Page 37 of Tore Up

“When I told him my period was late, he said that a condom broke one of the times, but he hadn’t told me or wanted me toworry. Then, he gave me the money to go get a test.”

“Why would Ares kill Crosby when he found out you were pregnant? Do you know the answer to that?”

I felt sweaty and sick all over as I shook my head. It was horrific. I hated thinking about it. “He always had a temper, but it had been getting worse. If I’d had any idea he was reading my texts and listening to my calls, I would have said something. But even then, I never would have imagined he would even consider doing that. I just—” I let out a choked sob. “God, I am so sorry.”

“We aren’t blaming you, Halo.” Linc’s voice was soothing, but right now, there was nothing that could ease this. “I am trying to get you to see that our killing him is what he deserves. It’s vengeance. We don’t stand by and allow our family to be attacked without striking back. It’s part of our power. One of the reasons we are feared and respected.”

I stared up at him, my breathing heavy. “What is your family?” I asked, although I had a feeling that I had figured it out. Pieces were clicking into place. Things that hadn’t made sense suddenly did.

“The Southern Mafia. Our families go back for generations. The branches of the family are all inside the Southern states. There is one boss, but each branch has a head. I’m the head of the Mississippi branch,” Linc explained.

There was a Mafia in the South. Holy shit.

“I see,” I replied, although I was sure there was a lot I did not see.

“You need to understand that Crosby and Saylor began dating at a young age. They grew up together. Saylor’s father, Gannon Rice, was the head of this branch. But his Parkinson’s disease progressed until he could no longer hold that position. Gannon had no sons.

“I was sent to take over until”—he briefly flicked his gaze to Bane, then back to me—“the eldest son of the next-oldest familyin the Mississippi branch is named the head.

“Gannon’s oldest daughter married a man in the Louisiana branch, and Saylor was always thought to wed Crosby one day. Losing Crosby was a devastation to us all. Your pregnancy, while it has given Grissele the will to get out of bed in the mornings, has placed a dark cloud over the Rice family. Saylor’s memory of Crosby and what they had has been twisted. She’s angry and hurt. She’s also dramatic and very spoiled. Bane will make sure to keep you safely away from her so that you don’t have to face that kind of reception.

“Grissele has made sure to get you the best medical care money can buy, and you will want for nothing. The family is now your family. The family who deserted you will no longer be connected to you in any way.”

Wait. I tensed, gripping the armrest on the chair. “What do you mean?”

Linc stood up. “Exactly what it sounds like, Halo. Ares will be killed. The others you will not have contact with.”

They couldn’t get to Ares, but I wasn’t going to say that. He deserved to be in prison, and they could go to the police and make it happen although that wasn’t what they were threatening to do. Why couldn’t I see my other siblings?

“But my sister and little brothers,” I said.

“They left you without a word. I don’t see how this is an issue,” Linc replied.

“Yes, but it was my stepmother who took them.”

“Do you even know where they are? How to find them? Do they know how to find you?”

I sat there, wanting to burst into tears, but refusing to do it. He had a point. I didn’t know. I wasn’t sure they’d look for me or not. But I had hoped I could find them one day, when I had the money to look.

“Halo, Carina told your stepmother about your pregnancy.She’d read your texts. She helped your stepmother pack up the house and leave while you were at work. She wanted to leave you behind.”

“You don’t know that!” I shot back at him, angry that he was making up stuff that wasn’t true.

“Yes, I do,” he said, then reached over and pressed a button on an iPad.

“Hey.” The familiar sound of my sister’s voice filled the room.

“Y’all get packed up and out of there?” Ares asked.

“Yeah. On the road now. And I left the money alone that she keeps hidden in the closet. So, don’t worry.”

I sank back in the chair, listening to voices I knew, but couldn’t understand how they were talking. Ares was at boot camp. How had he called Carina?

“I left the key to the house under the mat out front. I won’t be there when y’all arrive. Got held up.”

“Who the hell is gonna carry the heavy stuff? Nicco won’t be in Mobile to help. He said so after he finished loading us up.”

“I’ll get what you can’t in the morning. Chill.”

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