Page 97 of Unspoken Truths

“It is to me,” Mr. Emil grunts. “Let’s get to it.”

Twenty minutes later, the paperwork is signed, and Julia tears up as she watches this become official.

“I loved your dad, but this feels right,” she says softly. “It’s a new chapter. I know it’s been bumpy…”

“None of that is your fault,” Rachelle says with a shrug. “The last few months haven’t been the best, but it has some good things. I don’t think I’m ever going to think about Carlysle Prep fondly, though. It’ll always be rough.”

As long as the Kings are involved.She doesn’t have to say it for me to think it. They’re always going to be fucking with her because of who they are. Ignacio drops his head with a wince while Mr. Emil holds out his hand for the memory stick.

“Is everything on this?” he asks.

“I was too scared to check on my computer,” Rachelle admits.

“Come with me and we’ll check on mine. It’s also time to invest in a better firewall system for the house,” Mr. Emil grunts. “Harold, you’ll make sure this paperwork gets into the correct hands right?”

“Yes, sir,” he says. “I’ll take it to the courthouse now.”

As the three of them leave the room together, I watch them with a small sigh.

“This is going to throw a wrench in your weekend plans with her, isn’t it?” Julia asks, ignoring Ignacio.

“Yeah, but it can’t be helped,” I tell her. “This needs to get handled. I can always figure something else out.”

“What were you planning?” Ignacio asks.

My lips twist in derision at his question, because I have a feeling he’ll think it’s dumb.

“I do feel bad about this,” he mutters. “I wouldn’t give a single shit if this was anyone else because it needs to be done. The Kings are forever, and they’re my best friends. If I can help you with your date, I will.”

Julia shrugs, getting up. “Maybe he can. I’ll let you two figure this out,” she says. “I’m going to get ready to watch Emil make some teachers cry.”

Chuckling as I watch her exit to do that, I glance at Ignacio.

“I had this whole movie night planned, only outside in the tent,” I tell him. “The weather is drying out, the sky is clear, I thought it would be romantic.”

“I have tents and shit in the garage, and I can rig you a screen outside. We also have a mini projector,” he says. “You can surprise her when she gets home. I’ll also clear the backyard of any of Dad’s men in case things get hot and heavy between you. He’s already pissed enough at me, I don’t want to imagine how angry he’d be if I had to kill one of his men.”

Leaning back on the couch, I shrug. Maybe I’ll be able to salvage tonight after all.

CHAPTER17

RACHELLE

Mom and Emil are on either side of me as I sit at a long conference table surrounded by my teachers, the headmistress, and the school psychologist. I didn’t even know we had one of those to be honest.

It feels very odd for him to be here now.

“Miss Thomas—” Mrs. Hartwell begins, as if we didn’t just have this conversation.

“I’m going to need to stop you right there,” Emil says, opening up a briefcase to pull paperwork from it.

Knowing what he does, it feels so odd for him to have an actual briefcase. My father had one to bring to court and the office, but a mafia man casually using one simply makes me feel as if I’ve entered an alternate universe.

“My daughter is Miss Rachelle Reyes,” he says. “I believe she told you this as well. I emailed the administration about the name change. Here is a copy of the adoption paperwork as well for her records.”

Mrs. Hartwell takes the backdated paperwork, frowning hard at it.

“Why weren’t we made aware before today?” she asks. It’s none of her business, to be honest.

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