Chapter 16: Chapter 16

That night, I'm pottering around the small kitchen of the apartment, cooking a meal for Uncle Tobias and I. I hear him walk in, his hair wet from the shower. A white towel is hanging loosely around his neck and he reaches up, using it to dry his hair. His eyes scan over the various pans on the cooker and he smiles softly.

"You're cooking?"

I nod my head, stirring the sauce as it simmers.

"Yeah, are you hungry?" I ask him, grateful to have him smiling once again. It hurt me to know he's in pain.

"I sure am. It smells amazing." He says, pulling out a chair from the dining table and taking a seat on it. From behind, he looks exactly like my father and I pause for a second, missing the image of him doing the same. It's almost like he's in the same room as me and I inhale sharply, blinking back the tears.

I want to hear his laughter fill the room one more time. I want him to sit at the table and make fun of me, teasing me until I threw a piece of broccoli at his head. Mum would yell at the both of us but a small smile would stretch across her face fondly as she watched.

"Mum taught me everything I know. This is her amazing meatballs and pasta." I smile, plating up. She always made sure I'd be able to take care of myself if anything happened. I didn't realise at the time that it would be useful but now, I couldn't be more grateful for her. She was insanely patient as she taught me the basics. I reach down and pull out the homemade garlic bread from the oven.

"Your mum is an amazing cook. I don't think there's anything that woman isn't good at." Uncle Tobias smiles, walking up to me to help with the food. I let out a low chuckle —

"You know what? I think you're right. Damn her." I grin, finishing off with a simple side salad.

"I'm sorry that you had to witness the fight between me and your Aunt." He said quietly, picking up both the plates and heading for the table. I follow behind him, the knifes and forks clutched tightly in my hands.

"You don't have to apologise. I can't remember you two ever not fighting so I'm used to it." I shrug, seating myself opposite him. I hand him the cutlery and he mumbles a thanks before digging straight into his food. I watch him with a slight amused expression on my face as he chows it down, barely taking a chance to breathe.

"Uncle Tobias, please don't choke on a meatball. It's not a good look." I tease him and he shoots me a glare from under his dark hair.

"When you were a child, you smeared mash all up your face and into your hair. When I tried to clean it up, you told me you were saving it for later. Don't teach me etiquette manners Ruby." He shoots back, one eyebrow raised in amusement.

My fork dangles in mid air and for once, I'm left speechless. Moments of silence pass between us before I burst out laughing, my stomach hurting from the intensity. I reach up, wiping away the tears.

"I was such a great child." I grin, my laughter dying down. Uncle Tobias scoffs, humour flashing through his dark eyes.

"Please. You were a nightmare, I was so tempted to fly you to another country and leave you there."

I let out a gasp, kicking him underneath the table.

"Hey! That's child abuse!" I yell at him and he chuckles loudly, pleased with my reaction. A comfortable silence falls upon us and we continue to eat our meal in peace. The food tastes divine as usual and reminds me so much of Mum. She really is an amazing cook.

"I'm sorry Ruby."

I glance up, placing my fork down as I notice Uncle Tobias looking at me with guilt in his eyes. The hold on my chest tightens and I know what's he's about to say. I've waited for it for years, picturing this exact moment.

"Don't apologise if you don't mean it." I say quietly, holding back from displaying the pain in my features. I never really got over the betrayal, I'd grown to live with it. I push the pasta around on the plate, avoiding eye contact with him. He lets out a small sigh, placing his cutlery down onto the plate.

"I shouldn't have left you. I'm sorry."

It's strange how humans work. We can apologise for something and completely mean it however the apology doesn't make the pain disappear. It takes so much more than just an apology. It takes weeks, possibly years of building the trust back up.

"I loved you." I whisper quietly, squeezing my eyes shut. I don't want to cry, not again.

"Don't say that like it's the past tense. You do love me, I'm still your Uncle Tobias." He says firmly however I hear the crack and vulnerability in his voice.

I don't say anything because I don't know what to say.

"I left for a good reason."

"Really? You abandoned me for good reason? You left days before my birthday! You were my best friend, my family. You didn't even have the decency to leave me a note, you didn't answer my calls. You just vanished. I don't understand how you can justify that." I say calmly, staring him straight in the eyes.

Uncle Tobias freezes at my words, pain flashing through his eyes.

"You're right. I don't deserve your forgiveness." He murmurs, scraping his chair back and dropping his napkin down onto the table. Just as he's about to leave the room, I stop him.

"What is the reason you left?"

Silence fills the atmosphere. I close my eyes, silently praying that he takes the chance to make things right. All I want is an explanation, a proper explanation. Moments pass and I realise he's not going to say anything but when I turn around, he's already gone.

*****

The phone rings as I'm stuffing my little belongings into the backpack I bought with me.

"Hello?" Woody's voice fills the silence in my small temporary bedroom. I pause, taking a deep breath.

"I need your help."

"I don't think I can help you." Woody shoots back, the resentment still fresh in his tone. I close my eyes and take a seat on the bed, pinching the bridge of my nose. What is it with boys being so difficult to understand?

"Woody, I'm sorry. I told you I didn't mean it like that. You're family to Tobias and you took it out of context. I really need your help so are you going to help me or not?" I say firmly. I can hear him breathing heavily on the other end and finally, he speaks.

"What do you want?"

I know what I'm about to do is incredibly stupid and dangerous. I'm aware that I'm probably risking my life but I also know what's at stake. My parents lives. I can't have their blood on my hands. It's up to me to find them and right now, I'd made no progress. I desperately tried to remember their past as clear as I could and the only logical explanation was the death of my fathers ex gang leader.

My parents murdered him.

Murdering a wealthy criminal gives someone the motive to want to kill my parents. A life for a life, right?

"I need you to take me to the largest Spanish gang you know."

Silence fills the call and I sit completely still, waiting for his response.

"Are you fucking insane? These are dangerous people Ruby! Not to mention that your surname also belongs to their biggest rival, Ivory Melvin!"

"My surname is actually Wentworth." I shoot back, rolling my eyes.

"They'll skin you alive."

"They don't need to know who I am."

"You can't obtain a different identity overnight Ruby."

"I know that!" I snap at him, becoming restless.

"I won't take you." Woody says firmly. I clench my jaw and stand up, swinging my backpack over my shoulder.

"Fine, I'll go myself." I say to him before ending the call and silencing his shouts of protest.