Page 100 of Into the Light

The large clock behind the waitress stoodtick-tick-tickas the noise seemed to somehow grow as the silence did in the room. Seconds passed before realization washed over Mr. Ortiz’s face. His mouth attempted to remain in an unscathed flat line, but his jaw kept ticking.

“Ortiz,” Ember’s dad warned as soon as he realized what he was looking at. “Mexico is going to fucking kill you if they find out about this shit.”

Mr. Ortiz coughed as if he was trying to clear his throat. “Where did you find these?”

“I didn’t.” I laughed because Ash had set this all up for us. This was exactly what he predicted would happen, and it was all coming to fruition. “Your son did.”

“What?” Mr. Ortiz balked.

“When he died, he wanted me to keep this paperwork safe. I didn’t know what it was until they found letters that Ash had left behind.” I noted that Walsh left out that he wasn’t there that day, keeping that for Ember and me.

Ember pulled out copies of our notes that Ash had left before Mr. Solis quickly looked them over and then back at his daughter.

“Ember,” he whispered. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t—”

She held up her hand. “Now is not the time for apologies. I just want to get this over with.”

I understood her, so I quickly said the last piece of information. “You’re skimming the business. After graduation, Pico will be taking over. None of us are going to say anything outside of this table, but you will step down.”

“The hell I will.” He scoffed, and I pulled out the rest of the evidence I had in my bag.

“I know you don’t value human life or relationships much, but this is evidence you’ve been fucking around on my mom. To make matters even worse, you’re discussing sensitive business information at a fucking strip club with strippers. I don’t think anyone will appreciate what you’ve been doing.”

There it was. The utter wrecking ball I served him like it was a cold sandwich on a platter. A pure slap in the face without ever hitting him. She was right. Words could somehow resolve so much more than brutal force.

“H-how?” His voice shook, knowing I had the power in my hand. It felt so fucking good to play my cards, too.

“Ash,” I said slyly as the grin exploded on Ember’s face.

“If I do this, he is going to say something. Why would I trust him of all people?” He scoffed, putting the papers of his indiscretions down before slowly taking a deep breath and looking up at us.

“Dad?” Ember asked Mr. Solis.

“What’re you asking for, Rain?” He looked over his daughter’s shoulders.

“I want Pico to take over for the US operations instead of me. You were right about one thing, Mr. Ortiz, but it’s not because I am not cut out to be a leader, I am choosing not to be one.”

“Pico?”

“Yes.”

“And I am to step down?” I nodded again at Mr. Ortiz’s question.

“I don’t know, Ember . . .” Mr. Solis started to say.

“Well,” Walsh chimed in, “we will also be removing the spring bonfire ritual. We both agreed it causes more pain than pleasure, especially after Ash’s death.”

The two older gentlemen looked between each other, knowing their parents’ generation created this neutral territory.

“Okay,” they said at the same time.

“I just don’t know if I can keep this a secret, Walsh. This is some serious shit, and his leaders have a right to know.” Mr. Solis told him.

Ember’s body vibrated next to me. I could feel the frustration pulsating off her.

“No.” She stood up, her chair flying behind her. She pulled out the photo in her bag before I held my breath.

“You don’t have to,” I leaned over to whisper in her ear.

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