Hidden Secrets, L.K Du Plessis [my reading book txt] 📗

top of the stairs “I’m sorry I didn’t mean to interrupt but there is a call for you Ant” “Take a massage” “She says its important” This was my way out of this conversation. “Go take your call we are done here.” Anthony looked from me to Jonathan and back to me, realising this is as much as he is going to get out of me he went down stairs to go take his call.

“What was that about?” Now I’m left facing Jonathan, this wasn’t a good idea.  “That was a private conversation between me and my brother Jonathan it has nothing to do with you.” “I beg to differ as I heard my name.” Of cause he did.  “If you so great at eves dropping then you know what it was about so I don’t need to repeat it” I moved to pass Jonathan and go down stairs I had no  intention of spending anytime in his company and I sure as hell didn’t want to be here alone with him right now.  As I reach the top step of the stairs he grabs my arm and pull be back so I’m face to face with him, he towering over me. “You didn’t tell him? “He looked confused. “Let me go Jonathan or I’ll scream” “Answer me Lexi” Pulling my arm from his grip I take a step back to the top of the stairs now with him on the top step we are the same height. “No I didn’t tell him” I said in a very low voice not wanting anyone to hear. “Why didn’t you?” “I don’t know, maybe because I don’t think there is anything to tell. Maybe I don’t want everyone knowing I was an idiot or tell me I was warned.”

 For a second I thought I saw some emotion cross his face. Impossible Jonathan Pirelli has no emotion, and even if he did I wasn’t going to stand around and find out. I march down the stairs past him, not looking back to see if he was following me.“Alex there you are, we want to watch a movie. Vinnie says to ask you where you keep the good movies these ones here are old we’ve seen most of it.” “Please Dina call me Lexi or Alexis, and Vince has a big mouth about my movies.” “Please, please can we watch it, he says you have the best in thrillers.” “You can watch it if you can convince Vince to go fetch it. I’m not going to.” “I’m not  going in your room, just now something bites me.” “That’s funny Vince, you mentioned it you go fetch it.”  “Fetch what” Anthony wanted to know entering the room with Jonathan behind him. “Lexi is hiding the good movies in her room and selfishly don’t want to go fetch it.” James grinned as if he just got me busted for some big secret.

 I rolled my eyes and decided going to go fetch the movies will be better that being around Jonathan or Anthony right now. I don’t need Anthony picking up on any more discomfort I have around Jonathan as it is he’s suspecting’s is spot on. We watched two movies and laughed more for Dina squealing and trying to hide behind James. I mean really if you wane watch a thriller make sure you’re up for it. She took all suspense out of the movie but I have to admit the kid is funny. I fell asleep somewhere into the third movie and woke up in my bed the next morning.

 

Chapter 4

Everyone was still sleeping, lying everywhere in the TV room as the kids, my parents and I left for church Sunday morning. I briefly wondered how I got into my bed last night and why I couldn’t remember going to bet, but decided maybe I didn’t want to know. It felt awkward going to church knowing that we are planning to commit fraud to save my brother. It wasn’t much comforting knowing if we didn’t do it James would end up dead and who knows who ells, it was wrong and sitting here in church made me feel sick. I said more than my usual prayers and asked for forgiveness before we even do this job. After church we hanged around a bit so my parents can talk to some of their friends like an old time ritual funny how they can seem so utterly normal.

Emily and Dina had Sunday lunch already started when we got home from church. James and Vincent quickly put the plans for the job away when we walked in, they were clearly going over some details. Anthony and Jonathan was nowhere to be seen and I decided it might be better the less we see each other. “So how was church” Emily seemed very chirpy so I decide to pick up on her mood and tell her all the latest gossip that went around after church which she missed out on.

”I heard from Darcy that Sara and Nico finally set a date for the wedding, now it’s a thing to find a venue cause it seems it’s the same time as Carol and Stevens wedding.” “Oh my word, that is going to be such a thing.” “Carol is determined to out shine at any cost” “Her poor parent’s bank account” At that we both burst out laughing. During lunch we finally talked about the job. Everything was going to take place Wednesday, the claim will be placed on Thursday and my father made sure everyone knew what they had to do. “So we all know what we will do. Anthony, James, Vincent, Jonathan and myself will be apprehending the cars. Wednesday night while the Mcklousky’s are assumingly out of town, an alarm will be triggered after the last car is cleared and by the time the security shows up we will be long gone. ” “We still have one other problem” At the mentioning of a problem Anthony had everyone’s attention

 “We don’t have a lookout” I saw Emily grin and knew what she was going to say before she even opened her mouth. “I can help” Vincent wasn’t having this. “No under no circumstances” “Why not?” “Because you are my wife and your place it with our kids and you don’t know the first thing about being a lookout.” “But I want to help, Lexi gets to help”   Jonathan nearly choked he clearly had no idea I was a part of this. He looked at Anthony and I could see the look of “I tried” on Anthony’s face. After several debates and arguing my father finally settled the discussion and it was decided that Emily would have no part in this, she wasn’t happy. Instead Dina will help with the apprehending of the vehicles only because James made everyone understand that she has done it lots of times before with him and she know what she is doing. Jonathan will then be the look out just like he used to be in the old days.

 No one seemed particularly happy with the arrangements except Dina and James, but then again if it wasn’t a case of life or death none of us would even be considering doing this. After we ate it was my turn to clean the dishes since Emily and Dina made the food. Everyone disappeared into their own directions, Vince and Emily decided to take the four kids for ice-cream just to take a break for a bit which I was very great full for. “Alexis can we talk” “Can it wait Jonathan, I’m a little busy” “No it can’t its important.” “Well I’m just busy as you can see.”  “Can we talk when you are done then it’s important?” I regard him with a wary look, he wasn’t his normal charming or flirty self and in all the years that I have known him so something told me it might really be important and that maybe I want to know what it is. “Ok fine we can talk as soon as I’m done here” “Fine you wash I’ll dry” He took the kitchen towel and started drying dishes as quick as I could wash them. He seems angry or irritated. “You really don’t need to help me.” “I really think I do. Like I said we need to talk and if you need to finish these dishes first I better help to make sure it gets done quickly so we can talk.” “That important huh?”  I raised my eyebrow to test the seriousness of the matter. “Yes” was all he said. I got a very uneasy feeling I can’t ever remember seeing him this serious about anything.

 We finished cleaning the kitchen neither of us saying another word. When we were done Jonathan gestured towards the back door and we both walked to the back yard quite a distance from the house before he spoke. And when he did it was in a stern no nonsense voice. “You are not being a part of this job Alex” Is he kidding right now. “You can’t tell me what to do Jonathan” If this is what he wanted to talk about he is wasting his breath, I turned to walk away very angered and defensive that he thinks he can tell me what to do. He grabbed my arm to prevent me from walking off but not enough to hurt me. He lowered his head almost like he was trying to find a diffract approach. When he looked back up at me his expression had softened somewhat but his voice was still stern like he was trying very hard not to lose control.

 “Ok, I’m asking you nicely not to be part of this please Lex” It was almost a plea and ten years ago I would have melted and told him ‘sure anything you want’. But this isn’t ten years ago and this isn’t something I can just walk away from they need me. So I tried reasoning with him. “Aw come on not you too, did Anthony put you up to this” “Anthony didn’t put me up to anything, thou I’m surprised he is allowing you to do this.” “He is not allowing me to do anything, I’m doing this to help James just like everyone ells.” “Please Lexi don’t do this” There it was again the  almost plea in his voice as he spoke running his hand through his hair. Dam this man is sexy but I’m not going to get distracted. I have strong feeling of dislike towards him and now he wants me to not get involved in saving my brother no way that’s happening. “Look Jonathan I don’t care what you and Anthony’s problem is with me helping, but you can’t stop me. I’m helping and that’s final” “Dam it Alexis can you for once stop trying to be so stubborn and stop trying to prove something we know you can do you are probably very capable of it, we just don’t want you to”

 Well I’m glad to hear that he think I’m capable, but if that’s what he thinks why is he trying so hard to stop me. “Why not give me one good reason why not” My patients