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Carly

May 2024... Central Park, New York City

I was getting worried.

It had been nearly two months since Justin’s last message. The lack of communication gnawed at my thoughts. A prickling unease crawled up my spine, telling me that something was definitely wrong. I had the urge to call him repeatedly, but I consciously prevented myself from doing so. I reasoned that it wasn’t a pressing emergency. Because Justin had been quite insistent that I should only call in a true life-or-death emergency, I reluctantly resisted the urge to contact him, choosing instead to place my trust in his judgment of the situation.

To fill my days, I dedicated my time to in-depth research, countless internet searches, and the enjoyment of quality time spent with Drew. His nightmares, once frequent and vivid, eventually diminished in both number and intensity, allowing him to adjust to our new normal. Despite the initial struggles, we persevered, eventually developing a seamless and effective team dynamic. Although seemingly relaxed, Drew, much like me, maintained his guard, conscious of the lurking threat.

Sitting in front of my computer, I sighed and leaned back in my chair. I was just as far from the truth as when I began, the mystery deepening with every unanswered question.

Discovering the truth about Mother and the Society sent a wave of anger and determination through me, fueling my independent inquiry. I never trusted a word Mother said. Her honeyed voice and false promises felt like a snake in my gut, and though I yearned to believe my other family, I needed proof that they weren’t as bad or worse than Mother.

More importantly, I was desperate to decipher the meaning behind Justin’s initial statement, a cryptic message that foreshadowed the life-altering events to come.

I could still recall the unsettling tone of his voice when we met for the first time.

November 2021, Washington, D.C.,

“Dad, it’s a trap.”

My father scoffed. “Carly, stop being so dramatic. If I don’t show up, then everyone will talk. You, of all people, know how this town loves its gossip.”

“What about Drew?”

“Nothing will happen to him, I promise. Everyone believes he’s mine,” my father said, adjusting his bowtie. “And I pay the nanny handsomely to keep her mouth shut. Plus, security will be here.”

My father was a man I deeply loved, yet my earnest attempts to impress upon him the immense significance of this evening’s event were met with failure. His utter blindness and profound ignorance of the situation led him to see tonight’s gathering as nothing more than an unremarkable, ordinary political dinner. He completely failed to understand that tonight’s dinner was actually a celebratory feast marking the Society’s recent triumph., A fact entirely unrelated to his own aspirations for the presidential nomination.

The second my foot crossed the threshold, I knew all eyes would be on me—a spotlight in a silent, judging room, making the already tense atmosphere heavier. He had to have fucking known that. It’s what Mother wanted. What she had been grooming me for since my birth. Mother didn’t give a flying fuck about Drew or Dad. All she cared about was the fucking Society. The sooner he realized that, the faster he could wake the fuck up and smell the fucking roses.

“You actually love her.”

“Of course I love her. She’s my wife.”

In a gesture of disapproval, I shook my head, turned away from him, and then strode over to my desk. Reaching down and pulling open the bottom drawer, I retrieved a large, thick file and handed it to him.

“Jesus, Dad! You still don’t get it. You need to read this file and learn the truth about the woman you married.”

“What are you talking about, Carly?” my father said, opening the file I gave him.

“Mother is the head of the Society! She always has been. Everything you have, everything you are, is because she made it happen. Did you honestly believe that as a first-time senator from Virginia, a fucking newly elected incumbent, you had enough clout to get the nomination for President of the United States all on your own? I know you’re good, Dad, but you’re not that good. Mother only married you to get control of everything. The Society rigged everything. No matter who runs against you, you will win. Mother has ensured it.”

My father’s face grew ashen with disgust as he read page after page in silence. With a sigh, he collapsed into a chair, his voice barely above a whisper when he spoke. “My God. What has she done?”

“She’s evil, Dad. We need to leave.”

My father, slowly shaking his head, looked up at me, his gaze conveying a mixture of disappointment and concern. “My career is over. My God, what the hell did she do?”

“Dad, the hell with your career,” I cried, kneeling before him. “Look at me. I need you to hear me. You can’t trust anyone anymore. I mean it. Everyone works for the Society. They all work for her. Something is coming. Something big. I don’t know what, but I feel it. We need to get the hell away from D.C., and fast.”

Rubbing his forehead, he muttered, “Everything I’ve worked for. It’s all gone. When the media learns what she has done, my political career is over. No one will ever trust me again. She’s ruined me.”

I took the file from him, laid it down on the floor, and then, turning back to him, I grasped his hands in mine. “Issac, please listen to me. I need you to hear me. We need to leave.”

“Oh, there you two are,” Mother happily said, waltzing into the room all smiles, as if everything were perfect in her world. And it was, because she made damn sure of it. “The car has arrived. Are you ready, Issac? Tonight is your big night. The entire world will be watching your every move.”

With a slow, deliberate movement, my dad raised his eyes to look at the woman he loved, but the love that had been shining in them just moments before suddenly extinguished, leaving behind a cold, hard stare. The hardening of his gaze sent a chill down my spine, and I rose to my feet in a panic, forcing a smile on my lips.

“Mother, you look beautiful.”

“I do, don’t I?” she said, studying herself in the mirror. “There is going to be a lot of important people here tonight, and I need to look my best. Perception is everything, Charlotte. Remember that. Never let them see the real you.”

“Yes, Mother.”

She spent a few moments perfecting her appearance, making sure her hair was just right and her lipstick was flawless, before finally turning toward the door. “Hurry up, you two. Tonight, everything changes.”

“Yes, Mother,” I automatically said, watching her sashay out of the room.

The second she was gone, I turned to my dad when he sneered, “I’m going to fucking kill her.”

“Get in line,” I muttered, getting his attention. “Listen to me, Dad. I know this is going to be hard, but you need to play the doting and loving husband tonight. When the dinner is over, we can pack for the summer home. Once there, we can get away.”

“And go where, Carly? I’m the Democratic presidential candidate. I can’t just fucking disappear.”

“Oh yes you can, and you will,” I firmly stated. “I have a plan.”

The viper den was teeming with people, forcing me to inch my way through the crowd with utmost care. Mother had gathered her ladies around her and the group was engaged in lively conversation, drawing the attention of many men who were eager to join their circle. She was in her element tonight. While the event was supposed to be all about my dad, somehow, before it even began, it was all about her.

Just the way she liked it.

As far back as I could recall, Mother had always been the most lively and entertaining person at any gathering. An overwhelming desire to be the most captivating, desirable, and powerful woman in the room completely eclipsed any rational thought or common sense she possessed. It wasn’t simply a want, but a need, a deep-seated craving that promised her contentment and fulfillment, a compulsion that she couldn’t ignore. She craved the spotlight, and if she wasn’t the center of attention, well, heaven help us all.

It was a relentless pursuit, a burning desire for more, a need to have it all, that propelled her to her current position.

It would also be the thing that killed her.

Raised in a prominent Southern family, with all the advantages that entailed, Mother experienced a life of luxury and comfort during her formative years. From her earliest days, Mother excelled in everything she did, amassing a collection of awards, achievements, and accolades that spoke to her exceptional abilities. As far as I knew, Mother had the perfect childhood. That was until her sophomore year of college, when she learned the truth of where she came from and met Angela Goldman. That meeting was a turning point in Mother’s life. From that point onward, a desire for more consumed her, forever changing her world.

I guess in a small way, we were alike.

For a short time, I hung on Mother’s every word. I wanted to be just like her. And like her, I learned the truth at my own pivotal moment, when I discovered she had my dearest friend, Jodi, killed in an automobile accident.

All because I wanted something different in life.

“You shouldn’t be here, Carly,” a deep, timbered voice murmured from behind me, from somewhere in the shadows. His voice, sending a chill of uncertainty coursing down my spine.

He wasn’t supposed to be here.

We promised to never speak in public.

“Neither should you,” I whispered.

“He knows the truth. It’s not safe for you anymore. I need to get you and Drew to safety.”

“I can’t,” I said, then quickly smiled when one of my mother’s friends walked past, nodding his head toward me. “Issac just learned the truth. I won’t leave him.”

“To hell with him. He’s not important.”

“Please. He’s innocent. I need more time.”

The man growled. “One week. If you don’t get him in line by then, I will extract you myself.”

Nodding, I said nothing more when I stepped away from the shadows and back into the fray.

As the night wore on, I was bone tired by the time my father escorted Mother and me from the venue and toward our waiting car.

“Darling, go ahead without me,” Mother said, looking over her shoulder at a group of men. “There is something I need to take care of.”

I knew who she was looking at. The same men my father spent the better half of the night talking to. I didn’t know what they discussed, but knowing those men, I was fairly certain it wasn’t good.

I just hoped my dad didn’t buy into their bullshit.

“Sienna, it’s late.”

Kissing my dad’s cheek, she smiled. “I will be home shortly.”

Saying nothing more, I ducked into the backseat of the waiting car; my dad followed shortly after. Reaching overhead, my father pushed a button and watched the partition rise, separating us from the guard and driver. Leaning his head back, he sighed, closed his eyes, and yanked off his bowtie.

The ride home was blissfully quiet, and the second the car pulled to a stop in front of our house, I quickly exited the vehicle and ran into the house and up the stairs, needing to see Drew.

Carefully opening his door, I found the room pitch black. Quietly making my way deeper into the room, I reached Drew’s crib and was about to scream for my dad when Mother flipped on the lights and said, “You stupid girl. Did you think I wouldn’t find out the truth?”

Gripping the rails of the crib, I sneered, “What did you do?”

“I took care of your fuck up,” Mother clipped angrily, stepping into the room and closing the door behind her. “This is how it’s going to go, Charlotte, so pay attention. From this day forward, you will do exactly as I say, or you will never see Drew again. Am I clear?”

Standing my ground, I glared. “I won’t marry him.”

“Oh yes you will, and you will do your fucking duty, even if I have to force you into compliance. I didn’t work my ass off for you to fuck it all up. You want Drew to grow up, then fucking get with the program.”

“You touch one hair on his head, and he will kill you.”

Mother narrowed her eyes and grinned. “No, he won’t, because he doesn’t even know. That was your second mistake. Your first was fucking that Italian scum. Now go get changed. You’re getting married tonight.”

“Dad will stop you.”

Mother laughed, throwing her head back like some maniacal evil fucking queen. “Your father won’t wake till morning, thanks to the scotch he just drank. Now get fucking dressed.”

“Where is my son?”

“Safe, unless you don’t get married,” she threatened, throwing a white silky piece of fabric at me. “Now get fucking dressed. We’re late.”

An hour later, I stepped out of the car and looked up at the large townhouse when a man opened the front door and smiled at me. Standing there, I just stared at the man, refusing to move as I remembered where I’d seen him before. He had spent the majority of the night in my father’s ear.

“I was getting worried, Sienna.”

“Oh, you know how young brides are. So nervous,” Mother happily replied, grabbing onto my arm tightly while she ushered me toward the large man.

“She looks nothing like you.”

“She takes after Issac.”

The man didn’t reply to that.

Instead, he stepped to the side and allowed us entry.

“Is everyone gathered?” Mother asked while the butler stepped forward to take her coat; I noticed the man didn’t offer to take mine. Not that I would have let him. The dress, or lack thereof, Mother threw at me was see-through and left nothing to the imagination.

“Yes. They are all waiting.”

“Good.” Mother smiled, escorting me deeper into the house. Passing several rooms, I tried to orient myself so I could remember the way out of this place; however, when we stepped into a large gathering room, I came to a dead halt and gasped when I saw people quietly talking, dressed in long black robes while they drank from champagne flutes. More importantly, what captured my attention was what was front and center in the middle of the room.

A fucking bed!

Whipping my head to Mother, I seethed, “What the fuck is going on here?”

“We need to make sure you consummate the marriage.”

Shaking my head, I tried to step back, but Mother’s grasp tightened, and she yanked me forward.

“Please, Mother. Don’t make me do this,” I pleaded as several guests smiled and others laughed.

“She won’t be shy for much longer, Sienna.”

“I remember when you were that innocent, darling.”

“He is one lucky man.”

Ignoring all the comments, I tried unsuccessfully to break Mother’s grip, but the harder I fought her, the tighter her grip became.

“About fucking time,” a large man clipped, walking toward Mother as another man, one much younger, walked reluctantly behind him. From the look on his face, he didn’t want to be here either.

“That him?”

The large man nodded. “Yes, and he will cooperate, or I will kill him where he stands.”

Mother nodded. “Let’s give them a few minutes to get acquainted. There’s been a development.”

Releasing me, Mother and the other man walked off, leaving me with the man who, within minutes, would become my husband.

Motioning to the side, the man whose name I still didn’t know allowed me to walk past him, away from prying eyes. Leaning against the wall, he stood in front of me, shielding me from everyone in the room.

“My name is Justin Peterson.”

“Carly Mitchell,” I muttered. “What do they have on you?”

He smirked. “They found out who my birth father was.”

Looking at the man, I waited for him to continue.

“Samuel Peterson.”

“Shit,” I cursed, shaking my head. “You’re the bastard son.”

Justin smirked. “Yeah. That would be me. What do they expect us to do tonight?”

I scoffed. “I think the bed in the middle of the room is rather obvious.”

“Shit, I don’t want any part of this. I spent my entire life hiding from a past that I had no part of and now I’m fucking in the middle of it. I wish there were some other way. I am truly sorry, Charlotte. I don’t want any of this any more than you do. Like you, I am being blackmailed as well.”

“What do they have on you besides your birth father?”

“Fuckers found out my true allegiance.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Short version. My actual club tasked me with infiltrating the Soulless Sinners to locate a woman we believe George or one of his friends are hiding and to ensure the Soulless Sinners kept their promise.”

“Promise about what?”

“About the truth.”

Sighing, I rubbed my forehead. “Justin, I’m gonna need more than that. My head is spinning. Just tell me what it is I don’t know. Start with the actual name of your real club?”

When he said nothing, I groaned.

“Look. You must know who I really am, right?”

He nodded.

“Then just tell me.”

He frowned, then eased me toward the corner, away from the many prying eyes, and whispered, “Your uncle accidentally stepped into a war not of his making, and if he’s not careful, he will lose it all. What do you know about the history of the Golden Skulls?”

“Not much. Only that William Doherty killed his best friend, Xavier Goldman, and took over the Golden Skulls after they returned from Vietnam and that he raped my grandmother then killed her.”

Justin cursed, lightly shaking his head. “So, you know nothing.”

Looking at the man, I narrowed my eyes. I could tell he clearly knew more and was reluctant to say anything. Whatever it was, it concerned the Golden Skulls and my grandfather.

Seeing Mother make her way toward us, I quickly whispered, “What don’t I know?”

“William didn’t kill Xavier to take over the Golden Skulls. He killed him because he learned the truth.”

“What truth?”

“It’s time.” Mother smiled.

Well shit.

I never did get the answer to what he was talking about, and after that night, I never saw Justin again until he showed up in the dead of night, right before George Stone and several of the Satan’s Angels killed Issac and set our house on fire.