Mafia Betrayal

Chapter Twenty One

Charlotte

"Momma! Aunt Jenni came to visit us! Can you believe it?" Layla cooed, tightly holding onto Jenni's hand as I came into the foyer. The police were gone, content with the fact that Layla and I were very much alive, and Luca was on his way to do God know's what to Grant.

My stomach was in knots as I thought about what that might entail. It was complicated. Grant deserved whatever was coming to him, and there was no doubt in my mind about that. He was a manipulative bastard who capitalized on my vulnerability and continued to fire shot after shot at my relationship with Luca. It would never be enough for him, and he had to be stopped. But did I want him dead?

But at one point, I loved Grant. We dated for two years for Christ's sake, it wasn't like this was just some guy off the street. And even thought it was his own doing, he'd been there for Layla and I the entire time we were on the run. He took good care of us. Whenever we needed anything, he wouldn't hesitate to help us. It was only necessary because he never told Luca, but still.

I was having a hard time reconciling everything in my mind. Luca. Grant. The lies. More than anything I was having a tough time thinking about the future. Even with grant gone, how did we ever recover from any of this? Would killing him help? Or would it just drive us deeper into this hole we were scrambling to crawl out of?

I was giving myself a headache with all the what-ifs this morning, and I did my best to plaster on a happy smile as Layla jumped into my arms.

"I know, baby. We're lucky to have Aunt Jenni in our lives, huh?" I shot Jenni a smirk.

I mean seriously, how many friends would desert their entire lives to go on the run and raise your daughter with you? And then stage a manhunt the second she thought either of you were in danger?

Layla nodded, laying her head on my shoulder.

"Layla, why don't you come with me and we can go get some lemonade before we go out to the pool?" Seth suggested, offering a hand out to her.

The flirtatious look he and Jenni shared din't escape me. What was that all about?

Layla agreed and Seth ushered her out of the room, giving Jenni and I a few minutes alone.

"Char, what is going on?" She voice broke with concern sash hugged me again.

"Nothing is going on Jenni." I sat down on the couch, and she followed. "We're just fine. Layla and Luca are getting to know each other. We were never in any danger."

She grabbed my hand, tears welling up in her eyes.

"I was so worried about you. Your mom said you and Luca were working things out, but Grant said he kidnapped you and was having your mom lie to us. I guess, I just... he was so convincing and I hadn't heard from you and I just thought.... I don't know. I don't even know what to say."

"Thank you." I squeezed her hand. "Seriously. You're always looking out for us. And I'm sorry I didn't call. It's just that things have been.. kind of scattered and I don't really even know what's happening. It's all such a mess."

"What do you mean? Was Luca upset?" She frowned.

"Yeah, he was furious." I shuddered at the memory of the way he flashed his gun at me. "But he was only upset because he had absolutely no idea about Layla. Grant never called him."

"What?" He eyes widened.

"Remember when I was about to have Layla, and I was so nervous, and I asked grant to call Luca? And he told me that Luca wanted nothing to do with me?"

"Oh my god..."

I shook my head. "He never did. And he lied to me for all this time."

Saying the words out loud again was even more heart wrenching than it had been last night.