“Hello. Can I help you?” she asks cordially until she peers down and notices me. “Oh, my goodness, Visha! Where have you been?!”
That worried expression of hers makes her look like a good mother but I know it’s all an act. She only cares about the pay checks she’d stop receiving if I ran away and never came back. I hold Aoi’s hand tighter and look down at my boots covered in snow. He smiles politely and offers me another squeeze of reassurance.
“Hello. I apologize for the disturbance, but I have some matters to discuss with you and your husband regarding this little one.” He nods down at me.
Sharon, taken by surprise, opens the door and welcomes us inside. “If he did anything to offend you sir, then I profusely apologize. He’ll get a good scolding for running away,” she warns, concealing her irritation behind a pout.
I flinch and scoot closer to Aoi as we step into the entrance. It’s warm inside but despite the familiar scent and atmosphere, I can’t help but hear that little voice urging me to run and hide.
She latches onto my arm and pulls me by her side, separating me from Aoi. “May I know what he’s done for you to request a discussion with my husband and I?”
She viciously flashes her dulled icy eyes at him. Her tone is firm and sharp despite her cheshire cat smile. She doesn’t like other people meddling in her family’s business, but I’m not herfamily. I’m just a bother, a piece of gum stuck to the sole of her shoe.
Aoi’s gaze narrows on her red polished claws on my arm and his tone goes cold as he speaks, “Remove your hand from this child.”
“Excuse me? And why would I do that? He’s under my responsibility and I willnotallow a stranger to order me around.”
Her hypocritical mask falters momentarily, but Aoi doesn’t wait for her to throw him out and yanks me back to his side. He crouches down to pick me up in his arms. I fling myself around his neck and bury my face in the collar of his coat.
“We’re going to have a conversation whether you like it or not. Visha will be leaving with me, and you will listen to what I have to say. So, either you call your husband to hear what I’m about to say, or you can deliver this information to him yourself.”
His voice is firm but deep down he’s nervous too. He’s only twenty-two, too young to have to deal with my mess and yet here we are. Sharon glares at us as I stare at her. Her forehead creases as her frown deepens and she sizes him up.
Gone is the pretended politeness and hospitality.
She clenches her fists at her sides and scowls. “He’s not here now. What do you want? Say it and leave.”
Aoi lowers me down and my feet hit the carpet. He ushers me behind him to become a wall between me and her. “I know about the abuse you put Visha through so don’t even try to deny it, I won’t believe a word coming out of your wretched mouth. I plan on taking him with me and you will let me. Legally, you’llstay his foster family, and you will still get paid.” He holds up a hand as she attempts to interrupt him. “I won’t ask for money. I don’t need it. All I’m asking is that you stay out of his life and quietly accept the pay checks.”
Her fury mixes with confusion and outrage. “You want to take the brat, and we’ll still get the money?” she mutters, eyeing him suspiciously. “Where’s the trap? Why won’t you simply adopt him then?”
“If I could, I fucking would,” he snaps, before exhaling sharply, attempting to recollect himself.
The way he gets angry for me and my pain, makes me smile despite myself.
Sharon notices and flips out, “What’re you smiling for you little shit?!”
Aoi’s arm flies between us to shield me.
In an almost lethal tone he declares, “Don’t ever talk to him again. Don’t ever set your eyes on him again or Iwillmake sure you and your entire family pay gravely for your sins. If you think I’m bluffing, think again.” He pulls out a document from his pocket and hands it to her. “Sign this and we’re gone.”
I don’t know what’s written on the paper as I can’t see it from where I stand but Aoi explains when she sneers at the document.
“This is a contract stipulating that as long as you keep your mouth shut, I will too. You agree to never utter a word about this agreement, and I agree to not hand you over to the authorities with the foolproof pictures I took of Visha’s bruises.” He smirks, aware of the advantage he possesses.
I peer up at him because that’s a lie. He never took any pictures of me, and I know he wouldn’t do that without my consent.Right?
She glares at him and grits her jaw. “You piece of shit.”
Despite her insult, she stomps her feet towards the living room and comes back a few seconds later with the document signed. My heart thunders in my chest. Is it over? Am I finally free?
Aoi yanks the paper out of her hand and folds it before shoving it back in the pocket of his coat. He takes my hand and smiles. Not just any smile but his usual one, full of kindness. The kind I will be able to see every day after this.
Sharon’s clearly lost patience with us and yanks the front door open. “Now get out. I don’t ever want to see either one of you again.”
Before we walk out Aoi asks me, “Is there something valuable among your stuff that you want to bring along?”
I shake my head and haul him out of the house of nightmares. There isn’t anything I need more than him. Everything I own has been defiled and reduced to shreds by Robert and Dean anyway.
