Chapter Two-hundred Six: Shopping Spree
- Arthur
- 6 days ago
- 20 min read
Chapter 206
Shopping Spree
Jordi stepped out of his bedroom after he showered and spritzed on some cologne. He wore a denim button-down shirt, a dark blue sports jacket, jeans, and black sheer socks. He strolled into the kitchen to see his sister at the stove making breakfast. She wore a backless pink chiffon dress with long sleeves that came down to her knees. She smiled at her older brother, who sat down. Jordi looked around and was pleasantly surprised to see his grandfather not around.
She poured some coffee into his mug and dished up some French toast, scrambled eggs, bacon, and sausages for him. Jordi beamed at her.
Jordi: “Thank you so much!”
He added some milk, cream, and sugar to his coffee and started eating his breakfast. His sister sat with him, had breakfast with him, and ate with him.
Lena: “So where are the shopping malls?”
Jordi: “I can take you to the Pink Flamingo Mall.”
He nodded and ate some bacon. Her eyes sparkled.
Lena: “Ooooh, I heard it was one of the biggest malls in America! I always wanted to go there.”
Jordi nodded.
Jordi: “What would you like to get?”
Lena pressed her forefinger against her chin.
Lena: “Some pots and pans, some new bedsheets, and clothes!”
She chirped. Jordi laughed.
Jordi: “Sounds good! I’d love to take you to get some of those.”
Lena looked around.
Lena: “Where is Grandpa?”
Jordi clenched his fist.
Jordi: “Sleeping.”
He said tersely. He can sleep forever for all I care, he thought. He glared at his bedroom door, which was closed. He glanced at Henrietta’s bedroom door and raised an eyebrow. Isn’t she normally awake by now? He wondered.
~
Jordi stepped out of the house with his black zip-up boots on and his tinted gold-framed sunglasses over his eyes. Lena stepped out, slid her feet into her butterfly sandals, and had her pink purse over her shoulder. She climbed into the passenger’s seat, and he got in the driver’s seat. Jordi adjusted the rearview mirror and slid his keys into the ignition.
Lena: “This is a nice car! When did you get it?!”
She gasped. Jordi smiled as he started the car and looked behind him as he reversed out of the driveway.
Jordi: “When I got my current job. Before that, I had an old junker.”
He chuckled. He shifted into first gear and drove down the road.
Lena: “Whoa, it goes so fast.”
Jordi beamed at her.
~
When they arrived at the Pink Flamingo Mall, Lena gasped, and her byzantine eyes sparkled. She marveled at the atrium, the large fountain, and the escalators rising to the many floors lined with rows and rows of stores.
She took his hand and led him to Holloway’s, an upscale department store in the US since the 1920s that sold everything from high-end men’s and women’s fashions, beauty products, shoes, accessories, and high-end cookware. Lena gasped and made a beeline for the food and gourmet aisle. She pointed to pink heart-shaped pots and pans, Dutch ovens, casseroles, and muffin tins.
Lena: “Look, Jordi! Aren’t they pretty?! I want those!”
She cupped her cheeks. Jordi smiled.
Jordi: “You like cooking and baking?”
Lena nodded.
Lena: “Yup! I always wanted to cook and bake for my big brother.”
She smiled.
Her eyes lit up, and she darted over to a full heart apron with large white ruffles and pink heart patterns. Jordi smiled at her and nodded. She gasped and rushed over to a baby-pink bedspread with pink sheets. Jordi cupped his chin.
Jordi: “You want that?”
She pursed her lips and nodded.
Jordi: “Sure, anything you want!”
~
An hour later, Jordi was in the food court having a cigarette, a coffee, and a donut. Celeste sat with him and ate his donut. She wore a white tiger-striped tank top, a black leather skirt, thigh-high stockings, black ankle-strap boots, a spiked collar, and a leather jacket.
Jordi: “Hello!”
He laughed.
Celeste: “What are you doing here?”
Jordi: “Oh, I made a call to an interior decorator to redo my mom’s old bedroom.”
He smiled widely.
Celeste: “Why?”
Jordi: “My sister is moving here!”
Celeste: “You have a sister?”
She tilted her head.
Jordi: “Yeah, I found this out last night.”
He grimaced.
Jordi: “It’s a long story, but my grandmother left Grandpa and me to go find her, and she kept her away from us until now. She came here a few months after she turned eighteen.”
He clenched his fist. Celeste blinked.
Celeste: “Oh, I see. So, uh, where is she now?”
Jordi: “She’s at the spa getting a pedicure and manicure.”
He inhaled a long drag.
Lena approached Jordi with a smile.
Lena: “Got my nails done!”
She held her hands out to show off her bright pink nails.
Jordi: “Very nice!”
Celeste knelt to examine her toenails.
Celeste: “These are, too!”
She brushed her fingertips against the tops of her feet. Lena yelped and backed away laughing.
Lena: “HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! AHAHAHAHAHAHA!!”
Jordi sighed.
Lena: “Hehahahaha, is she your girlfriend?”
Lena drew a breath as she fixed her hair.
Celeste: “Nah, Jordi and I are just friends.”
She drawled. Lena smiled.
Lena: “How long were you friends for?”
Celeste: “As long as he helped us save Jaxon from his crazy boss.”
She replied. Jordi’s face crumpled. Lena gaped at Jordi.
Jordi: “...It’s a long story. I don’t want to get into it. Celeste and I were friends for a while.”
He nodded.
Jordi: “This is my sister, Lena.”
Celeste: “Hi, Lena, I like your feet.”
She waved. Lena reddened.
Lena: “Thank you.”
Jordi: “In any case, Lena and I have to head home now. It was nice talking to you, Celeste.”
He smiled tightly.
Lena: “Nice meeting you, Celeste.”
She said as they left her.
Lena: “Are all your friends like her?”
Jordi: “Celeste is unique.”
He sighed. As they walked by Cathy’s Closet, Gina’s jaw dropped as she saw Jordi with Lena. She glued her eyes on him and clenched her fists as she burned with rage. Who is that slut with him?! She wondered with fury.
~
Deimos sat at the island in the Trémaux kitchen. He wore a Celtic Frost tank top, torn jeans, and black cowboy boots. Bastien was at the counter, preparing breakfast. Deimos stared at his lap, hoping he had forgotten the awkward encounter from last night.
Victor and Jasper entered the kitchen, giggling. Bastien kept his back turned to all of them. Deimos drummed his fingers on the counter. Tristan came downstairs. He wore a black turtleneck sweater, blue dress pants, and black sheer socks. He sat by Deimos. He noticed Deimos shrank in his seat. He flicked his gaze to his father, Jasper giggling, and Bastien with his back turned to everyone.
Bastien approached Tristan and placed a cup on a saucer.
Bastien: “I prepared some black ginger tea for you.”
Tristan: “Thank you, Bastien.”
He picked up the cup and blew on it.
Deimos: “I want coffee…”
He murmured. Bastien slammed the mug of coffee on the island. Deimos jolted. Tristan raised an eyebrow. Deimos meekly reached over and sipped on the coffee.
Tristan: “Is everything okay, Bastien?”
He asked him.
Bastien: “Everything is fine. I slept terribly because of the noise.”
He glared at his father.
Tristan: “My apologies, Bastien. I suggest sleeping with a fan on. I learned that drowns out noise when you’re trying to sleep.”
He replied tersely, recalling trying to sleep with Dougal masturbating or snoring.
He placed some honeyed toast in front of Tristan. Victor stared at Bastien.
Victor: “What about Jasper and me, Bastien?”
Bastien turned to him.
Bastien: “Why are you with him, Father?”
He asked sharply. Jasper shrank in his seat and looked hurt. Tristan raised an eyebrow. Victor gaped at his son.
Victor: “Because I want to be with him, Bastien! Why are you being mean to me now?!”
He sniffled and removed his glasses to wipe his eyes.
Bastien: “You’re still married to mother.”
Tristan scrutinized Bastien and narrowed his eyes at him. Victor’s bottom lip trembled. He flapped his arms.
Victor: “SHE’S DEAD! EVEN IF SHE WEREN’T, I AM DONE WITH HER. WHY ARE YOU BRINGING THIS UP?! WHY DO YOU CONTINUE TO BRING UP NARCISSE?! WHY DO YOU WANT ME TO RELIVE THAT?! MAYBE YOU’RE THE ONE LIKE CHARLOTTE, NOT TRISTAN!”
He barked and sank to the floor, crying. Jasper knit his eyebrows and knelt to comfort Victor.
Bastien turned to Deimos.
Bastien: “And I caught you sniffing Tristan’s worn underwear!”
He blurted. Deimos shrank. Tristan turned to him as the heat rose to his face.
Tristan: “DEIMOS!”
He chided him. Deimos looked at Tristan like a scolded kitten.
Tristan turned to Bastien. He was speaking to Narcisse; I knew that feeling of dread shouldn’t be ignored, he thought.
Bastien: “Nothing is ever good enough for you, Father! You always cry and whine about something!”
He snapped and stormed off. Deimos shrank in his seat. Tristan watched Bastien go, listening to his father wail while Jasper comforted him.
Jasper: “It’s okay, Victor, he’s having a bad day, and he didn’t mean it.”
He crooned. Tristan drew a long breath. This runs deeper than a bad day, he thought.
~
When Jordi and Lena arrived home, he carried all her purchases inside and then led her to her bedroom. They entered a lavish, highly stylized bedroom that felt like a blend of classic Rococo elegance and a modern “cozy-core” aesthetic. The room was drenched in soft shades of cream, champagne, and blush pink, accented with ornate gold molding. The walls exhibited sophisticated boiserie with raised gold molding.
In the center of the room was a grand four-poster bed with a gold frame. It featured layers of sheer white drapes, a ruffled lace bed skirt, and a mountain of silk throw pillows. Under the bed was a circular cream rug with gold filigree patterns that echoed the room’s classical architectural details.
Dozens of warm fairy lights are strung across the ceiling, radiating from a central point to create a “starry night” over the entire room.
To the right, an ornate gold-framed oval mirror hung above a delicate marble-top vanity table with a matching plush pink velvet chair.
Neighboring the vanity were floor-to-ceiling curved bookshelves packed with books, featuring a built-in reading corner with a cream-colored beanbag chair resting on a fuzzy pink rug.
To the left were two white dressers under the windows, framed by silk cream curtains.
At the end of the room was a walk-in closet with two white doors, and neighboring it was a white wooden desk with a computer.
Lena’s mouth was ajar as she took in her surroundings. She cupped her mouth, stunned at what she saw before her.
Jordi: “I had a professional decorator come in and redo Mom’s bedroom… for you.”
He smiled. Lena’s eyes filled with tears. She turned to Jordi and hugged him tightly. Jordi raised his eyebrows and beamed. He hugged her back.
Lena: “Thank you, Jordi! This is so beautiful! I always wanted a bedroom like this!”
She exclaimed.
She sauntered over to her bed and sat down.
Lena: “I feel like a real princess.”
She grinned. Jordi cupped his mouth, thinking about how Madelyn had referred to him as a prince, and how his sister had said she felt that was fitting.
He heard a knock at the door.
Jordi: “I’ll get that.”
He nodded and went to the door. When Jordi left her room, Lena started unloading her purchases, placing her makeup, perfume, and beauty products on her vanity. She then hung up her new dresses and coats in her closet.
Jordi opened the door to see Tristan. He had a gray trench coat over his clothes.
Tristan: “May I come in?”
Jordi smiled and nodded. Tristan stepped inside, shrugged out of his coat, and knelt down to untie his black wingtip Oxfords.
Lena strolled out to see who was there and reddened when Tristan rose to lock his gaze on her.
Tristan: “Oh, greetings!”
Lena blushed and fiddled with her locket.
Jordi: “Oh, Tristan, this is my sister, Lena! Lena, this is my friend, Tristan!”
Tristan smiled and held his hand out.
Tristan: “Nice to meet you, Lena.”
Lena trembled and gingerly shook his hand.
Lena: “S-Same to you.”
She stammered. She felt the most feminine part of her flutter when he grasped her hand. Tristan smiled at her.
Lena: “I-I’m going to make paella… What protein do you like?”
She fiddled with her locket.
Jordi: “Well, if Grandma told you the recipe, you know what I like.”
He teased.
Lena: “I-I know, Jordi, but I was asking T-Tristan… He’s the guest.”
Jordi chuckled.
Tristan: “I love chicken, but I’m aware Jordi likes shrimp in his, so I don’t mind.”
He nodded.
Lena: “I-I can put both in!”
Tristan: “That would be lovely.”
Lena flushed red and smiled widely.
Tristan turned to Jordi.
Tristan: “Shall we go out to the back patio?”
Jordi nodded.
Lena stepped out in her heart apron and twirled around.
Lena: “D-Do you like it?”
Jordi beamed at her.
Jordi: “Yes!”
Tristan nodded.
Tristan: “Yes, it’s adorable.”
Lena cupped her cheeks and blushed.
Lena: “Thank you! Jordi bought it for me! After dinner, would you like to see my bedroom?”
Tristan bobbed his head.
Tristan: “Absolutely.”
Lena’s byzantine eyes sparkled.
~
Tristan and Jordi sat out on the back patio.
Jordi: “I think my kid sister likes you.”
He teased.
Tristan: “I picked up on that.”
He smiled.
Tristan: “Jordi, you never told me you had a sister.”
Jordi’s smile faded.
Jordi: “Because up until last night, I was told my sister was a stillborn, and I never liked talking about it.”
He folded his arms. Tristan gazed at him.
Tristan: “And it was a lie.”
Jordi nodded.
Jordi: “Yeah, she was born prematurely by a month or two. I guess Grandpa didn’t want to pay for the medical attention she needed and forced Mom to give her away.”
He huffed.
Jordi: “When my grandmother left Grandpa and me when I was sixteen, she found Lena and took her in. Lena only came here now because she turned eighteen.”
He pounded his fist on the table. Tristan gazed at him.
Jordi: “Why didn’t Grandma take me?! Why didn’t she tell me about Lena?! Why did I grow up believing my sister was dead when she wasn’t?!”
He said on the verge of tears. Tristan drew a long breath.
Tristan: “Parents, grandparents… Why do they shield us from the truth? You’re not alone in this situation, Jordi.”
Jordi drew a rough breath.
Jordi: “Why didn’t Grandma take me and leave that old bastard behind?”
He inhaled sharply.
Tristan: “Perhaps she couldn’t. It could be due to a lack of funds or any other reason. Perhaps she felt that your grandfather shouldn’t be alone, even if she resented him.”
He explained.
Jordi: “She could have told me about my little sister.”
Tristan nodded.
Tristan: “While I agree she should have, maybe she felt that shouldn’t be done until she was of age. I can’t imagine your grandfather would treat her any better than he treats you, so maybe your grandmother didn’t want to subject her to that.”
He said coolly. Jordi pursed his lips and nodded.
Tristan: “Has your grandfather said anything since she came back?”
Jordi shook his head.
Jordi: “No, he hasn’t come out of his bedroom. That old fucker is probably too craven to face what he did.”
He said through clenched teeth. Tristan raised an eyebrow. I wouldn’t be so certain, he thought.
Jordi smiled weakly.
Jordi: “I’m sorry. I’m dumping my problems on you when you need a friend now.”
Tristan raised his eyebrows in surprise.
Tristan: “Am I that obvious?”
Jordi: “To me, you are.”
Tristan chuckled and folded his hands.
Tristan: “Papa and Jasper have grown close these past few weeks.”
Jordi: “Is that a problem for you?”
Tristan shook his head.
Tristan: “No. Frankly, I am happy that he found love. He deserves it after what that thing and Narcisse put him through.”
Jordi nodded.
Jordi: “What is the issue?”
Tristan: “Bastien took a sudden exception to it.”
Jordi inhaled sharply.
Jordi: “Is he someone who keeps his feelings bottled up?”
Tristan lowered his head.
Tristan: “Yes, I would say so, but I don’t believe this is why he is behaving this way.”
He sighed.
Tristan: “I believe Narcisse is communicating with him somehow and planting ideas in his head. Papa really detests Narcisse being brought up—arguably more than that… thing.”
He clicked his tongue with disgust.
Lena stepped out and blushed at Tristan. She fiddled with her locket.
Lena: “Dinner is ready, boys.”
Tristan smiled at her, and the two men rose.
~
Tristan, Jordi, and Lena sat at the dining room table eating.
Tristan: “My God, Lena, this is delectable!”
He beamed. Lena flushed red.
Jordi: “I think you made this better for him, didn’t you?”
He teased. Lena gasped and turned to Jordi.
Lena: “Jordi!”
She scolded him. Tristan chuckled. He turned to Jordi’s grandfather’s bedroom.
Tristan: “He’s still not coming out after smelling this delicious food?”
Jordi thrust a forkful of food in his mouth.
Jordi: “He can stay in there and never come out.”
He muttered. Tristan arched an eyebrow.
He rose from the table.
Jordi: “I don’t want to face him.”
He said tersely. Tristan turned to Jordi.
Tristan: “Then I will.”
He replied and knocked on his door.
Tristan: “Mr. Vaquero, is everything all right?”
Lena turned to Tristan. There was no response.
Tristan: “Mr. Vaquero, my apologies, but I am coming in.”
He turned the knob to the door and opened it. He wasn’t in his bed. The TV was still playing, and no one was in the bedroom.
Jordi: “The coward ran away.”
He huffed. Tristan entered the room and shut off the TV. He entered his bedroom and brushed back the sheets to find a note. Tristan read it, and his face darkened.
Tristan: “Not quite, Jordi. Balderico has him held hostage.”
Jordi hastily rose. Lena cupped her mouth.
Jordi: “WHAT?!”
Tristan handed him the note. It read, “I have your grandfather, Jordi. Come to the manor and let’s negotiate. Signed, Balderico.”
Lena: “Jordi, what’s happening?!”
Jordi placed his hands on her shoulders.
Jordi: “I need you to stay here while I go rescue Grandpa.”
He said gently but firmly.
Lena: “Let me come with you!”
Jordi’s face crumbled. Tristan took Lena’s hands. Lena gasped, feeling his warm hands on hers.
Tristan: “Lena, it would mean the world to your brother and me if you remained here while we rescue your grandfather.”
He said gently. Lena swooned.
Lena: “Okay, Tristan.”
Jordi sighed and shook his head.
Jordi: “Let’s go.”
Tristan nodded and followed Jordi.
~
Tristan, Celeste, Jaxon, Jordi, and Deimos met up at the Belloni mansion. A man in a suit approached them.
Man: “What is your business here?!”
Tristan opened his mouth, and Deimos delivered a roadhouse kick to the man’s head, sending him crashing to the ground and knocking him out.
Deimos: “That takes care of that.”
They all heard clapping. Balderico stood before them wearing a dark blue tweed suit, a white pressed shirt, a blue tie, and black Oxfords. Another man in a suit dragged a beaten, bruised Abraham out, dragging his oxygen tank behind. Abraham wore a stained tank top with a gray cardigan over it, red plaid pajama bottoms, and bunny slippers.
Jordi: “GRANDPA!”
He cried. Balderico scoffed.
Balderico: “He’s more than fine, Jordi! Relax! I wouldn’t hurt him!”
Jordi bared his teeth.
Celeste: “But he’s bruised up and gasping for air.”
She drawled. Jordi’s heart hammered in his chest.
Balderico: “Yes, little lady, and this is where the negotiating comes in!”
He held up his forefinger.
Jordi: “I am NOT going back to Gina!”
He rasped and slashed his hand through the air. Balderico grimaced.
Balderico: “I wouldn’t be so hasty in coming to that decision, Jordi.”
He said coldly, tugging on the tubing of Abraham’s oxygen tank. Jordi froze turgid. Tristan surveyed his actions, trying to conjure a strategy.
Balderico pulled out a rubber duck.
Balderico: “Don’t you just love rubber duckies?”
He chuckled. Jordi stomped his foot.
Jordi: “What kind of a game are you playing, Balderico?!”
He roared. Balderico clicked his tongue.
Balderico: “What, am I prohibited from sharing my interests with my future son-in-law?”
He chuckled. Jordi bared his teeth.
Deimos: “He’s not going back to your weirdo daughter! He’s dating another weirdo!”
He huffed and looked at Tristan for approval. Tristan heaved a deep sigh.
Balderico: “I don’t recall asking what Giorgos’ useless son thinks.”
He sneered.
Deimos: “I am NOT Lazaros!”
He stomped his foot and pointed at him.
Balderico: “What difference does it make? You’re both alike.”
Deimos glared at him.
Balderico: “Doesn’t matter. I am not wasting more time talking to your friends, Jordi. I was negotiating with you, but have it your way.”
He snapped his fingers.
A massive, vibrant yellow robotic duck dropped in front of them, causing the ground to tremble. The main body was composed of large, semi-matte yellow panels. Unlike a standard rubber duck, this entity possessed complex robotic arms. The arms featured segmented black-and-yellow hydraulic joints and terminated in detailed, multi-fingered metallic hands.
The head maintained the iconic “beady eyes” and orange beak, but was equipped with gray, circular components near the “ears.” The duck was anchored to the ground by wide, orange mechanical feet.
Tristan narrowed his eyes at Balderico and the duck. Celeste blinked. Jaxon stood behind Celeste. Jordi bared his teeth, glaring furiously at Balderico. Deimos braced his feet apart for impact. Balderico grinned.
Balderico: “Does this meet your approval? Meet ‘Autonomous Defense Unit: Cybernetic Kneeler’ or ‘A.D.U.C.K.’.”
He chuckled.
Deimos: “Fuck your stupid duck, you tweed-wearing fruitcake! I’m going to fuck up your duck!”
He snapped.
Balderico: “That’s catchy. Picking up on your crazy brother’s puns?”
He chuckled. Deimos bared his teeth.
Deimos: “FUCK YOU!”
He roared and charged after Balderico, raising his fist.
The orange beak on the duck opened, and a high-pitched frequency sound came out of the bill. Deimos screamed and fell to the ground, clutching his ears. Tristan, Jaxon, Celeste, and Jordi all knelt to the ground, pressing their hands against their ears, screaming in pain.
The duck’s hand came down to Deimos to squash him. Tristan gnashed his teeth and rushed over, creating a barrier of ice over himself and Deimos. The duck’s hand crashed on it. Deimos grabbed Tristan and shielded him as the chunks of ice crashed down on him. Deimos grunted in pain. Tristan shot his hand out, and a large icicle shot up from the dome, scraping against the duck. The ice scumbled, hitting Deimos on the head, and his blood dripped on Tristan.
Tristan: “Deimos!”
He cried. Deimos smiled weakly.
Deimos: “Tristan, I will always protect you.”
A purple glow surrounded them as Deimos healed the two.
Jordi shot his hand out, and purple lightning struck down on the duck. The duck didn’t flinch as the electricity coursed through him. Jordi’s mouth was ajar.
Balderico: “I got my ducks in a row, Jordi!”
He teased.
Tristan shot icicles at the duck. High-powered steam emitted from the duck’s neck, melting the icicles. Tristan glared at the duck and at Balderico.
Balderico: “Need I repeat myself, or would you find that objectionable, Mr. Lawyer?”
He teased.
Tristan: “I wouldn’t count my ducks before they hatched.”
He countered with a smirk.
Celeste lept, grabbed the arm of the duck, and lifted in the air.
Balderico: “What the?!”
Jaxon rushed over to retrieve Abraham from Balderico.
Balderico: “HEY! GET AWAY FROM HIM!”
He grabbed Jaxon’s shirt. Jordi punched Balderico across the face.
Jordi: “You don’t know how much I always wanted to do that!”
Balderico cried out in pain and crashed to the ground. Tristan formed a sheet of ice beneath Balderico’s feet, and Jaxon shoved him away.
Balderico: “WHOOOOOOOOAAA!!”
He slid and fell into his water fountain. Jaxon put Abraham’s arm over him as he helped him get out of there safely. A red glow surrounded him as Jaxon healed him.
Celeste flipped the duck over, and it crashed down on Balderico’s Mercedes-Benz. Balderico gasped as he saw the duck crush his car. Celeste grabbed a cypress tree by the trunk and lifted it out of the ground, ripping it out of its roots.
Celeste slammed the tree down on A.D.U.C.K., smashing the duck in. Electricity coursed through the robot, and it erupted into flames, followed by a mighty boom that sent mechanical debris flying, striking the house and the ground. Molten components hit the ground, and coolant leaked onto hot metal, creating a thick shroud of steam and acrid smoke.
Balderico gaped at leaping flames and the thick shroud of smoke billowing into the dusky sky.
Celeste: “Your stupid plan ain’t all it’s quacked up to be!”
She said smugly. Tristan chuckled and flipped his hair.
Tristan: “A good note to end this.”
Jordi: “Thanks for helping me get… Grandpa back, you guys.”
He smiled tightly. Tristan dusted himself off.
Tristan: “Always a pleasure, Jordi. Is everything okay?”
Jordi nodded mutely and led his grandfather to his car. Tristan watched them go.
He turned to Jaxon, Celeste, and Deimos.
Tristan: “We should follow them back home.”
Deimos: “Why?! I want to go home and have a fucking beer!”
He huffed. Tristan glared at him.
Tristan: “Because Jordi is going to need us.”
He said firmly. Deimos looked away and pouted.
Jaxon: “Guys, I found his caregiver locked in the basement. She’s safe and sound.”
He nodded.
~
Jordi drove home with Abraham on the passenger’s side. The ride was silent. Jordi gripped the steering wheel.
Jordi: “Lena came back home.”
Abraham looked away.
Abraham: “Who is that?!”
He huffed.
Jordi: “The ‘stillborn’ Mom had?”
He reminded him. Abraham harrumphed.
Abraham: “What do you want from me, Jordi?! Did you have money to take care of that baby?! No, you didn’t! You were useless then, and you’re useless now!”
He snapped. Jordi growled.
Jordi: “WHY didn’t you tell me I had a little sister, and why did you force Mom to give her away?! We could have made it work! I didn’t know I had one, and she was alone until Grandma found her!”
He cried. Abraham paused.
Abraham: “...June found her? Where is she?!”
He turned to Jordi with large, pleading eyes. Jordi glared at him with a burning anger.
Jordi: “She left you! She doesn’t want to be around you!”
He snapped. Abraham glowered.
Abraham: “She did NOT leave me! She left YOU! You were hard on us from the day you were born! Your mother had you when she was fifteen, and you ruined her life and mine!”
He fired back. Jordi looked at him, his face flickered with hurt. Tears welled in his eyes.
Jordi: “If that’s how you feel, why am I working a back-breaking, mentally draining job to make you comfortable?! I ought to throw you in a nursing home and leave you there!”
He bawled.
Abraham: “Then do it! If it means never seeing you again, I’d be glad!”
He spat.
When he arrived home with his grandfather, Tristan, Celeste, Jaxon, and Deimos waited for him on his lawn. Jordi stormed out of his car. Tristan surveyed him.
Abraham: “Get me out of this car, you airhead!”
He hissed.
Tristan: “How do you feel, Mr. Vaquero?”
He asked.
Abraham: “Oh, bite me! Don’t you have a crybaby father to tend to?! All he does is whine and cry!”
He snapped.
Tristan: “Being nasty with me won’t get you anywhere.”
He said coolly.
Deimos: “What, not even a thanks?”
He huffed.
Jordi: “Why should he?! He’s a hateful old bastard, and I’m putting him in a nursing home!”
He cried.
Abraham: “Help me out of the car, you idiot! I should have made Estrella give you up, too! You make me sick!”
He snapped. Celeste looked away awkwardly. Jaxon sighed and knit his eyebrows.
Jordi clenched his fists, and his jaw tightened as his fury soared. He marched to the door, unlocked it with his keys, and entered. Tristan bowed his head.
Jordi came back out in a panic.
Tristan: “Jordi, what’s wrong?”
He asked gently.
Jordi: “Lena’s gone! Her shoes and purse are gone!”
He cried.
Abraham: “Good! She should have stayed gone! I never wanted her anyway!”
He snapped. Jordi turned to him, enraged.
Abraham: “And I peed in your car!”
He laughed.
In a flash, Jordi marched over to him, grabbed him by the shirt, and threw him out onto the lawn. Abraham grunted.
Abraham: “What was that for?!”
He barked. Jordi’s fist shot across his face so hard that his head turned the other way. Jordi delivered a right hook followed by a left hook and punched him repeatedly in the face. Blood splashed up on Jordi’s face with each blow.
Tristan, Deimos, Jaxon, and Celeste all watched, not saying anything. Jordi roared with each blow as his grandfather cried out and tried to shove him away.
Tristan stepped forward and placed his hand on Jordi’s shoulder.
Tristan: “Jordi, that’s enough.”
Jordi panted as tears and blood streaked his face.
Jordi: “I HATE HIM, TRISTAN! HE DESERVES IT! I AM SEEING MORE AND MORE WHY GRANDMA LEFT!”
He bawled through hot tears and angrily rose, slashing his hand through the air. Tristan gazed at him with empathy.
Tristan: “I know, and you’ve more than made your point.”
He nodded to Abraham, who lay on the ground with a broken nose, missing teeth, two black eyes, and blood dripping from his nose and mouth as he wheezed and gasped for air.
Tristan: “Lena is missing, and we need to find her.”
He said gently but firmly, placing his hand on his shoulder.
Henrietta showed up from inside the house.
Henrietta: “Hello, Jordi, I heard the commotion, and I will clean your car seat.”
She smiled sadly.
Jordi: “Thanks, Henrietta.”
He nodded.
Tristan: “Ms. Gray, have you seen Jordi’s little sister, Lena?”
Henrietta: “No, handsome, I have not!”
They heard loud crunching and the crinkling of a chip bag. The group turned to see Trevor munching on shrimp crackers.
Celeste: “Oh, it’s just Trevor stealing weirdo lady’s snacks.”
She waved her hand.
Trevor: “I saw a purple-haired girl getting into a BMW, going to a nightclub with some girls.”
He drawled. Jordi turned to Trevor so fast that he almost lost his balance. His face was ashen.
Jordi: “Going to a nightclub?! Come on, she’s 18! She’s not old enough to go into nightclubs!”
He said as his voice rose. Tristan cupped his chin. Celeste tilted her head. Deimos folded his arms.
Jaxon: “I go clubbing, man. Some nightclubs allow people 18 and over, but they put wristbands on people between 18 and 20 so bartenders know not to serve them drinks.”
He explained.
Celeste: “So, Trev, do ya know the girls and what club?”
Trevor scratched his ass.
Trevor: “Don’t know the girls, but the club was ‘Basement 42’ or something.”
He replied. Jaxon nodded.
Jaxon: “Yeah, I know the place. Follow my car.”
He said as he and Celeste went to his car.
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