Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 136731 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 684(@200wpm)___ 547(@250wpm)___ 456(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 136731 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 684(@200wpm)___ 547(@250wpm)___ 456(@300wpm)
Tonya’s sadness has lifted, but only slightly, while Keera crosses her arms over her chest and glares at Alejandra. “And what about your family, Alejandra?”
I utter through gritted teeth, “I’m her family,” at the very same time Alejandra states, “Julius is my family.”
We pause to look at each other at our perfectly timed declarations.
My sister, ever the romantic, sighs at this, smiling softly at the two of us. “Well, look at us, being selfish and all, when I should be offering the both of you my congratulations and welcoming my new sister to the family.” Tonya steps closer to Alejandra and holds out her hands. Alejandra takes them graciously, as Tonya clarifies kindly, “We’re not much of a family, and I’m sorry for that, but we’re all we’ve got.”
“Thank you so much. I’m glad to be part of it,” my little sparrow chirps.
I look from Tonya to Keera.
She’s confused and hurt.
“Keera,” Tonya mutters, frowning at her daughter. “You’re being rude.”
But ignoring her mother’s unspoken warning, Keera looks Alejandra up and down. “I don’t even know you.”
Unblinking, Alejandra offers a firm, “You’ll get to know me,” not backing down to the sixteen-year-old.
Alejandra’s polite show of power has Keera’s brows rising, almost impressed. She side-eyes me. “And she makes you happy?”
I raise my hand to scratch at my brow and fight a grin. “Unbelievable, I know.”
“Hey.” Alejandra elbows me in the ribs, and I wheeze out a long breath at the unexpected move as Tonya laughs and Keera’s lips twitch.
It’s then I know everything is going to be okay.
I didn’t even realize I was looking for the reassurance.
Not until I found it.
The drive home is uneventful, and I’m thankful for it. After spending time with Tonya and Keera, I made every effort for the young woman to warm up to me. All I got in return was that stoic stare. She did, however, give me an inch at the end of the night when she stood to hug Julius good-bye. I didn’t expect much, so when she looked me up and down and pursed her lips, before reluctantly muttering, “Welcome, fam,” I let out a stunned little laugh.
And now, as we drive on in silence, I have to get something off my chest, something I’m not sure how to broach.
I turn to face the man I will protect with my life, and proceed with caution. “She’s your sister, isn’t she?”
Julius glances at me momentarily, his brows low in confusion, before turning his eyes back to the road. “Uh, yeah. I told you that already.” He frowns, misunderstanding me. “You feeling all right?”
I shake my head. “Not Tonya,” I mutter gently. “I meant Keera.”
When his face shutters and his hands tighten around the steering wheel, I add softly, “Ling told me you killed your father, because he was raping your sister. I’m beginning to think that Tonya fell pregnant as a result.” But he ignores me, feigning concentration on the road. I blink at his curious reaction. “It’s okay, Julius. It’s nobody’s business, and I’m not going to tell anyone. I just wanted to let you know that I know, is all.” When he disregards me, it hurts, but I understand this fact must be painful for him, so I mend the rift by reaching over and squeezing his thigh, saying, “Hey. I’m sorry for bringing it up. If you want to talk about it, about anything, I’m right here.”
Five minutes pass, and as they do, soundless mayhem wreaks chaos in my mind.
What have I done?
When, finally, he speaks. But he does this without feeling. “She knows,” he utters roughly. “Told her when she was fourteen.” He huffs out a breath, and it’s almost as if all his energy is spent with it. He looks so tired, so lost. “She cried, called herself a freak, told us she felt dirty. It was a miracle she came out perfect as she was.” His expression turns lax as he thinks out loud, “I remember the epiphany she had. She was fourteen, and not only had she found out she was, for all intents and purposes, an abomination, but she also found out that her mom was raped by her own daddy.”
My eyes close at the heavyhearted words that spill from him. I calmly wonder how long he’s kept this all to himself.
“Oh, baby.” The whispered endearment is wrenched from my tight throat, thick with emotion.
“Deserves the world, that girl,” he allows. “They both do.”
“I’m sure they do,” I concede courteously, and a particularly heavy pain slices through me knowing I will always come third in this man’s life. But I accept the fact and move forward.
“I swore I’d give it to them, no matter the cost.”
Ah.
It begins to make sense. I have found what drives him to do what he does and I’m not at all surprised. Not even a little bit.