Impact, Book 2 of Wingless series

New you

I have one life to live and I want to make the most out of it. Sometimes I forget that in all the panic swarming my thoughts.

The feelings I have for Evan border on disastrous. The sudden realization that you love someone is beautiful and tragic because you know one day that you're going to lose them.

Or in our case one day his father would order that I be killed. And all of this makes me realize how much I can stand to lose.

I don't know what I can do. I don't have a plan, but I know I need one.

I can see the real Carlo. While Evan sees what he wants to see—a father he thinks cares about him. If Carlo wants to kill me, I worry there isn't much I can do to stop it from happening. Is there anything Evan can do or is he in denial?

Carlo is cruel and calculating there isn't much this man does without planning. Every move he makes there is a reason behind it.

I hope my next move isn't my last.

The part I have yet to understand, I don't know how much power Carlo himself has when it comes to ending someone's life. It seems that's what his sons are for. Or maybe he doesn't like to get his hands dirty. And if that is true, my next question would be why.

How does someone become responsible for taking lives? Who exactly is Carlo? And what does he have Evan and his brother's involved in.

I'll find out one way or another.

***

It's dark, the sun left hours ago. And I am sitting on the porch alone. Evan is sleeping; I guess the football game wasn't as exciting as he liked to think.

It seems all I do is think anymore.

The leaves scatter across the sidewalk and Ari appears out of the darkness.

She sits down. "Hey."

"Hi."

"I thought you were mad at me," I admit to her.

"Why would I be mad at you?"

"Because I said some things that I shouldn't have said, and knowing what I know about Kenny the thing that makes sense is you have learned how to deal with all his abuse." I chew on my thumb nail a little nervous about this conversation that has been a long time coming. "I don't understand why you put up with it, Ari."

Ari looks away. "Maybe I don't know either. Did you ever think of that?"

I hadn't. I shake my head.

"I care more about your feelings then about any job Kenny has to do." She touches my arm. "Kenny knew what he was doing. I would be angry too."

"Nobody understands. It's like I'm the only one holding out hope that my dad can pull through this." I sigh.

"And maybe with a little bit of faith he will," Ari says.

"Hard to have much of that when you we have to deal with Carlo all the time." I am beginning to hate Evan's dad and I can't understand why.

"Well Eve, there isn't much you can do about that."

"He's evil. He runs around doing whatever he wants. He wanted this to happen, I don't understand why yet. Carlo has wanted us to be together since we first met. He said so himself."

"What are you saying?" Ari asks, raising an eyebrow.

"I guess I'm saying I think Carlo is using my family for his own personal gain." When I hear it out loud it makes sense.

"I am telling you as your friend, do not go against Carlo. You will never get away with it. He has too many people willing to do his dirty work. Including his sons." Ari rubs the back of her neck.

"I'm not crazy. I would never do anything stupid. I just want Evan and I to be happy. He shouldn't have to deal with this mess. None of us should."

"I don't see it being possible. You will never have the means to take down Carlo. He's a dangerous man." She touches my arm. "I know you don't want to hear me say this, but let it be."

"How do I do that?" I refuse to sit back and let anyone destroy my family. "He tried to kill my dad. And I'm supposed to accept that? That's not the way life works. If it did my dad would be dead."

"I don't know. I wish I did. I don't want you to get hurt," Ari says.

"I've already been hurt. What could hurt more than death?"

"Your own," Ari says, staring me down. "That's what hurts more. Not being able to be here and enjoy the life you have. Leave it alone, Eve. Please."

I shake my head. "If I can't enjoy it with the ones I love what's the point?"

Ari refuses to agree.

"Kenny was fed up once. He traveled all the way to California to change things. There has to be a way."

"There isn't. Kenny found that out himself. He was almost killed out there." Ari pushes her hair behind her ear.

"How do you know that?" I ask her, Kenny almost dying is not enough proof to give up.

"Because, Eve." Ari sighs.

"Anything is possible. Don't believe everything someone tells you," I say. "It could all be lies."

Ari stands up. "You're going to do what you want. But I know what I know. I refuse to go against it. It's not worth the risk."

"Kenny had the balls to try." I have balls.

"So." Ari shrugs.

"Don't you get it? He thinks there's a way."

I'm sure of it. Maybe I can find my own way.