Total pages in book: 178
Estimated words: 170884 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 854(@200wpm)___ 684(@250wpm)___ 570(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 170884 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 854(@200wpm)___ 684(@250wpm)___ 570(@300wpm)
“No, you’re not,” said Tama.
But from behind him came a barely audible, “Yes, she is.”
My heart thumped.
Twitch.
Tama and his men stepped back from the unarmed man, and when Twitch spoke again, he looked directly at Tama. “You know me?”
Tama’s jaw tightened. “Yeah, bruh.”
Twitch scratched at the neatly trimmed scruff on his jaw. “Good.” He looked around the men and spoke to me. “Let’s go.”
I don’t know how he knew where I was, but right then, I was relieved for him turning up unannounced.
Tama’s voice was blazing white fiery rage. “Listen here, bruh. If Molly’s in your house, she’s there to infiltrate.” He warned Twitch, “Someone’s gonna end up dead, and it won’t be her.”
“That what happened to you?” Twitch asked Tama, but he didn’t respond. “I think if Molly did that to you—specifically you—you’re not asking the right questions. Namely, why?”
Tama shook his head. “You’re making a mistake.”
But Twitch just stared the huge man down. “Sounds like you already made a couple of those concerning your girl there.”
The second I had the head covering off of my sister, I looked down at her tear-streaked face with wide eyes. “Lenka.”
My older sister broke down in sobs, and I carefully removed the tape from her mouth. Her voice quivered. “I thought you were going to kill me, Mol.”
I was.
The thought rocked me to the core.
Tama turned, clearly infuriated that his plan was ruined, and he roared, “You killed my brother, Molly Te Wiata. And that will not go unpunished.” He pointed a stern finger at me. “Mark me.”
My sister turned to face me. “You never told him?”
“Shut up,” I muttered, walking her along.
But Lenka would not be silenced. She pushed away from me, and her voice carried out through the entire warehouse. “Your price has already been paid, you fucking dog!”
Tama stepped forward. Being called a dog was the lowest of insults. “What did you just say, bitch?”
Lenka was furious. She shook with it. “Your brother Uri was a pig of a man.”
“Say again.” Tama stepped closer and his voice shook.
But Lenka was not to be intimidated. “My sister loved you, you asshole. You think she killed your brother for fun? Ask yourself what the fuck he must’ve done for Molly to have taken his worthless life.” She panted. “We were on your land.” Her voice croaked. “We were promised protection.” She pointed a shaking finger at the giant man, and wailed, “We were promised protection, and you let us down, Tama Hariana!”
Tama looked confused. I lowered my gaze, refusing to look at him.
Lenka’s voice quavered. “He touched her. She was just a child. He did things to her, and she was not prepared for him. He wrecked her, and no matter how hard we tried, the nightmares consumed her.”
Tama sounded perplexed. “Who?”
“Keisha.” My voice was detached.
My little sister, Keisha. The baby of our family.
Lenka tried to keep it together. “Uri raped her. He took her by force. She was just a little girl.”
Tama laughed then. “You’re fucking crazy.”
The other men laughed too as Twitch watched on, and Lenka’s eyes widened as she screeched, “You weren’t there!” My sister fell to her knees and wailed like a wounded animal, holding her throat. She wept out, “You weren’t there.” No one was laughing anymore. Lenka closed her eyes and her voice was weak. “I found her hanging by pink floral sheets. The sheets of a thirteen-year-old. A thirteen-year-old who found out she was pregnant and felt she couldn’t come to us.” Lenka’s eyes leaked as she blinked at Tama, her emotional state frail. “He did that to her.”
Tama shook his head.
And we were done here. “C’mon.” I helped my sister up and walked her towards the entrance, towards Twitch.
Towards freedom.
When I had Lenka safely stowed away in the passenger seat of my car, I strode over to the men, making sure to keep my distance as I slowly pulled out a Glock and pointed it at Tama’s head. My tone was low. “I loved you. At one point, I would have done anything for you. But when I brought up my concerns about Uri, you brushed them off.” I lowered the gun, holding it at my side. “You let me down. You let Keisha down.” I stepped backwards. “Her death is on you, Chief.”
When he watched me carefully, his gaze suddenly unsure, I muttered, “A sister for a brother?” I looked him up and down, lowering my weapon. “You got it. Consider my debt paid.”
I accidentally took a step back too far and ran right into Twitch. He stood at my back, putting his arm around my shoulders, and I allowed it.
The words he spoke were overwhelming.
His voice was low, rough. “I think you fuckers need to let it be known that Molly is under my protection.” His tone was deadly. “Far as y’all are concerned, she’s my adopted daughter. She’s family. You come for her—you come for me and all of mine.” The arm tightened around my shoulders, holding me still, and I hadn’t realized I was shaking until then. “Spread the word.”