Page 93 of Always You
“What are you doing here?” I slur.
Her lust-filled eyes take me in like fine wine. “Came to take care of my man; I have just what you need.”
She’s wearing a long, brown high, priced fur coat that reaches her knees. She slowly unties the knot, and it slides down her body like a snake shedding its skin. Standing in the room, she is completely and utterly naked. My eyes roam her slim figure and land on her hard nipples. I notice she has more curves than before. Her big brown eyes are full of lust, desire, and want. Her polished fingers dance across my bare chest. I brush her fingers off.
“You need to leave,” I slur.
She rolls her eyes. She licks her bright red lips. “Oh, come on, I know you want me.” Her delight rings warm in her voice. She kisses my cheek. “I can make you forget; I can make you feel good.” A smile flickers on her lips; Her breath comes out, panting.
I let my eyes roam her naked body. All she has on is her Christian Louboutin high heels. I turn to pour myself another glass of whisky, I will require it for what I’m going to do next.
* * *
The following day, I knew what I need to do. I begin typing, sending a group text to my brothers, informing them to meet me at my house in an hour. It’s time they know the truth.
“What’s going on, Dom?” Santiago grunts. Not pleased, I woke him up.
“And why do you look like shit?”
I grab a bottle of Tylenol for my pounding headache and hangover. With two tablets in hand, I swallow it down with a glass of water. Taking a lungful deep breath, I say, “A witness came forward after all these years they found out who started the fire who killed Mila’s dad.”
“That’s great,” Mark replies.
My shoulders slump, this all feels like a big nightmare, a horror movie.
“Fortunately, Liam took the report; he’s holding onto it. Detective Johnson sent the neighbor in to give Liam the report and he’s been after him to turn it in. They had a surveillance camera, and the person who started it... was mom.”
Marks’s glass of water slips from his grip and spatters on the floor.
“What the fuck? This can’t be right, Dom, Mom would never do something like this. She wouldn’t even hurt a fly,” Mark shouts.
I scratch my stubbled chin. “That’s what I said. I needed proof. Liam showed me the footage. It is Mom. I haven’t confronted Mom yet, but I told Liam I needed to talk to Mila first. I-I- didn’t know how to tell her, it’s been a month,” I say, stumbling over my words.
Closing my eyes, I take another deep breath.
“She found out from someone else, not sure who. She won’t talk to me. She wants nothing to do with me. She’s hurt and thinks I had something to do with it. I lied to her for a month. Honestly, I’m so damn confused as to why Mom would do this.”
Santiago is quiet as he walks into the living room, sinking into the sofa. His eyes cast up to the ceiling.
“Why haven’t they arrested her yet?” Santiago stares at me, pale as a ghost.
“Liam was waiting for me to tell Mila before word got out. Mom doesn’t know anything.”
He nods.
We all sit on the sofa quietly, lost in our thoughts so many questions and no answers. Our minds whirl in confusion as we gape in disbelief.
Mark sighs. His elbows rest on his knees. Head dipped down.
“Why does Mom hate Mila so much? Why would she want to try and kill her? Jesus, Dominic, good thing you went to her house that night. You know, I remember that night. Mom said she was going to the grocery store. She came back with nothing,” Mark says, in a gruff voice.
Santiago and Marks eyes are glassy over the news. I’ve had days, weeks to absorb the ruckus in our lives. This is all fresh to them. Santiago stands up, taking a glass from the cabinet. He pours us all whiskey.
“Mom made Mila the villain when it was her the whole time. She lied. For five years, she kept you away from Mila, and she’s forcing you to marry Samantha. I can’t believe this, bro, why the hell would Mom do this? I can’t grasp all this,” Santiago says, as he takes the glass of whiskey to his mouth.
“Only Mom has the answers,” I tell them.
Santiago slams his fist on the sofa.
