Reckless Karma (Sinners & Saints #2) (23 page)

           
“Thank
you,” I say surprised and not surprised by what she knows.

           
“I
assume my reputation did not please you,” Hugo said.

           
“No,
it did not,” she says harshly. “But your father was never a man of good stature
when it came to control over his things. Like your mother, for instance.”

           
I
feel cut by her words and I know Hugo does too.

           
“Speaking
of my mother, why did you two part on bad terms?”

           
“I
don’t like to look back on the past. In fact it was such a long time ago that I
hardly remember our little dispute. I think we just didn’t see eye to eye on
how to handle problems in the family.”

           
“Interesting.
Well Gabriel has children. A son and daughter.”

           
“Yes,
I heard of his bastard children with the African American girl who somehow
managed to get hands on the Fairchild fortune.”

           
“I
see you are very up to date.”

           
“From
what I heard, Gabriel was always a very fragile and lost boy. More like your
mother, I suppose. Anyone could hardly blame you for all of your deviant
behavior with parents with problems themselves.”

           
“Yes
and who could blame any of them with their parents and grandparents. It’s all
just a cycle, isn’t it?”

           
She
smirks and takes a sip of her lemonade.

           
“It’s
funny. My mother barely spoke of you. When she did she talked about the loss of
love and protection from a parent. Something she did not want for us.” The old
hag’s smile tightens and Hugo shrugs in satisfaction. “Then again my mother was
crazy. Maybe the whole Voncliff side is crazy. How was Uncle Stewart’s state of
mind?” He struck a nerve with the mention of his uncle. She frowns and comes to
his defense.

           
“Stewart
was a good boy.”

           
“Only
a drunk who fell off a balcony, right?”

           
“He
had his problems but never as harsh as your mother’s. She was always so
dramatic.”

           
“Damn
those kids. Always prone to fall off balconies.”

           
“How
did you cope after his uncle’s disappearance?” I ask wondering.

           
I
notice her hands tremble a little and she sets the glass of lemonade down.

           
“Stewart’s
disappearance still haunts me.”

           
“It
is interesting a man who can’t walk could just disappear like that.”

           
“Well,
Stewart was always full of surprises. I believe that he is fine and well
wherever he is.”

           
“Must
be comforting… Uncle Stewart was well known for his wonderful endeavors,
especially for the Black Card Club.” Something sparks in her eyes. “Do you know
anything about that club?”

           
“You
are never to speak of that club to me again.”

           
“By
that response I assume you know more than anyone.”

           
“I
only know that club is forever buried in the ground along with the rest of the
demons of this family and, Hugo my dear, you do not want to dig it up. As your
grandmother I give you that advice. I suggest you accept it.”

           
“I
have trouble with authority.”

           
“So
I’ve heard. Now if you don’t mind, I would like to go rest, but Hugo dear do
come by and visit with August. Not those children though.”

           
“I
think I’ll let you die knowing how full of shit you are.” Hugo storms out and I
follow.

           
“Juliet
dear.” I turn around. “Do see that he stays away from that club. It is not
something that I will take lightly.” She smiles. “Lovely to meet you.”

           
I
have nothing to say to this woman and a part of me thinks this club is
something to fear also, so I just continue chasing after her upset grandson.

           
“Hugo,”
I say once we get to the car. “Hugo.”

           
He
is about to slam his hands on his car, but realizes its delicacy and just
gently places them on it with his head down. I put my hand on his back and
shoulder.

           
“You
alright, babe?”

           
He
has no words, only looks of uncertainty and anger. He looks around the property
and his eyes stop at the woods nearby.

           
“My
mom used to tell us scary stories about these woods. The woods that haunted her
as a child. She said a monster lived in them. A monster that was in the form of
a demon at night and an angel by day.”

           
“Why
that story?”

           
“Why
did my mother do anything?” He shrugs and looks at me. “I think it has
something to do with this place.”

           
“What
do you want to do?”

           
“What
can I do, Juliet?” He’s frustrated. “I am way over my head. I’m into the
pettiness of things, but this… this is something else. Let’s go.”

           
We
get back in the car and Hugo is quiet on the way back. His eyes are
concentrating more on the vision of his family’s mystery than on the road.

HUGO

We
walk in the house and see Karlie waiting for us in the living room along with
Cody and Anika and Jordana.

           
“Where
are the kids?” Hugo asks.

           
“My
mom took them to the park,” Karlie answers. “Your brother is in his room.”

           
“And
Ms. Eleanor is at the spa,” Jordana says.

           
“Jaz
and Poppy back from their date yet?” Juliet asks.

           
“No,
Aladdin and Cinderella are not, but we have some very interesting news,”
Jordana answers.

           
“Okay,
that was racist,” Cody points out.

           
“Technically
it’s pretty accurate. Jaz looks like the real version of Aladdin,” Anika says.

           
“You
know girls always used to tell him that when we were kids,” Juliet says.

           
“Excuse
me, but can we get off the Disney topic and get to the real world that is my
fucked up life and family?” I’m annoyed and frustrated, so I don’t have time
for anything else but to get answers I need to know.

           
“I
take it meeting your grandmother didn’t go too well,” Jordana says.

           
“As
in she’s a bitch? Yeah.”

           
“Listen,”
Karlie starts. “That private investigator I got to trail Scarlett ever since
Rebecca Townsend was here, well he’s been trailing her to all the regular
spots, including here.”

           
“What?”

           
“He
said she comes here. She has a key.”

           
“Well,
I knew that, but why would she come here?”

           
“And
come here when no one is home except maybe August, but August doesn’t come out
of his room until someone goes and gets him,” Juliet says.

           
“So
then there is only one reason why she would come,” Karlie says.

           
“The
box is here,” I say and head upstairs.

           
“Is
it in your room?” Juliet asks. “I would not be shocked if she did that. She
loves irony.”

           
“She
does but no. I know her.” I head past every room until I’m at Juliet’s.

           
I’m
looking for something. I know what it is, but I look back in my memory until I
see it and it’s right in front of me. I head over to the dark oak cedar chest.
I open it up. It’s empty.

           
“I
didn’t need to use it,” Juliet says. “I don’t understand how it can be in
there. It’s empty.”

           
I
place my hand flat on the bottom and press. The bottom of the chest moves down
until it hits something hard.

           
“A
secret compartment in the bloody chest?” Juliet is shocked.

           
“That
sneaky bitch,” Karlie says.

           
“She
really is that cocky, huh?” Anika asks.

           
“Yes.
She is,” I say as I lift up the bottom of the chest and reveal the black box.
“When I first moved here I had walked in on her putting the box in here. I only
saw it for a second before she kicked me out. One day I came in here out of
curiosity and looked in it, but there was no box. One day she babbled about
having secret hiding places in the room.”

           
I
pull out the box and set it on Juliet’s bed as she makes space.

           
“So
we got the box.” Jordana sits down on Juliet’s bed. “Now all we gotta do is
figure out the code.”

           
Cody
sighs and sits next to her. “This should be fun.”

SCARLETT

When
I was a kid I loved swings. Most people wouldn’t know that, but I did. I loved
going up. Hated coming down. My father would bring me to the park. This park
actually. The way he would place his hands on my back and push me. It was the
perfect moment between father and daughter. The only perfect moments. As
children perfect moments are more possible than as an adult.

           
“Is
this supposed to be a joke?” I smile at the anger in the voice beside me on the
park bench.

           
“Dr.
Rodman. Lovely to see you again.”

           
“When
I asked to meet, I didn’t mean here.”

           
“Does
it spark that inner demon in you?”

           
“This
isn’t funny, Scarlett. This is a serious situation.”

           
“I’m
sure it is, given the panic in your voice.” I look at the children on the
swings. “You see those two. They’re twins. The boy’s name is Oliver and the
girl’s name is Suzanna. They are the bastard children of Gabriel Mandrake.”

           
I
look at the two children laughing and giggling as their grandmother pushes them
on the swing. The smiles on their faces remind me so much of Gabriel. I miss
him. I miss him a lot. I instantly want these children because they are his. I
am forced to admit I am envious of Karlie now. These children are the greatest
gift she could ever give to him. Greater than the gift I gave to him, which was
the truth. The truth about everything.

           
“Speaking
of Mandrake. Hugo mandrake came by the Hoxley and asked about the Club.”

           
I
take my eyes off the twins and look at him. “I hope you’re kidding.”

           
“No.”
His eyes are strained on me as he says it. “He came and asked to join.
Something tells me he doesn’t want to join for his own pleasure because if he
did he would know why the club was created in the first place, which gives the
conclusion that he is there to find out the truth. He asked why I’ve been
paying you money for years.”

           
I
look back at the kids. I feel my bones beginning to crack from the information.
My blood sizzles and sets on fire.

           
“You
are supposed to have a handle on this,” he seethes.

           
“I
do.”

           
“I
don’t believe you and neither will the rest of them. Therefore, the payments
stop now.”

           
I
scoff. “You forget. I have everything. I own your fate. Your soul.”

           
“Well,
if Hugo Mandrake gets the answers he’s looking for, your little box won’t do
anything to us because it will be too late. Until you give us proof that you
are still in control, we will stop paying you.”

           
“Fine,
but when I do get everyone back in their place, I’ll be adding more to that
payment. I’m sure you are willing to pay whatever it takes to keep people from
discovering what you truly are.”