Twisted Tides (Forged Hearts #2)

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Chapter Thirty-Nine

JAMESON

“The Summoning” by Sleep Token

W e meet Mateo at the hospital and sit in the waiting area waiting for an update. I look over to Emma and wonder if she is thinking it’s like déjà vu remembering how Liv, her best friend, received some terrible news about her ex-boyfriend. Now, we wait similarly for news about Ramón’s progress.

Ramón saved Mateo, there is no denying that. Anyone can see that he loves his grandson. The countless hours he played chess with him, without any agenda other than spending time and getting to know him. For whatever reason, he had to do what he did. I am sure we will hear about the true reason for his actions, when, or if Ramón makes it. I bet there is more to that story than what we know now. I just hope there are no more lies to be revealed. Now is the time for healing and forgiveness. This self-reflection needs to happen if we are to going to get through this together.

A few hours later, a surgeon approaches us, as Mateo stands up. We knew that he was in critical condition due to the severity of his fracture, but I also know that Dax highly recommended an amazing surgeon. When I called him to tell him about Mateo’s grandfather falling, he didn’t ask any questions; he just called up his buddy, and he went to evaluate him in the emergency room and prepped for surgery a few hours later.

“He did extremely well. I don’t anticipate any problems with his recovery,” the young surgeon states. “He will be waking up from anesthesia shortly, but why don’t you go and get a good night’s sleep and return in the morning? I will personally let him know that you were all here, but I sent you home to get some rest. I have to talk to him when he wakes up anyway.”

Evie lets go of my hand that I have had a firm lock on, as she walks over to her brother. “Come on, Mattie. Let’s go home like the doctor said and we will come back after we get some rest. We still have some things to discuss.”

Mateo looks down at his sister and brings her to him in an embrace.

He kisses the top of her head as she rubs his back. “It’s okay, Mattie. We are all here, bro, and we love you.”

He nods and runs his hand over his face. His eyes are red-rimmed and tired. “Yeah, let’s go home.”

He walks away, and we all get up off our chairs and follow him out of the hospital.

The ride home is a blur. We decide to all head back to the condo to get some much needed sleep. Gus, Eli, and Philip all return to the safe house with Santi, where he and his daughter should be able to go home. Now that Mr. Martinez and his goons are dead, they don’t have to worry about her assaulter returning or the threat to comply with his irrational and demanding requests. That will be one hell of a cleanup, but the fire did help escalate it. All evidence was burned and covered up with the help of our families and Santi, who had his daughter to think about.

We each take a room at the condo. Mateo uses the room that was turned into what looked like a crime scene investigation as his sleeping quarters for the night. I pull Evie into one of the rooms and use the bag Eduardo left out for us to dispose of our clothing.

We must have looked like a Halloween horror show gone wrong with our blood-streaked tuxedos and skull-painted faces, but no one said a thing, and I know that we have Santi, the police chief, to thank for that.

I really hope his daughter finds the peace she needs to heal, and knowing that Oro is gone and won’t hurt her anymore should be the start to that healing process.

I drag Evie into the shower, and we bathe with purpose to get all the night’s activities off our skin. Pink-tinged water circles the drain until it finally runs clear after a couple of washes. The face paint requires more washes though.

I bring Evie to me and kiss her. “Sleep, baby. I will dispose of these clothes and hand them to Eduardo before I come to bed with you.” I close the door behind me and see Eduardo coming out of the office and taking a bag from Mateo. I hand my bag to him, and he smiles.

“I’ll take care of this, buddy. Go back to your girl.”

I run a hand through my wet hair, exhaling loudly. “Yeah. Alright. See you in the morning?”

He nods and walks out of the condo with the trash bags. I have no idea what he’s going to do with them, but he is used to this, and I trust him to do the job right.

I return to the room where Evie is fast asleep. I hear her light, easy breathing as I pull back the covers. I climb into bed with her for the first time in a week, and she shifts toward me like an invisible force drawing her closer. I can’t help but to reach for her, bringing her body flush with mine. I nuzzle my nose into her hair and breathe in her smell. I sigh in contentment knowing this is the start of our life together. I just hope there are no more truths to be told, but I suspect that there may be one or two more that need to come to light. There always is.

I open my eyes to morning light streaming through the sheer curtains of the condo, along with the sound of beach waves. It reminds me of a time not long ago when Dax and I met Liv and Emma for the first time on Padre Island for spring break. Who would have thought I’d be in bed with her sister? I am totally in love with her twin.

I lean forward and reach for Evie, but I come up empty. My hand touches the rumpled sheets. Her side is cold, as if she hasn’t been there in a while. I lift my head up and hear the sound of talking coming from the kitchen. I throw on some sweats and a hoodie, as I walk with purpose toward the voices.

I see my girlfriend, Eduardo, Emma, and Mateo around the kitchen island with steaming mugs of coffee. A box of Mexican sweet bread is placed in the center, and I see Evie eating her favorite hot-pink colored frosted cake. I walk toward her and kiss her quickly before grabbing my cup of much-needed caffeine.

“How’s Ramón?” I ask, taking my full, steamy cup and walking back toward Evie. I sit beside her and pull myself closer to her, decreasing the space between us.

“He was awake and in a little pain but seems to be doing well. Provided everything goes okay, he should be able to come home this week. I will stay with him and help him get around, take him to his appointments, and do any other errands he needs.”

Emma reaches for her brother. “If you need any help with Grandpa, let us know.” Mateo quirks an eyebrow at her, and she laughs. “What? That’s what he is to you, right?” she questions him, and Mateo nods.

“Yes, I suppose he is. It’s just weird, you know?”

I speak up. “If you need anything, any one of us will be there to help.” I grab Evie’s hand, and Mateo tracks the motion.

“Nah, I’m good, but thanks for the offer. I think you all need some alone time.”

Emma’s face flushes red, and Eduardo laughs. Mateo pushes two envelopes toward Emma and Evie. “Ramón gave me these at the hospital today. One is for you, and the other is for me.”

Evie drops my hand and reaches for them. “Do you not want to open yours?”

I look at her and think about the way she worded that. It’s almost as if she knows he doesn’t, but I wonder to myself why.

He shakes his head. “No, it’s from your mom.”

Emma cringes at his phrasing. Although she wasn’t much of one, she is his mother, too.

“Do you want us to open them, Mateo?” She reaches for the envelopes and picks up one manilla envelope, sizing it up its weight in her hand. “This one seems heavy.”

She rips the envelope and empties the contents on the kitchen countertop. The metal object bounces with a loud clatter as it hits the granite.

“What the…” Evie trails off as Emma’s hands go to touch the slightly damaged ring.

“Oh, wow!” Emma exclaims.

“It’s the ring you got me for my birthday.” Evie jumps up off the barstool. She picks up the ring and turns it around, studying the object. “This ring saved me.”

Mateo reaches for it, and Evie hands it over to him.

“Yeah, it did. Ramón told me that was how they knew it was you in the morgue where they had to identify the bodies. Nothing was recognizable, but they sure did recognize your ring,” Evie huffs out.

“What assholes,” Emma chimes in.

“You made me leave it there that night, Mattie.”

His gaze is far away, as if relieving the night her parents died and she pretended to be dead. “Yes, I did,” Mateo confirms. “Ramón took it off of that poor woman they thought was you and kept it for you. I don’t know why he did it, but he said to give it to you. It might help you find the closure you need.”

Emma and Evie exchange a look and then glance over at the other package.

“You knew what was in it?”

He nods, but Emma continues. “So what’s in the other package?” she asks, and Mateo stares out the window, looking at the waves rolling onto the shore.

“More closure,” he says softly, as if to himself.