Chapter 71: Chapter 2

ANTHONY

Marcelo and I have been working for our father since we graduated from high school. We’ve taken over Jace’s old office while my sister Autumn and Kassie occupy the office next door. We’ve trained hard and now we’re as muscular as any of the Maxwells.

If you’d told us ten years ago where we’d be now, we’d have thought you were insane. We don’t take shit from anyone and we handle family business without hesitation. Over the years, we’ve kept an eye on our goddesses.

Recently, we discovered they’ve moved back home but are being homeschooled. We found it strange, especially when we noticed their parents leaving them alone over the weekends. It’s Friday today and in a few hours, they’ll be alone again.

Marcelo and I have a plan. We’re going to do what Maxwells do best—offer them a way out. We’re in the middle of paperwork when Cami walks in and takes a seat.

She’s pregnant with their fourth child. Despite Jace’s efforts at contraception, she always ends up pregnant.

“Finally made it over here. Here are the papers from Nate.”

“Great, thanks, Cami!”

“No problem! I’ll need a moment to gather my strength before I can get up, so don’t mind me.”

We can’t help but smile. Poor Cami can’t catch a break. As we continue with our paperwork, we keep an eye on the clock.

Time seems to drag until Marcelo nudges me—it’s five o’clock. Time to put our plan into action. We pile into an SUV, going over our strategy one last time.

We’ll leave our numbers and wait for them to call. We’ve rehearsed this a hundred times. It should go smoothly, right?

We couldn’t have been more wrong. We decided to bring Jessie and Nate along, just in case things go sideways. As we drive, we wonder how the girls have been.

We’ve heard things are getting bad, which is why our father suggested we act now. Rumors are circulating that both parents are drinking and possibly abusing our girls. There are even whispers about the father paying them extra attention, but since they’re homeschooled, no one can confirm.

We pull up to their street and see that both cars are gone. Perfect. That means the girls are home alone.

Our contact informed us that the mother left this morning and the father left this afternoon. Both parents left with suitcases, so we’re not sure when they’ll be back. We park out front and knock on the door, but there’s no answer.

After a second knock, still nothing. Jessie goes around to the back while Nate calls our lookout to confirm the girls are home. We wait.

Suddenly, Jessie screams from the back of the house, telling us to break down the door. We hear glass shattering from the back just as Marcelo and I kick the door in. Splinters of wood fly everywhere and when the door swings open, our hearts sink.

The girls are lying there, tied up, unconscious, and naked. As we get closer, we see what looks like blood and a clear fluid seeping from between their legs. We quickly untie them and try to wake them up.

Angela stirs, but Angelia remains unresponsive.

“Our dad, why? We were good girls! He said we just needed to be good girls, and we wouldn’t be punished.”

Angela tries to hug her sister, but she’s too weak. We all just stare at each other, wide-eyed. Jessie and Nate search the house for blankets to cover the girls.

I sit with Angela, who’s hugging her sister when Angelia finally starts to come around.

“Angela, I don’t understand. We were always good for him. We didn’t tell Mom or anything.”

“I know! I don’t know why he would do this.”

What kind of sick fuck does this to his own daughters? I exchange a glance with Marcelo, Nate, and Jessie. We need to get them to a hospital immediately.

We call an ambulance and the police, explaining the situation. They tell us they can’t do anything unless we can prove the abuse happened before the girls turned eighteen. If it happened before they reached the age of consent, they can charge him with child abuse.

“Well, then get their social worker to the hospital now!”

We watch in silence as the girls are loaded into the ambulances. I ride with Angela while Marcelo accompanies Angelia. Nate and Jessie follow in the SUV and will meet us at the hospital.

I can’t help but stare at Angela, wondering why? What did their father say to make them think this was normal? Where were the social workers?

When we arrive at the hospital, we accompany the girls into a room. Nate and Jessie return with paperwork. I can tell Nate is furious, but I don’t understand why.

I look at Marcelo, but he just shrugs. Nate hands me the paperwork. It shows that the girls have been to the hospital before—for miscarriages, STDs, and other reasons.

I pass the papers to Marcelo and we just stare at our girls. We’re in shock, unable to believe what’s in their medical records. The hospital made calls, but nothing was ever done.

Our thoughts are interrupted by a man approaching us.

“Hello, my name is Trent. I’m the social worker on this case. Since it’s after work hours on a Friday, this better be good.”

NATE

This better be good. He has no fucking clue.

“So, let me get this straight. You’ve visited them multiple times, right? Following up on tips about inappropriate behavior with their father.

“We found them today, tied up, with blood and what we assume is semen between their legs. The hospital records show they’ve been treated for STDs, miscarriages, and other things. Did you ever think that maybe their father was the cause?”

“The father told us they were sexually active with other people,” he responds.

“Of course they were—with him, you fucking idiot! How else do people get pregnant and contract STDs?”

“How do you know it was him?”

“Did you even talk to the girls or just the father? They told us they were told to be good girls and nothing bad would happen! Unbelievable! They’ve been abused their whole lives and you all just took his word for it. Now that they’re over eighteen, nothing can be done.”

He just stares at them, and it’s clear he realizes they fucked up. More kids falling through the cracks of society because people are too busy taking the guilty party’s word as truth.

“Someone was there visiting every time we got a report. They signed off on it.”

“They weren’t there! You know how I’m certain? We’ve had eyes on that family for years, and we were watching that day. No one showed up. So tell me, how do you sign off on a visit that never happened?”

“I…I don’t know.”

“You better figure it out, because I’m taking this to my lawyer and we’re going to the county. This is unacceptable. If you’re faking reports in this case, how many other times has this happened?”

The sheer nerve of this asshole, presenting fraudulent paperwork, claiming they made a visit they never did—it’s mind-boggling. It’s unbelievable how these people can falsify reports and then act as if nothing’s wrong.

I just glare at him, and it’s clear he’s squirming. He gives a nod and exits, leaving me to my thoughts.

I’m left staring at the pile of reports, unsure of my next move. Then, it hits me—I know exactly who to call. I excuse myself, stepping into the hallway and pulling out my phone.

I know exactly who can help.

“Nate, what’s happening? Did you find the girls?”

“Dad, just get to the hospital.”