Rocco's Atonement

We are in the office waiting when she finally rolls in a cart with coffee and snacks on it and then moves to George’s side.

“Would you like me to serve you?” she asks him with her head dropped. He grabs her arm, and it takes everything in me to not rip his hands from her body and beat him for touching her. He turns her toward us.

“Any questions you have for my daughter, you will direct to me and our attorney.” The word “daughter” comes off stilted, as if he very rarely calls her that. Even the attorney looks shocked and moves his gaze between her and him.

There are more questions I want the answers to.

I look over to Damian, and he subtly shakes his head; he’s just as confused as I am.

“Please have a seat.” George directs us to a seating area. He takes a seat next to the attorney. “Guinny, I’d like a coffee and a slice of bread with jam.” She moves to the cart. “Anyone else?”

Both Damian and I refuse, but the attorney asks for a cup of coffee. I watch as she moves around; her body is stiff. She can feel me watching her and it’s making her more nervous. Her hands tremble, but just before she hands the cup and plate to George, she looks at him and he gives her a look. Her hands suddenly calm, and I watch as she stiffens more so. She fears him and his repercussions. After she has served the attorney, she stands next to George but doesn’t take a seat.

“Why don’t you have a seat too, we have several questions for you,” I offer. She turns to look at George, and whatever she sees has her standing straighter.

“I’m fine, thank you. Ask your questions.” Her voice has no emotion, and her speech is stilted.

I look to Damian and let him start while I observe. My time working with Linc has taught me to be more observant than aggressive. I’ve learned you get more out of people when they don’t realize you are questioning them or when they are distracted by someone else.

“Ms. Chambers, can you describe your attackers again, please?”

“They were—” she starts, but George interrupts her.

“She gave you full descriptions on the day of the attack. We aren’t going to rehash information you already have in the hope she’ll trip up for you.”

“Next question.” The attorney agrees with him, and Damian opens his notepad.

“Ms. Chambers, you stated you never saw their faces because of the dark hoods. Was anything familiar about them?”

This time before she talks, she looks at George. “We told you we weren’t going to rehash details again,” George answers. “One more repeat question and this interview is over.”

The attorney looks at him in shock. Even he doesn’t understand why we are being blocked from helping Ever and finding the men who hurt her.

“George, do you have any enemies who would come after your family? Who know Guinevere is your daughter?” I ask, and he sputters. He is about to answer when the office door is thrown open and another dyed blond struts in. This one is older and obviously his wife. She’s dressed in a metallic gold jumpsuit that is cut at her belly button and shows off her fake cleavage. Her large breasts are barely contained behind the material. She wobbles in her high heels from her obvious state of drunkenness.

“George, what are you doing keeping the servant hostage when our baby girl needs her lunch before she goes out? You know she has blood sugar issues,” she slurs.

My head swings around to look at Ever, and I watch as she deflates right in front of me. She moves toward the woman, who grabs her arm so tight Guinevere bites her lip hard.

I can’t take it anymore. “That’s enough. I’ll run you all in for abuse if I see one more attack on Guinevere. One more person hurts her, and she is out of here,” I growl and move to them.

The woman finally focuses on me, and just like Pru she smiles, but it doesn’t go beyond her lips. Her face doesn’t move at all. Too much Botox and fillers have taken over her features. She releases Ever with a shove toward the fireplace, and I dive to catch her so she doesn’t fall. I hold her against my chest like I’ve wanted to do since we walked in the door.

“Please, Ever, let me take you from here. These people are hurting you. We can help you,” I whisper softly in her ear.

“They are my family,” is all she says as she pulls away from me.

“Mrs. Chambers, I’ll take care of Ms. Chambers and then come back to answer the questions they have for me.” Guinevere’s voice is steady. Just like with George, she doesn’t refer to her mother as Mom or Mother, but as her formal name.

“No, Carmen, Guinevere has to answer their questions.” George stands. “Go out and wait until we are done. Now.” His voice is full of order and authority. Carmen glares at him before she turns toward Guinevere.

“I’ll be docking you for this.” She weaves out of the room, slamming the door behind her.

“As you can see, Guinevere has to get back to work. If you have questions for her, ask them now.” George tries to hurry me, but I take my time. I place a hand on Ever’s back and direct her to have a seat in the chair.

“Guinevere, how often do you take that route?” I sit down next to her. “Where were you heading, and did anybody know your plans?” I start.

She looks to George and the attorney before she turns back to me.