Sweet Retribution (Rydeville High Elite #3)(100)

“Abby.” Drew’s strangled cry and his tight grip on my arm tells me this part of the plan worked out.

We didn’t know if Sawyer and Jackson and the team of armed guards had managed to get Mom out of the medical facility because we asked them not to tell us. Xavier got them fake IDs, which enabled them to breach the facility, and they worked with Dr. Collingsworth and his few trusted colleagues to smuggle her out. Neither Drew or I could risk getting distracted, and I’ve worked really hard to forget about that aspect of our strategy.

I assume the second part of that plan is already underway and that the doctor and his family are boarding James Kennedy’s private jet to leave the US and go into protective hiding.

Atticus climbs to his feet. “Olivia!” he yells, looking like he’s just seen a ghost. I suppose, for him, he has. Kai glares at his father, pinning him in place.

“No, they are not.” Mom’s voice is remarkably calm as she walks across the stage, supported by Sawyer and Jackson. She’s wearing the black pants and green silky blouse combo I chose for her, but the clothes hang off her skeletal frame.

Kai wraps his arm around my waist, and that’s the only reason I don’t faint.

The second my eyes meet my mother’s for the first time in ten years, it feels like coming home.

As if all the years of separation never existed.

As if her once lustrous dark hair isn’t now graying, her curvy figure now rail thin, and her once flawless skin marred with lines.

I’m a little girl again, and I just want my mom.

Kai instinctively knows what I’m thinking, and he lets me go as Drew and I rush toward her simultaneously. “Mom!” I cry, flinging my arms around her gently the same time Drew does.

“My babies.” Mom circles her arms around both of us, and we’re all crying. Behind us, the crowd is talking more loudly, Father is shouting slurred obscenities, and the president is banging the table with his fist calling for order again.

Things are devolving fast.

And we still have tons more revelations to come.

“Let me look at both of you,” Mom says, keeping a tight hold of us.

She cups my face. “My beautiful, strong daughter.” She messes up Drew’s hair. “My handsome, brave son.” She presses a kiss to each of our foreheads in turn. “I love you both, so much, and we have lots of catching up to do, but first I need to say my piece.”

“I love you, Mom,” I say through my tears.

“I love you, too, and we’re so happy you are out of that place,” Drew adds.

“Thanks to you both.” She takes our hands, bringing us with her as she walks to the president.

“Drew,” the president says. “What on earth is going on here?”

“Please, sir. Just let us have this time. There is much more you need to hear.”

He stares at Drew for a few tense moments. “Fine, but hurry it up. We still need to resolve the voting issue.”

I’m not surprised he has little interest in this. Most of the elite are getting bored, because they have gotten what they wanted. Michael Hearst is discredited and he’s about to be evicted from the elite permanently. Now, they want to go about their business as usual.

Except we’re not allowing that.

Mom snatches the mic from the president’s hand, shooting him a filthy look. “Good morning, ladies and assholes,” she says to the crowd, and I smother a laugh. “My name is Olivia Manning. I’m the daughter of a founding father and descendant from one of the oldest legacy families in Rydeville. Michael Hearst tricked me into marrying him years ago, and when he discovered I was planning to escape with my children, he staged a car accident and locked me up in the medical facility here under false pretenses and under a pseudonym.”

Mom walks right up to him, slapping him across the face. “Bastard.”

“You look a hot mess,” he slurs, and this time, I jump in and slap him. I’ve no qualms about the elite stopping us, because this is child’s play compared to the torture they normally inflict on their enemies, and most of the men are now sitting up with more interest in their eyes.

“You do not get to speak to my mother like that.” I yank his head back by his hair. “And you don’t ever get to disrespect her, me, or Drew ever again. You will never see the light of day, because once the authorities get the file we’ve sent them, they will lock you up and throw away the key.”

“And in case it’s not obvious,” Mom says, sliding her hand around my back. “I’m divorcing you, and any claim you have on Manning Motors will officially end once the ink is dry on the paperwork.”

“Fuck you, bitch,” he says, his head lolling back as I release him.

“You will never get to fuck me again,” Mom says, baring her teeth.

“The only action you’ll be getting is a cock in the ass in prison,” I taunt. “And I hope they fuck you up so badly you wish you were dead.”

“Can we move this along?” the president says. “We have heard enough. You are officially extradited from the organization and stripped of your elite status, Michael Hearst.” He turns to the guards. “Remove him from the building.”

Drew has a word in his ear, and he nods. “Very well.”

The president holds up a hand, addressing the two guards. “He will remain here until the meeting has concluded, and then you can take him to the dungeon and lock him in one of the holding cells.”