Page 19 of Revenge

When I had shopped my stepfather in, I hadn’t considered how it could negatively affect her. I had been too determined to get him out of the picture.

Settling back against the bed I pressed her further, “Go on.”

“They froze all Gerry’s assets including the bank accounts. The morning after his arrest, men came to the house and started to ransack it. I was terrified. They took me to the station and questioned me for hours and I was so worried about you, even after your text.”

I placed my hand on her knee, hating my part in her pain. After what had happened at the vault when Kai found out I was the one who had ratted his father out and then the shooting, I’d left the country. I’d had my passport ready for when the shit hit the fan. Yes, I’d messaged my mother to tell her I was OK, but that was it.

“I’m sorry you had to deal with all that alone Mum. Why didn’t you say something the first time I called you?” I had contacted my mother three days after I fled, saying I was with friends and she hadn’t saidanythingabout being questioned. Wives of men in the mafia rarely knew the details about their husbands' dodgy dealings. It was a blind-eye type of scenario. I knew they’d never arrest her.

“I didn’t want to worry you,” Suki confessed with a sniff. “And by that time, Gerard’s lawyer, Mr Knight was involved. He came to the station with a couple of Gerard’s men to take me back to the house so I could pack a case.”

I squeezed her knee reassuringly before placing my hand back on my lap, “And where was Kai?”

Suki straightened her hair, “He had been injured. Shot in the side.”

Of course, he had. I was the one who shot him. I hadn’t meant to hit him. It was intended as a warning shot but my aim was better than I had thought.

I felt annoyed that this was the first time I had heard about my mother’s struggles, bearing in mind we spoke by burner phone regularly when I was gone.

My seventeen-year-old brain clearly hadn’t thought it all through. I knew she’d be questioned, but I didn’t think they’d impound her bloody house and take her money.

“So, then what?”

“Then Kai took charge. He arranged an apartment for me and an allowance and things were fine for a while. But then I started to think I was being followed. Kai said some of Gerard's associates in Italy had been watching us. Trust issues or something like that after Kai took over Gerard’s businesses. Then it got worse after Gerry died.”

I hated the shortening of Gerard’s name as it didn’t suit him. It made him sound like he was fun and easy going.

“So, what are you doing here?”

“Kai suggested that I move in here a few months ago. He was concerned about my safety.”

“A concern for your safety?” I snapped, panic fluttering in my chest.

Suki looked confused, “I don’t know. Kai said it would be better if I stayed at the main house with him for a while. To give off the picture of happy families I suppose, a united front. And to be honest, I prefer it. It’s less lonely.”

Due to everything that had happened, you couldn’t blame me for being extra cynical when the Kinlan family was concerned, but I did feelsomerelief from Kai’s involvement.

My mother had always needed someone to care for her; she was a head-in-the-clouds type of female. Suki would probably get lost walking to the corner shop and back.

“He’s changed Ava. He has been so good to me. I knew he never really liked me, even as a boy, but he came through for me. I had no one when you left not even Graham.” The fact that my uncle had let his sister down pissed me off, Maybe I’d pay him a visit when I got out from under Kai and his army.

Pushing away that thought, my heart squeezed and I suddenly felt selfish by my actions. I would still have put Gerard in prison if I had to repeat history, but I would have done it with the eyes of an adult rather than a teenager. I clearly hadn’t covered all bases, even with Anton’s assistance. Suki had been leftstranded.

I continued to listen to my mother and her Kai Kinlan appreciation show she was performing, feeling a hint of jealousy that he’d been there and I hadn’t. The way she praised him in that Godlike way, you’d think he could walk on fucking water.

But why? Why was he there for my mother? What was he plotting? He must need her for some reason. A Kinlan didnothingfor free.

“Even with his gunshot injury, Kai took over. From the bits of things I heard, he managed to incorporate some of Gerard’s businesses into his own. It was all quite hectic. Once Gerard’s bank accounts were unfrozen, there were fines to pay and lawyers' fees. And Kai dealt witheverything. He was also under investigation for months but the authorities found nothing to charge him with. I think he runs things legitimately.”

Legitimate, my arse. Kai’s organisation; Titan Events and Promotions owned a large casino in London; it was the perfect front for money laundering. I exhaled moodily, my suspicions about Kai’s intentions had now doubled in strength.

“He’s quite charming now,” Mom purred, with a twinkle in her eye.

Ohmy Godno! I almost threw up in my mouth at the thought of her going downthatpath.

“Mother?” I hissed with a glare of doom.

“I don’t mean likethat, Ava. But I thinkyoumight think so if you gave him a chance. I know he’s been desperate to find you. And I never said anything about where you were.” Suki added the last part to reassure me that I hadn’t been betrayed.

---