after me, knowing the consequences?

This bastard is going to pay. His wife is a goner. His kids will be lucky to survive. I sit next to the bodies, losing track of time, lost in my thoughts until the coroner’s hand lands on my shoulder.

I step back as he loads my guys into the ambulance, my mind racing. What did I miss? Why would he do this? He didn’t want his boys, so I took them in. Why would he risk his life by crossing me? It doesn’t make sense. We killed his brother and his nephew and he didn’t retaliate then, so why now?

My phone rings, snapping me out of my thoughts. It’s Leon.

“Leon, please tell me you’ve found him.”

“I have. He bought a property in the next town over. I sent someone to keep an eye on it and they confirmed a bunch of black SUVs arriving. I’ll text you the address and keep you updated.”

I instruct everyone to gear up. I send out the address and order them to storm the place, sparing only the kids, Angelo, and Renae. No exceptions. I want them alive. We load up and head toward the address.

Within half an hour of our arrival, I see my SUVs scattered around, men in vests and armed to the teeth standing by. I confirm that he’s there and apparently not expecting us. I guess he didn’t think Vincent would survive.

I give the order to move in. Our SUVs charge toward the house, my men firing from the vehicles, easily taking down everyone outside. More enemies emerge, guns blazing, as my men dismount and return fire. I see some of my men fall, but they crawl to safety, still alive. My men storm the house, gunfire erupting from inside, followed by the screams of women.

I rush in with Nate and Jessie, finding them tying up the kids and the parents. I watch as Renae screams at Angelo, trying to understand what’s happening.

“What the hell did you do, Angelo? Why are they here?”

He remains silent. I feel for these kids and the wife, but I was fooled once. Nate and Jessie land a few punches on Angelo before they’re pulled back and told to cool off. I pull a chair in front of Renae and sit down.

“Renae, let me explain what happened today. I had a shipment coming in and my two right-hand men were there. Your husband decided to ambush them and killed everyone there. Except he didn’t make sure everyone was dead. Vincent, Vinny’s son, managed to call me. He held on until I got there to tell me one last thing. Who did it. And now, here we are.”

“How could you! You knew what they would do!”

“Shut up, Mom! We heard you talking to Dad about it this morning! Don’t play innocent now!”

“Shut up, Kassie, you ungrateful little brat! If I get out of this, I’m going to beat you and Autumn worse than ever before!”

“Screw you! You’ve always treated us like crap! Just because we’re not your own!”

“I’m so done with your crap! All you do is complain about everything! We heard you two this morning before he left! I don’t care if they kill me, it’ll at least get me away from you two jerks!”

“Hold on, hold on, hold on!”

I turn my chair to face the girls who are likely eight and nine years old.

“Let me get this straight! Renae isn’t your mom but Angelo is your dad?”

“Yes! He sleeps around, and got our biological mom pregnant. She didn’t want us so he took us in. Renae didn’t want us either but went along with it. Then when you showed up with our brothers she decided she wasn’t going to raise any more of his illegitimate kids.”

“Well, this changes things, doesn’t it Nate! Nate and Jessie, what should we do?”

I glance over at them and they exchange a knowing smile. Oh yes, I think we have the perfect plan.

“How about we all take a trip to the basement?”

Our guys seize Renae and Angelo, retying them and tossing them into one of the SUVs. They leave before us since I plan to have a chat with these girls.

“Look, sir, if you have to kill us, we understand. Could we at least see our brothers one last time?”

“Yes, please, just so we can tell them we love them.”

“Now girls. See, we don’t kill kids. Especially innocent ones like you. So, since I’ve legally adopted your brothers, how about I do the same for you girls. I’ve lost a lot today and I’m only out to punish those who had a hand in it.

“So, we’ll get your brothers to meet us at the basement. They’ll be with us when we handle business. If you want to be there too, you can. You have to understand though, your parents won’t be alive in a few hours.”

“We understand. We wish we could have stopped it.”

“Well, what’s done is done. Let’s get moving.”

We untie them and they follow us out to the car. They slide in between Nate and I as we head toward the basement, where we’ll proceed from there. I call up Andy to get adoption papers started for the girls and I should have the final ones in a few days.

When we pull up to the building and park, we see Eva and the boys there. I help the girls out of the car and they run to their brothers, crying, who now tower over them. Eva looks at me, confused.

There was an ambush at the port, I explained. They got Frankie, Tank, Vinny, Vincent and a bunch of their men. Renae and Angelo are downstairs as they orchestrated it this morning. The girls overheard this morning but it was too late to do anything. I see my boys are fuming as Eva covers her mouth, shaking her head in disbelief.

The boys march with their sisters, hand-in-hand, walking toward the basement. We all pile into the elevator and when we reach the room, the boys stop and look at their sisters. The sisters nod and the boys ask for the guns. Now, since they’ve been with me, they’ve learned how to handle weapons because in this line of work, they need to know.

Nate hands over his two pistols and they check to make sure they’re ready to fire. They open the door and walk in with their sisters, and flip on the lights. Angelo looks up and just stares at the boys. Renae looks up and the disgust is written all over her face.

“Oh look Angelo, all your damn illegitimate kids are together, isn’t that cute. Never thought your damn kids would be the end for me. Had I known, maybe I should have killed them myself!”

“Shut the hell up!”

I watch the boys look at each other and walk over toward their parents. They look at the sisters and raise the guns to their heads, taking the safeties off. The sisters bury their faces into their brothers’ chests as two shots ring out and their parents’ heads drop.

They flip the safety back on as they hand the guns back, hugging their sisters. They walk out of the room, and as we all follow and leave, I just think, finally, it’s over. This chapter is done. Now we head back home and break the news. I made sure no one has said anything but I’m sure Rita and Anna already know.

At least Frankie is with Fernando and Gracie, and Tank is with his parents.