Chapter 28

River

“what about River what's his punishment” Jane said as I stood there waiting to receive any punishment they thought I deserved

“Jane! Room! Now!” Dante yelled as I glanced at Jane praying for her to just leave

“what your punishment for Gino going to be” Jane shouted back as I stood there confused why was she demanding my father be punished, I noticed Kevin shake his head which confused me as well

“Why would Gino get punished for what you all did?” Dante asked in a confused way much like all of us, and  was getting irritated at the fact she was irritating the people about to give me a punishment

“Jane just shut up and go to your room” I said trying to get her to leave

“because he hit River, you can see his hand print on his face, he deserves a punishment for that” Jane snapped back as I glared at her wanting to ring her little neck

I pulled her along as she tried fighting me, but her attempts were useless I was very angry with her and extremely tired of her acting like a brat. She was just standing in their pissing of Dante and my father and  knew my punishment was getting worse every time she talked. Once we got to her room I opened the door quickly and shoved her inside, slamming it shut behind me

“well that was rude” Jane said as I walked toward her ferrous

“you spoiled little bitchy stay out of other people business” I said as she backed all the way to the wall as I trapped her so she couldn't run away.

“I was only trying to help your dad should not have hit you” she shouted back, as I wanted to smack some sense into her

“he can do whatever he wants Jane, you think that was bad, you have no idea the beat I'm going to get if your father doesn't kill me first” I shouted at her and she flinched away from me in fear

I stood there feeling bad I don't like being hard with her and making her scared of me, but I wasn't going to let this slide. She had drugged me, Mark, and Tiffany, she didn't even stop to think about what the consequences of doing something like that could be. Let alone the fact only days ago she was drugged by a so-called boyfriend then has the nerve to turn around and do it to her best friend. I pushed myself away from the wall and quickly walked out of the room slamming the door hard. Quickly running down the stairs to get back to Dante as quickly as possible.

When I walked back into his office, Kevin was standing off to the side looking freaked out as dean was standing behind a guy that was on his knees and that stupid prostitute. I rolled my eye typical, I figured she had something to do with this and I just hoped Dante punished for whatever she did. She was crying as the dude looked smug as Dante glared at them.

“River do you have anything to say to these two” he said as they both looked at me and I shook my head

“nope, I don't know the guy and I don't care for the girl” I said as he nodded

“Well this is the dealer that gave Jane the drugs to slip you, and we'll Mercedes seems to be Jane partner in the mess” he said as I glared at the douchebag who didn't seem to be worried or bothered by anything “Dean take Mercedes and deal with as you wish, she is yours I won't interfere, but as for you,” Dante said as dean pulled Mercedes off the ground and she started to cry while Dante pointed to the man still on the ground “you should have know better, not to sell to my daughter or her friends, and for that you will be punished, Gino take him out and deal with him” he said as my father grinned and I nodded in agreement with Dante

Dante sat behind his desk rubbing his head frustrated as I waited for dean and my father to take the scum away. I went back to standing in front of him and waited to receive my punishment. Dante sighed and finally looked up, he looked tired I guess from staying up all night waiting for us to come back. But he just leaned forward and started moving some papers around on his desk and clearing it as much as possible.

“River I understand a lot of last night events where not your fault, clearly if Jane never drugged you I would only be dealing with the car incident.” he said looking up at me with a smirk “by the way, I would like an explanation for that incident” he said looking at me and I froze

“Sir, I take responsibility for that I gave Jane the idea and assisted in the destruction, but the reason for the event is something Jane had interested in me not to tell, I want to tell you for personal reasons  as I feel I am obligated, but am conflicted as I need Jane to trust me so I can protect her better and if I rat on her because of my loyalty to you I fear I will not  be able to do my job to the best of my abilities” I said hopping Dante wouldn't press the matter because I would be in trouble for not telling in the first place

“I understand River, but I still have to punish you for that event plus I think it would be good to give you both a little space from each other” he said as I hoped he didn't assign me to a new job, being Jane's guard was something that I was entrusted with because I was the best and being basically fired would be an insult and make my parents furious with me. “see as it's Friday normally you would just get Sundays off for personal time, I'm going to give you a small break to relax and rest, but I want you back Monday morning for school<  stay out of trouble and take this time think about the gift I'm giving you and make sure nothing like this never happens again, we clear?” he said as I nodded quickly

“Clear as can be sir, I vow to you it will not” I said feeling almost happy

“Good, take Mr. Edison home, he seems very nervous being here” Dante said and he chuckled as we both glanced over to a freaked out looking Kevin

“Yes sir” I said turning quickly, nodded for Kevin to follow me

Kevin matched my pace as we walked down the hall, I could only hear the sound of out echoing footsteps. Once at the door I yanked it wide open and waited for Kevin to leave and I quickly closed the door as the two guards looked at me with irritated glares. Averting my eyes away from them I quickly went down the steps as walking quickly toward  my car that was parked next to my father's. I reached into my pocket  and realized I didn't have my keys, they were still on my bed where I had left them last night. I glanced back toward the front doors where the guards still stood, and I decided it wasn't a good idea to try to go back and deal with them. I got down on the ground next to my car and started sliding my hand along the bottom of the car frame looking for my magnetized hidden key.

Once  felt the box I quickly yanked on the box and stood up sliding the box open see my key I quickly opened the door, unlocked the other door for Kevin as he got in the passenger seat. Once we pulled out and started heading toward the gates that were still mobbed  by a large group of trash rag reporters. Hopefully after we leave most will dissipate and leave the grounds, but a few my stick around for a few days. Maybe that was why Dante didn't want me dead just yet. I shrugged of the shivering feeling that thought had given me as the gate slowly opened and a couple guards blocked reporter from getting inside the gate. It was stop and go, as the car barely moved from the crowed blocking our way. After an irritating time getting through the bright flashes, the car was finally free and I was able to drive down the road without any interruptions.

“Well that was pretty fun” Kevin said as he grinned and I shook my head in disbelief

“shut up Kevin” I said trying not to smile as his amusement

“whatever man, I had a blast last night and so did you, haven't actually seen you act like a normal person in a long time” Kevin said and he drummed his hands along with the song on the radio

“yeah super fun, do you even realized that Dante could have killed both of us just know” I said as Kevin shook his head

“I don't think he would have killed us, he seems to like you and when you left to take Jane to her room and was yelling at that girl and guy he seemed more pissed that they could have endangered you, your dad was pissed at that man for giving Jane drugs it was kind of strange"

“well my parents see Jane as the daughter they never had and blame me for the reason for never have a daughter” I said as I focused on the road

“yeah I know it sucks in all about your mothers in all, but I still don't get how that's your fault, it had nothing to do with you, it's really messed up that they blame that on you” Kevin said, as I remember a long time ago

When I was around two, my mother became pregnant with her second child, the baby was going to be a girl. My mother seemed so happy in pictures and with big puffy pink dresses next to her, my father and mother at doctor appointments holding up pictures of the baby in her womb. But close to my mother's do date, there were complications and they doctors tried to save the baby, but their efforts were in vain. My baby sister was stillborn when they finally got her out and was unable to revive. I would have loved to have a little sibling, after the stillborn birth my mother was never able to have children again.

“just leave it alone Kevin” I snapped at him as the car fell into silence

My parents didn't verbally blame me, nor did they ever really show that they blamed me for the death of the baby. But I knew they did, I when I was eight  that I had discovered about my almost sister. I had found the pictures of my mother pregnant and thought they were from when I was born, but when I asked my mother about all the pink clothing and dolls in the crib she had broken down and cried and told me about losing my sister. My father and mother arguing that night, and I heard my mother scream that it was my father's and my  fault she had lost the baby her beautiful baby girl. I had been home from school for holiday break, but I couldn't take knowing the truth so I ran away and went to Kevin house and stayed there for a couple of weeks until my father came and got me dragging me back to school. Never did they ask why I had ran off and didn't come home. That was when I knew they both blamed me for the loss of their second child, I have always carried that guilt with me and I just blame myself for it as well.

The drive to Kevin house was silent as the only sound was the low radio playing, but it was still uncomfortable, which made the drive feel like hours and daunting for such a short drive. When I pulled into Kevin driveway we shut the car off and rested my head on the steering wheel, it was almost mid afternoon.

“you want a beer, I'm sure I still got some in the house somewhere” Kevin said, I could tell he was uncomfortable “yeah I could use one about now” I said sitting up as we both opened the doors getting out

We walked inside and Kevin house looked like it had been broken into and they had ransacked the places. There was trash, broken bottles, and the coach was overturned and I just stood there shock looking around. Kevin didn't seem surprised by the look of his normally tightly looking house, he was kind of clean freak, you would think he was by his normally un-groomed self. But Kevin was very smart and worked as a supervise at a large bank downtown. He had money thought he dressed like a homeless person most of the time when he wasn't in his suites at work.

“what the hell happened to your house?” I said stepping over a couple of empty beer bottles

“you happened” he said flopping on the coach “you guys showed up wasted, and arms full of beer and we kind of partied hard” he said rubbing his face

“I'm sorry for wrecking your house I'll clean this up” I said stepping toward the kitchen

“leave it the maid comes on Saturdays and ill giver her and extra big tip because of the mess, besides it was pretty fun while it lasted” Kevin shrugged and started flipping through the channels on the television

“still I'm sorry we trashed your house man” I said fix a cushion on the armchair and sitting down

“don't worry, look they're talking about you and Jane on the TV” Kevin said as my head snapped to the television that had images of me and Jane for the benefit dinner we had attended a couple of nights before as I listened to the women speak

“sources tell us that around 5 pm Thursday Jane McDaniel, daughter of the notorious crime leader Dante McDaniel and River Auditor, Son of notorious criminal Auditor. The two organized crime children started their eventful night with a vandalism and arson of a car belonging to David canton, who attend the same school as the criminal pair and whose father is CEO of the national banking-house...”

“shit, man you lit my bosses son's car on fire” Kevin sat up as I looked a little shocked at the new information that I was unaware of

“I didn't know he was your boss” I said as he leaned closer to me with his hand raised high

“congrats man I hate that bitch, next time invite me” I responded by slapping his hand and went back to watching the TV that was showing pictures of the burning car and our mug shots from the previous day

“...realized, Their night was far from over as they criminal pair decided they wanted to go clubbing at a local club that is rumored to be a hot spot for criminal dealings, and is also owned by Dean McDaniel, older brother of Dante McDaniel. Accompanied by friend Tiffany Tition, daughter of criminal leader Max Tition, and Mark Landers. After hours of reportedly underage drinking and consumption of illegal drugs, the club closed, as the group continued to cause havoc on the sleeping city. Reports of vandalism, armed robbery, stealing harassment, are just a few incidents that rocked the city last night. No charges have been officially made against any involved,” the female reporter said as a group of people sat around speaking in responses about what she had said.

Most were in agreement that we all should be in jail, and where bashing on our parents for condoning our actions. They continued to show video clips from civilians camera from last night. There was one that made me shake my head me and Jane walking into a convenience store, as Jane hopped on the counter and started what looked like a bad version of a robot imitation as I filled my arms with beer cases and we both just walked out with Jane knocking or really kicking a stand over.

“why didn't anybody stop us” I said watch more clips of Tiffany and Jane breaking windows of stores in and running away

“because who is going to stand up to the children of powerful criminals, that's right nobody” Kevin said laughing

“still where were the cops, why didn't they arrest us” I said, as Kevin shrugged

“why didn't Dante come and stop you?” he said as I shrugged that was a really good questions

“the copes only get involved when someone who isn't apart of the family is in need of help from us, it would have been better to have Dante stop us or let us burn out and come crawling back which is what we did” Kevin nodded as he yawned and he flipped through more channels

After a few moments of watching flashes of shows, that were not interesting, I got up and carefully headed to the kitchen that was destroyed much like the living room. I felt guilty for the destruction it caused his house last night so I picked up a few half drunken bottles off the floor and sat them in the only clean area which was the sink. I opened the fridge that looked almost dissolved as the  rest of the house their was a few empty beer boxes and a few that only had a one or two bottles in them I grabbed two and opened them tossing the leads in the trash and returned to the living room. Walking over to the tired looking Kevin and handing him one of the open bottles he nodded and took a long drink. I sat down and looked around taking a sip as I started feeling extremely tired. As I looked around the house that was destroyed and it seemed odd and emptier than usual as a thought occurred to me.

“hey where was Bre last night?” Brenna or Bre was Kevin long-term girlfriend that basically lived her, she never officially said she lived here or really fully moved in, but was here 90% of the time.

“I don't know” he said shrugging “probably off with her new boyfriend or something” he said as I felt even more guilty for not realizing it earlier or being too busy to even check in my oldest friend

“shit man, I'm sorry, when did this happen?” I said

“last week, she came home one night when I was making dinner didn't say a word just came in ran upstairs and started grabbing everything that was her, when I tried talking to her she flipped out” he said taking another drink, trying not to break down “she just started screaming about how this wasn't the life she wanted, she didn't want to spend her life with me, how I wasn't the person she wanted to live this life with” he said low as he took a drink “I didn't understand what I did wrong I begged her not to leave, she wouldn't listen, then she told me she meet someone else and she finally found what true love was and it was killing her to not be with him so she wouldn't hurt my feeling and just couldn't take it anymore pretending with me” he said staring down as I ran my hand through my hair

“man, why didn't you tell me?” he shrugged

“I didn't feel up to talking about it, I just wanted to be alone and last night when you guy showed up I finally woke me up and got me out of the house and laughing, having some fun forgetting mostly, though it did hurt a little seeing the way...” he said, but stopped abruptly

‘the way what?” I asked not sure what could have caused him more pain

“it's nothing really” he said taking a drink

“dude come on just tell me” I said as he shook his head

“it hurt seeing the way you and Jane acted with each other, it reminded me of all the times I was with Bre, I was more envious and jealous and just wanted Bre back okay” he shouted as he sat up more “look I get it your guys are not normally like that, but I didn't know it at the time, but it still hurt me okay” Kevin said rubbing his face

“I'm sorry, I didn't know” I said feeling guilty and curious about what he meant, but I didn't want to push him he was hurting and I didn't want to make him suffer more

“its fine man, I'm just need some time, and to think I was going to propose to her, kind of glad I was too much of a wuss and chickened out each time I tried” he said laughing ,but it was forced and not genuine, as he leaned back and started flipping through the channels again

In truth I had always envied what Kevin had, what my parents had, what Dante and Lana had, I wanted that so bad. Someone who actually cared and loved me and would never leave me, it's kind of funny in a way. Most people drove me insane and I could stand be around girls more than a few hours it took to have some fun, but I never felt anything. Maybe I never tired. But I could just new if it was meant to be I would feel something more anything more the arousal. I sat there thinking in my mind until I must have drifted off to sleep for a few hours. See flashing lights, blurred images, Jane, places I had never seen, face I don't know, more of Jane smiling face. It all just kept spinning around in circles as I kept searching for Jane's face in the blur images.

A screeching noise awoke me from my sleep as I jumped at the sound, the house was dark except for the television Kevin sat up at the repeating sound that echoed through the house. I stood up after realizing it was my phone, and started searching for it in the mess of a house as Kevin just laid there stretching. The noise stopped when I was close to finding where my phone was, I stopped waiting hoping it would ring again. It did seconds later as I moved a pile of papers on the ground and found my phone, and frozen when I saw Dante was calling.

“yes sir” I said feeling nervous and concerned why he would be calling

“River we have a bit of a problem, Jane has lost her damn mind and is running around with a gun and has shot two of my guards and threatened Tition with it as well. She is now held up in Tiffany room, I know you're on  leave, but I need you to go get her and bring her back quickly please and no stops this time” Dante said in an irritating tone as I signed shaking my head

“yes sir ill leaving now, and will have her home very soon”  I said

“good that is all” he said and the phone went dead as I sat back down in the armchair shaking my head

“what's going on?” Kevin said as I took a deep breath

“Jane gone crazy and has locked herself in Tiffany room with a gun” I said standing up digging in pocket as Kevin started laughing

“I like that one, I think she is good for you, a handful, but in a good way at least you will never get bored with her around” he said stretching as I glared at him

“yeah she seems to be good at driving me insane, luckily I only have to put up with it for a few more months” I said shoving my phone in pocket

“what do you mean?” Kevin asked getting up from the coach

“in a couple of months she turns 18,  her dad will have her married off and she won't be my problem anymore” I said heading toward the door as Kevin followed staying silent “I'll call you later man” I said opening the door and walking out

Once I was in my car driving I could shake the feeling of almost excitement that was going to see Jane even though I was supposed to be on a break so to speak. The break was a punishment really because I wasn't doing my job and it bothered me that I was put on a break. I was happy Dante called me to get her he could have sent other, but he chose me which made me feel better to know he wasn't that angry with me for what had happened last night. The drive was longer than I expected to get to Tiffany house, but once I was at the front gate, I could tell the guards were on high alert as they all had their gun out. I was let in immediately.

I quickly walked up to the front door where the guards let me in and told me to go upstairs. The house was large a little smaller than the big house, but still big. The mail room was large and had a chandler handing that illuminated the room I could see a few guards running around and basically ignored my presents. I walked over to the stare that went along the side wall, similar to Jane front entrances except her along a curved wall while Tiffany were straight and tuned at the corner that lead to a second stairway. Once on the second floor I looked around and could see Tition and Mark standing with two guards in front of a doorway, which I suspect is Tiffany room. As I approached Mark who was facing me, saw my approach and started walking toward me and meet me halfway.

“Jane looked herself in the room with Tiffany, she refuses to come out, Tiffany says she find just upset” Mark said as we walked toward the door

“what got her so upset?” I said as he shrugged “Tiffany wont tell me she said it none of my business”

“River, good you're here, maybe you can reason with her” Tition said as he knocked lightly on the door

“Go away!” I heard Jane screamed as I rolled my eyes

“Jane open the door” I shouted back as I banged my fist against it a couple of times,

It was silent for a moment until the door swung open and Jane practically tackled me except I didn't fall just had to take a step back to steady myself. Jane had wrapped her arms around me tightly and was crying, as I stood there shock and pretty confused by the entire thing. I glanced at Mark who was looking at Tiffany, who seemed a little confused, Tiffany had a gun in her hand. Which made me confused cause clearly Tiffany wasn't a Jane hostage or really in any danger. I stock my hand out for her to give me the gun, Jane already shot a couple of people and I don't need and more people being shot. Tiffany handed the gun over to me as I shoved it into the back on my pants and pulled my shirt over it.

“well glad this matter is over, I'll leave this to you to sort out” Tition said as he walked away followed by the two guards.

“sure, know someone want to explain to me what is going on” Mark said as Tiffany glared at him shaking her head as he just looked down, which was odd

“I have to get Jane home, Dante wants her back as soon as possible” I said as Jane still sobbed lightly while clenching onto me.

“yeah I'll see you later” mark said looking down as Tiffany gave me a small smile

I bent down a little and wrapped my arms around her and lifted her off the ground as she automatically wrapped her legs around me. I nodded to mark and started walking down the stairs as some of the guards sent quickly glares in our directions. I just carried Jane to the car quickly  as possible without causing any more problems. When I got to the car Jane had stopped cry as I unwrapped her as she stood there not saying a word and staring at the ground as I opened the door. Jane got in without a word, as I went to the driver's side and started driving home. The car for most of the trip was awkwardly silent I don't think I've ever heard her not speak for the long before. I wanted to say something.

“will you just say something already, scream, yell at me, something I can't take the listens anymore” Jane screamed as she cried again as I signed

“what do you want me to say, Jane” I said

“I don't know, anything yell just don't be silent that worries than nothing” she said as I sighed

“I don't really have anything to say to you Jane” I said as she started crying harder

“look I'm sorry, I was just trying to have a little fun, we had so much fun destroying Davids car then you flipped and were angry and not fun anymore” she said crying

“fun you want to have some fun, explain to me how drugging me and your friends and her bodyguard was fun, explain to me how waking up in a park not remembering anything about how we got there or why we got there was remotely fun by any standards Jane.” I yelled as she just cried and didn't respond “exactly what I thought you can't give me an explanation, I bet I can go ask David what he was thinking about when he drugged you the night before, beat he would say I was just trying to have a bit of fun” I said attempting to imitate her voice “in my book you are just as bad as him and don't deserve to be forgiveness from anyone” I snapped

“don't you dare equate me with David what he did was deliberate to use me, I was only trying to make everyone happy not to rape you” Jane yelled back

“I'm here to protect you Jane, not be your buddy and party with you, did you ever think about what would have happened while we were drugged up we wandered out of your father territory by accident and you or Tiffany where abducted by another gang who didn't like your fathers. We would have been clueless to where you were, if you were hurt, and how to get you back” I yelled at her if as she cried and I just shook my head

the car became quiet as Jane still cried as I turned onto her street. I could see the large crowd of press vulchers had dissipated. I drove up to the gate as the guard looked irritated when they saw who was in the car, but never said anything bad to use. I drove up the driveway and parked in the only open spot, but before I even turned off the car Jane had practically jumped out of the car toward the front door. Sitting in the car for a few seconds to clear my head, she truly was going to drive me insane, I really couldn't take much more of her flipping personality. One second she holding on to me like she might care, then the next she storming off because she hates me. Getting out of the car I could already hear Jane screaming from inside the house, as I slowly walked up the steps feeling exhausted and just wanting to go home to hear the yelling from my father. Once inside the house most of the screaming had stopped all I could hear was Jane heave footsteps stomping up the stairs as Dante and my father stood in the hall looking angry.

“River there you are, thank you for getting her, you look tired why don't you just stay the night here and you can go home in the morning if you want” Dante said as I nodded slightly grateful I didn't have to drive all the way home and deal with my parents

They turned and head down the long hallway toward Dante office as I slowly walked up the staircase. I really just needed to have a peaceful night sleep.