The Life - Rebirth (The Life 4)

Come to think of it, the more I learned about this squad, the more intrigued I became. While I’ve selfishly been looking after my own interest, these men have been doing their part to right the wrongs of the world. Maybe I will go take a look at their setup once this is all over.

LYON

What was the kid looking for? And what does the phone call from Gia to the women have to do with it? There’s no point in asking Mengele because she won’t talk on pain of death. Ten years old, and she has the stamina and fortitude of a damn five-star general. Where does she get the guts? I guess Elena was right; she always did wish a child like myself on me.

It would help if the adults around here weren’t always so fascinated by the things she does; that would make my life a hell of a lot easier, but Mancini keeps encouraging her in her shit, and her mother is always in my ass about leaving her spawn alone. When she does some shit to bring the spooks to their little island paradise, then they’d be looking to me to fix it.

Okay, Lyon, clear your head and think. What could they be after? Gia made a phone call then Nia tried to hack into the system. Obviously, she was after some kind of information, but what information did we have that had anything to do with Gia? Gia-Gia, what’s the connection?

Gabriel, but what about Gabe? What are they trying to find out? He’s been home for a few days already…. “Quinn, who did Gia talk to you on the phone?”

“All of them, I think, we weren’t listening in or anything. The call just came through the system, as usual, to make sure the line was secure.”

“Arianna was the last one to speak to her, but I think they were just talking about the reunion.”

Arianna! Well, I know something that the rest of them don’t know because no one asked me, and it’s not my story to tell. But I’m almost certain that three years ago, she took out some female in Cali that was a thorn in the sides of the kids from there.

She never owned up to it, and I don’t know what she said to her husband to get him off her ass, but I know it was her. Especially when I learned how the girl had bought it. I’d already seen one of her kills before then, so it wasn’t a stretch. But what would they be calling in her murdering ass for?

I should probably alert the others to my suspicions, but there’s a reason I held back. More than twenty years ago, I took out my wife’s abuser without her ever knowing. Back then, I believed that as the man in her life, it was my place to protect her. Since then, I’ve watched over her as she awakened in the night, screaming out in terror, even all these years later.

One of the recurring themes during those long dark nights is her wish to have vanquished her enemy. She has bouts of anger where she fights against the already dead men who’d harmed her friend and tried to do the same to her. I still hold firm to the belief that a woman should be protected by her man, and so do all the others here, except maybe Mancini. That fuck would use whoever it takes, man, woman, or child, to get the results he wants.

I guess he thinks he’s better than me with his forward-thinking fuckery. Me, I’m willing to give Kat as much leeway to do as she pleases as long as she stays safe. One wrong step, and I’ll yank her ass back no matter what she or her annoying ass mother-in-law has to say.

But Ari, yeah, she’s a different breed. I don’t think even her husband can stop her, so why should I? Now that my mind is working right, I think I can follow the breadcrumbs to the truth. I think these women are planning a hit. Fucking Kat!

DRACO

I hate this, hate telling my children about their brother’s birth, hate having to utter the words that would reveal that he didn’t come from me. How can I ease the blow? Even now, I’m more worried about Gabe than the others because it’s always been about protecting him. It’s always been about him knowing that he belongs. I would’ve given my life, so he never knew about any of this, but it’s too late; it’s been taken out of my hands.

I tried not to resent my wife once again for her selfish act that had brought us to this. She’s been beating herself up for days over this and maybe even longer. “What do you mean not your son?” Anna was rightfully angry, and I wish I could take the hurt away, but it was only going to get worst. I had yet to tell them how their mother was abased.