The Seventh Family

Chapter Five

(Audrey's POV)

Silence reigned after my uncle left. I had slid down to the ground, taking deep breaths to compose myself. The blood on my face that began to drip into my lap snapped me out of my deep thoughts. I got up from the ground, walking over to the bedroom's adjoining bathroom.

Thankfully, they hadn't turned the running water off. I quickly washed my face and found a small rag to hold against it in an attempt to stop the bleeding.

I walked back out into the bedroom to find Noelle curled up in a ball on the floor. I took a deep breath, knowing this conversation was going to be anything but pleasant.

I walked over to her, laying a hand on her shoulder. She jumped in response, whipping around to look at me. I pressed my lips together when I saw her tear-stained face. She had been crying, again.

"Hey," I said, taking a seat on the bed next to her.

Noelle didn't answer. I took a deep breath, watching her avoid my gaze.

"How are you holding up?" I asked. Suddenly, Noelle whipped around to face me. I saw the anger in her eyes. I knew it was inevitable.

"How am I holding up?" She asked, getting to her feet. "Seriously?"

This time I was silent, knowing she was about to go on a rant. It was better to not interrupt her. She started pacing, arms crossing over her chest.

"What was that Audrey? What just happened?" She asked.

"That was my—"

"Psychotic uncle, yeah, I got that part, thanks." She cut me off. "But what was he talking about? Why is he psychotic? What does any of this have to do with David, or you for that matter?" She turned around, finally looking me in the eyes. I took a deep breath.

"Noelle—"

"What was he talking about with your father? And why do you have to wear a tracking device all the time? Why did he do that to you?" She asked, gesturing to my cut up face.

"Noelle, just calm down a second—"

"No, Audrey! Don't tell me to calm down! We just got kidnapped by your psychopath of an uncle and David, apparently, and I don't understand why you aren't freaking out with me! Who is your father?"

She maintained eye contact, and despite facing much more intimidating people than Noelle in my short 17 years of life, I found it difficult not to look away. I took another deep breath before answering her.

"Okay, okay, fine. Just sit down a minute, I'll explain." I told her. Noelle hesitated, then huffed and took a seat beside me.

"Fine then. Explain." She said, her arms still crossed tightly over her chest.

A million thoughts ran through my mind, the most overpowering one being that I was about to spill some of my family's secrets to my best friend—the local police sergeant's daughter. This might not end well.

•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•

It didn't end well.

I was currently sitting on the bed while Noelle had barricaded herself in the bathroom, away from me.

I had explained to her the bare minimum of my family's history. How my father was a crime boss, and that the mafia had run in our family for decades. Surprisingly, this wasn't what shocked Noelle the most. What she was most upset about was the fact that I didn't tell her what my family really did for all the years we had been best friends.