While I Breathe: The Veiðimenn Mob, Book One

Sixteen

Declan stared at his sister for what felt like an eternity. He shook his head, not wanting to believe a word of what she'd just said to him. Studying her intently, he licked his lips knowing that the only things they had in common were their complexion, the colour of their hair, their temper, and their unbreakable bond.

In the five years they had been kept apart, he’d had no contact with her. Their father had seen to that just like their mother made sure Amber lost contact with her boyfriend.

He sat down at the one end of the table, watching her as she dropped her head to her hands. Breaking through the heavy silence that hung between them, he said, “Tell me this is a joke, Am. Please tell me you’re not actually pregnant, and that this is one of those prank things I keep hearing about.”

She raised her head slightly, “That would be lying, Dec. I don’t like liars or lying, you know that.”

Since the courts had handed down the sentence, and Justin was locked away in a Federal prison, everything had quieted down for the most part. There were still the random shouting matches between his sister and their mother, but things had calmed over the last few months.

Declan let out a low whistle. He knew his sister had been sick, but to find out she was pregnant? He was sure that their mother would have a litter of kittens at the news. Not that his sister would care. She was too strong and stubborn to give in to their mother's controlling ways.

He listened to Ambrosia as she sighed heavily.

“What are you going to do,” Declan questioned softly.

Her vision turned watery with angry tears, “I’m keeping my baby, Declan. They didn’t ask to be conceived.”

He nodded as he smoothed a hand over his tied-back hair, “I know."

Taking his cell phone out of his pocket, he slid it across the table toward her, “Call that David guy and see if he can tell you anything.”

“I can't. I lost the numbers for both David and Callum when Mom took my phone, and wiped it clean. I didn’t bother to memorize them, which was a stupid on my part.” She sighed, rubbing her belly, “I wish I could hear his voice again, just to know that he's all right.”

Her brother winced in understanding. He knew what she’d gone through. Staying up with his sister late at night, he was happy when she opened up about everything that happened since they were separated years before.

His sister had found something rare with Callum. He was actually happy for her, but their mother was standing in the way because she'd found out about Hans being the Kingpin of Canada's largest, deadliest Mafia: The Veiðimenn. Yet, there hadn’t been any threats from the man in the last few months. It was as if he was respecting their mother’s decision with a grace she didn’t seem to own.

“What are you two chatting about?” Their mother and step-father walked into the room, each holding bags of groceries. Declan glanced at his sister before slipping the pregnancy test into his pocket.

Taking a quick look at the twins, Seth turned from the bag he was about to put away. Concern flashed in his eyes as he noticed the broken look on his step-daughter’s face. “Ambrosia, are you alright, sweetheart?”

The red-headed woman stilled, the box of rice she was holding hovered in the air as she looked at her children. “What is it? What's wrong?”

Taking a deep breath, Ambrosia squeezed her eyes shut as she shook her head. For the sake of her unborn baby and her own sanity, she knew had to stand up for herself. Her next words were going to start a war, and she knew it. “I want to see Callum.”

Her mother’s eyes darkened. She shook her head slowly, “The answer is no, Ambrosia. It’s too dangerous.”

“Mom, you don’t understand,” Ambrosia snapped. "I have to talk to him."

Hannah shoved the box of rice into the pantry. "Then explain it to me because I don’t want you involved with that criminal and his son."

Angry over the baseless hate her mother carried, Ambrosia snapped. “Criminal? You want to know what’s criminal Mother? Keeping me locked inside this God forsaken house. I can’t even spend time online, you’re scared I might try find him. I love him, Mother. You’re holding me prisoner here, and it’s making me so depressed that I just want to give up on life completely.”

Seth’s eyes softened, and he opened his mouth to express his own concerns. Before he could get a word out, his wife spoke again. “The answer is still no, Ambrosia. You’re a prisoner in your own home? Get real, child. You’re my daughter. Therefore, you will listen to my rules, and that’s that.”

Declan, who had been quietly watching everything unfold, finally stepped in. "Why don't you just dress her up all nice and pretty to put her on display like a doll, Mother? We’re turning eighteen in four months, and, in accordance with the long arm of the law, that makes us legal adults. Once that happens, we no longer have to follow that archaic do-as-I-say-not-as-I-do rule you keep shoving down our throats.”

“I'm trying to protect your sister, Declan,” Hannah grumbled.

“What exactly are you protecting her from, Mom? There’s a non-existent threat at our door,” Declan countered.

Hannah's eyes flashed angrily, "Callum Hansson is nothing but trouble. The son of a mob leader doesn’t deserve my perfect daughter. He'll end up just like his father."

"So, with that said, I should just get out, too. I'm Justin's son, after all. I’m going to end up just like him, right?" Declan stated, crossing his arms.

"That's not the same thing," their mother snapped.

Declan snorted a laugh, "It's exactly the same thing. You compared a son to his father, and said they were the same. So does that mean I'm going to have to leave? Am I going to be the next one blocked out of my sister's life because our father is a serial criminal?"

"That’s it, I’ve had enough. Declan, you’re right. It’s exactly the same. She’s cherry-picking again, and wants us to follow along like obedient little sheep to the God damned slaughter." Ambrosia said as she stood up. “Mom, I need to talk to Callum because I’m pregnant.”

Hannah stared at her daughter, her eyes darkening with anger. “I'm sorry, could you repeat that? I don't think I heard you correctly.”

Ambrosia squared her shoulders. “No, you heard me right.”

Her mother’s face was blank, “I'm going to call the Planned Parenthood clinic in the morning to schedule an abortion. You have your entire life ahead of you, and you don't need a burden holding you back from anything."

Declan seethed, the words hitting him harder than expected. "You had us at nineteen, were we a burden to you?"

Putting a hand on her brother's arm, Ambrosia shook her head. “It’s no use, Dec. She’s going to have to drag me kicking and screaming because I'm not getting rid of my child.”

Hannah arched a brow, “You're about to start college, you won't have time to take care of a baby.”

"I figured my oh-so-loving family would back me, but now I know that I only have my brother's support," Ambrosia snarled. Leaving the kitchen, she made her way to the second floor. She pulled her duffle bag out from under the bed, shoving clothes and other things she would need into it.

A shadow filled the doorway, and she looked over to see Seth. “What do you want? Come to talk me out of leaving?”

“Actually, this is for you, Princess. I just want to help you out the best way I can, even if it means letting you go. I grabbed all of your ID’s from the safe, and there’s a five thousand dollar prepaid credit card in it, too,” Seth replied while handing her an envelope.

"I don't understand," she whispered.

He shrugged, “I had a feeling things would turn out this way if she kept on the path she chose. Honestly, I don’t know why she’s so hell-bent on running your life like it was her own.”

Tears filled her eyes as she looked at him. Seth had taken on a ready-made family, but he never complained. She threw her arms around him, “I’m going to miss you so much, Dad. I just can’t live like this anymore. I need space to grow, and I’m not finding that here.”

He rubbed her back, “It’s going to be hard to be on your own at first, but your brother and I will be here if you ever need us.”

“Be careful out there. I don’t want anything to happen to you or to that child you’re carrying,” he whispered hoarsely. Grabbing her bags, he helped her carry them out to her jeep. Standing back a few feet, he watched until he could no longer see the taillights before walking back into the house to face his wife.