River of sin

41. It leads straight to hell

Yvonne stepped out of Jacob's car nervously, Jacob appearing in an eager jog to guide her inside, his daughter being protectively carried in his arms, Betty walking alongside him.
"Welcome home" he grinned kissing Yvonne's cheek. "It is humble compared to the Barnes Estate and the country manor we've been residing in. While we sort ourselves out it will do. I will look into better accommodation for us all. the whole family. We are going up in the world, my little Evie. You mark my words."
"He always says that" Betty whispered reaching for Yvonne's hand to hold
"This time is different. We have many opportunities that have opened up to us. The businesses are booming, little Betty. Our finances are...."
"No" Yvonne said firmly, Jacob spinning to look at her, she still hardly spoke unless alone with Jacob.
"What do you mean no? We spoke about this.....I'd appreciate your skill with numbers looking over the books with Lenard. He is struggling with all the extra funds flooding in."
"No" Yvonne repeated, taking her daughter from his arms, picking up Betty's case leading her upstairs to find her room.

"Brother?" Lenard asked unsurely
"She wants rid of anything tainted by Barnes or Sullivan. She thinks it's cursed. That it will bring us bad luck." Jacob sighed, rubbing his head "I told her we'd earned it, with literal blood, sweat and tears! She's owed reward and retribution after all that has happened!"
"She is the rightful inheritor of most of it, she is a Barnes, until you marry."
"She's refusing to marry me" Jacob shared his thoughts with his brothers, a fact until now he'd kept to himself. He had to admit being back in his home, sitting in his chair, it felt more homely than the grand Manor House they'd been staying in.

"Since when? I know she wasn't happy about discovering Sullivan in the barn. Or what you were doing to him in there." Barney sat with his brother
"She said I lost control. That a man with no limits is no man, he's nothing more than a sadistic monster. That a man with no boundaries or control was too dangerous.....she was scared of me that day. Petrified. I saw it in her eyes. She would not come near me or let me near the girls. I know I was angry but I'm glad Danny put a bullet in him and ended it. She's right. I turned into her father, into Gabriel, into Clarke, into Sullivan, I gave him exactly what he wanted, the smirk on his face said it all. He was captured on purpose, to turn me into something she despised as a final act to tear us apart, to leave me with nothing like he planned all along. This whole thing, it's always been about me and Evie. I should have seen his game plan. She said, once a man starts down that dark path, there is no way back, it leads straight to hell and she wasn't going to be dragged down to hell with me or let me take the girls. She had a father and several brothers with no limits, no boundaries, that offered her up like a cheap whore! Beat her! I would never! Not her! Not Betty! Not Maggie! Not ever!"
"She wants you to go legitimate?"
"I liked it" Jacob mumbled ashamed at the floor "seeing him suffer, it stirred something in me. I just kept thinking of the state we found her in, how close I came to loosing her twice over. even now he's gone, I do not feel satisfied. I want to hunt down the men he used. I know there are more and it is driving me insane! Knowing they are walking the streets. He might not be the one who pinned her down but he blooming well watched on, laughing, smiling at her. It makes me sick to my stomach to even think of it."

"Last time she was here, we had our whole future ahead of us. Maggie was just a twinkle in my eye. Betty excited for her adventure, looking forward to finally having a woman in our lives. A ma. Now.....she refuses to marry me. She will not even put my ring back on. Maggie is Two and I am living in sin with her ma! Very much against Evans family rules. I can feel Gran's dagger eyes baring down on me" he chuckled
"We know you would have stepped up. You were due to be married before Maggie arrived, Jacob! She wasn't a fling. One night of fun or a pleasure you paid for and got stuck with the consequences! She was your fiancé. You didn't even go there until after you put that ring on her finger. You didn't walk away from your responsibilities, she let you go. It's different circumstances, very difficult ones. Maggie wasn't a mistake you're stuck with or didn't want, Jacob."
"True" Jacob sat back in his chair laughing "just wish I could take her pain away, I thought inflicting it on that scum would have but it did the opposite. Even now he's dead he's still torturing her and little Betty."
"So.....what's the plan? you want us to hide the money and assets from her?" Harrison asked
"I need to think on it. She's a smart woman. We could not hide it for long. Don't forget she was raised a Barnes she knows how this world works. She worked his business, she'd know where to look."

Jacob looked up at Yvonne walking back down the stairs, picking up her shawl wrapping it around her shoulders.
"The girls want jam and bread."
"I'll go" Harrison went to get up.
"It's fine, you clearly have business and family matters to discuss. Betty is watching Maggie." She held out her hand to Jacob, who stared blankly at it "unless you want me to offer up favours like a common whore I require money to feed your children." She wiggled her fingers at him
"Right. Of course. Sorry. My mind is not sharp today. Pre occupied. Lack of sleep." he rummaged around for his Gran's purse, stuffing it with notes and coins "there. That should be plenty to get some supper in. I'll set you up an allowance and you can always ask for more as you need it Evie....you sure you're alright to go alone? You do not want to take the girls?"
"They are settled. I will not be long."

"Wait" he pulled her back kissing her, receiving a harsh slap, taking him by surprise "sorry, I....I didn't mean to startle you or grab you too harshly. Evie, it's me. Look in my eyes. It's Jacob. It's me, my little darling, it is only me. Yeah?" He nodded, she nervously nodded back at him tearfully "it's alright.....boys? Watch the girls. Come on, I'll come with you, show you around. Introduce you to a few faces. You used to visit me at night and we never left my room." He chuckled "I mean..... I'm just going to stop talking. Come on." he held out his hand, Yvonne taking it.
"Fond memories within these walls" she whispered shyly
"Many." He hesitantly leant in again, slowly this time, kissing her more softly. "We will create many more. I didn't move incase you came back and couldn't find me like last time. Do not look so worried, I understand."
"I am sorry I did not mean to...." she lightly touched his red cheek
"Nothing to apologise over. I understand. As do the boys. It was my fault." He looked back at his concerned brothers who all gave him a reassuring nod of encouragement.