“Burn those who burned me!” Chapter 135

**Chapter 7: The memorial.**

As Josie grew closer to the end of the estate, she could see a navy blue SUV parked on the right side of the street.

*‘That must be Marlon!’*

Josie could feel her heart pound with joy. She had missed her cousin so much these last four years.

As soon as Marlon turned around, he saw Josie running up. His was filled with joy until she got closer. It wouldn’t be something you’d notice unless you knew her. Luckily for Josie, she was naturally beautiful, it took a lot to damage her appearance. But if you knew her, you would recognize the differences. Marlon could see the sullen bruises on her arms and her shoulder. He imagined there was more on her back. Whoever did this made sure to bruise her in areas not usually seen.

Josie smiled brightly for the first time in over four years as she reached her arms out to hug Marlon. Slightly lifting her off her feet as he embraced her, the tears began to stroll down her face.

*“What are you crying for big head.”*

Marlon used to always call her big head when they were children. It felt good hearing that name again. Josie wiped the tears from her eyes.

*“I’m just so happy to see you dummy.”*

Marlon smiled warmly as he took her bag and opened her door.

*“Come on…let’s go see nana.”*

They arrived at the hospital 30 minutes later. The receptionist directed them to the memorial department. Marlon pulled out a paper.

*“We’re here to collect our grandmother’s ashes.”*

The clerk took the paper and smiled with relief.

*“After that girl, I was starting to think no one would ever come to claim her. One moment please.”*

The clerk went into the back. Josie looked up at Marlon with the same confused expression. *‘After what girl?*’ When the clerk came back; she had a smile on her face as she handed Marlon the box.

*"Here you both go. She waited a long time to be reunited."*

As we both grabbed the box, I looked back up at the clerk.

*‘Ma’am…you stated a girl came to visit?”*

The clerk’s face harden as if she were remembering something unpleasant.

*“Yes, a day after Ms. Bowen passed, a young woman came in claiming to be her granddaughter. She wanted to collect her remains. When we asked what her name was, we realized she wasn’t who Ms. Bowen had listed as her next of kin.”*

*“We informed the young woman we could only give Ms. Bowen’s remains to two people. Both you and Mr. Bowen. The girl smiled politely and then she said the strangest thing.”*

*“She said she didn’t want the old hag as she didn’t mean anything to her anyway…she just wanted to have her thrown away. She said she was her biological granddaughter and should be allowed to make that decision.”*

*“After we informed her of Ms. Bowen’s will, she became belligerent. I mean we literally had to call security. An older gentleman ended coming to get her, I believe a big brother or something. Anyway, people are so crazy these days they think of the weirdest ways to get their rocks off.”*

Josie could feel her entire body heating up! Both she and Marlon knew EXACTLY who that woman was. Fucking Vanessa Taylor!! Josie stormed off quickly as they made their way to the memorial hall.

*“That fucking bitch!!! I swear to god!! If it’s the last thing I do…she will pay!!”*

Marlon grabbed Josie’s hand in an attempt to calm her down.

*“Come on Jojo…let’s go honor our nana.”*

Josie looked up at Marlon with tears in her eyes; nodding in agreement; they made their way to the hall.

After the service, Marlon took Josie to her favorite restaurant.

*“Oh my god!! It’s been so long since I had steak!”*

Josie sat smiling as she dug into her food. Marlon was happy she had an appetite. He had been worried about her lack of eating. As they ate dinner, Josie told him about what the Taylors had been doing since her arrival.

*“And then…the bitch tried to get me to eat seafood!”*

Marlon’s eyes widen in horror, he knew all too well about Josie’s allergic reaction to seafood.

“Is she insane!! What the fuck! Is she trying to kill you!”

Josie lifted her eyebrows as she bit into her steak.

*“I don’t know…probably.”*

Marlon stared at her in shock. He knew that as long as Josie stayed in that house her life was in danger.

*“Come and live me. I have a two bedroom; you’ll have your space and bathroom. Please.”*

Josie looked up and smiled at Marlon.

*“I’m like ten steps ahead of you….but I have to wait at least 90 days.”*

*“Why?”*

*“I have to complete three months of therapy for AODA. It’s court ordered as a condition for my release. And since the Taylors are the home connected to my probation…I have to stay there.”*

Shit.

Marlon hadn’t taken that into consideration.

*“Okay…but I’m going to look into seeing if we can do a change of address.”*

Josie smiled brightly. It was just like her big cousin to immediately start trying to take care of her.

*“I know it was a lot so I won’t pressure you….but when you’re ready…just know you can talk to me about what happened.”*

Josie’s face slightly darkened. She wasn’t sure if she would ever be able to talk about what happened in that woman’s prison.

After they finished dinner, they headed back to Marlon’s apartment.

*“Wow cousin!! This is your condo!!! Damn this is nice!”*

Marlon looked at Josie slightly stunned, she never used to curse and now today, she dropping swears left and right. He couldn’t help be laugh.

*“Yeah it’s pretty decent! As soon as I finished the research team project; TriMark hired me right on the spot as a bio-engineer.”*

*“Oh…so then you’re rolling in the big bucks!”*

The two cousins laughed hysterically. As they settled in the living room, Marlon walked over with a box.

*“Speaking of big bucks.”*

*“What’s this?”*

Marlon opened the box, and Josie could hardly believe her eyes. Inside was an inheritance document assigned to both Marlon and Josie totaling over sixteen million dollars. Josie’s hands shook as she picked up the documents and began to read.

Darlene was given a sixteen million dollar settlement for both of her daughters' death in the plane crash. Unfortunately, the case didn’t officially settle and pay out until a year after Josie was sent to prison. After that, Darlene had the funds placed in a trust for both she and Marlon. She knew Josie’s life was going to be hard once she got out of prison and figured eight million dollars would be more than enough to have a good life.

Josie stared at the documents.

*“W-Why didn’t she just use the money on herself-”*

*“You know nana would have never done something like that. She wanted to make sure we lived well. Besides, according to the attorney, by that time…the cancer has already spread rapidly to other areas of her body. The time to act would have been when she first found out.”*

Josie sat in silence, the hatred in her heart growing larger. If Harold had just done what he promised, not only would her nana had lived, but she could have easily paid him his money back. The flames would never settle. They’d taken too much from her. Suddenly, Marlon’s words broke her out of her thoughts.

*“What did you say?”*

*“I was saying last chance…if you want to just forget this whole revenge thing…eight million dollars is definitely enough money to last you; especially if I throw in another four to make it twelve. You can do whatever you want with that kind of money. You don’t have to be-”*

*“I can’t turn back. There are some scars that may never go away…that much I accept. But the others…they won’t go away until I’ve been vindicated…I have to see this though.”*

Marlon stared at his little cousin for a brief moment. He could see the pain in her eyes as she spoke. She wasn’t backing down.

*“Alright then…guess I’ll have to be your trusted sidekick.”*

*(Both). Hahahahahah!!!!!*