No.This never worked.It had tried before.I’d always end uptrapped.
Zaeem shook me, as if he wanted his words to enter my ears. “Zioh, are you listening?”
I looked at him, and he spoke again. “I also think this isn’t a bad idea... I mean—
I glared.What the fuck…
“What did you just say?” I growled. “You really want to drive me insane, don’t you?”
Zaeem exhaled. “If that’s the case, tell me this.” His stare hardened. “Were things any better for you in the UK?” His head shook, fierce. “No, Zioh.”
I tore at my hair, and a searing pain began to eat me alive. “At least I could breathe there.”
“You think you could breathe there?!” His voice rose, cutting. “With Cindy there? You think that was breathing?” A dry laugh came out of his mouth. “I had to step in myself! How many times did you change penthouses, huh? How many times did you move, week after bloody week, runningfrom place to place?” His breath was ragged. “Where are you going to run next, Zioh? Tell me,where?”
I stopped short.
I couldn’t feel the air reaching my lungs anymore.
Stop. Just stop talking, all of you!
Then his eyes shifted, shaking. The look I hated—sorrowful, pitiful. “There’s Dad here. Cindy there. Where else are you going to go, Dek?” I shook my head. “How long can you keep this up?”
I’m scared, Mas. I’m bloody terrified.
Sophie’s face flickered in my mind, and my breath faltered. I shook my head.
Tshabina’s bright, warm face burned in me. My chest clenched, aching.I’m scared.
Dragging air in, I closed my eyes. One, two, three, four. I hoped everyone would stop talking and leave me alone! One, two, three, four. Stop fucking bothering me!
I opened my eyes and let out a shaky breath. One, two, three, four.Mess.
Completely a disaster.
Zaeem watched me, and he seemed to see it. His voice was hoarse and unsteady as he stepped forward. “Dek—” He lifted his hand.
I stumbled back. “No… please… don’t.” My voice cracked. I rubbed my face, backing away from him. When I looked up again, my voice rasped and was almost gone. “Tell me… Why did the partnership change? What exactly did Dad offer?” I gulped. “What was the deal, Mas?”
Zaeem drew a long breath, his eyes flicking side to side as if to ensure no one else was near. “After the deal is shifted, we’ll get regulatory support for our company, assets, and valuable resources.” His tone turned grave. “And most likely, the airport and station development projects will name you as the architect. Dad asked for it personally, through the Minister of SOEs, pulling strings with the higher-ups.”
Tension peaked across my muscles.
“Listen.” Zaeem pressed on. “Dad’s finding ways to keep you and Zeraiah here. To anchor you.” His voice thinned, sadness bleeding through. “If you’re here, he’ll be here too. You know he’ll follow you anywhere.”
I stared, my eyes sharp, and they burned. Trembling behind them.
“But Zi,” Zaeem’s tone softened further, “I only went along with it so Dad would focus there, while I focus on fixing things for you in the UK, alright? I need you to hold out until that’s resolved, then you’ll be free to decide whatever you want. Do you understand me?”
Words caught in my throat, and I could barely hear him over the roar in my head.
He stepped closer, his hands gripping my shoulders again. “Hey, it’s going to be fine, Zioh. If it comes to that, and if I’m stuck, we’ll even let Grandpa intervene this time, okay? You need to know I’m always on your side. I just need to find a way through this without tearing our family apart. Dad is still our family, Zi. If Grandpa steps in, Dad could—”
“Your old man has ruined me!” I exploded. I stared at him, my eyes stinging with misery. “He’s tortured me, Mas! And he’ll never stop!” My hands clawed at my head.Crazy.“He’s planning something—he always does!”I yanked my tie off. “He’s going to do something awful to me, I know it.”
Fuck, I wanted to scream. “He always thinks Zeraiah and I are poison to his name, to his fucking company!”Which was right.“He wants to make me the pawn that he can control!”
Zaeem lunged forward and pulled me into his arms, holding me tight. “Dek, Dad loves us—”
