Found but Lost

Chapter 9: Moments

Antonio's POV

Everyone stands around the room, waiting for my next move. No one dares to try to stand against me. I can feel my sister throwing daggers at me with her eyes and Mira beside her with a sick and worried look. The girl in front of my sure is brave, but was it worth her life? Probably not, but I didn't care either.

However, she did earn my respect for doing someone no else has done- stand up to me. I lowered my gun and placed it on the desk in between us.

Jasmine finally backs off and crosses her arms. She seemingly looked like she lowered her anger, but would throw a punch if she had the chance. "Parker told us that Claire and Mira were also targets. Why did you keep that from us?" she asks, glaring at me.

"Wasn't important." I say 

"Like it isn't!"

"Damn it Antonio, be honest!" Lynn yells as she positions herself next to Jasmine.

"I'd also like to know... sir!" The blondie says after catching her breath. "Since it is about me.."

I sigh, the last thing I needed was for more secret information to spill out and then deal with my sister's anger issues. Now I gotta deal with her best friend's anger too, and Mira's- I imagine. I hated making her angry, but she had to. 

She had to be as far away from me as possible, if we ever became too close, I wouldn't be able to control myself. But that seems merely impossible as I have to protect her. But if anything happened to her, I'd also lose control. God must love me.

"Alright fine. Yes, the vipers are after you, Mira and Claire. That's why I had all of you here. If it were just Lynn I would've sent the rest of you away already." I say, seeing Mira roll her eyes as she stands behind Lynn. "Parker's new information finally revealed that it's because of her test. I don't really know exactly why you two are involved, but I'll find out." I lied. Well I half lied, I knew why they were after Mira, but not why they were after Claire. What's so special about her? "And I didn't share anything to avoid... arguments."

"You could at least apologize." Jasmine says.

"Don't push your luck." I snap back. She clenches her fist before Lynn holds onto her shoulder and looks at me.

"Antonio. You have to be honest with us, with everything from now on. No more lies. Got it?" Lynn says, not really asking.

"Fine." I say as I sick back up. I lift two fingers up and signal my men to leave the room and leaving only the girls inside the office with me. Ethan closes the door behind him as Luna and Claire take a seat on the couch in the middle of the room.

I stand up from my leather chair and walk around the wooden desk, I met face to face with Jasmine, "Jasmine." I start.

"Antonio." she responds.

"Thank you."

"Huh? Wait- what? What do-"

"To you and your aunt. You both took in Mira and my sister into your home and took care of them." I say, I turn to face the rest of them and look at everyone's eyes,  "It's not fair that I brought you all here- disrupted your life, stopped you from going to college, and separated you from your families. So, you'll all be able to visit your families this weekend at their safe house."

"Wait really?" Jasmine says, completely shifting her mood from angry to grateful. 

It was the least I could do. It had been almost 3 months since everything happened. I know it wasn't really my fault for everything that's happened, but I'm responsible now. I'll kill Janis soon enough and let them go back to their normal lives.