Why did it feel like the rug I was standing on was being pulled out from under me all of a sudden?
I was just getting used to having a family, but now, basically being told that I was to leave the country and never return devastated me.
How could they expect me to do that? How could I leave Peyton? Hannah? Everyone?
“No,” I said, my voice weak.
“Scarlett,” Ace said slowly in warning. “The chances of you staying alive, safe, are slim to none. You need to leave.”
“No,” I said, turning to face him. “You want me to leave? To just disappear and never be found again?”
“We’d be able to know where you are. We’d visit.”
“That won’t be enough!” I shouted, tears stinging my eyes. “I can’t leave, Ace. Unless you drug me and put me on a plane, I won’t leave. You said it destroyed Peyton when I went missing. What do you think will happen to him if I just left again?”
“They would all understand,” Ace said calmly.
“My answer is no.”
“I wasn’t asking-“
“No!” I shouted, anger filling every pore of my body. “You wanted me to accept these people as my family, and then you think you can just take them away with a snap of your fingers? If you think like that, you may as well be rotting in Hell with Alan.”
“What’s going on?” Collin asked, entering the room slowly, a gun at his side.
“Everything’s fine in here,” Ace said, holding his hands up.
“He wants me to leave,” I stated, crossing my arms.
“What?” Collin asked, putting away his gun. His eyes bounced from me to the man who sat on my bed.
“She needs out of the country. It’s the only way to keep her safe. You know that as well as I do.”
“It’s her choice,” Collin said, tilting his head towards me. “You want her to have respect for us, you have to give her the option. Don’t just take it out from under her, Ace.”
“I’m not going,” I said, my voice strong, despite the tears that threatened to fall.
“Nipotina.”
“No.”
I would not be leaving this family. I could deal with being held up in a safe house, moving every few weeks. I’d at least be able to talk to my family. I could get to them all in a matter of hours. Going across the country was not something I’d do. Ever.
I kept hold of that anger, knowing it was the only thing that was keeping me standing right now. It was either anger or defeat, and I was getting really tired of being defeated.
Before I was ready, everyone was saying their goodbyes. Ace wanted to get on the road before night fell. He hadn’t given me a very comforting goodbye, but I guess that’s what I got for yelling at him.
He was a man who was used to having his way, and I was a thorn at his side. Maybe it was a good thing that Alan had taken me at such a young age, just to save Ace from having a heart attack.
Sure, he meant well. I could understand where he was coming from, but I wasn’t going to keep running. It would solve nothing. I’d always have to look over my shoulder in fear and worry. I didn’t want a life like that. I wouldn’t be happy.
Wasn’t that what these people wanted? For me to be happy?
“Next time we see each other, we should go have a makeover,” Hannah said while hugging me. “Get you a haircut. Maybe a pedi?”
“Sure,” I smiled. It was easier to just go along with it than really make such plans for doing something like that. My hair did need something done to it, but I was used to the dry ends and, after so long, it really didn’t bother me all that much.
“Can’t wait,” she said, pulling back. “Stay safe, please.”
