MARENGO

4 | Liars Go To Hell

Mom gave me the 'let's go outside' look, and as a good samaritan and daughter, I willingly complied.

"Excuse me," I pleasantly and elegantly excused myself from the dining room and followed my mom into one of the lounges.

"Victoria, what are you doing?!" mom asked, disgusted. I rolled my eyes because I thought we had already grasped what I had said at the dining table and agreed with it.

But no.

"I was asked a question," I smirked. "And I simply answered it."

Mom shook her head in disappointment. "So this is what you're trying to do. You're trying to get back at me for not telling the truth about your biological father, right?"

I sighed and laughed.

"Jackson Cruz Miller," I replied. "You can refer to him by his real name now."

My mom's eyes widened as she struggled to find words. I scratched my hair and looked up at the clock.

"So, can we go back to the dinner table now or what?" I asked, so tired of the bullshit I was being fed. Mom was still in complete and utter shock like she hadn't heard that name in forever. I didn't understand the harm in telling me about my biological father's name. But of course, my parents never told me anything so I had to find out myself, like always.

"Victoria," my mom paused. "Please tell me what you're doing."

"I'm not doing anything," I simply replied. "I just answered my sister's question."

"No, Victoria. What are you doing? Because I know you're up to something."

"Mom, I'm not doing anything," I insisted. "Stop asking me that question."

I could feel that my mom knew I was going to do something. However, I tried to play it cool and make sure that I didn't give anything away. It was so obvious that if she found anything out, she would tell my dad, and I did not want that to happen. I wasn't ready to die yet.

I started walking back to the dinner table when I felt someone tug my arm, and again, by the force, knew it was my idiot brother.

"What the fuck, man," I scolded him. "Stop doing that!"

Alejandro giggled. "My friend of a friend got Jackson's location, and we're keeping tabs on him."

I took a deep breath and faintly smiled. I didn't know whether this was a good thing or a bad thing, but all I knew is that my soul would be at peace if I could just talk to him.

"Wow, that's good news," I replied. "Your 'friend of a friend' is pretty dang good."

"I know," Alejandro smirked. "I can tell mom wasn't happy with your response to Pop's question."

"Hmm," I rolled my eyes. "I'm just so pissed at mom right now, bro. I'm sick of the lies and the secrets. Mom had my whole life to tell me about her secret baby daddy, who mysteriously murdered her brother-in-law which happens to be Popita's dad."

"Damn," Alejandro bit his lips. "I feel you."

I was trying to keep my cool but I just couldn't stop thinking about how all of this was just such a slap in the face. I couldn't stop thinking about how I thought that dad was my real dad.

This situation was so embarrassing and I knew in my heart that it was going to get much worse.

Nick's POV

"Do you know what's going on, dad?" Popita asked, placing her fork back down.

"Well, considering half of the table is gone, yes, there probably is something going on," I laughed. Deep down I knew it was Scarlett giving Victoria an ultimatum on her answer to Popita's question. "Do you guys wanna go to the lounge and maybe watch something?"