The Saintwood Series

Chapter 29

Chapter 29

An unholy alliance

3rd person

While Carrington enjoyed wedded bliss with Nikita, the Frazier boys were up to their old tricks, allying with none other than Frank Shaw. Frank held a vendetta towards the Jones family for a terrible deal that landed him in jail.

The Frazier boys had an ax to grind with the Jones family because the Jones family had gotten them sent up the river. You add that Marco and Carrington hated each other, and it gives the Fraziers motive.

Maurice met with his brothers.

“I’m surprised Gloria let you off your leash,” Marty spoke. Yeah, Marty wasn’t happy with Maurice.

“Gloria doesn’t control me,” Maurice replied.

“Are you sure?” Marco raised an eyebrow.

“I could turn that brat into a man if Gloria didn’t protect him.”

“It shouldn’t matter. Fraziers don’t allow people to walk on them,” Maximilian told Maurice.

The brothers argued, except for Mateo. “Considering it’s a bastard child, the situation needs handling,” Mateo said.

His brothers stopped.

“What are you talking about, Mateo?” Maurice asked.

“That kid doesn’t have either of your eye colors.”

Maurice furrowed his brows.

Mateo stepped towards his brother. “I warned Gloria. You handle it, or I will.”

Maurice understood what Mateo meant with handling it since Mateo didn’t give idle threats.

“We’ll deal with this bullshit later. We have another business to address,” Marty replied.

Someone walked towards them.

“Frank?” Maurice asked.

“Thanks for leaving me to hold the bag, you asshole. I spent two damn years in the clink!” Frank said.

“Hey, I got jail time, myself!”

“And you got out of it because of your brothers.”

“Enough!” Marty spoke.

Everyone peered at Marty.

“Mason Jones and his family allied with the Morgan family and the Santiago family.”

The news shocked everyone except for Mateo, and he realized this would happen and warned his brother against conducting business with Mason.

“Now, the Jones family owes us, and we’re collecting. Frank receives a cut from our share as we take down that damn family,” Marty told his brothers.

“How are we supposed to do that? It’s not like we have access to that family,” Mickey said.

Ah, yes, that was an interesting point. How does one gain entry to a well-protected family? It’s not like they can waltz through the front door and announce their presence. Have you seen the compound Mason has and the many men guarding him and his family?

“Because we have something they want. Our brother here,” Mateo pointed at Maurice, “has their blood. We also have another snitch with the last name Hartley.”

“It’ll never happen. I haven’t spoken to Charles in years,” Maurice replied.

Mateo stepped towards Maurice until they were face-to-face. “It’ll happen, and you’ll make it happen.”

Maurice gawked at his brother.

“You’ll create an arrangement with Charles in exchange for that brat. Frank will put his kid in place to watch, and Greg will follow because there’s a bookie who’s dying to visit him. We can’t let this situation slide any longer.”

Now, this plan seems reasonable, but you have the Frazier boys and Frank Shaw planning it. Nothing goes according to plan when it includes other people, especially kids.

Since Greg is a runner and keeps moving his family, contacting Charles wasn't the issue, but Greg. Don’t gamble, kids, because it pisses off the wrong people.

Now, Maurice chooses not to listen to his brothers because he thinks he’s more brilliant, and he’s not. Have you met Maurice? He cut a deal with Charles. Yeah, that situation will escalate.

When you disobey your brothers, it causes you to rethink your living arrangements. Then you throw in Frank Shaw wanting revenge, and you have a massive mess on your hands. Frank will resort to dirty deeds of his own.

But Maurice had learned that Gloria kept a dirty little secret hidden from him, which pissed him off. He had plans of his own for Gloria and the boy.

*****

Frazier

I was sitting at the table, drawing a picture for my mom, when my dad came home. I didn’t bother to look at him and continued drawing.

“Clean up this mess.”

I stopped drawing, slid out of my chair, strode over to my toys, and plucked them up.

Then Dad grabbed my arm and jerked me to him. “You and I will talk about disrespect.”

I furrowed my brows. My dad dragged me out of the living room as I screamed. Then he pulled me outside, removed his belt, and smacked me.

“Stop!”

“No! You’ll learn not to embarrass me in front of my family!”

The leather connected with my skin as I cried while enduring every smack.

Dad finished as I trembled with tears falling down my cheeks. “If you tell your mother, you’ll get worse.”

I stared at him. My hatred for my dad grew that day.

“Frazier!”

Dad shook his head. I remained as he shuffled away.

A few minutes later, Mom came outside into the backyard. “Hunny, what’s wrong?”

“I ran into a door handle.”

“Let’s get you some ice.”

I nodded. We shuffled into the house, and Dad stood there, smirking. The sadistic jerk enjoyed my punishment. One day, I will be bigger, and he won’t hurt me again. But I had to survive first.

*****

After that day, Dad waited until we were alone and unleashed his torture on me. He waited until Mom wasn’t around to beat me, and it didn’t matter what I did or how I acted. He made sure I suffered and cried until I stopped and refused to give him satisfaction.

Mom found out, and all hell broke loose. Dad went after Mom, and I protected Mom. I remembered what she told me. You never hit a woman. If I had to endure the beatings, then so be it. I refuse to let Dad hit Mom.

When Dad left for his business trips, we could relax and have fun. I learned to use humor to mask the pain. It was better that way. So, I became the class clown at school. No way was I letting anyone learn about my home life. I didn’t seek their pity or crave it, although it would be nice to have a friend.

Those people were the type you could hang out with, harass, and tell your secrets. I didn’t need a billion friends, but only one. If I make a friend, they’ll become my bestie, and I need a bestie.

*****

Ryan

I perched in an armchair, reading when Elena bounded into the living room.

“Play with me, Ryan.”

“No, I’m busy.”

“I’ll tell Mom.”

I tossed my book aside and stood up. “You’re a tattletale.”

“Mom! Ryan called me a tattletale!” Elena crossed her arms and stuck her tongue out at me.

I frowned at her.

Mom walked into the living room. “Can’t you two get along for two-seconds?”

“She started it!” I pointed at Elena.

“Nuh-uh, you’re a meanie.”

Mom sighed as we fought.

Dad walked into the room. “Hey! What’s going on here?” Dad placed his hands on his hips.

“Ryan’s a meanie!”

“Elena’s a tattletale!”

“Enough!” Dad responded.

We stopped, and Dad gave us a glimpse. Then we started again, and dad glanced at Mom. “Our children need friends.”

“I agree.” Mom nodded while Elena and I argued.

When you have a twin, you share everything. The dilemma with a twin is you share everything. Elena needs a friend, so she can leave me alone because my sister was annoying.