Alek’s face reddens and he balls his fists. “And you think that makes it any better? I could have helped you sooner, Twinkle!” He pushes his chair out behind him with a loud screech and stomps out the front door.
The sound digs deep into my heart, a sharp pain cutting through it.
Don’t cry. Don’t cry.
He cares about me. I love Alek. I’ll save Alek. He’s the only real human connection I’ve had. We’re not connected only by blood, but also by love. I don’t want us to be like those other siblings I’ve heard about… the ones who are related but never talk to each other for the rest of their lives.
I blink back the moisture in my eyes.
Alek will be affected by my sudden departure. But it’s best for him, and Victor and Abi, if I disappear. There’s no way I’ll be able to gather the large sum of money I owe to the monster in time. Plus, Charlie doesn’t seem to be following his own timeline anyway. Why should I wait out the inevitable and put others at risk in the process?
Tomorrow I’ll work on getting Alek’s schedule so I can find an opportunity to sneak out of the apartment.
“Well, I’m happy you’re here with us, Tia. I can’t wait to get to know you better and have many dinners together,” Abi’s sweet voice cuts through the silence.
My stomach clenches.
Victor doesn’t say anything. The fork in his hand bends under his tight grip. He stabs a few baby tomatoes and looks at me. Not atme, but deep into my soul, unraveling my secrets as if he knows my whole life. It’s unsettling.
The wordsThank you for keeping my secretget trapped in my throat.
I swallow hard. I don’twantto run away, but I have to. It’s a necessary sacrifice for the ones I love.
Chapter Seven
Iinsist on helping Abi and Victor clean the dishes because the mundane brings me peace. No tasks were routine in my home. Growing up in a dysfunctional family, I lived in a constant state of chaos. Now I appreciate the simple things such as a cooked meal or washing dishes.
Alek walks back into the apartment after an hour, and it doesn’t seem as though Abi is worried about him, so I don’t say anything. He speaks only a few words with me about sleeping arrangements. Abi goes back to her apartment next door after a make-out session with my brother, and Victor goes to his room and closes the door.
I retreat to Alek’s room. I wait awhile but Victor doesn’t come out to use the bathroom, so I jump in the shower. The guys bought a clear shower curtain. I roll my eyes and turn on the hot water, wishing I could wash off the day and its events.
I blow out a series of short breaths before picking up a red bottle of body wash, Old Spice, and sniff it. It’s a blend of nutmeg and cinnamon and other spices. I inhale so deeply that a snort escapes me. No doubt this is Victor’s body wash. I squeeze an excessive amount in my hand and lather myself in it.
I wrap myself in the towel I packed and dash the short distance to Alek’s room, then change into my pajama shorts and a soft T-shirt and stare at Alek’s bed.Yuck! I really don’t want to think about him and Abi sharing this bed.Double yuck.
But that’s not what’s worrying me right now. I need to stay awake or no one in this house is going to get any sleep. My nightmares will raise more questions.
As I lie down on one side of the huge bed, I throw a quick glance at the door. I always locked my door at home. I’m safe here, though. Victor may be the Bull, but he would never hurt me. He’s not the kind of threat I’ve experienced in the past. The thought of moving Alek’s dresser to block the door crosses my mind, but I quickly dismiss it. Victor would never hurt me the way Charlie threatened he would if I don’t pay my mom’s debt.
I take a deep breath and place my earbuds in my ears. I select a playlist on my cell phone and stare at the white ceiling.
Alek used to hold me in his arms until I fell asleep.
The nightmares were rare after Alek left, but about a year ago Mom’s parties started happening more often. The shady men in and out of the apartment ogled me. My skin prickles just thinking about it. And one night, the first attack came. After Mom passed out, the guy flirted with me and started bothering me. After he shook my shoulders with a force I didn’t expect, I ran out the door and waited and waited. At the park. In a shelter. In a church.
I need to focus my thoughts on the daunting task of staying awake.
Sweat beads form on my forehead, and I remove the blanket from my body. I turn and toss, but no spot on this bed can make me comfortable. I take off my headphones and listen to the quiet apartment. Everyone must be asleep by now.
I finish listening to my long playlist, and I put my head under the pillow. I switch my pillow with the one next to it, because it looks fluffier, but it isn’t once I put my head on it. I start my playlist from the beginning. Maybe I can count to ten million.
I fight the urge to check the time on my cell phone and instead scan Alek’s room. I didn’t bother to close his blinds. The white moonlight is bright, keeping me wakeful.
When the door cracks open slowly, my eyes are about to pop out and I press my lips together to stifle a scream.
It’s not an attacker. It’s not an attacker.
Every logical part of my Command Center is telling me I’m safe. And when a shadow the size of the Rock walks in, my heart stops in its tracks.
