The Assassin's Blood: The Confradia Assassins 3

Chapter 25: Time to plan

Declan

"You're a selfish bastard, you know that?" Priest startles me from my thoughts as I watch Santana walk away. Once she's out of sight, I turn to the living room doorway and come face-to-face with him. "I have no other choice, Priest." He shakes his head and turns back to the stairs. However, it doesn't stop him from casting one last stone. "Is that what your father said to your mother before he left you? Would it have made you both happier if he gave your mother money? Because to be honest, even though you're an ass, it seems that Connor and Santana are shortchanging themselves for simply wanting you."

My stomach plummets with bile remembering how painful it was when my father walked away from us. I know that it would have hurt me if he'd just give my mother money and pretended that I didn't exist. I should be happy that Santana and Connor want me to be part of their family, but I can't do it. I guess I am as selfish as my father!

"Look, Priest, I appreciate that you care, but this is none of your business!" Priest scoffs but makes no further comment. He actually doesn't need to because his expression tells me all that I need to know, and I can't fault him. "We better go and see what Connor and Hunter have dug up." I utter feeling disheartened.

Priest simply nods in reply. "I called Reaper and Savage to discuss what we've found. I also asked one of my men to get Connor and Santana's things from their apartment. I'll talk to Santana and Connor about a place where they can live. I have a place in the city where she and Connor can stay until things get sorted out. I'll leave it up to them."

I swallow the knot in my throat and shake my head. "I can find them a place to live in." Priest scowls. "Haven't you been listening to them? They don't want anything from you." My mouth tightens with fury. "I don't care!" It pisses me off when Priest raises his hands in surrender and says. "Okay, but I'm still going to make the offer."

That's when I make a decision and reach for my car keys. "I have to make a stop somewhere. I'll be back in a few." Priest simply nods and keeps walking. Several minutes later, I'm standing in front of a brownstone in the SOHO area. I knock a few times and wait, but it doesn't take long for the door to open. My mother opens the door, steps forward, and wraps her arms around me. "Baby! I missed you so much. Oh, my God!" She squeals, jumping back to get a better look at me. I raise a bemused brow and embracer her. My mother does this every time I visit her. She acts like she hasn't seen me for years and inspects me as if I was a small child. I tolerate it because she does it out of love. "Hey, Ma, can I come in." She steps back and claps her hands. "Oh, honey, it's so good to see you. You wouldn't believe how much fun I had on my trip." I shake my head at her exuberance. "Well, don't leave me standing out here, let me in," I utter gesturing to the foyer.

My mother chuckles enthusiastically and gestures for me to take a seat. Her house is a lot like her in appearance. She loves antiques. Her living room is made up of ivory and pink French couches that look like they'll break under my weight. There's an antique tea set on one of her fragile ivory side tables and several marble statues of ladies sitting around the living room floors. Placing my elbows on my knees, I appraise my mother's appearance. Her mahogany hair is long and shiny, and her brown eyes glimmer with health. She looks happy.

My mother is a beautiful woman with her classic pin-up girl looks. You'd never think that she's in her late fifties. Even though her life hasn't been easy, she has always kept a good attitude. "You look, good, mom. It looks like you had a really good time. Was it everything you thought it would be?" She smiles, giddily. "Oh, honey, it was incredible. The beaches were beautiful. The people were so kind. I don't remember the last time I had so much fun. As soon as I got back, I decided to call you later. I know how busy you are with that job of yours. In fact, I'm surprised that you're here now." I roll my eyes, amused by my mother's repetitive argument.

My mother does not know that I work for the Confradia, or that I'm an assassin. When the Confradia recruited me, I had to tell her I work for a security firm. Which is not far from the actual truth. "No, mom, I don't have to work right now. I figured I'd come to see you and take you out for brunch. Are you available?" She nods her head. Okay, honey. Do you want to go to your place? I can clean up for you." I roll my eyes again. "You don't have to clean up my house, ma. I have a housekeeping service that comes three times a week. The place is clean." She waves me away with a frown. "Fine, but you can't blame me for making sure you're taken care of."

Understanding that there is no arguing with my mother, I shake my head and wave her way. "Go and change mom, I'll wait." Sixteen minutes later, we're on our way to one of my mom's favorite restaurants. Brunch, as always, is delicious. My mother's sipping her Mimosa and discussing her trip while she happily eats her meal. After a moment, she lays her cup down and wipes her lips. "Enough about my trip. How's work, baby? Anything new?"

I take a sip of my scotch, trying to formulate an answer. Especially considering the revelation, I had a few weeks ago. "Work is work, ma." She smiles and rolls her eyes. "Oh, honey, I don't know why I bother asking when you always give me the same answer." She utters exasperated.

Seeing an opening for what I really want to talk about, I lean forward with a questioning look. "Ma, did you and Alistair ever get in contact with each other after he left?" She wipes her mouth with her napkin and gives me a puzzled look. "You know I haven't seen him since he left. Why?" I swallow, looking down at my plate then look up again. "Didn't you ever wonder what became of him?" She shrugs her shoulders. "To be honest, honey, I did at first, but after a while, I realized that it was not worth my time."

Looking suspicious, she lays her napkin on the table and tilts her head. "Why are you asking me these questions, Declan? You never showed interest before." Releasing a resigned sigh, I answer her question. "Look, ma, there's something you need to know." She quirks her eyebrow and waves her hand exasperated. "What do I need to know?" I bite my lip and rub my hand over my mouth, thoughtfully. "Well, a few weeks ago, I found out something about Alistair." She sits forward, giving me a puzzled look. It's funny because I can kill a person with ease, but I can't tell my mom something without fidgeting and sweating bullets. "A few weeks ago, I found out that Alistair died. Apparently, he was heavily addicted to drugs and got in the middle of a drug war that ended with his death."

My mom nods her head, not looking surprised, and places her hand over her heart with a grimace. "I'm sorry to hear that, but it does sound like something that would happen to him. He was into drugs when he was with me. That's why he left. I begged him to quit, and he wouldn't." I scowl at her admission. "You knew he was a druggie? Why didn't you tell me?" She shakes her head. "You were so young, Declan. I couldn't burden you with that knowledge. It was better to leave it alone."

I nod my head, understanding but still feel a little angry. "Well, that's not all I learned. Apparently, Alistair remarried." His eyes flinch, finally showing some emotion. Taking a nervous sip of her drink, she tightens her lips and whispers. "Really?" I nod my head. "Yeah, and he had another son. His name is Connor, and he's eighteen years old. He's the one that found me and told me about Alistair."

My mother remains silent, taking a few more sips of her drink, then lays the drink back down and gives me an astonished look. "Oh, my goodness. How did he know about you?" I snort in amusement, recalling the boy's tech-savvy. "Apparently, he found a picture of me and a Christmas card that you gave Alistair. After he found the picture and the card, he hacked into the DMV and found my military jacket. He kept on going until he found my place of work. I met him. He's a good kid. Alistair and his wife were not the best parents, so his stepsister has been the one taking care of him." My mother gives me an inquiring look. "Really? That boy sounds persistent and smart as a whip if he went through all that to find you. Well, at least he wasn't left on his own. Where do they live? What does she do?"

My eyes become distant, remembering Santana and her proud refusal for help. "His sister is twenty-two. They live in Brooklyn." My mother gasps in shock. "What? She's twenty-two. Are you telling me this girl has been raising that boy alone? What a strong woman she must be to take on such a responsibility. Did they have any other family?" I shake my head. "No, it's just them." My mother gives me a sad smile. "Poor girl. That must have been so difficult. I remember how difficult it was for me, and we had grandma's help. I'd like to meet them. When are you seeing them again?"

Jaw stiff, I reply. "I'm not." My mother's face changes from pity to anger. "What? Why wouldn't you want to see him again? He's your brother for Christ's sake. And let's not forget they have no other family." I hold up my hand to stop her rant. "Look, ma, I offered them some money, but I'm too busy for anything more." My mother's mouth tightens. "What? Do you think money will give that boy the emotional connection he needs? Why would you be so indifferent?" I push back, feeling the weight of my mother's words. "You can sheath your claws, ma. They told me to shove my money. Not to mention, the sister told me to leave them alone."

My mother throws her head back and laughs, slapping her hand on top of the table. "Good for her. If a relative did to me what you did to them, I would have spit in his eye. You of all people should understand that family is everything. After what Alistair did, I wrote him off, but I never wished him ill. After all, he gave me you. That boy must understand the importance of family since he made an effort to find you. And you threw it back in his face. Make me understand Declan. Why would you do that? Because that doesn't sound like the son, I love and raised."

I look at my mother, feeling the guilt of her truth. Connor and Santana did deserve more. Unfortunately, with how I make my living, I can't be the one to give them what they want. I just can't explain it to my mother. "Look, mom. I just don't do complicated, and those two have complicated written all over them." My mom shakes her head, disappointed. "That's too bad, honey. I think you would have made a great brother. Well, I hope that Alistair at least left them something?" I shake my head, remembering the state of their neighborhood and apartment. "I don't think he did. They didn't live in the best neighborhood. The sister just lost her job as a waitress."

I usually research people when I meet them. In my line of business, it pays to do your homework, but for some reason, I never looked into Connor and Santana's past. I tell myself it's because it doesn't matter. But the truth is that it scares me that I might become even more involved than I already am. That it would become an acknowledgment of my responsibility somehow. My mom snickers in reply. "That's too bad. I imagine that they would have probably felt safer with more family around. I know I did. Being a single parent is hard enough. But being a young parent takes a great deal of love and determination. She must have felt so alone all of these years. A young teenage girl giving up her life for a young boy." She makes a sound of pity, looking down at her drink pensively.

"That's another reason why I'm here, ma. I need your help." My mother quirks an inquiring brow. "What is it, Declan?" I lick my lips and respond. "Santana and Declan got into some trouble last night, and they can't go back home. They don't have a lot of money, and they need a place to stay until they get back on their feet…" My mother clears her throat and gives me an urging look. "And you're wondering if I can let them stay here." I nod my head beseechingly. "Yeah. They don't seem to want my help, but maybe they'll take yours. I'll pay for their expenses."