Page 214 of Lau Ahi
He was so eager for approval that he didn’t even realize he was being used.
Another sin for Jacqueline’s bullshit ideologies.
“But to think that you were the one who worked with Ismaham to set Asha up to be kidnapped, that is unforgivable.”
“You can’t possibly think that.” My mother attempted to sound offended but the way she wouldn’t look any of us in the eyes spoke louder than her lies.
“She was the main one feeding those girls to that piece of shit. See we thought that the ring she was a part of was just a stop in Georgia but you were helping her. Helping her find girls in London when I wouldn’t give you the money for what you wanted. You’d allow yourself to be used as a cover for human trafficking.” My father looked on the verge of tears as he recounted her crimes.
“I did no such thing!” Jacqueline jumped up from the table but Xerxes pushed her back down.
“Please do not make me have to harm you. Your fate is already sealed; do not make it worse. I did not bring my mozer wiz me but I am sure zat Faith will be happy to come and handle you for her daughter-in-law.” Xerxes gave me a wink as he threatened Jacqueline and it made me miss Ori instantly.
“You offered Asha up to her. For that man to abuse her the way he did. That is why you made her go over Sasha. You never expected her to come back. We might not get along all the time but that’s disgusting. To know that you had knowledge of Ismaham’s crimes and did nothing? And then you helped her do harm?” My father lunged at my mother and it was King Afshin that kept him from reaching her.
“It is alright, esir. We have a plan. Please allow us to punish her zhe way we have discussed.” Afshin was doing his best to calm my father, speaking to him in the hopes that he would hold it together. They were both dressed in suits but the king looked as though he could murder a man without getting a wrinkle in his.
“Punish me? What do you mean?” My mother was looking around at everyone as though they were going to tell her something she wanted to hear and I found it laughable. Likeshe hadn’t had the indictment of her crimes laid down in front of her. The idea of being punished for them seemed beyond her comprehension to where she hadn’t even apologized for any of it.
“You were so eager to keep in contact with her now you can see her in person.”
“What?”
“The king here has Ismaham in his kingdom. She has been a laborer all these years you haven’t been able to reach her. The work has been hard since she lost use of her hand.” Sasha was glaring at our mother as she delivered that news and missed the way King Afshin seemed to preen at her deigning to mention his name.
“What did you do to her hand?” I was unsure if she was worried more for her friend or herself
“Why don’t you ask her when you see her?” I lobbed the question so sweetly she turned back to me for the first time since everyone arrived.
“I gave you life!”
“Giver of life and the one who tried to take it away. I hope you enjoy your reunion with your friend. I hope you suffer just as much as she has. I pray you have a long and miserable life,Mum.”
I blew her a kiss and as expected she tried to lunge across the table to get me but Jemma Marie, who’d been our server, popped up and cracked her over the head with a tray. Jacqueline’s body slumped as her face hit the marinara for the fried ravioli.
Damn, I was gonna take those with me.
I sighed and slipped out of my side of the booth, gripping my mother by her hair and lifting her head so that she didn’t escape her fate by drowning in marinara sauce. I shoved her so that she slumped to one side of her seat.
“Where is my muscle? I’m ready to get her on a boat to her fate.” Jemma Marie was looking around and stopped when her muscle came striding toward her.
“You call and I’ll always come,mi amor.”
Vega looked ready to get down on one knee but she only rolled her eyes at him.
“Must you do this? We are literally absconding with a woman to load her on a boat. Are you truly attempting to flirt with me right now? And in front of a widow?”
Alec looked at me sheepishly but I waved him off. “By all means, someone has to find joy in this life.”
Jemma Marie’s outrage was directed toward me since I wouldn’t allow her to use me as her shield. “Some friend you are.”
“I’m the best kind. I appreciate your handling this for me. All of you.”
Ori’s friends had come to my aid without hesitation once they were presented with the crimes my mother had committed.
Matty walked over unfazed by the woman who was passed out on one of her tables.
“Are y’all staying to order?”
