Page 46 of Twisted Lies

“Not much. She’s good,” Andre says.

“Better than you?” I hiss, annoyed. It should not be this difficult to find my sister.

“Don’t insult the few people you have on your side. She’s good. Covered her tracks well.”

“I guess she learned from the best,” I say, referring to how much time she spent with Andre. There was always something there, but I never stepped in, knowing they both knew nothing could come of it. “We need to find her. I have enough reason to look over my shoulder, I don’t need Rebecca on the list longer than necessary.”

“What are you going to do when we find her?” Andre challenges.

“Get answers. I think we’re all long overdue for them.”

“I have another lead I’m tracking down. I have a good feeling about this one. I’ll call you once I find out. Try not to get killed in the meantime.”

“Funny, I was going to say the same thing to you.” Andre chuckles before hanging up.

Where are you, Rebecca? I need to know what her life’s been like the last few years. I wish I could hear her say she had a good life. A normal life, but I know she’ll never say these words. Whatever she’s been through has changed her in every way that counts. I know Claire thinks we can get her back, but the woman we find, I don’t think, will have any shred of resemblance to our sister. I wish she was the same girl who was so excited to go on a first date.

“What if he doesn’t like me?” Rebecca asks, appearing deep in thought.

“Then we throw his body in a lake,” I answer.

Claire glares at me, but I shrug. It would take care of the problem. “Of course he’ll like you. There’s nothing not to like,” Claire says calmly, which is so unlike my sister. Calm is more Rebecca’s style than Claire’s.

“I think this is more of a sister conversation,” I state, standing up from the coach.

“Gee, you think?” Claire responds, sounding more herself. Making my escape, I find Dad in his office, looking over reports with my uncles. I slide into one of the chairs against the wall.

“Where are your sisters?” Dad asks, not looking up from the papers in his hands. His dark hair already shows signs of white at the side, and his eyes are starting to appear older than his age. I often hear women speak about his good looks, but I tune these conversations out. Since my mom’s death he hasn’t dated. Or at least, he hasn’t brought anyone around.

“The living room. Talking about Rebecca’s date. I figured it was best to make my escape before they started talking about clothes and makeup,” I state, kicking my leg in the air.

He and my uncles laugh. “That’s always a good time to leave. She has a date with Flavio’s kid?” I nod. Flavio was one of my father’s men. Nothing will come of it, I’m sure, but Rebecca had been complaining about the fact Claire and I get more time to meet people. What she doesn’t understand is it’s mostly all business. I also don’t believe fourteen is old enough to go on a date even if he keeps his hands to himself. He better if he wants to keep his fingers. I don’t have anything against the kid, I just know she’ll end up with someone better. Maybe someone not in this life. Not that I’ll ever suggest that to Dad.

“It will be good for her to go out. She’s here too often with just us as is.”

“Do you think she’ll be okay?” The question slips out. His eyes snap up from the papers.

“She’ll have to be. She is, after all, my daughter.”

I nod, knowing that’s the only response to give. After that, I return to being the silent observer. Rebecca will have a fine time, and that’s the end of it.

“He…he said I was too quiet.” I hear Rebecca sob through the door. Quietly, I open it to find Claire rubbing Rebecca’s back as she hides her face in a pillow. “He said I wasn’t like you,” she continues, unaware that I’ve entered the room. Of course, Claire knows the moment I enter and glances in my direction.

“Bec, he’s an idiot and doesn’t deserve you. You don’t have to be like me or E. You get to be who you want to be. That is your gift being the youngest. Don’t be sad about that.”

“Rebecca,” I say, sitting on the bed. She looks up with puffy eyes. “I’m going to be honest. I’ve spent some time with Nick because I’ve had to and he’s boring. He doesn’t have an original thought in his head. If you didn’t say much, it’s because he gave you nothing to say. That’s on him. You deserve someone who will court you, and you want to speak to them. That’s not him.”

I’m going to beat the little fucker, that will give him something to talk about.

“Trust us, Bec, one day you’ll meet your person and E and I will interrogate him, then you can go off into the sunset together. It’s only your first date. You’ll have plenty more that will suck. Take our word on that.” I nod at Claire’s words. “But one day, you’ll have a date with someone, and it’ll click.” Rebecca nods but tears still slip out. She rubs her eyes.

“Thanks. Can I have some alone time now?” she asks weakly. Claire and I look at each other and try to have a silent conversation. We both should stay, or at least Claire should, but Rebecca asks for very little from us. To not give her this request seems unfair.

“Sure. Get some rest. We’ll talk in the morning,” I state, standing with Claire.

Once we’re in the hallway, Claire says, “You’re going to make him pay a little, right?”

“Oh yeah.” I can’t do much considering who his father is, but I can at the very least give him a black eye.

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