In "Family Ties," the Moretti family is everything, or so they thought. But beneath the surface of loyalty lies a web of betrayal and lies. In the heart of this tangled mess, the Morettis struggle to find their footing, torn apart by secrets and dec...
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"Where is everyone at?" Adriano asked, glancing around the empty living room.
I checked my watch and replied, "Dad said to meet at the house. That's all I know."
"Yeah, right," he muttered under his breath.
I felt a surge of irritation and snapped, "If you got something to say to me, just say it. Don't mutter under your breath like a little bitch."
"Who you callin' a bitch?" he said, shoving me hard.
"Your scary ass," I retorted, pushing him back just as forcefully.
We both turned toward the front door as it swung open. Dad, Athena, Lelani, and Shanice stumbled in, covered in dirt and blood. My eyes instantly locked onto Shanice. Her eyes were bloodshot red, like she'd been crying for hours.
"What the hell happened?" Adriano asked, his voice tinged with concern.
"Adriano, where's Annalise? I don't want her to see me like this," Athena asked, ignoring his question.
"She's upstairs sleeping," he replied.
"You can shower in my room, I'll be up to check on you in a second" Elias said to her. Athena nodded and headed upstairs.
"So, is anybody going to say what happened?" I asked, my frustration mounting.
"Caesar, take Shanice upstairs and get her cleaned up," Elias instructed, his tone firm.
"Dad, I need to know what—" I began.
"You need to take your wife upstairs and get her cleaned up. She's in shock right now. We'll talk about this in the morning," he said, cutting me off.
"I can do it alone," Shanice said, brushing past me and walking upstairs on her own.
"I need a drink," Lelani muttered, making her way to the kitchen.
"I'll join you," Adriano said, following her.
My father and I were the only ones left in the room. He looked like he had a lot on his mind, but I knew he wouldn't share it with me. That was just the kind of relationship we had—everything was on a need-to-know basis with him.
"Did you get what I asked for?" he asked me.
"I put the file on your desk. The cop's name is Ezra Williams. He's only been on the force for a year. Why is a rookie cop giving you such a hard time anyway?" I asked.
"I don't know, but I'm gonna call a family meeting tomorrow. Go check on your wife," he said.
"What happened tonight?" I asked again.
"Your wife needs you upstairs. Go to her," he said, leaving the room.
I finally made my way upstairs and noticed the bathroom door was slightly ajar. The light inside cast a dim glow into the hallway. I pushed the door open and saw Shanice sitting in the tub, staring blankly at the wall, the water around her growing cold.
