Siblings
Virginia's arm worked furiously as she slammed the car into fourth, the tires of her coupe chirping as she tore around a corner in downtown Carson City—heading to the house she allowed her eldest sister to use.
She had allowed her to use the house, and the nutter was putting out hits on their siblings. Virginia was feeling like an enabler and an accomplice. In the passenger seat, Paul gripped the handhold with calm practice—the gesture seeming normal and mundane to any passerby—and his voice remained as steady as a surgeon's hand, all the while his heart thumped like thunder in his chest.
"Red light in two blocks, Ginny," he said softly. "We can't help Amber if we're wrapped around a telephone pole."
Virginia shifted gears again and slowed—reminding herself that she couldn't go head-to-head with crazy with insanity. Someone—besides Paul—had to keep their head in the upcoming exchange. She turned onto the road that led up to the garden house. By the time they had hit the gravel of the driveway, she had calmed herself back down to her normal snark.
Her cell rang through the car's WIFI system. She flicked her eyes over the caller ID and brushed a finger over 'answer' when she saw it was Damon Jr.
"Guys, Samuel tried to have the hit canceled, but it's too late. Shaw is already in play. I would guesstimate him arriving today or tomorrow."
Paul sucked his teeth in frustration and slowly looked to Virginia, praying she could stay calm. He was rewarded with her shrewd calculation.
"Okay. What's the plan? Are we taking Amber to the main estate?"
"No. Samuel has hired two groups to guard her. We are on our way to her place to tell her."
Virginia nodded, her eyes never leaving the front door of the house. "Okay. Us being here is even more pointless now. If Shaw is already dark and on the move, Jessica can't stop him."
"Not true." Samuel's voice chimed in, a bit distracted, and both Virginia and Paul knew he was driving. "He monitors tech. She can email him. It all depends on what this is about. If she owes money he probably won't stop—the same for any prearranged agreement—but she can try."
Virginia's expression slowly changed as she thought about her conversation with her siblings. Paul looked to her, concern etched deep into his expression, but he said nothing. As one they exited the vehicle, as if they both lived inside each other's heads and knew all the other's thoughts and desires.
Maybe they did—being twins allowed them to understand each other a bit differently than their other siblings. Between Virginia and Paul, there was never confusion, no jealousy, and they never allowed the other to say sorry, only "I promise to do better."
They were two steps from the car when the door flew open and Jessica flew toward them in a rage. They did not back away in fear but braced, like they didn't want to be swept out to sea by an odd current or strong gale.
"And why are you here?! You can't take this house from me. Daddy said we had to be civil!" Jessica's voice was defiant; there was no desperation or pleading. Her hair was like an unruly mop on her head and her eyes were red and furious.
She slowly became annoyed when Virginia and Paul did not respond. "What do you want, Virginia? Why can none of you respect that I am pregnant? No matter who the father may or may not be, I am the mother."
Her hand went to her stomach protectively even as Virginia and Paul both casually looked down to her belly as well.
"Did you really put a hit out on our sister, Jessica?" Virginia asked the question without a drop of emotion. She looked blankly at her sister and patiently waited.
Jessica smiled and said nothing for a long moment. The three of them stood in the drive like an odd piece of live modern art. Virginia and Paul's neat, calm, sane appearances clashed against Jessica's haggard, crazed look.
"I… actually don't know what you mean, Virginia. Daddy said to be civil. I… I don't think a hit really says civility."
Virginia's eyebrows rose as her body relaxed, and a slow, easy smile slid across her face.
"How about we go to dinner together?" Virginia had moved next to her sister and her fingers were testing the condition of Jessica's hair. "Paul and I can help you get ready." She paused, her eyes becoming dangerous and her stance once again aggressive. "And we can keep an eye on you at the same time."
Later that evening, Damon Sr. watched his beautiful wife as she got ready at her makeup table. He had always known she had been a blessing to him, but he never truly understood just how much until his children banded together to protect one of their own. He sighed at the thought of Jessica—his wife's favorite.
"Do you think Jessica will always be this way?" Angelica had paused and was looking up at him through the mirror. It was as if she heard him thinking about their eldest daughter. Her eyes were bright, but Damon Sr. could see the shadow of pain deep within them.
"I don't know. Maybe these babies will change her for the better."
Angelica Lance scoffed and went back to her makeup. "I read those reports and listened to the audio recordings. With that doctor friend of hers, she may have even used random eggs. There may be nothing at all to tie her to the babies she is carrying." She shook her head and looked to her husband again. "That daughter of ours is truly a piece of work."
Damon Sr. couldn't respond. His wife's words were too true, and tonight they were going to see the Lance family truly put through a severe test. His eyes scanned his favorite antique wall clock.
Three more hours and the show would begin.