Page 20 of Like An Animal
Mommy pulls away from Daddy when she hears me and I peak my head out from under the table.
She frowns as she whispers, “Oh, Jeremy. Come here, baby.” She leans down and as I start to crawl out from under the table, the ground shakes and I hear a loud boom before my whole world breaks apart. The last thing I see before the room turns into a tornado is Mommy’s scared face.
She was always so pretty with big brown eyes and long dark hair.
The walls break and shake as Mommy and Daddy disappear and everything goes black.
“Dowe have any clue what happened?” A voice pulls me from sleep and my head hurts, but I can’t move or speak.
“The investigators said that explosive devices were placed all around the exterior of the house. They were detonated remotely. Anyone could’ve been behind the attack. However, the Italians are denying any involvement and have offered their condolences for the loss of your son and his wife.”
Someone laughs. “Sure, they are. I want your best men figuring out who was behind this and I want the head of every last person involved on a platter including anyone who knew what was going to happen beforehand. No one involved survives.”
“Papa…” My body trembles when I catch Aunt Kathy’s voice. She’s here. No, where’s Mommy? I want Mommy and Daddy. “The most important thing we should be focusing on is Jeremy and his recovery. We’re lucky he survived. His life could be in danger. What if whoever did this comes after him?”
“Miss Kathy is right, sir. Little Jeremy’s protection should be our top priority. He’s the only male heir your family has left. We should deal with his safety first before we worry about the culprits behind the explosion.”
“Fine, fine,” Pawpaw mumbles. “Kathy, can you take over as his guardian? You’re the only one in the inner circle who can disappear easily. We need to keep him hidden from our enemies far from here. Somewhere in the South perhaps. Once you’re settled, I’ll send the Volkov’s and the Aronin’s as an added shield of protection. An attack on one of us is an attack on all of us and we need to make sure all three families are safe.”
“I’ll care for him as if he’s my own, Papa.”
“It’s time, Jeremy,”Aunt Kathy says as she holds open the car door. I hold my small backpack against my chest before looking back at the hospital. I don’t want to go. I want to be with Mommy and Daddy, but Pawpaw said Mommy and Daddy went to Heaven.
I wonder where that is. I hope it’s nice and I can go be with them some day. Maybe they’ll come visit us wherever we’re going.
I don’t want to go with Aunt Kathy. She’s just going to keep doing the secret stuff and I don’t like it.
“Come on, Jeremy.” She smiles, but it’s not nice or sweet.
I frown before climbing into the back seat. I buckle myself like Mommy taught me before pulling my backpack against my stomach. Pawpaw filled it with a bunch of stuff from Mommy and Daddy, like pictures. I will keep it safe until they come back.
Aunt Kathy gets in the front before she drives away from the hospital. It’s completely dark out but she doesn’t have a problem driving, not like Mommy would.
“Everything is going to be just fine,” Aunt Kathy says before she whistles along with the song on the radio.
“Mommy?” Maybe Aunt Kathy can call her and I can tell her I love her and can’t wait to see her again. She was so upset the last time I saw her. I just want to know she’s okay.
Aunt Kathy lets out a loud breath before she says, “Your mommy is dead, Jeremy. I’m your mommy now.” Dead? What does that mean? Is Mommy not coming back? Tears fill my eyes as my bottom lip shakes.
“This can serve as a lesson. After all, your parents are dead because of you. If anyone finds out our secret, they die. Do you understand, Jeremy?”
I hug my backpack tighter as I cry harder. I slowly nod, but I don’t speak. Why would I? There’s nothing left to say.
Mommy and Daddy are gone and…it’s my fault.
CHAPTER 9
THE GHOST
We managed to keep Massimo and Xavi from finding out about us because I hid in the bathroom while Jeremy dragged them away. I was so sure they were going to burst through the door and realize the only person in the room was me, but that didn’t happen.
Xavi wasn’t happy that Jer wouldn’t give him any of the dirty details and complained profusely once I made my way back out to the party. Jeremy kept me by his side by holding onto my elbow the whole night, as if he thought I was going to run away with some random guy.
Clearly, he’s not risking anything happening like any other party I’ve been to even though he already thoroughly put his claim on my body. I have bruises where he pushed me against the sink and they’re starting to hurt.
I don’t mind it nearly as much as I should.
Not a lick of this makes sense. I’m not attracted to Jeremy, not outside of the very delicious cock between his legs anyway. I’ve always gone for the Tiernan McGowens of the world–guys with big muscles, tattoos and a wonderful sense of humor.
