Hidden Truths - L G Campbell Page 0,2

longer are you wanting me to do this for anyway?” I ask.

“Until I know or have some idea what those mother fuckers are up to. I don’t like not knowing. I need to prepare the brothers and arrange back up incase it’s needed. I need to make sure the old ladies and kids are safe and protected.” Rip grits.

“Alright, jeez, calm down. I get it. I’ll continue to keep tabs on them. Christ, someone is a little cranky this morning. What’s the matter? Rose giving you blue balls?” I tease.

“Fuck off and don’t talk about my old lady like that or I will fuck you up.” Rip warns.

“Stop flirting with me! We’re cousins you sick fuck.” I laugh.

“For fuck sake Wes.” Rip laughs.

“Listen, I gotta go. Catch you later.”

“Later brother.” Rip says as he disconnects.

I keep hold of my phone and tap it on the steering wheel, trying to decide if I should go in. If I had my way I would go in and throw her over my shoulder and take her back to mine and never let her go.

I know how creepy and insane that sounds though. I haven’t even spoken to her, for all I know she’s a crazy bitch.

Now isn’t the time to be going after her. I have enough shit to deal with. I’ve waited this long to find the right one for me, I can wait a little longer.

Chapter Two

Serena

I unlock the front door and walk into the silent house. I chuck my keys down on the table in the hallway and pick up the huge pile of mail that had gathered by the door. I know I should have come sooner but I just couldn’t face it. I couldn’t even ask another family member to help because there aren’t any; it was just us.

I pick up the photo frame of my mamma, my brother Luca, and me. We’re all grinning. Luca is at least two foot taller than me and Mamma and has his arms over both of our shoulders.

I sniff and wipe away the tears that had fallen. I sigh and take a deep breath.

“Come on Serena, you can do this.” I say, giving myself a prep talk.

Six months ago I got a knock on my door that completely changed my life.

It was 11:30pm on a Thursday night. I should have known it wasn’t going to be anything good. No late night knock on the door is ever good.

I remember opening the door, seeing the police officer, and thinking that Luca had gone and got himself into trouble again.

I couldn’t have been more wrong. I wish he had just been in trouble. The words that came out of that officers mouth destroyed my entire world.

“I’m sorry Miss DeRosa, your mother and brother were involved in a fatal car crash. I’m sorry to inform you that they both passed away at the scene.”

That was it, in one sentence. Now I have no one. I don’t have a family anymore and I never really had any friends. My mamma was always fussy when it came to who I was friends with, she didn’t trust any of them. Unless they were Italian they were not allowed round for dinner.

I never felt like I missed out because I had my brother. He was my best friend and my protector. I know he had friends that he didn’t tell Mamma about, but it’s different for male friendships. They can hang around at the park and go to parties and don’t really get judged. I wasn’t allowed to the park on my own. I couldn’t play dolls with the other girls when I was little or invite them for tea. I only ever made one friend and that was when I was nine. Her name was Aria, an Italian girl whose father was working in Texas on business. She was only here for six months before she had to move again. We had that in common, never being able to have friends. It was an instant bond. We tried to stay in touch but because she kept moving for her father’s work it was hard to keep up with her.

I open the windows and air the dusty house. The bank is taking back the house tomorrow and I want to make sure I keep all of the important possessions. Mamma never had a lot of money and anything she got she gave to us. When my father abandoned us he left Luca and I some trust funds. It