Chapter Nine

We make it back to Chloe’s in record time, who knew Chloe had a lead foot. One thing we hadn’t considered was Chev, who is currently standing in the driveway with his hands over his chest and legs apart, his stance warning us of his anger.

“Don’t let him bully you. Guys like him love to be in control but you don’t belong to him.” She visibly inhales and nods her head.

“I know you’re right. I’m always so afraid of what will come out of his mouth and yet my body betrays me every time.” She comes to a stop on the driveway since Chev is blocking the way into the garage. He hasn’t moved a muscle. His intimidation is his power. Guys like him thrive on it, targeting the weak because he can.

As soon as we both exit her car at the same time, Chev decides it’s time to make his move. I watch as he steps in close to her, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. My god he is really doing this, playing the caring type, playing on her emotions.

“Are you okay? I was worried about you.” His voice calm, his eyes locked on hers. Damn Chloe, don't fall for it. Come on, you're stronger than that.

Her knees go weak, that action alone seems to trigger something in her, and she pushes him away. “Stop, just leave me alone Chev. You hate me at least eighty percent of the time and the other twenty you either confuse me with your touches and this caring act. I’m over it. Scare every guy away from me, I don’t care. In a few months I’m old enough to leave this place and never think about you again.” She storms off up the driveway. I mentally fist pump at her standing up for herself. Chev looks at me with disdain, and I smirk at him.

“I guess the badass and his manipulation tactics don't work any more, such a shame.” His face goes a light shade of red and a thick vein on the side of his face starts to pulse. He might actually kill me if his demeanour is anything to go by. I stand tall with my back straight and try to walk away. I give it to the guy, he is quick, he has me by the arm before I realise what is happening and slams me back against Chloe’s car. My hands go clammy and a lump forms in my throat.

“You might have everyone fooled with this no memory crap, but I can see right through you B, the little good girl virgin act doesn’t suit you. Word on the street is, you killed your brother and so your family wouldn’t kill you, you went to the crazy house and conveniently lost your memory.” It’s funny how anger can trump fear. I don’t remember my brother but how dare he insinuate I killed him. In my flashback he was killed with my gun. Why did I even have a damn gun? I know for a fact; a minor can’t have a gun but I have learned my family isn’t really one to follow the law.

My father is the type to bend the law to suit himself and my uncle is a suspected crime lord, but no one seems to have any proof to link him to any serious crimes. Google tells me he is known as The Ghost . Which is fitting, Echo had mentioned you don’t contact him, he will contact you. Whatever that is supposed to mean. Maybe my older brother was part of their world. I also googled him and he owned a chain of nightclubs. How does a guy at twenty-one get that kind of status?

I bring my knee up to Chev’s crotch as hard as I can. His grip on me loosens before he drops to the ground. “You don’t know shit about me, but you clearly know some history of the Montgomery family. So I suggest you back the fuck off of me or I’ll reign down hell on you.”

He has the nerve to laugh through his groaning. “Echo was right, you will make the perfect queen of the underworld.”

His words ring through my head as I run into the house and race upstairs to get my things. Queen of the underworld. Why would I want anything to do with whatever they do? Screw that, they can keep their illegal crap to themselves. I find Chloe in her room. I expected tears but she is on her phone, with a smile on her face. She mouths Mac, and flushes. I nod, pointing to my stuff. She understands I’m leaving. Clarissa’s stuff is already gone so I take it, she has gone home. Which reminds me to turn my phone back on.

I need to get home. I may not have my memories but I am sick of waiting. I need to confront my father. I want to be able to see the guys, and to do that I need him to drop all the charges. Since I’m daddy's princess I think I can use that. I also want some answers about Milo. What happened to him, and why the hell was I put in a mental hospital. Besides being a bitch, I didn’t seem to have any other issues.

When I pull up at my house, Carter’s car isn’t in it’s usual spot in the garage. A good sign he was only bluffing about giving me up to our father.

Like a mad woman on a mission I beeline straight for my father’s office. His car was in the driveway when I pulled in so I’m hopeful he’s here and has time to see me. Since being back, I have spent as little time with them as possible. It's still strange waking up here every day after just getting used to Beth’s. I feel like a fish out of water.

Voices carry out of my father’s office through the closed door. I can’t quite make out what is being said but both voices sound angry. I take a deep breath. I don’t care if he is busy. I need to get to the bottom of this. I knock hard with determination not to show weakness and the voices hush immediately. My father’s voice is evident as he says come in. I push the door open and step inside. I falter at the sight of my father’s double.

“Princess, it’s good to see you again.” I look at my uncle and then at my father, I hadn’t realised they were twins.

“I wish I could say the same but I still don’t remember anything.” He laughs, a deep throaty sound that echoes around the office. I take that moment to take in his appearance. He screams money. His suit is pristine, his jewellery is almost excessive, he has not one hair out of place and the only difference to my father is he likes to wear just a watch and one thick chain. “Sorry I didn’t mean to stare, I just didn’t realise you were twins.”

“I’m of course the older and more handsome of the two of us.” My uncle says, my father hasn’t said anything, he’s just watching our exchange.

“Of course, but I would like to talk to my father alone if that's possible.” My father’s phone rings at that exact moment. He looks at the caller ID and then back to me.

“How about you walk your uncle to his car while your dad takes that call, time is money after all.” I look at my dad and he nods, answering his phone. My Uncle Jarva links our arms as we walk through the house. He doesn’t talk until the house is behind us.

“I hear that you came to look for me.” I had almost forgotten that I told Echo I wanted to talk to my uncle.

“So, Echo passed on my message. I want answers. I can’t keep not knowing.” He looks at me as if he is thinking of how to reply as his car beeps, the telltale sound of the doors unlocking.

“Princess, it isn't my place to fill in the blanks. Your father obviously has a reason for everything he’s done.” He opens his door, avoiding eye contact, which tells me he’s hiding something. Men like him maintain eye contact, it's how they hold all their power.

“Please tell me something, anything.” I plead, sticking out my bottom lip in a pout. I almost think he is going to ignore me when he closes his door and his car starts. I turn to walk back into the house defeated by not knowing anything more. I hear the whir of his window going down, and glance back over my shoulder.

“Don’t trust the things people say Princess. That cop friend of yours has known exactly who you are the whole time. The princess of the Montgomery family isn’t someone they don’t know.” My mouth falls open, Lissa wouldn’t lie to me. There is no way they knew who I was and if they did why wouldn’t they tell me.

“And you tell those boyfriends of yours if they break your heart, I’ll put a bullet in theirs. When your memories come back, I'll be in contact. Until then, my brother thinks it's best I keep my distance.” With that his dark black tinted window is up and he reverses down the driveway. I’m left standing mouth a gape watching him leave.

“I guess it’s time we had a talk.” I jump as my father speaks.

Surprisingly he doesn’t take me to his office, he leads me up to my room. We both sit on my bed, silence descending upon us as we both stare at each other. After a few moments, he is the first to speak up.

“When you were born, it was the most terrifying day of my life. I already had a son with my previous wife. Sons I can handle, they grow up into men, but a girl,” he stops and shakes his head. “What could I do with a girl? She would end up with a man like me and your uncle and that’s the last thing I wanted. Then I saw how much your brother loved you and knew there was no way any man unworthy of you would be able to get close enough to break your heart.”

I don’t want to interrupt him as he talks about fond memories and my childhood, but it isn’t the information I want.

“Talking about my brother, why didn’t anyone tell me he died?” I watch as he shifts uncomfortably.

“Because no one really knows he is dead, it’s all speculation right now. We didn’t want to put anything in your head. You and Milo were thick as thieves. You worshiped the ground he walked on. The point of my earlier story is, he hated your boyfriend, always saying you deserved better and it caused some conflict between the two of you.”

“Why? I can’t stand Sebastian and I doubt that’s a new feeling.” He laughs, not because it's something funny but because it is information he already knew.

“That would be your mother’s doing. She hates my brother’s lifestyle. She didn’t want you ending up with the likes of Echo, so she pushed Sebastian on you. His family's connections and money would help our family name from being connected with the drug world and give us a chance to change our image. I can’t stand the kid, he isn’t good enough for you.” I sense he is holding back but since we are having a heart to heart and his guard seems to be down I may as well keep coming with the blows.

“How did Milo die and why did you lock me up and take so long to find me?” He takes my hands in his and we sit face to face.

“Milo was shot, you killed him.” I shake my head adamantly. I wouldn’t have killed my own brother. There’s no way, that would surely be something deep down I would remember.

“No way, I wouldn’t forget murdering my own blood.”

“His body hasn’t been found but the evidence is stacked against you. You were hysterical. I didn't know what to do. Our code is an eye for an eye and you took my eldest son. He was the key to the next generation and I keep wondering if it was because you were jealous. I know your uncle has always made it clear he wanted you as his successor but you’re a girl. It’s no life for you. Did he put you up to it? I couldn’t ever hurt you so I thought if you were locked away you could get help. I didn’t know what else to do and the longer you stayed the more the doctors said you had issues.” This time I laugh.

“I had issues, I was being drugged. I was a damn zombie in there and that guy that so called kidnapped me, I told him the whole thing before I lost my memory. Speaking of, I want you to drop the charges against him. I’m done playing games dad. Eye for an eye then kill me, I’m done. I want to move on with my life and I can’t do that with Carter following my every move because you want to keep tabs on me.”

“I would never follow you, your uncle always has eyes on you. He couldn’t risk his princess being hurt.” Well that explains his comment about the guys but that means he also knew where I was the whole damn time.

“Did you know where I was after I escaped?” He shakes his head.

“I was overseas with your Mum. No one told me you were missing until the day we got home. I had a private number call and tell me. I will do as you ask and drop the charges. I was just so worried you were hurt. I love you so much and I don’t want to believe you killed him. Your memories, I need you to remember so we can get to the bottom of this.” His eyes water, the pain of losing his son still hurts, in the pit of my stomach I feel sick.

“What would happen to me if I did kill him?” Pretty sure I know the answer to that question.

“That is up to your Uncle, he loves you but don’t be fooled he would end you to set an example.” He squeezes my hand, with a deep breath the sadness in his eyes vanishes and his business face takes over.

Our conversation is cut short when his phone rings. He stands from my bed and heads for the door. “Just so you know Dad, I spent the night at Rory’s.”

He turns back to face me. His phone stops ringing before he answers. “I know.” With that his phone starts ringing again and this time he answers, his voice powerful and clear. “Speak to me.” He demands before walking out the door.

I flop back onto my bed with an irritated growl. The more I find out, the more questions I have. I need to talk to Lissa, she might be able to shed some light on why she lied to me. I won’t lie, it hurts. I can’t tell Levi, I don’t know if he would be able to handle finding out, he would see it as betrayal. I doubt she would’ve been allowed to say anything, but for whatever reason she kept it from me, I hope there’s a damn good reason.

I avoid going downstairs the rest of the night. How do I face my family when my mother, brother and father all think I killed my own brother. Why am I really here if that’s the case. I know they don’t think highly of the police and would never turn me in, so what’s the real reason?

I spend the time by myself and recollect all the things I know about Bristol so far.

She was a bitch of epic proportions.

Her boyfriend benefitted her for some reason, was it to please my mum or uncle?

Her brother is dead, she possibly killed him but there is no body yet.

Lissa knew I was a Montgomery but kept that information hidden. Does she know I supposedly killed my brother or was it for a different reason?

She was a daddy’s girl, and her uncle loves her just as much.

Carter’s a dick but that could just be how people from here act.

A whole bunch of helpful information that raises more questions. At least one good thing came from all of this today, I don’t need to sneak around to see the guys. It’ll still be hard because of the distance but I’m sure we can make it work.