Dear Jolene

CHAPTER 19

One of the things Jo hated in this mansion was the family dinners, where everyone would be present. Though she acted as if Xander did not exist, it was only getting harder because he would glare at her at any chance they would lock eyes.

As though Xander wasn't enough, tonight she had to put with Aunt Joyce and Jason too. Jason did not speak to directly but his smirks across the table were enough to make Jo's blood boil. It was a random weekday night, Jo was chilling in her room watching Brooklyn nine-nine, when she was told that Aunt Joyce and her entire family was here. 

The adults were busy in their conversation. Mason, Theon and Jason were having an intense discussion, along the lines of golf and tax; Carter was forcing Xander to finish all the vegetables on his plates, also the ones he picked out. 

"Look at Jo's plate, even Axel's, they are younger than you yet they haven't picked at their food, Xander", Carter said. Xander sent another glare at Jo's direction, who acted innocent of the fact that she sat beside Logan, who ate anything offered to him. Instinctively she looked at Axel's plate which too was squeaky clean, she remembered him not taking taking much on his first serving, and denied more servings too.

"You okay, Axel", Jo asked. "I'm fine, why, what happened?" 

"You haven't really eaten much today", Jo pointed out. Axel waved it off and said, "Pretty full today, had a late lunch you know". Jo nodded but she couldn't remember ever seeing Axel eat properly, he was always full. 

Jo sighed and looked up to see Emily trying to have a conversation with Aunt Joyce.

 'She's trying too hard'. Jo thought.

Her conversation with Emily the other night was still haunting her, how she tried to change the topic, acted as if she was too sleepy to talk.

*Ahem, Uncle Rowan cleared his throat, and said, "So the reason I am here is to invite everyone to the Summer Ball hosted by the 5 families, one of which is us, the Kingstons. And Emily and Jo, your presence will be much appreciated, we don't really see new faces at these parties."

Jo gave him a small smile before looking at Andrew, who looked deep in thought. "So now, Andrew will take it from here".

Andrew looked like a deer caught in headlights, "Here ?" "Yes, be a man Drew", Uncle Rowan cheered him but Andrew didn't really look convinced. "I would like it to be private, Rowan".

Rowan Kingston smirked and said, "Where's the fun in that, go on, tell Emily your dirty little secret."

Emily stood up straight and looked at Andrew with questioning eyes, "Andrew",

"So, uh, the Knight business, as we all know is about the hotel chains, hospitals, I told you about the company, the airline, there's one more thing we do, and it's not exactly legal", Andrew held onto Emily's hand who looked confused.

"Our family has connections to the underworld", Andrew finally let out. The entire room was silent. Even the servers stopped walking in, giving the family some time to talk. 

"As in, gangs and stuff, " Emily asked softly. "As in Mafia and stuff", Aunt Joyce drawled as she took a sip of her wine. 

Emily broke into a smile, and said, "I maybe gullible but I'm not that naive to believe that, mafia don't exist, it's just a made up thing". 

"Emily, I'm not joking, we really are, a part of the American Mafia", Andrew stated as he tried to grab her hands. "He isn't lying, Em, He's the capo of entire New York state, with Theon next-in-line", Uncle Rowan stated. Everyone shifted their eyes to Jo, who tried to act as if she wasn't fazed by the fact. "Our company is our main income, but there are few things we do, we have been doing since past generations, and it's only spoken about among family."