Vera
I'm still getting use to not having Silas with me all the time. Back in Florida the only time we were apart is when he was at school and I was at work. I can tell how much this move has opened him up, made him brighter. He has more people he can talk to and family he can rely on. We're staying here for good, and Santi and I's relationship has started to rebuild itself.
He's an amazing father and great man. He's so much more mature and wise. And hot. He has more stress lines from over the years and a few strands of grew hair peaking through his roots, but that man still makes all the oxygen vanish from a room. He still has a dominance that people obey and a hold over me. I had a dream about him a few days ago that left me hot and wide awake. There's blanketed tension between us and I'm trying to be patient and all of that, but it's not working.
"We're here." I'm pulled from my fog of thoughts by Santi. After making a few calls, he said he had a surprise. I followed and now we're in front of a storage building. I look over at him in confusion. Does he have to run a business errand? Is this one of his storage units? Before I can ask any questions, Santi gets out of the car, loops around, and opens my door. He pulls me along until we're standing in the middle of the road. My brows furrow with the utter lack of explanation.
"Just wait." I stand by his side doing as he says, about 30 long seconds later I hear the rev of an engine. Multiple engines. I hear people cheering and a muffled voice, loud like an announcer would be. I hear the shriek of tires on pavement. And later comes the smell of rubber burning. My heart starts pumping faster out of old practice. My adrenaline starts pumping, and my feet start moving, Santi in tow with a smile on his lips. As I get closer, the noise gets louder and the smell gets stronger.
I turn the corner and in a big crowd against the back storage wall is an audience, cheering and whistling. Standing in front of the crowd is a man with a microphone listing off racers. And farther away from the people is 5 cars sitting at a starting line. A trail of cones give them their guidelines and a flag girl sways her hips as she walks to the cars.
"I know you don't race anymore because of Si but there's no harm in watching and being able to talk about racing again to people who love it just like you." Santiago says over the roar of the crowd. God, I want to hug and kiss him right now, but I'm mesmerized by the black and white checkered flag. The flag girl reaches the cars and seductively raises her arms above her head, holds it for suspense, then drops them. Engines roar, the crowd screams, the spokesman narrates, and I watch.
It's a smooth act of the cars going around the cones on the pavement. The car that initially takes the lead is a striking red Ford Mustang GTD. It keeps its considerable lead until it's cut off by a black McLaren Speedtail. The McLaren speeds off and stays in the lead the Mustang not far behind and the rest of the cars not even close, except one. An Aston Martin Valhalla sneakily and steadily moves up the ranks and at the last second steals first place, winning the race. The crowd celebrates and praises the racer.
I turn to Santiago with a beaming smile. I throw my arms around him and squeal from excitement. He picks me up in his arms and spins me around. He places me back on solid ground with a smile on his face. His skin crinkles in the corners from it, just like his mom.
"We have a treat for you all today. A former champion will be delivering the price herself to this new, mysterious winner." My joy turns into curiosity. Who's presenting the prize? Women racers weren't very common when I was racing. Maybe there was someone after or before me that I don't know about.
"Come on," Santiago starts pulling me toward the announcer.
"Am I going to meet the former racer?" A smirk pulls on Santiago's lips.
"You are the former racer." Shit. I plant my feet, anchoring myself to the ground. It stops Santi for a split second before he turns and throws me over his shoulder. Jackass. I kick my feet and attempt to wiggle myself free. Key word there is attempt because I make no leeway.
"And here comes the champ and the rookie." As soon as I'm put back on solid ground I'm eye to eye with the rookie. It's a small, blonde woman, in a light blue summer dress. Some of the men are gawking and drooling while the women are chanting for her. She has a mile wide smile on her face, so contagious that I start smiling too.
"Congratulations, that was absolutely amazing." I say, pulling her in for a hug. She happily returns it and thanks me. I had her the suitcase of money she rightfully earned. We all talk for a while before I get a text. I excuse myself to check it. Jasper's name lights up across my screen.
Cameron found something that is basically undeniably incriminating. You need to come over.
My mood shifts completely when I read the text. I knew it was only a matter of time before Cam found who really orchestrated everything. I just didn't want to think about it. I've been in this bubble with Si and Santi and the entire family. Peaceful and calm, I felt safe again. I shouldn't have. I can't be safe again until I find out who split us apart all those years ago and kill them. Plain and simple. I wouldn't even want to torture them. I just want it all to be over. I want to settle down with my family without looking over my shoulder. I want to breathe.
When I rejoin the group, Santiago notices my mood change. He quickly makes up an excuse for us to leave. He waits until we are a few feet away to ask me what's wrong. I just show him the text Jasper sent me. I see his jaw tighten and his teeth grind together. He nods before placing his hand on the small of my back. I move closer into his embrace as we walk to the car. The ride to Jasper and Cam's apartment is silent. Santiago is too angry and on edge to talk, and I'm too antsy and nervous.
We arrive at the apartment and sluggishly walk up the stairs. I want to know, but I don't want to find out. I raise my hand to the door and rap my knuckles against it 3 times. After a few seconds, it creeps open. Jasper stands in the doorway, his hair tousled, glasses on, with a big t-shirt and baggy pajama pants. He gives us a soft, sympathetic smile. Jas beckons us to come in, stepping back to make room.
We enter their living room that is very retro. They have beige walls that are covered in different movie posters, plants in every corner of the room, a soft orange rug, and a deep, forest green couch with a rough looking Cameron sitting on it. He's hunched over in front of his computer, his hair askew, and a hoodie and shorts on his body. I've never seen Cam this disastrous, unorganized, manic, focused. He's usually sunshines, jokes, and style. He's cheeks look sunken and his eyes hollow. He looks empty, lifeless.
"What happened? How long has he been like this?" I look over at Jasper and he looks like he's in pain just from how Cameron looks. Like the sight of Cam like this is gut wrenching to Jasper.
"I got home at 3, and he was like this. He hasn't moved, hasn't eaten, hasn't drank anything, hasn't said a word. I think a part of him doesn't want what he found to be true, a part isn't surprised, and another part just wants to make absolutely sure before telling you." Seeing as it's almost 8 pm he's been at this for at least 5 hours. Who knows how much longer. I feel honored that Cam would go this far for me. He will do anything for his family and that's clear, but this isn't good for him or Jasper.
I slowly step over to Cam not wanting to startle him. I crouch next to him, trying to look up into his eyes, to no avail because his eyes are locked on that computer. I take a deep breath before I wrap my fingers around the laptop and pry it out of Cam's hands. It takes a few attempts to completely take it out his grasp because of how resistant he was.
Once he processes the computer being gone his eyes drag up to my face. I turn backwards, grab the full glass of water, and place it to his lips. For a moment he just stares at me, then behind me his eyes land on Jasper who looks like he's in physical pain, so he complies and drinks the water. I make him drink it all before I ask him anything. Jasper's weary look weakens but doesn't vanish.
"What did you find Cam? Just give me a name, you can explain everything another day." I grab onto his hand and look at him with support. My heart aches for him. He's too caring for this world. These people don't deserve an ounce of his heart. I force myself to breathe and seem calm as I wait for his response. I force myself to stop shaking and shove the worry out of my eyes. I just need a name.
"Cade. Cade planned your death."