Jonny's Redemption (Gemini Group Book 7) by Riley Edwards (audio ebook reader TXT) 📕

didn’t move. I would swear he didn’t even breathe. He simply stood frozen staring at me. He did this for a long time. Long enough I was preparing for battle. But he finally exhaled and nodded.

“He didn’t say, but she’s likely drunk. Which means she’s gonna be nasty. Ignore her. Whatever she says to me, about me, don’t pay any attention to it. Most of the time she doesn’t remember what she says.”

Or she pretends like she doesn’t. I kept that thought to myself. Further, I kept my disdain for a sick woman locked away so Jonny couldn’t see it. He had his own emotions to keep in check without attempting to settle my contempt. Besides, it would’ve been in vain—there was nothing Jonny could say that would excuse a mother being nasty to her son.

Shit. Now I was going to have to forgive Jonny’s mother, too.

But that wouldn’t be happening today.

One epiphany at a time was all I could handle.

17

“I’m sorry, Jonathan. I tried everything I could think of to get her out,” Bryan greeted at the door.

Jonny took in his uncle’s perplexed expression and felt sorry for the man. It was hard to remember that Anita wasn’t only his mother, she was also Bryan’s little sister. Jonny didn’t have younger siblings but he had an older brother that he’d been responsible for. He also knew what it felt like to fail his brother. And the look on Bryan’s face said he, too, was tasting failure.

“No, Uncle Bryan, I’m sorry. I should’ve called you sooner. This is my fault.”

“That’s nonsense, but we’ll talk about that after you introduce me to this lovely young lady.”

Bryan stepped out of the way. And with a hand on Bobby’s back, Jonny followed her inside then quickly made the introductions.

“Nice to meet you, Bobby.”

“You as well.”

“Now, I’d offer you some refreshments but as I’m sure you’re aware there are none to be had. So unfortunately we’re going to have to have an unpleasant conversation and do so parched. However, we should sit down.”

Jonny didn’t want to sit down. He’d rather have broken down the bathroom door and been on his way but Bryan was already making himself comfortable. With no other choice but being an asshole to his uncle, Jonny moved to the sofa, taking Bobby with him.

“First, when did it start and why didn’t you call me sooner?” Bryan cut to the chase.

Thankfully, he started with the easy questions.

“It started right after my father brought his illegitimate child to live with us and expected my mom to raise his mistress's son.”

Jonny had to look away from his uncle as the pain tore through the older man’s features.

“I told her not to take that boy in,” Bryan announced. “We all begged her to kick his ass out. The whole family including your grandparents tried to get her to leave him, his whore, and his son. All she had to do was put you in the car and drive to New York, we would’ve done the rest. But she refused.”

Jonny was left reeling at the news that his mother’s side of the family knew and they never said anything. No one had said a damn word.

“Why wouldn’t she leave him?”

“I can’t answer that. I wish I had a reason to give you that would justify her choices but I don’t have one. And really I don’t think any reason would be good enough to excuse the pain she’s caused you.” Bryan paused and looked around the living room in disgust. “He’s gone, they both are, yet she still chooses to remain locked in the prison he put her in—or rather, the prison she chose to be in. Your mother had options, Jonathan. If nothing else, I want you to understand we didn’t know how bad it was or we would’ve come and taken you. She hid her drinking. She lied and told us she was happy. Right up until the bloody end, she lied to us. And until you called I didn’t know she was drinking at all.”

The all too familiar guilt invaded Jonny’s thoughts but it quickly turned into anger when he saw his mother stumble into the room.

“Jesus,” Jonny growled.

Bobby slid closer and grabbed his hand.

“Anita, you should sit down.” Bryan stood to help his sister.

Jonny did not. He was frozen in place at his mother’s disheveled appearance.

“You ruin my life,” Anita slurred. “Never good ’nough any you.”

Great, she wasn’t drunk, she was smashed—complete with incoherent garbled sentences that lacked enough words to make sense. This was familiar, too; it would deteriorate quickly. When she got to this stage if Jonny didn’t get her into bed so she could pass out, she’d unleash decades of unhappiness on Jonny.

“You killed him hate you murderer ruin life ruin me wish you dead want Cal hate you…” Anita rumbled more nonsensical words Jonny had heard so many times he could easily tune them out.

Bobby, however, could not. She surged to her feet. Bryan moved in front of his sister which was probably a smart move considering Bobby’s face was beet-red and she was on the prowl. Jonny caught her around the waist and hauled her back a few feet.

“Jonny’s not coming back here,” Bobby announced. “Not ever. You hear me, Anita?”

“Go hell murderer,” Jonny’s mother incoherently sputtered.

“Bryan, I’m sorry but we’re leaving. And if you care about your nephew as much as I hope you do, you will take your sister and not ask another thing of Jonny. This is over for him in a way that I’m gonna make sure that woman never hurts him again. I hope you get her help. But she will have to go through me to get to him.”

“I’m sorry, Bobby. I shouldn’t have called him. I had no idea she’d behave this way. I thought she wanted to say goodbye to her son. We’re leaving for New York.”

“Not New York never my house ruin.”

“I also was unaware she had any sort of alcohol hidden in her room. I’m