Carmine (Rage MC: The Prospects #7)

Chapter Eight.

Molly

I was surprised at what happened at the press conference. It was held at City Hall, in the room I’d held my presentation in. The place was packed, and Susan addressed the people first, correcting the impression my parents gave. Susan made it clear I’d alerted the GS head office three years ago of my findings and been chased out. She produced my original report, which she said any fool can read and see I never claimed there was a volcano here.

When asked why Dr White and my mother and father quoted me as saying so, Susan replied that was a question for them. Dr Dune then addressed what was happening and stated quite clearly this was a new phenomenon, and we were searching for answers. She produced my most recent presentation pack and again explained there was no mention of a volcano. In a roundabout way, Dr Dune wondered why Dr White and my parents would want to panic people like that.

Susan then continued with her statement that if I hadn’t been so diligent and continued my work, then Rapid City would be unprepared for any activity.

Once Susan finished speaking, the reporters jumped on me, and Carmine intercepted their questions. Carmine said our relationship was new and off-limits to further discussion. When questioned about Carmen, he’d laughed and asked if three dates made a relationship. I was amazed at how easily Carmine got them eating out of his hand by the end of the conference.

Surprisingly, I escaped relatively unscathed. Once out of the room, I clung to Carmine as my grimly held-together calmness faded, and I hyperventilated for a few moments.

“Okay, sweet girl?”

“That was awful,” I blurted.

“Funny enough, they weren’t too bad,” Carmine replied, rubbing my back.

“That was well-behaved?”

“Yes. They can be much worse. Liz is fetching the car and driving us to the command centre.”

“Yeah, that’s good; there were some readings I wanted to check,” I said, my mind already wandering.

◆◆◆

As we neared the command centre, I was shaken physically from my musings. Liz screeched to a halt as a quake hit, and it was bigger than any before. I counted twenty-eight seconds before it subsided.

“Okay back there?” Liz inquired.

“Yes. I need to see the data coming in,” I said urgently.

Liz started the car and was near the command centre when an aftershock struck. My eyes wide, I turned to Carmine.

“That happened far too quickly after the main quake,” I gasped.

“What does that mean?” Carmine asked.

“I’m uncertain. I’d say we were heading for a big quake, but the signs are volcanic. Everything is confusing.”

“Let’s get you settled and grab what you need,” Carmine said as Liz opened the door.

Susan rushed past, calling me to join her. Awkwardly, I hugged Carmine and raced after her.

Carmine smiled when I glanced over my shoulder.

Carmine

Heads were going to roll. Whose was a mystery, but someone’s was. How the fuck had Freddie not caught wind of this and shut it down, I wasn’t sure. It’d been three days since the press conference, and everything started to settle. The mayor gave a press conference informing Rapid City that the team was working on the situation and there were cast iron plans in place. Molly’s parents had slunk away, and Dr White was under fire from a multitude of media who wanted to understand why he’d treated Molly so badly. And why he’d made claims he couldn’t back up.

Molly’s mother and father were torn apart for many reasons and were now hiding. Their great plan to steal Molly’s accolades backfired, and everybody had been shown their true motives.

But this, this was disgusting. Horrified and ashamed, I threw the newspaper down and ignored my phone again. As soon as I’d seen the article, I’d headed out. I couldn’t face the family. Now, I was out in the Black Hills, embarrassed, scared, and sickened. The truth was out there for everyone to pick to death.

The story screamed I’d sold my ass. I’d pedalled it so my siblings didn’t have to sell their bodies, and so I could feed Tye, Harley, and Serenity. And someone came forward and identified me as a child prostitute. Since my butt would have been raped one way or another, I’d decided I might as well get paid for being used and abused. Now, that was everywhere.

‘The Ball Player Prostitute’, the paper headline screamed.

Yeah, I saw the double meaning behind ball player. I got it, some fucks played with my balls before raping my ass. My phone rang again, and I ignored it, sliding it off.

I couldn’t go home. My past had embarrassed them all. Mom and Dad… they knew what I’d done now. They may have suspected, but I’d never admitted it. Wishing to die, I sank down to the ground and could only imagine what Molly was thinking.

Molly

Upset, I paced back and forth at Reading Hall as Phoe, and everyone kept dialling Carmine, only to find out he’d switched his phone off. Where was he? I’d been shocked when I’d read the headline this morning. There was more to his story than those so-called facts. Without a second thought, I’d raced to Reading Hall to discover it in uproar and Carmine missing.

“Mom, Serenity will find him. She’s on her way,” Carmine’s brother Tye said over a video call. Phoe was crying, and Drake stood with her, with his hands on her shoulders.

“Carmine won’t answer me,” she sobbed, wiping tears from her face.

“Carmine is running from the nightmares. He’s hurting and ashamed. Carmine wasn’t a prostitute. He was raped, and then, after it happened, he did what he did for Harley and Serenity,” Tye said somewhat awkwardly.

“You too?” Phoe wept.

“Five times, Mom. Carmine did it more than that. He only did it when Harley and Serenity were so sick they needed food desperately,” Tye replied, saddened.

“My boys! I want to kill those who hurt you,” Phoe snarled through her tears.

“Mom, we found you. You made everything better, but calm down. If Carmine sees you like this, then he’ll feel even guiltier,” Tye soothed.

“Should I leave?” I asked Albert, who sat with a grey face in a chair.

“No. Carmine will need you. Serenity will hunt him down when she arrives. She’s flying out now, so she’ll be here in two hours. Carmine has headed for the Hills. Whenever he wanted time alone, the boy always ran there. Serenity used to follow him, so she’ll know his hiding places. Wait for Serenity to arrive, and go find him together,” Albert said. He reached out and clutched my hand. “Bring my grandson home, Molly.”

“I will,” I promised.

Carmine would not face this shit alone. Jesus, he was a hero. What did he have to suffer to protect his younger siblings when they lived on the street? My heart bled for Carmine and the pain he must be feeling, seeing that splashed everywhere.

Serenity

I know where you are, bro. There’s only one place you’d head when you’re hurting this much. I checked behind and saw Molly keeping pace with me as we headed towards Carmine. To say Molly wasn’t what I’d been expecting Carmine’s old lady to be like was an understatement. But while shy, I sensed a spine of steel inside her. Molly had been kicked and battered, too, and risen above it. The same with Carmine.

Molly was also sweet, and Carmine needed that sweetness. Carmine didn’t believe he deserved anything good; none of us did, but we’d got there.

This dirty fucker of a reporter had blown Carmine’s life up for a scandal and to sell newspapers. Clearly, the bastard hadn’t done his research. If he was reporting Carmine as a child prostitute, then he’d have spoken to ‘clients’, but children couldn’t sell sex. So, the asshole spoke to and legitimised paedophiles.

That fucker’s name was on my list. If Dad and my uncles didn’t get him, I would. The motherfucker. A low cry made me jump, and I turned to see Molly picking herself up.

“Are you okay?”

“A tree root tripped me. I wrenched my ankle a little. I’m fine. Let’s find Carmine,” she said.

I nodded in approval. If Molly was hurt, I’d have left her here to rest. My brother was the priority.

Finally, I spotted Carmine lying in a ball curled up on the ground. He hugged his knees, and his eyes were closed as he faced out over the Black Hills.

“Molly, stay here. I’m unsure how he’ll react at first,” I warned, and then silently moved forward.

Before Carmine moved, I’d dropped and wrapped myself around him. Just like he used to do for me when we lived on the streets.

Carmine stiffened and then relaxed.

“Serenity,” he rumbled without opening his eyes.

“Hey, bro,” I replied.

“I wouldn’t change a thing. Wouldn’t let them hurt you and Harley,” he murmured.

“No, and you didn’t. You protected us,” I confirmed.

“Failed Tye.”

“Nope. It could have been worse for Tye. Tye was raped five times, and you saved him the other times. Without you, we would have died. Carmine, we’re alive today because of your sacrifice. Don’t let that fuckin’ asshole who wrote that shit beat you,” I whispered fiercely.

Carmine and I both stiffened as another body hit us and, by the coconut smell, I knew it was Molly. She burrowed into Carmine from the front, wrapping her arms around us both.

Molly threw me for a loop. I didn’t know how to react. I was slightly peeved that she’d interrupted my private time with Carmine, but I kept my temper in check.

“Who are we, Serenity?” Carmine asked in a small voice.

“Me? I’m Serenity Michaelson, one of eighteen kids, and my mom is Phoenix Michaelson, and my dad is Drake Michaelson. I’m sister to Carmine and proud as fuck of him. I’m a model, a survivor and a fucking success. Who are you?”

“Carmine Michaelson, famous ball player, one of eighteen children, and I survived. I made it. Because I’m not that street kid anymore,” Carmine whispered.

“I’m Molly, and I’m Carmine Michaelson’s girlfriend, and I don’t care what anyone says about him. Carmine’s a good man who’ll look after those he cares about,” Molly said, startling me.

Carmine let out a heart-filled sob and shoved his face into Molly’s neck.

“You should run, sweet girl,” he muttered.

“I did. Carmine, I ran straight to you. And I always will,” Molly whispered, and I smiled against Carmine’s back.

Carmine picked the right woman for him. Unsurprisingly, I totally approved.

I sent Mom and Dad a quick text saying I’d found Carmine and then wrapped myself around Carmine. He needed my strength.

Sally – Face of the Trusts.

“Good morning. I won’t be taking questions today, but I have a statement from the Michaelson family in relation to the article released yesterday. The report published was sadly in poor taste and judgement. It printed lies without evidence to back them up and attacked a respected ball player and his family. The only purpose behind this was to cause harm and scandal.

“If the reporter and newspaper done their job properly, they would have realised several things. Someone under the age of sixteen cannot be a prostitute by law. Therefore, any sexual activity concerning Carmine Michaelson under that age is classed as rape, as he was a child and could not give consent. Carmine Michaelson has admitted to being raped as a youngster in private and in therapy.

“In regard to the allegation he was a prostitute, if the newspaper has witnesses and witness statements, then they are obliged to hand them over to the police. Or therefore, they are protecting a paedophile and are also subject to prosecution. Without checking facts, this newspaper has dragged up tragic memories for Carmine Michaelson in their attempt to sell more print copies.

“This was a private matter for Carmine, and it is disgusting that the media has printed his personal trauma for everyone to see. Shame on them and on those who are now trolling social media. A victim deserves respect and compassion, and tragically, that is lacking in today’s world. We ask that the family is left alone to deal with their pain and upset and to have time to heal. Thank you.”

Molly

“Go to work,” Carmine urged.

“No. I’m working just fine from here. I am linked to everything at the command centre,” I replied.

“Molly, you need to be there.”

“Carmine, you need me here too. And plus, I’m getting to know your sisters,” I retorted.

Carmine rolled his eyes. Jodie had flown in that evening, and I’d bonded with her and Serenity. Both were funny yet badass in their unique ways.

I was more wary of Micah, who arrived glowering and merely sat in silence with Carmine. But somehow, that’d helped Carmine. Don’t ask me how, I don’t understand man things.

Tye also showed up being given special leave, and Phoenix was delighted to have all her kids home, despite the circumstances. The last three days were filled with Carmine’s favourite meals as Mrs Ames, the cook, ignored any other request and spoiled him. That left the older Michaelson children bitching about favourites.

But Carmine was doing better with Micah, who was known as Fanatic, and Tye being home. Serenity was his shadow until she knew he was stronger. It confused me what to call Micah. Phoe explained that his road name was Fanatic, and we should call him that. But occasionally, a member of the family slipped and called him Micah. Fanatic didn’t seem to have an issue with that mistake.

In spite of Carmine’s revelations, the house was filled with love and laughter. The younger children had no idea something awful had happened but were delighted all their siblings were home. They’d played ball and used the ice hockey rink on the estate. The last few days were chaos, but I saw they all revelled in that.

Although Eddie’s, ‘I’m going to gut me a fucker,’ took me by surprise as the girl glared fiercely at Serenity. No doubt Eddie had learned what had happened to her brother. She’d been especially loving around Carmine.

Phoe had sent lawyers after the newspaper that had printed Carmine’s history, and they were chasing them for answers and had filed a seven-figure lawsuit. There’d been no further statement from the family, although Carmine was wondering whether to release one. Carmine’s PR consultant was also doing damage control, but the story, or some twisted version of it, was out there.

The newspaper hadn’t printed anymore stories and had gone strangely quiet. I wasn’t sure if it was because of the lawsuit or the negative outcry that they were protecting a paedophile. Even so, we had stayed at home in the safe harbour of Reading Hall. Liz had taken me to get Mya, and she’d shadowed me, unsure of her surroundings.

Phoe and Drake had also stayed close, putting family first. I was staying with Carmine in his room, but we’d not done anything except sleep and offer each other comfort. Tye and Fanatic were sleeping at the Hall, too. The basement had been their man cave and the tower, their bedrooms. They’d given the tower up to the next teenagers in line, and they had converted a couple of rooms in the basement to crash in.

There was a ton of space in the Hall, which surprised me. But I guessed Phoe needed it with thirteen children still at home.

With the eldest ones back, they had an impromptu meeting between them. I hadn’t been aware, but Micah, Carmine, Tye, Jodie, and Serenity had started a scholarship school, paying forward the goodness Phoe had given them.

They sponsored twenty scholarships between them a year in a private school that Phoenix owned. The school took twenty academically gifted children aged four and above. The siblings funded those placements to give the children a chance they would not get otherwise.

These youngsters were fully covered for uniforms, pocket money, meals, and a dormitory.

Then Carmine etcetera had leased a field from Phoe’s school that was unused and went one step further.

All five of them sponsored a further twenty scholarships each a year. This meant they offered another one hundred children a chance they wouldn’t otherwise get. To ensure their success, a dorm had been built separate to the others the private school used. And each floor had two den mothers. The building resembled a hotel, with four levels of fifty rooms on each. Each room housed two children.

For this specialised school, the kids had to be sixteen, and they stayed for four years learning a trade. But it was more than that. They searched for youngsters who had talents that were being ignored or not utilised. Like a tendency towards baseball, but they couldn’t go to college, so wouldn’t get scouted. These were the students they recruited.

They had also built a block with additional classrooms on Phoe’s private school site and had outfitted it. And finally, they’d had several workshops made relating to things like mechanics and woodworking. They had funded extra teachers and provided uniforms and pocket money.

I learned that Phoe not only had an ice rink and a baseball diamond, but she also had a football field for Aaron, who was obsessed with the sport. And Jared had a dojo where he practised kickboxing daily. When they weren’t in use, or the swimming pool or tennis courts, the school the elder children funded used them. The pupils took basic lessons in the morning, and after lunch, they moved to their specialist subjects.

I was amazed to learn they’d been running this for three years now, and it had expanded beyond their dreams. Lots of Tye’s and Carmine’s colleagues helped during a summer school, and it boasted several retired baseball and ice hockey players. They’d also reached out to some retired tennis, football players and swimming coaches.

Carmine admitted what had started out as a dream had grown into something far bigger than they’d ever imagined. I was awed by their dedication and full of admiration for a man who was fast becoming the centre of my life.