The phone was out of my hands before I even realized she had stormed across the room. Her flowery perfume clawed its way down my throat as I stretched around her body to reach for it.
“Give it back. It’s mine.”
“Nuh-uh-uh. Thieves don’t keep their loot. I knew you were stealing more money from me. What else have you taken?”
“I didn’t steal it!”
She held the phone above her. I jumped and failed to reach it.
“Touch me, and I swear I’ll have a troubled girl like you on assault charges faster than you can spread your legs.”
I stood back on my heels, glaring her down. “Give it back, or I’ll get you charged with theft.”
“Aren’t you cute? Everything in this house is mine, including this.”
“It was a gift. Now give it back.”
She cackled at me, twisting the phone around as if it were a prize and not my lifeline for independence and safety. “What would a foster child like you ever need with a latest edition such as this?”
Everything. It wasn’t because it was new or expensive. It was because of what it represented. For eight months now, I’d depended on the Hayeses and their brand of goodwill until Renzo snaked his way in. He was going to get me out. I was done being bullied and beaten down by this woman. I was done being told I was less than and inferior. I wasn’t. I deserved better. Everyone did. It was sad that it took my enemy to prove that to me with small acts of calculated kindness.
“If you don’t give it back right now, I’ll make sure you regret it.”
She scoffed. “What are you going to do about it?”
“I’ll make sure Renzo Iannelli makes good on his promise.” I loved the way she blanched—the way her eyes sank with fear and her chin quivered in a mix of shock and dread. “You remember him? You remember what he said, don’t you? I wonder how much he’d make it hurt. I can ask him to make you suffer.”
She tripped backward. “You’re a demon sent from the pits of hell.”
“Anzy?” Lou asked in a sleepy voice, the bed frame creaking.
“Sparrow, stay in bed,” I told her calmly, not taking my eyes off the monster in front of me. “Everything is fine. Hold Boyan tight for me.”
“Okay,” she murmured. She shifted on the bed, blankets rustling, the old mattress springs squeaking.
I prowled toward Marlene, feeling powerful for the first time since Noah died.
“If I’m a demon…” I pried the phone out of her death grip, one finger at a time, and whispered, “You made me this way.”
Marlene gasped as my nails dug into her hand.
“I knew you were selling yourself to him.”
I shivered with revulsion, practically gagging. “Of course your mind goes there. You can’t see how badly you treat all of us. You can’t even fathom that even the worst of humanity thinks you’re scum for what you do. Don’t worry, I’ll be out of your hair soon enough.”
“Not soon enough.”
“Haven’t you heard? I’m getting adopted.”
She wrenched her hand away. “Who would ever want you?”
“Renzo. Iannelli…” I drew his name out. “And he’s taking Lou and Boyan too. You’ll never hurt them or me again. And after that, I’ll find a way to make sure you never foster any children again. You’ll never make money off a kid again. That’s a promise.”
I expected her to tremble in fear at the mention of Renzo’s name just as she had done before. Instead, what I said seemed to strengthen her resolve. Her spine straightened. The color in her cheeks peaked, and her lips thinned into an arrogant smile.
“We’ll see about that.” She pinched my cheek hard and gave it a little shake. “I hope you learn a good lesson from this.”
I brushed off her cryptic words as a bogus threat from someone who had nothing better to do than hurt those around her just to make herself feel strong. I should have known it would never be that easy.
