No one said a damn word as the vehicle got further and further away from the St. James compound. Looking back, I made sure there was no one following us.
I needed to talk to Antonio. Hearing that Gideon’s mother ran the same charity my mother was a part of sent alarm bells ringing in my head. I don’t know why? It was more than a hunch.
It was too convenient.
I needed to make sure.
Reaching for my phone, Donatella whimpered. “It’s okay baby. I just need to make a call.”
Seeing I had a signal again, I dialed my brother. When the call connected, I put him on speaker.
“Tony, I need help.”
“Really? That’s rich. Why not ask your new friend for help.”
“Antonio!”
“Geez, you don’t have to yell.”
“Sunshine Child. That was the charity that Mom, Aunt Daniella and Illyria worked with, right?”
“Yeah, the charity helps house and protect children harmed or hurt by abusive parents. Why?”
“Does the charity go by any other name?”
“Yeah, it has a subsidiary group called Sunshine Kids. That section of the charity takes exceptional orphaned kids and gives them a place to live. It provides them an education and medical, the works.”
“Did mom, Aunt Daniella or Illyria ever participate with that group?”
“Not Aunt Daniella or Illyria but mom was on the board of trustees. Why? What’s going on Lo?”
“What are you thinking Lorenzo?” Gideon asked. Shaking my head, I asked my brother, “Tony, I am requesting a family investigation into Sylvia St. James. I want a deep dig. I want to know what size tampons she uses. Leave nothing out.”
“You cannot investigate my mother!” Gideon roared. He didn’t have time to blink, before I had my gun pointed at him. “Don’t fuck with me on this. You may know shit but not everything. I don’t think my mother’s death had anything to do with that fucker Capribella. I think your mother had my mom killed.”
“Whoa!” Antonio shouted. “Lorenzo, you were there. You were stabbed. You know it was the Collector. He took Layla and Illyria.”
“A smokescreen to hide the real reason.”
“What are you saying dickhead. Do you think my mother had your mom killed? What for?” Gideon asked angrily.
“Because my mother was helping my brother pay off Bianchi, by using the charity’s funds. I think your mother found out and ordered the hit. If I am right, your mother is working for the very men you are trying to bring down. Think about it Gideon. You said yourself everything is intertwined, that nothing was as it seems. That the world is a big place, with many players all with one goal in mind. The second Gio notified your family of Donatella’s existence, your mother was ready to jump on a plane to get to her. But you got to me first. You were there that night on the pier, not for her but for me. You knew I was the only way you could get to Costa. But I foiled your plan when I killed Luca. Yet, you still helped me get Donatella to safety. It wasn’t until later that you realized that Donatella was your cousin. Who told you about her?”
“My mother,” he whispered.
“Exactly. When we met, you wanted me. Not her. It was only after we both learned about Donatella’s past that you agreed to help.”
“He’s right, Gideon,” Jonathon added. “I did the background check on Donatella. There was nothing in her background that hinted at any relationship between you or her. She was just another file that graced your desk.”
“But that doesn’t explain my mother. Why would my mom want Donatella?”
“Because she’s a fucking genius, asshole. My woman’s mind is a veritable gold mine. You heard what she said back in Chicago. The shit she created. With that formula, anyone can control the world.”
The cab of the vehicle went silent as what I said began to sink in. I knew I was swinging out into left field with my assumptions but I knew I was right. I felt it in my gut.
It was the only thing that made sense.
“Lo, you need to come home. If what you are saying is true, then you need the family. Our family.”