Rebel Yell

Chapter 51

Both Julia and Bria stared at each other before looking back over at me, clearly taken back by my question and how firmly I had just asked it.

"Amber... why?" Bria asked slowly with a puzzled look on her face.

"There's a lot about Joe that you don't know." I started, pausing as a sick feeling twisted my stomach up in knots, remembering the morning that I held Jack's dead body in my arms as his blood soaked me.

"What?" Julia asked curiously.

"Joe was involved with the people involved with Evelyn's death." I announced, staring at both of their faces, watching as their expressions dropped.

"During the shooting... one of the shooters was limping away through the back yard in hopes that none of us saw him...you know, trying to get away" I started in a mumble, clearing my throat. "Bobby was in the porch getting shot at... Jack was screaming for help.. Jerry and Angel were dealing with the other shooters...So without any hesitation... I tackled the shooter to the ground, straddling him as I pulled his mask off..." I continued the best I could as I was trying to block out the painful memory of Jack's howling cries that morning.

Slowly, I held my head up high and stared at the both of them, "It was Joe."

Bria gasped and clamped her hand over her mouth as tears streamed out from the corners of her eyes while Julia trembled, biting the inside of her cheek trying to hold back tears. Julia looked like she was going to be sick. Jack was not only my husband, my soulmate and my best friend.. but he was also Julia and Bria's close friend as well. This was just as hard on them as well.

"How did this happen?! Not Jackie..." Bria bawled as she buried her face in her hands.

"I told you from the get fucking go! This wouldn't have happened if you didn't fuck around with him!" Julia yelled at Bria.

I rolled my eyes and sighed, "It would have... It's not Bria's fault..."

"Yes it is! This had something to do with Jack testifying against him in Brendan's murder, didn't it?!" Bria shouted a question at me.

"Bones has been running drug cartel and unregistered guns from Detroit for a long time.. From Victor Sweet, the one behind all of the mess with the Mercers. Jack just..." I started, sighing deeply. "...Was at the wrong place at the wrong time." I finished, looking away and silencing the both of them.

"If I could just get Joe to tell me why... tell me the whole thing.. admit to it while I record it without him knowing. I'd have him behind bars so fast that his head would spin." I planned out loud.

"Well.. you guys already dealt with Fowler and Sweet, right?" Bria asked, seeming to be all for my plan.

"Amber... I can't even begin to fathom how much pain you must feel inside. I can't. But I also can't let you do that." Julia explained, shaking her head 'no'. "Amber.. if what you're saying is true and Billy's father has been working along Sweet the whole time.. that means Billy and Joe were involved. Joe confirmed to be involved.. you said it yourself that the Mercers took care of Sweet and his boys back in Detroit... there is no way Joe's going to admit to being involved and even if he did.. look what happened to Jack..." Julia added, stopping once she brought up Jack.

"It's... it's just... it'd be a death sentence..." Julia finished, becoming awkward.

Bria's jaw tightened as she stared me dead in the eyes, slightly nodding so that only I would notice. Bria know's me better than anyone.. She could tell by my body language that I was going to do what I had to do, regardless of what Julia or anyone says. To avoid an argument, I simply smiled at Julia and shrugged.