39. Rights + Raspberry

At 1:30 the following afternoon, I'm standing in front of the white office building with Jayce, Haven and Alexei.

The sun is high in the sky and just hot enough to be uncomfortable on my skin. I squint, raising my hand to shade my eyes as I tilt my head back to peer up at the large columns.

I want to pass out. I feel like my knees could give out at any moment.

We're really here.

We're really going to talk to Jeffers.

I shiver, despite the sun, and Jayce pulls me close to him as Alexei turns to face our group. His expression is so serious it's almost scary.

"Alright, now listen to me very closely," Alexei says in a hushed tone, causing us to lean toward him. "I want you to let me do the talking, okay?"

I nod ferociously, grateful that I won't have to speak. I feel like I might throw up if I so much as open my mouth.

"No matter how much you want to, don't interject. Just trust me. This needs to be handled carefully." Alexei eyes each of us intently.

Our heads bob in agreement.

"Okay," Alexei exhales. "Let's go."

I'm not sure how I got from the parking lot, up the steps, through the lobby and into the elevator, because I can't feel my legs. I don't know why I'm so freaked out. I've never been this scared in my life.

I think Alexei leans over and whispers something to Haven, but I'm not sure.

The elevator doors slide open and my heart jumps into my throat, pounding against my esophagus. Jayce must sense my hesitation because he places a comforting hand on the small of my back and gives me a gentle nudge forward.

"It's gonna be okay, baby," he leans down to whisper in my ear.

My eyes flutter closed for a moment as Alexei leads us down the hall. For a fraction of a second, I believe Jayce's words, and my nerves calm. Then I realize that surely, Jeffers can hear us coming and I get tensed up again.

Alexei had called Jeffers this morning to set up a "special appointment" to discuss some "pressing business concerns." As we round the corner into Jeffers' office, we're met with the smell of butterscotch and bourbon. Everything is exactly like I remember it - black leather couches, glossy black desk, glass drink cart... my eyes land on the inky black bookshelves. Last time we were in this room, so were the decaying remains of the plant Jeffers used to murder a man.

I shiver again as Haven clicks the door closed.

"Alexei..." Jeffers spins in his chair to face us. Surprise colors his pudgy face for a moment, but he recovers quickly. "And company," he says cooly as his tiny eyes move over me, Jayce and Haven.

"Tom," Alexei says with a curt nod. He's glued to the spot.

"You should've told me you were bringing guests," Jeffers almost sing-songs, "I would've opened another bottle," he gestures to two pre-poured glasses of whiskey sitting atop the L-shaped desk. "Shall I fetch another?" He picks up the glass closest to him and takes a sip. Somehow, the action is threatening.

"No need," Alexei's voice is casual, as if he's speaking to a waiter, not a murderer. "This won't take long."

"Oh?"

"Tom, I'm going to get right down to it..."

"Please, do."

"You did something," Alexei says slowly as he moves toward the desk, his eyes glued on Jeffers. "Something very bad, Tom, and I need you to admit it to my face."

"I'm a lawyer, Lex," Jeffers chuckles, unfazed and unintimidated. "You're going to have to be more specific than that."

"Oh, I see, I see," Alexei says slowly, like he's grateful for the information.

All is silent for several moments.

Alexei is tapping his chin and clearly mulling something over. Finally, he speaks. "Hopefully this will be more specific–"

"–Jesus!" Jeffers yells.

In a flash, Alexei has launched himself over the desk and has locked his hands around Jeffers' throat. Alexei barrels Jeffers' chair back against the wall and drives his knee into Jeffers' crotch.

Welp. So much for handling this carefully.

Alexei bends down so his face is right in Jeffers'.

"I KNOW YOU KILLED LOUIS DUGGAN!" Alexei roars so loud the floor vibrates. Even Jayce lurches as his words.

Jeffers just makes panicky choking sounds, his face as red as a tomato as he flails his legs and scratches at Alexei's tightening grip.

"I know you started Rhodes Co., and I know you framed Ben! I know everything, Tom!" Alexei booms.

"I didn't–" Jeffers tries to squeak out, but he's cut off by a loud punch that lands on his face with a sickening crack. Blood spatters everywhere and he wails as he clutches at his now-crooked nose.

"Don't you try that bullshit with me," Alexei growls, tightening his grip even more before finally releasing Jeffers, who gasps for air.

Alexei stands tall and pulls a deep red, silk handkerchief from the inside of his suit with a flourish. He wipes the blood from his hands, but the color of the handkerchief doesn't change. I can't help but wonder if other people's blood has been on that thing.

"Now, Tom," Alexei extends the handkerchief to Jeffers, but when he reaches for it, Alexei pulls it away and stuffs it back into his suit pocket. "Because you've been so helpful to me in the past, I'm willing to overlook this little... road bump."

What the hell? What is Alexei doing?

"You're a great lawyer," Alexei nods thoughtfully, beginning to pace, "and I don't want my unwillingness to move on to cause me to rid the world of a talent, such as yourself."

"Thank you, sir," Jeffers groans, blood spilling out from between his fingers.

"But, if you ever deceive me again..." Alexei's eyes flash with something dangerous. "Let's just say, I have friends that are more powerful than you could ever imagine."

"Understood," Jeffers huffs.

"There's one thing I'm curious about, though," Alexei comes to a stop in front of Jeffers. "Did you truly believe I wouldn't read my own contract?"

"You didn't read it for several years," Jeffers states, rolling his watery eyes.

"I suppose that's true," Alexei shrugs. "I guess I just trusted Louis too much. I miss that man."

"Yes, shame he's gone," Jeffers' voice is dry like sandpaper.

"Between him and Ben, it seems like the people we do business with end up dead, doesn't it?" Alexei remarks lightly, an ironic chuckle in his tone.

"It would seem so."

"Louis' heart attack and Ben being shot... I can't believe anyone would do that, and to a husband and father no less," Alexei's eyes glaze over, like he's deep in thought.

"Jack's a monster," Jeffers nods in agreement. Who the fuck is Jack?

"Why did you kill Louis, Tom?" Alexei suddenly barks.

"I–what?" Jeffers asks, his eyes flitting over Alexei's intense face.

"Oh, Tom," Alexei clicks his tongue in disappointment as he lowers his face to Jeffers'. "But you did. You stabbed him, didn't you? You stabbed him in the chest."

"I did not!" Jeffers yells, his face and neck turning red all over again.

What the fuck is going on?

"You did," Alexei says in overly sad voice, like he's speaking to a child. "I saw the puncture wounds myself."

"No, he had a heart attack!" Jeffers spits back, still clutching his nose. "You're full of shit!"

Alexei heaves a dramatic sigh. "You're right, I am full of shit," Alexei grabs a fistful of Jeffers' collar. "Louis wasn't stabbed. He was poisoned. By you."

"N-no!" Jeffers yelps as Alexei presses his fist into Jeffers' jugular. "I didn't kill him! He had a heart attack!"

"Oh, that's right, he did, didn't he?" Alexei says patronizingly, driving his fist deeper into Jeffers' throat. "But, as it turns out, heart attack is a common side effect of the poisoning, but you already knew that, didn't you?"

"I swear!" Jeffers chokes out. "I didn't do it!"

"You definitely have the motive," Alexei sneers, lowering his face even more and twisting his fist for a tighter grip on Jeffers' collar. "You can't split profits with a dead man. It was an ingenious plan, really, very well done... give me one good reason why I should believe you when you say you didn't do it."

"I wouldn't even know where to find aconite!" Jeffers pleads, his face now purple with the effort to breathe. "Please, let me go!"

Alexei instantly relinquishes his grip and steps away from Jeffers, a victorious blaze in his green eyes.

"Funny," Alexei remarks. "I don't remember saying anything about aconite."

Just then, the office door comes flying open so fast the door handle cracks the wall.

"Thomas Jeffers," the voice of Cole Davenport rings through the air. "You're under arrest for the murder of Louis Duggan, and for being an accomplice to the murder of Benjamin Rhodes."

An aviator-wearing, short, burly male cop advances on Jeffers.

"Wa... wait!" Jeffers springs up as waves of panic roll off of him and blood is flung on his desk.

"Oh, and Tom," Alexei continues, "as I remember it, the man who killed Benjamin Rhodes was identified as John Parker... unless you knew him well enough to call him by his nickname, that is."

The cop forces Jeffers against the wall, quickly cuffing him.

"Fuck you, Solis!" Jeffers spews, his eyes crazed and terrifyingly violent.

"Fellas," Alexei ignores him with an air of superiority, picking up the untouched glass of whiskey, the one intended for him. "Do have this tested for aconite," Alexei peers down at the amber liquid before handing it to Cole.

Cole takes the glass and then his eyes fall on me. His eyebrows raise slightly in recognition. It still creeps me out how his eyes are so blue they're almost white. Cole quickly clears his throat, moving his gaze back to Alexei.

"Of course, sir," Cole nods respectfully, carefully taking ahold of the glass before shifting his attention to his officers. "Read him his rights, Cruz."

"I'll kill you!" Jeffers is manic, but the burly cop with aviators is able to contain him. "I'll fucking kill you, I swear to God!"

The third cop, a small but fierce-looking Asian woman, grabs Jeffers' elbow. The burly man grips the other and they roughly pull Jeffers toward his office door.

"You have the right to remain silent," the woman, Cruz, says as they move past us. Jeffers is thrashing about wildly. "Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to speak to an attorney–"

"–Goddamn it, I know that!" Jeffers' screeches as the two cops drag him down the hall.

I can hear them banging against the walls the whole way.

"I guess I'll be needing to give this back to you," Alexei says, fishing a wired bug out from under his collar and handing it to Cole.

"I didn't think you'd get him to slip up," Cole marvels. "I'm impressed."

"Thank you for trusting me," Alexei claps Cole on the shoulder and Cole tries not to wince from the impact.

"Anything for you, sir," Cole replies, nodding curtly. He flashes me an unintelligible look before following his officers down the hall.

"Well," Alexei says, exhaling loudly as he turns to face me, Jayce and Haven, who probably all look like deer in headlights. "I don't know about you kids, but I could go for a burger. What do you say?"

~

Even though I literally did nothing but stand and stare while Alexei cornered Jeffers, I feel like I just ran a marathon. I think I'm in shock. I have no idea how to register or even process the events that just happened.

The four of us are huddled in a booth at Pepper's, eating our food like we haven't eaten in days.

Pepper's is a Goldcrest favorite. It's a classic 50s diner - checkered tile floors, brightly colored booths, a long bar, milkshakes, mouth-watering burgers, a jukebox and of course, no retro eatery would be truly complete without a waitstaff on roller-skates. It was opened in 1948 by a woman named Pearl, who named it after her infant daughter, Pepper. Pepper still owns the place, but she's always back in the kitchen cooking up new, crazy recipes. Pepper's daughter and granddaughter, Penny and Poppy, are the ones who run everything. Poppy is a year below me, a sophomore.

Anyway, Jayce and I sit as close as possible in the booth, while Haven and Alexei sit across from us, both man-spreading. It's funny to see two very large men trying to sit in a tiny booth together. It's especially funny because it's Alexei Solis and my brother.

We all order a burger with extra fries and various flavors of milkshakes - black raspberry for Jayce, chocolate fudge brownie for Haven, mint chip for Alexei and cookies n' cream for me.

When we finally finish we're all in a full-on food coma, rubbing our bellies and hoping we don't have to move anytime soon.

"So, dad," Jayce stretches his arms over his head and leans back, exposing his toned stomach and a sliver of his Calvins, which are peeking over the top of his pants. How the hell is he not even bloated? "You never told me you were such a badass motherfucker."

"Jayce," Alexei hushes harshly, glancing around to see if anyone heard.

"Seriously," Jayce chortles. "How the hell did you know you could walk in there and get something incriminating?"

Alexei shrugs in an attempt to seem blasé, but he's clearly fighting a smile. "It was pretty cool, wasn't it?"

"Dude it was sick! You broke that fucker's nose!" Jayce whoops, slamming his hands on the table, which elicits a chuckle from Alexei.

"It really was dope, Mr. Solis," Haven encourages politely, probably trying to impress Alexei with his manners.

"It was amazing, for sure," I nod, "but I still don't get how you knew he'd trip up with the name thing." I'm hoping to bring the conversation back before they can start talking about the best punching form or something.

"Alright," Alexei says, leaning forward. "After you three told me about everything you found, I had a hunch... I found out where John Parker is imprisoned and paid him a little visit."

My blood runs cold. John Parker is the man who killed my father.

"Turns out he goes by Jack, a common nickname for John," Alexei explains, "but it also stands for 'jack-of-all-trades,' because he's known as someone who can do anything you need. As soon as I told him why I was there, Jack told me everything."

"He just told you he killed our dad?" Haven asks in haughty disbelief, his fists clenched.

"Yes," Alexei confirms. "Prison changes people. He really regrets how he's lived his life. After he served time for the charges brought about by your dad's investigation, Jack vowed to be a new man. That is, until Jeffers came calling to cash in a favor. Jack knew Jeffers wasn't to be trifled with, so he figured he'd do one last job to balance the scales, and then be done. But, it turns out that Jeffers is even more cold-hearted than we thought."

Haven and I shift in our seats and make brief eye contact. I can tell he's feeling the exact same thing I am. It's a curiosity that's riddled with malice and hatred so intense that you feel like you might vomit. I don't want to know about my dad's murderer. But, at the same time, I do.

"He told Jack that a man would be coming to his office on June 12th, and that he was to shoot him before he got out of the car. Then, he was to plant a gun and a note to make it look like a suicide, claiming he 'couldn't go on' due to the guilt from betraying his best friend," Alexei gestures to himself. "Jeffers gave Jack your address so he could follow your dad to the office the next morning, and Jack went to your house, but then..." Alexei's eyes flash up to mine.

"Then...?" I ask, itching for more information.

"He, uh," Alexei clears his throat. "Jack saw your family all together. He saw your dad, your mom, you and Haven playing in the yard... and he couldn't do it. He went back to Jeffers and told him he was out, but Jeffers was one step ahead. He'd taken Jack's mom and dad and was holding them hostage, saying that if Jack didn't kill Ben, his parents would die."

I shudder inadvertently and Jayce wraps his arm around me.

"Jack knew he couldn't lead your family to believe it was suicide," Alexei continues. "So, he waited until Ben came out from the offices, made sure he was loud enough for people nearby to hear, shouted, 'You ruined my life,' and then..."

"...Took his shot," I finish, looking down at the table. Everything is blurry from the tears filling my eyes.

"That's right," Alexei says softly.

"Fuck," Haven breathes.

"Well," Alexei says, and I can hear from his tone how uncomfortable he is, "I have a meeting to get to..."

"Thanks for everything you did today, dad," Jayce says genuinely. "We really appreciate it."

"Of course."

I hear Alexei slide out of the booth and his Italian shoes click away.

"Fuck," Haven says again.

I still haven't looked up.

"I think I... I think I'm gonna go for a drive," Haven tells us before quickly sliding out of the booth and practically running out of the diner.

"Wanna go to my house?" Jayce asks me gently.

I barely manage to nod. I feel so broken inside. Talking about my dad always leaves me feeling empty, but this... I never thought I would be able to understand my dad's killer. If my dad was alive and I was in Jack's situation, having to choose between killing a father or losing my own parents? I think I'd have done the same thing he did. And that's a tough pill to swallow, because it means I'm no better than him. I'm no different from him. I'm just as capable of evil as the man who killed my dad.

I feel tears running down my cheeks. Jayce kisses them away and helps me stand, practically carrying me out of the diner. He opens the door to his Mustang for me and I strap myself in, still unable to speak.

Jayce climbs in and starts the engine, its purr soothingly familiar by now.

"I don't like seeing you cry," he tells me sweetly, using his thumb to wipe another round of tears away.

"I'm sorry," I mutter, wishing I had something to blow my nose in.

He shakes his head and smiles, his curls bouncing around as his eyes gleam comfortingly. "Don't apologize, baby. You can cry all you want, all you need to." His expression becomes mischievous and boyish as he puts the car in reverse. "I'm gonna cuddle you so fucking hard tonight."

I manage to let out a small giggle as more tears spill out of my eyes.

As we pick up speed, heading through the hills towards Jayce's house with the windows rolled down and his hot hand on my thigh, I keep coming back to two words.

Two words that fill my lungs and take my breath away at the same time.

It's over.

Everything with Jeffers, the contracts. The drama with Duende, the feud between our families.

It's over...

It's over.

~~~

THAT'S NOT THE END I SWEAR.

Okay, now.

I have some pics of Jayce, I'm just gonna drop them here because WHY NOT.

our photographer boi ^

our sleepy boi ^

our model-y boi ^

our sTARING INTO YOUR SOUL boi ^

and then just... ah

and then whatever is happening there but it's still adorbs

⭐Tap the star! ⭐

Love you:)

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