The location of where Joel texted them that he was in trouble was at a police station. The sight of the building set her heart racing again, like the previous times.
Don't tell me he got arrested for drugs?
Era was already shedding tears. It was one of the reasons she did not respond to his Dms. She wanted to ask Josh to keep driving and switch off all their devices, so her irresponsible brother wouldn't drag them into his silly mess.
Across the street from where they parked from the police station, Joel's manager Daniel spotted them and began to wave them over. There was no turning back now. The poor manager kept jumping on his feet waving to them to come over and Era couldn't stop but to shake her head multiple times.
Her elder brother from another mother was an unrepentant drug addict. Her sister from another mother was a reckless stripper notorious for multiple abortions.
Their father was right when he said he feels every time that his life and future is ruined whenever he looks at one of them.
"But you Era, is my only hope. Do not disappoint me and end up being the woman I am training you to be. Lead my company to greater heights and make me the richest man to ever live even after my death."
She could not forget the encouraging tap on her shoulder he would give her anytime he says it. The twist of how three of his children ended up being useless in taking over his golden throne had him falling severely ill and letting a demon entering him.
''What could it be this time?'' Stephanie asked with worry. She wouldn't blame her if she continued to pity her dumb brother blindly because of the feelings she has grown for him. Josh began to drive them straight to where the station was. Era continued to lean on the tinted windows of her car.
She shrugged her shoulders. ''Drugs, money laundry, reckless drinking, stealing another artist songs and claiming it to be his…'' the list of what he is capable of doing was endless.
Stephanie sighed as they parked a few feet from where his manager stood, hands on his hips as the headlights of their car was turned off and all three of them got down of the car.
''I sent you a text…''
''Yes, I saw it and I thought it would be a waste of my time if I should acknowledge it.''
Daniel must have been the one to use her brother's phone to send him that text before her brother must have angrily slid into her assistant's DM when they got no reply from her and demanded her help.
''What happened?'' Era went straight to the point, hands folded across her chest as she stood at ease, her facial expression meaning business. ''Why was I dragged to the police station by the two of you.''
Daniel looked the least calm between the four of them. He would rub his hands constantly over his face as he figured out how to convey what could have happened to them.
''Where is Joel?''
''He is in there,'' Daniel answered quickly.
''Why?'' Stephanie said before she could, moving closer to Daniel.
''I swear, I swear, I swear to the angels in heaven. I warned him not to do it. I warned him severely. But you know, your brother is pretty messed up here…'' He tapped the side of his forehead for emphasis. ''…he went ahead to do it.''
''Do what? You need to start making sense to me, Daniel, or I will leave.''
''Sorry, Sorry.'' Daniel paused to take a deep breath before opening his mouth to speak. ''There is this man, he has a lot of money, lots of estate, lots of gold all over America. He got himself pretty established overnight. Your brother was fortunate to meet someone who knows him, and they both planned to scam this strange man who spawned out of nowhere and has gained that amount of power and money.''
Era stared at Daniel in astonishment.
Fraud?
That was new to the list of possible mayhem to expect from Joel Ashworth. Seeing that it was only Josh and Stephanie that were horrified by his words… Daniel spoke further to have Era moved and reeling in shock.
''This man owns the mafia. He is very dangerous and has a massive harem reportedly in his house. Your brother dated one of his women and got her pregnant. Told her to get rid of it, and it cost her her life. Which we paid more than millions of dollars to cover up.''
Era squeezed her eyes shut, moving back as she massaged her forehead in frustration.
''Now, the money he scammed this man has been traced back to him. His partner in crime has been found dead not too far from where we are. For some reason, he would rather not have your brother killed but arrested and have him rot in jail for the rest of his life!''
''My god, Poor Joel…'' Stephanie began to sob and turned to look at her to have mercy on her crush.
Era was so confused at this point. Was Joel insane?
This was bigger than being arrested for overdose and illicit drinking.
How in the hell do they expect her to clean up this mess?
But the look her loyal assistant was giving her, begging her to help someone that would never love her back be rid of this mess he voluntarily stepped into had her sighning in regrets. She wished she carried her umbrella along with her to smack his head several times with it like she had done before whenever he got her hands dirty.
She clenched her fist tight.
Maybe if they should start getting more physical with one another. He would start borrowing himself more sense.
''How much did he scam this-this man?''
''One hundred million…'' Daniel said sheepishly, while Josh and Steph both covered their mouths in another round of horror. Era remained silent. Her knuckles growing white due to the insane way she balled her hands into a tight fist.
''And what did he use the money for?''
She was trying her best not to lose it, but it was so difficult to remain sane in this situation. Daniel gulped, his eyes begging her not to let him say what that dumb skull wanted that huge amount of money on.
''Daniel, where did all that money go to?''
Daniel sighed and considered it was stupid trying to cover up some things at this point.
''He…lost it all gambling.''
''Jesus Christ…'' Era whispered with her head lowered to her feet. She slowly bent over until she was bending on her knees, pulling out her platinum colored hair from her scalp one by one in frustration.
''I always told him it was a stupid idea. You have to believe me.'' Daniel cried out with Stephanie sobbing her eyes out that it was finally over for crush. This was finally the end of the road for him.
They were three siblings from different mothers. She was a success after seven failed attempts of IVF. An option her mother embraced when she was tired of women coming to her house claiming they were pregnant for her husband and dumping the babies at their doorstep nine months after.
They all went to the same elementary school until her dad decided to single her out because he believed she was the special and unique one.
Now, it was starting to give the vibe of the three of them all being useless. If not for her thriving career in exorcism, she was no less good than her elder siblings. Now that she had just lost a crucial award to her life and career to her ex…it was also dawning the end of time for her and the Ashworth's.
They were much fucked up than they could imagine.
''You don't just tell him it was a stupid idea, Daniel,'' Era moaned out while still bending on her knees, her hands fisted around her hair tight. ''You hit that bastard hard on his face multiple times until he understands why it is a stupid idea.''
The girl rose to her feet, with her purse dragging along the sides of her legs and thigh.
''Where is he presently?''
''In there,'' Daniel replied while pointing at the building behind them. Era nodded and began to approach the entrance until…
''Oh, least I forget, the man he scammed is in there as well to make sure he doesn't get out.''