Into Darkness (Whitsborough Chronicles Book 2) Read online

  I wanted to tell my parents about Emmett and Carm and I wanted them to meet so badly, but then Carm reminded me that they don’t know about my father. They would have so many questions that I just couldn’t answer for them, and what if they tried to take Emmett from Carm? So, I have to keep them a secret, but not from Adri or Travis, I just have to swear them to secrecy. It’ll feel good to off load everything to them and to have some-not all-secrets out in the open.

  Vin decided to host a barbeque at his house while his mother is at mine for the weekly gossip fest, it’s just the four of us, we can talk about Emmett and Carm arriving the following Saturday morning without any listening ears.

  “So, you have a twin brother?” Adri asks her brow crinkled in confusion.

  “Yes,” I nod, “and a half older brother.”

  “How?” Travis asks.

  “I remember what happened in New York. I never actually forgot, I was captured by my birth father and my half brother the night of the play. They brought me back to New York and held me there.”

  “Held where?’ Travis asks.

  “With the Eastside Rampage. It’s a gang that I was affiliated with before moving here, and the night I was captured I learned their leader was my father.”

  “Do you know if that’s really true?” Adri asks.

  “Yeah, it’s true, not only do I resemble him but my identical twin brother is proof enough.”

  “How was there a twin but you didn’t find out until recently? Your mother obviously knew there were two of you right?” Travis questions.

  “I don’t have answers for that, I’m still finding out. I don’t know why my mother kept that from me.”

  “We need to keep this between ourselves for now because it’s more complicated than it seems. We can’t blow this open right now.” Vin stresses to them. “We are trusting you with this because Ember sees you as family.”

  “Some of us here are actual family.” Travis mutters.

  I get up and go to where he’s sitting on one of the patio chairs. I kneel in front of him and place my hands on his knees. “Travis, you’re right. You and Vin are brothers by blood.” I nod, “but you are also my brother through love and Adri is my sister through love. I love you guys so much and I just want you to meet my family.” I say to him gently.

  He leans forward and wraps me in a hug. I can feel the tension bleed out of him as I rub his back. I can only imagine how frustrating it is to have a brother who wants very little to do with you. Especially now, just after he loses a father and has an absentee mother. But with time I am confident Vin will get there, he has already come so far.

  I get up and move back to my seat beside Vin. This is draining, trying to explain situations without actually explaining shit. I can only tell them half truths in the best of scenarios. “Any more questions?” I ask them.

  “I have so many.” Adri replies.

  “Okay, I will answer what I can.” I nod.

  “So, where is your father now?”

  “Dead.”

  “How?” She asks.

  “Murdered. That’s all I can say.”

  “Okay… and Tommy? Was he murdered too?”

  “Yes.” I nod.

  “By the same person?” Travis asks.

  “Might as well have been. That’s all I can say on that.”

  “Are you safe Ember?” Adri asks me, her eyes wide on my face.

  “As safe as I’ll ever be.”

  “What’s their names?” Adri asks.

  “Carmelo is my older brother and Emmett is my twin.”

  “Whose blood were you covered in when you were found?” Travis cuts in.

  “I can’t answer that yet.” I mutter.

  “What do you do while you’re in New York?” Travis is asking all the right questions at the wrong fucking time.

  “Getting to know my family.”

  “It’s a good thing my father left that condo to Vin then.” He nods.

  “Yes, it is helpful, although even if he didn’t we could stay in any hotel.” He’s fishing, I can sense Travis does not accept his father’s death as a suicide. It’s the first time I’ve felt any sort of apprehension.

  “True.” He answers looking me in the eye.

  If he’s searching for the truth in my eyes he won’t find shit. I am an actress at the end of the day and if I want to disguise anything I can. Do I feel bad? No, Travis and Vin’s father was scum of the earth and I did them both a favour.

  “Hey, quick question,” Vin says while flipping the burgers. “Does any of you know what the fuck happened to our sauna sign?”

  Adri chokes on her beer and while she’s hacking out a lung, I pretend to try to see what he’s talking about.

  “Are you talking about the one that says ‘Use anals at your own risk’?” I quirk an eyebrow at him, “because that’s sound advice.”

  “My mother found that last weekend and nearly ripped my head off when I got back.” He chuckles, “but it is genius, whoever did it.”

  Adri is full out cackling and Travis is chuckling along.

  “I still have a few questions.” Travis says.

  “Alright, shoot.” I groan.

  The rest of the night is spent having a few beers and hanging out with a couple of fucking investigators.

  We are waiting in the parking lot of the same diner I met Carm and Emmett in before. All four of us are leaning against Vin’s Hummer and enjoying the afternoon heat. At least the summers here in Ontario are nice and hot. Well, it is here in Whitsborough anyways, because I wouldn’t be able to live somewhere that was cold all year round.

  I hear the faint rumble of a motorcycle and Vin looks to me with a grin. “Carm wouldn’t let him drive here on that thing, would he?” Vin asks with a chuckle.

  “I doubt Carm has much say in most of Emmett’s decisions.” I reply.

  Sure enough, I watch as the candy red bike roars into the parking lot and my helmeted twin brother pulls up beside us. He revs his engine a few times more and I roll my eyes. Fucking child. He flips up his visor and throws me a grin. I hear Adri’s gasp and we both turn our faces to look at her.

  “Wow, you really are identical.” She breathes.

  “I think I’m slightly better looking.” Emmett shrugs while pulling his helmet off his dark brown dishevelled hair.

  “And my dick is slightly bigger.” I retort and hit him on the shoulder.

  “Then you got a monster between your legs, Sister.” He says with a wink.

  “Oh, dear God, it’s double the Ember in looks and speech.” Adri says shock still lining her voice.

  “Where is Carm?” I ask the womb sharing demon.

  “Should be here soon, he drives like an old man.” Emmett says with a chuckle.

  “Emmett, this is Adrianna Hinton and Travis Greene. Guys this is Emmett, Ember’s twin brother.” Vin introduces them.

  I watch as Emmett sizes up Adri and then Travis as well. His eyes flick between the two when he finally holds out his hand to Travis to shake and then to Adri. “It’s nice to meet you.” He tells them politely.

  Travis hasn’t said much and I notice he is looking at Emmett like he’s trying to figure him out. It’s a little unnerving with Travis because I can never predict what his mind is piecing together.

  A few minutes later a blacked-out sedan pulls into the parking lot and pulls up beside Emmett. The driver’s side window slides down and Carm’s stern face appears. “Hey Little Dick, I told you to stick close. What was that shit you were pulling on the highway?”

  “See? I do have the bigger dick, Carm even says so.” I snicker.

  “You drive like a geriatric,” Emmett rolls his eyes, then turns to me. “Don’t make me whip it out.”

  “Okay, okay, let’s go eat before I lose my appetite.” Vin says on a huff.

  Emmett and I laugh as we all make our way inside. I can see Adri looking at us like we’re a sideshow and I und
erstand it, we are eerily similar. Our hair is the exact same shade as is our eyes, the beauty mark below the right one and the curve of our lips… identical. We are a carbon copy of each other. His skin does seem to be slightly lighter than my darker tan and he stands much taller at around the 6’2 mark. He is broad shouldered and at seventeen he is very close in size to Carm.

  We all sit in an oversized booth made to look like the old-style bed of a pickup truck with the large protruding wheel fenders on the back of each side of the booth. They even have the old-style whitewall tires in them. This diner is so cool and has fast become my favourite place to eat. I order the steak on a bun with a vanilla and chocolate swirl milkshake, then I grin when my twin orders the same. He sees me grinning at him and shrugs his shoulder.

  During dinner as everyone is talking I am keeping an eye on all the interactions. I thought at first that Emmett was checking out Adri but when he started to do the same with Travis, I chalked it up to him being curious at who’s around me and not him being interested. Which is fine by me because I don’t need this situation to get any more complicated.

  A plate of funnel cakes is put in front of me by our waiter, which is weird because I didn’t order dessert yet. I lift my head to look around and Emmett catches my eye with a wink.

  “Twin-tuition.” He says with a shrug.

  “Thanks.” I say grinning.

  “Emmett,” Travis begins, “how did you feel when you found out you had a twin sister?”

  “Like I was drowning, I couldn’t get any air into my lungs and I thought I might pass out.” He says nonchalantly, “but then I met her and it felt like that part inside of me that was always empty… was finally filled.”

  Everyone around the table is either smiling or in Adri’s case almost crying, but I’m fucking shocked. It makes me feel terrible because the first time I met him, I felt nothing. Now though, he’s right, there is a part of me that has always craved family and something constant, he’s fulfilled that and Carm, too.

  “Ditto.” I say around a mouth of funnel cake.

  After eating the guys are all gathered around Emmett’s bike talking about God knows what, while Adri and I are sitting in the Hummer nursing full bellies.

  “Girl, your brothers are so fucking fine.” She groans, watching them out of the window.

  “Eww, shut up.”

  “Seriously, Carm is hot in that older, hot bad guy kind of way, but Emmett? Holy shit he is probably the sexiest thing I have ever seen, like right up there with Travis.”

  “I just ate Adri, don’t make me regurgitate.”

  “Is he single?”

  “Are you crazy?” I swing my head to look at her, “that’s just looking for trouble, don’t pin Travis on my brother.”

  “Ugh, fine.” She crosses her arms across her chest.

  There’s a tapping on my window and I turn to see Carm. I lower it and he sticks his head inside with a grin that looks too much like my own.

  “Hey, could you swing by the hotel later? I got something for you.”

  “Yeah sure.”

  “Okay cool.” He nods then looks to Adri, “it was nice meeting you, Adrianna.”

  “You too.” She whispers, a blush stealing up and over her cheeks. I roll my eyes and Carm pulls his head out with a chuckle.

  “Em! I’ll see you later?” Emmett calls out to me.

  “Yeah, Em!” I holler back.

  He throws his head back and laughs like I said the funniest shit in the world and the fucker has me chuckling along.

  “Jesus H Christ, can you explain to my ovaries that he is off limits?”

  “I am going to cunt kick you.” I threaten her.

  “Bye Adrianna! It was real nice meeting you.” The fucking Womb Demon coos.

  Adri manages to wave and then covers her ripe tomato face with her hands. Both Emmett and Carm are chuckling, Vin has a shit eating grin on his face and Travis looks like he’s about to kill someone.

  Perfect.

  “Baby, flash me a titty before we have to go in there.” Vin’s growl hits my ear.

  I turn around and face him, then I pull my tit from my tank top and squeeze it. He growls and stalks towards me just as the elevator pings our arrival.

  “Uh, uh.” I tsked and put my tit back in my shirt.

  He rolls his eyes and comes up flush to my back, his hand traveling up from my waist to settle around my throat. “You’re in trouble later.” He rasps against my ear and gives it a bite.

  “I certainly hope so.”

  We come to Carm and Emmett’s room and Vin knocks loud. His impatience to get this done and fast, ringing loud and clear. I lean up on my toes and lick up his cheek.

  “Gross, is this how I will always greet you guys?” Emmett whines behind us.

  “Yep!” I reply popping my ‘p’.

  I push my way by him and take a look around the luxurious suite they are staying in. Large windows looking out at the very plain skyline of Whitsborough. I find Carm sitting on the couch smoking a joint.

  “Can you smoke in here?” I ask.

  “For the amount I paid, I dare them to tell me otherwise.” He cocks a brow then offers me the joint. I pass but Vin takes it and sits opposite Carm, I watch as he inhales then exhales on a slow breath. Fuck, he’s so fucking hot.

  “Earth to Sister.” Emmett’s hand waves in front of my face.

  “What did you fuckers want?” I growl, “I need to get home and do something.”

  Vin chuckles and Carm looks between the two of us. Then he leans back on the sofa his legs spreading wide.

  “What are you guys, fucking rabbits?”

  “No, I’m the motherfucking hunter and right now you are looking like a fat fucking rabbit.” I snarl. Vin chuckles again and passes the joint to Emmett.

  “Alright, shit. I have another job for you, if you want it.” He looks at me hesitantly. “Another Head heard the work you did and was interested.”

  “Who… and why?”

  “This guy works at a juvenile detention and he likes the young boys that come through.” Carm says through his teeth.

  “You don’t mean…” Vin starts but Carm cuts him off.

  “Yeah… he rapes them, frequently.” He throws a folder down on the table in front of me. “Doesn’t have to look like an accident either, actually according to the Head, make it as messy as you want.”

  “Henry Thompson.” I read his name from the first page, “age forty-eight, has a wife and two boys at home.”

  I look up at Carm with wide eyes, he nods and looks a little saddened.

  “He messes with his kids too?” Vin growls.

  “Yeah, his boy goes to school with the Head’s daughter, told her some shit and she told her dad.” Carm nods, “he’s willing to pay two-hundred-thousand.”

  “Okay,” I sigh. “I will let you know.”

  “If it’s next weekend, I won’t be able to see you on Sunday because we have the Head’s meeting, but Saturday is good.”

  “Ember can come and chill with me this weekend.” Emmett pipes up, “drive your car and we can hang out, maybe do Coney Island.”

  “I’ll let you know.” I smile at him. It does sound good to have some one on one with him.

  “I can help you with the guy too, you decide.” His grin is malicious.

  I know he fucking can, the kid whips knifes around like no joke. A fucking killer aim with the gun, too. Before I agree to anything I need to talk to Vin and I’m sure they both know this.

  “We also have another issue.” Carm states, sitting forward. “Ms. Talia has sent a message to me. See wants to meet up the weekend after the Head meeting.”

  “Nice,” I breathe, “I can take her out then.”

  “It’s not that easy, Sis.” Carm holds his hand up. “She’s government, she’ll have guards with her.”

  “What’s the plan then?”

  “I meet with her and see what she wan
ts, take note of her surroundings and then I’ll stick a tail on her.” He looks me in the eye, “we have to be prepared that she knows exactly who you are and where you live, because like I said the bitch is government.”

  “Can I take this?” I gesture to the file.

  “Yeah, let me know during the week, alright?” Carm asks puffing on the joint.

  “Yeah, cool.” I look at Vin and nod my chin, I want to get back and fuck his brains out.

  20

  It’s Thursday night and Ember is driving to New York tomorrow to spend the weekend with Emmett and take out some pedophile piece of shit. I hate that she’s going without me but I can’t suffocate her, and I have to trust that her mob family will protect her if she needs it.

  “What do your parents think you're doing?” I ask her, because there is no way in hell they would let her go to New York without me.

  “They think I am going to some cabin spa retreat with Adri.” She shrugs, “I bought the tickets and she’s just going to take Travis.”

  “And this hit?” I run my fingers through her damp hair, tugging slightly at the ends. “What do you have planned?”

  “I read his file, he likes to take overnight shifts at the Detention, so Emmett and I are grabbing him after his shift.”

  I know there’s more to it than that but I let it be. I won’t stifle her and I have all confidence in what she can do. After hearing Carm say this Talia bitch could know where my girl lives, I feel the need to watch her house for any suspicious activity. That’s what I’ll be doing this weekend, and maybe hanging out with Scott. I love when he has to search for a classic, that shit is fun to do.

  “I’ll be okay.” She purrs running her tongue along my hip.

  “I know.” I answer, because it’s the truth.

  This weekend I plan to spend some time with my mother as well, it’s been a while and I know she’s been noting my absences. She loves Ember but she’s also worried that I’m getting in too deep and she questions Ember’s sanity on a daily basis. I can’t reassure her about shit because Ember is slightly fucked up and she will continue to be that for a while. She was fucking kidnapped and forced into killing people all for her deranged biological father. My mother will just have to be content with knowing I found my one person in this world and I will never be alone again. No matter how crazy she is.