Page 47 of Wicked Truths

Unless he bugged my apartment with Mandy.

Oh God. Is she in on this, too?

He lets out a loud cackle. It’s jarring and foreign in the quiet night air.

“Wow, you really are a stupid cunt. I’m not really a graduate student at the university. I just rented an apartment close by to get closer to you. I never attended classes or events unless you invited me, and my name isn’t Jax Brown. It’s Jax Rossi.”

I let out a soft gasp as my mind flips through dozens of memories all related to the Rossi family.

The other mafia family in the city.

The family that killed my mother.

The family that made Dad, Joey, and me flee from New York.

“I don’t know what you think you know, but my family has suffered enough at the hands of your family.”

I step closer to Jax, not caring that the gun is pressing deeper into the flesh of my chest before continuing.

“My mother is dead because of your family. Mybrother and I had to grow up without a mom. My father is a widower. And one day, I hope you experience the pain that we have. I hope you and your family get fucked by karma.”

I quickly blink the tears away so he can’t see the hurt I still feel every single day. Mom should be alive right now. She should have been there to teach me things that only a mom can.

But she was taken from me. From us. By this heartless family.

He leans his head back, pulling the gun away from me as he lets out a loud laugh like a banshee.

“Is that what your father told you? Is that how he justified moving from New York City to Savannah, Georgia? Francesca, your mother isn’t dead.”

My brain freezes for a moment as I sway on my feet, suddenly feeling light-headed.

I shake my head. “I saw the remnants of the accident. I read the newspaper articles. Hell, I attended her funeral. How dare you try to trick me?”

“I’m not trying to trick you or open new wounds. Your mother is alive and has been the whole time. She’s been shacked up with my father in New York since the day of the accident.”

My stomach tightens and the acidic taste of bile coats my tongue. It feels like I’ve been sucker punched in my gut.

What?

How?

Why?

I lean against the building, needing the coolness ofthe stone to keep me from overheating. “This has to be a mistake. My mother died. We buried her.”

He scoffs. “No, you buried an empty casket. Just like she and my father planned right after your birth.”

Has Jax been a part of this from the beginning? Was the plan always for him to come to me and seduce me?

Then what? Kill me? Kidnap me?

And why now? Why not five years ago? Or ten?

“No.” I murmur as the edges of my vision start to fade to black.

There’s no way Mom would plan something so heinous. Something so vile. Would she?

She wasn’t the most hands on and loving, but she would cook us our favorite meal the night before our birthdays. She would drink cappuccinos with Dad every single morning.