“Aurora, I promise you that I won’t tell them, but it’s clearly killing you to carry this. Tell someone,” she begged.
“I told Creed and he got super upset but didn’t judge me. You’ll judge me for being a whore,” I managed to choke out.
She sighed as she moved chairs and sat next to me, rubbing my back. “The elders forced themselves on you to get things done around the coven, didn’t they?” She nodded when my head snapped up and I met her sad eyes. “It’s never just one of us, doll. I’ve heard this story before. Recently even. It’s a tale as old as time with men in power.”
“This world is too terrible to survive,” I breathed and mopped up my face as best as I could. “They didn’t force me.”
“I get it. You offered because it was all you had to use as a commodity.” She sighed when I nodded. “Ellie said a few times that you had gold and jewels from your family or her father but—” She nodded again when I snorted. “I’m older and knew that wasn’t the way of things. I lived in an Asian coven—I’m two hundred years older than you. I’ve seen it all.”
“I know I’ve sinned and can never be forgiven. I’m not asking for forgiveness,” I told her.
“You just want to stop being treated as the villain.”
Did I? Is that what I wanted?
I wasn’t so sure, but it sounded nice.
Really nice.
7
Creed
I snorted when I stepped off the bus and saw almost a copy of Aurora and knew it was her daughter. “Yeah, I called this one right.” I gave her the once-over and she accurately proved my point that beauty wasn’t everything. She looked almost exactly like Aurora, but I wouldn’t ever want to go near her with a hundred-foot pole.
“Stay away from Aurora,” she said firmly, getting right to the point.
“No, and it’s shitty you’re trying to keep her from having someone to care about her,” I said as I led her away from everyone else getting off the bus. “And you’re seriously out of line for doing this at myjobwhen your sister is my fucking boss.”
She flinched but narrowed her eyes at me. “I didn’t go inside or find you during your shift or talk to your manager. I haven’t talked to Ellie about this. I didn’t go to your residence or speak to your PO. This is about the only way to handle this delicately and with respect. Especially with the time difference. I’ve been standing here in the blasted Georgia sun for thirty minutes.”
That made me a bit happier.
Not that she didn’t make a bigger scene, but to know she was sweating in her fancy suit waiting for me.
“Fine, you said your piece, but I’m not going to listen,” I mumbled, as I took a step past her. “Have a nice day.”
“But I could,” she said firmly, her threat clear.
I spun around so fast that I startled her. “Is this some revenge? You don’t think she’s paid enough, so you’re going to isolate her and abuse her now?”
The horror in her eyes was real and made me chill. “What madness are you uttering? I’mhelping her. I—”
“Are you?” I challenged, eyeing her over. “Because from where I’m sitting, you’re doing a shit job of it.” I leaned in a bit. “I was a fancy attorney too. You know that if you looked into me.”
“For the mob,” she snapped. “Aurora doesn’t need a criminal in her life or—”
“Oh, stuff it. I bet you did a lot to survive that you can’t be prosecuted for,” I interrupted. “And I only care what Aurora thinks. She’s a good person—”
She snorted. “What lies has the abused little—”
“This is why you shouldn’t be representing her,” I bit out. I jabbed my finger in her face. “And you fucking know it. You’re checking off a box in your conscience or some shit or making sure no one else fucks it up to save yourown ass, but it’s not for Aurora. I’ve been looped in for twenty seconds and I—I want to go foryourfucking license.”
She grabbed my arm when I went to leave but immediately dropped it. Gone was the anger and fear was all over her expression.
But not for Aurora.
Forherself.
