The whole place rumbled with racket. Brianna, Gemma, and Drina argued amongst themselves.
Finally Kane spoke up again and said, “Look, like it or not, Nory is not an adult. The Feds are positive you haven’t heard the last from this bunch and I happen to agree with them. I believe they’ll strike again soon. Why would you put Nory in danger when she’s just a child?”
“She’s not a child. She’s a teenager.” Drina crossed her arms. “Besides, what kind of example do you think you can be at your ages? I mean, we’re more equipped to handle Nory than you are. She loves us. She doesn’t want to be separated from us.”
“Have you—”
Vicky placed her hand on Peyton’s forearm and she stopped talking. Peyton apparently felt Vicky was better equipped to handle this situation. Vicky said, “Drina—it is Drina right—have you talked to Nory? Have you ever asked her how she felt about the situation?”
“Why would I ask her? Remember, according to you guys, she’s just a child.”
&nbs
p; “I believe that, too. I also remember when your mother died. I recall how Kane, Braden, and Evan wanted to come to Tennessee and just offer you anything and everything you needed. They did that, by the way.” She glanced around the room. “I don’t know if you’re aware of that or not, but they came and offered to move all of you, handle your school transfers, everything. Coco turned them down and Alberto discouraged it. Now I don’t know how things work in the mob world, but I can tell you how things work in our world, over in Fletcher. Over there, we might as well be royalty. Everyone looks out for the Cartwells and McKays.
“The biggest difference I see is one you should consider yourselves. Over there, the cops are in our hip pockets. Over here, there seems to be a slight problem figuring out who has been bought, who doesn’t have a price, and who wouldn’t know the going rate if it was calculated in front of them. My point is—”
“I was wondering if you had one,” Kane said, teasing her.
“Give me a minute, Cartwell,” she snapped, but grinning all the same. “Girls, think of your sister. Brianna, really, this shouldn’t even concern you and Coco. From what Peyton has told me, Coco spends a lot of time over at the Blaziers’ place and you’re moving in here unless I missed something somewhere. So that only leaves Gemma and Drina at home.” Vicky studied the sisters. “Girls, as much as this may hurt, I have to point out the obvious. You both left Brianna in a night club where she could’ve ended up dead.”
“What a bitch play,” Gemma drawled.
“Here now. Show some respect,” Joshua said.
“It’s okay.” Vicky glanced at Joshua and then studied Gemma again. “I agree with you, Gemma.” She smiled sweetly. “And honey, if you think that was a bitch move, I’m sure you’ll dislike this one. You also drove off the mountain drunk, hardly an example for a child.”
“Did you tell her that?” She attacked Brianna. “Did you?”
“No.”
Peyton spoke up. “She didn’t have to. Kane went to the bar and talked to everyone there before he called in the Feds.”
“None of that matters though, Gemma. The only reason I brought any of this up is because of the obvious. You want to party. You’re young and you should have that right. Let your sister have a chance at a solid foundation, some real support behind her during her teenage years. More importantly, let the Cartwells keep her safe. This is the right thing to do. It’s not about winning or losing.”
“Who said anything about winning?” Gemma snapped.
“I knew your mother and your father.” Vicky took a deep breath. “Kane and Peyton won’t say this but I’m an outsider and I don’t care to call an ace an ace. Your father was always concerned with winning. He wanted to be better than the next guy and honey, he didn’t care who he took down with him as long as he got what he wanted, what he felt he deserved.”
“And is that so bad?”
“Right now? With your lives in danger? Yes. It’s not just bad. It’s terrifying. In this situation, if you don’t win, you die. And while I would love to see all of you move to Fletcher, I know you won’t do that, but don’t make a choice for a child. Let Nory go for a short period of time. When she’s older, she’ll probably come back here and hopefully by then things will be better for all of you.”
“Give us a minute.” Brianna motioned for her sisters and pulled Jax aside, too. A few seconds after they closed the door to the study, Tyler and Flint entered. She realized then she’d made a grave mistake by only dragging Jax along for the discussion. “What do you think I should do?” She still directed the question to Jax. Hell, she couldn’t worry about playing favorites then. Her sister’s life wasn’t about taking polls. She was turning to Jax because he knew her family’s history and he’d stayed with the Feds as they’d walked around collecting evidence.
“I think it’s very dangerous here.” He glanced at Gemma and Drina. “Come on, ladies. You want what all young women want at your ages. You want to run, live life, be wild, do things on your terms. So do them. There’s nothing wrong with that.”
“I’m willing to sacrifice for Nory.”
“You may be willing to sacrifice for Nory, but Gemma, are you really willing to ask her to sacrifice for you?”
* * * *
Hours later they watched everyone leave. Since the Jacksons’ place was a crime scene, they couldn’t go back there right away so the Jackson brothers would be staying with Brianna. Prior to the Cartwell’s departure, Gemma and Drina had called Nory and asked her what she thought about staying with the Cartwells permanently. She immediately rambled off a long list of things she wanted from home and told them she’d come and see them soon and they could call anytime. After they hung up, Nory called Brianna’s phone.
“Do you think I’m doing the right thing, Brie?”
“Yes, Nory. I do.”