Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 100628 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 503(@200wpm)___ 403(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100628 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 503(@200wpm)___ 403(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
“Thank you,” Nana said with a nod. “I’ll do that.”
As the detectives left, I stormed into Rumi’s room and slammed the door behind me. I didn’t know what to do with myself. I was so scared and angry I couldn’t stop moving. It wasn’t enough that Pop had lost his mind and attacked us so Nana had to kill him. Now we were being punished for what, surviving? It didn’t make any fucking sense. They knew she’d only done what she had to.
I pulled out my phone and texted Rumi asking him if he could come home, knowing he would.
“Nova,” Nana called from the living room.
I stormed out of the bedroom the same way I’d gone in.
“You’re scaring your brother.”
“Am I scaring you, Bird?” I asked.
“Not really,” he muttered.
“Here’s what we’re going to do,” Nana said, pointing to the couch. “Come sit down, Nova.”
“I hate this,” I said, following her order.
“So do I,” she said, almost brusquely. “But we need to make a plan for while I’m gone.”
“Maybe they’ll just give you probation or something?” Bird said hopefully.
Nana smiled at him and reached out to cup his cheek. “That’s the best-case scenario. Let’s plan for the worst.”
“I’ll stay with Nova, right?” Bird asked. “She’s an adult now. I can stay with her.”
“Nova?” Nana asked.
“Of course he’s staying with me,” I replied, my nose starting to sting. “He’s stuck with me.”
“I called Brenna,” Nana said with a sigh. “You’re going to need the club’s help.”
“No, I don’t.”
“If nothing else,” Nana said, her eyes meeting mine. “They’ll help you get our things from the trailer.”
I frowned.
“If I have to do time,” Nana said, pulling out the little notepad and pen she always carried in her purse. “You’re going to need to sell my car.”
“Wait, what?”
“You sell the car,” she repeated, writing it down. “Sell Pop’s bike. The club will help with that, too.”
“Stop,” I said, shaking my head. “Just stop.”
“You’ll need the money,” she said, ignoring me. “Have a garage sale. I’ll sign the trailer over to you so you can sell that, too.”
“Nana, I can’t sell your stuff—”
Someone knocked on the front door and I let out a little sigh of relief. I would’ve accepted any kind of distraction to stop Nana. Things were happening too fast. She wanted me to sell our house? I didn’t know how to sell a fucking house.
“Hey,” I said, opening the door, expecting Brenna to be on the other side.
“Oh, Nova,” my mother gasped, reaching for my face.
I flinched away, staring at her in confusion.
“Oh, my poor baby,” she kept going.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” I blurted, blocking her as she tried to step inside.
“I heard about Samson,” she replied, still trying to get inside. “Is Firebird with you? Where’s my boy?”
“Your boy?” I sputtered.
I was so shocked to see her that I could barely even speak. We hadn’t seen my mother in years. One day she’d stopped by to have dinner and talk about how well she was doing and the next day her phone had been turned off, and she’d taken off to parts unknown. I hadn’t even realized she was still in Oregon.
“Ava,” Nana greeted, coming up beside me.
“Mom,” my mother said with a nod. “I heard what happened.”
“And like a vulture, you came flying in,” Nana said sadly.
“I came to check on my kids,” my mother snapped.
I couldn’t help the bark of laughter that flew out of my mouth.
Ava scowled.
“You checked on us,” I said, crossing my arms over my chest. “We’re fine, so go.”
“Where’s your brother?”
“He’s inside.”
“Go get him. I want to see him.”
“He knows you’re here,” I replied flatly. “If he hasn’t come to the door, he doesn’t want to see you.”
“Of course he wants to see me.”
“Has she always been this self-absorbed?” I asked Nana.
“Since birth,” Nana replied quietly.
“Where’s my son?” Ava bit out. “Firebird? Come here, honey!”
Nana always called us honey and the word coming out of Ava’s mouth repulsed me.
“I’m here,” Bird said, walking over to the door. He came to a stop a little behind me. “You’ve seen me.”
“Oh, my gosh,” Ava said, theatrically putting her hand over her mouth. “Look how big you got!”
“That’s what happens in four years,” Bird said flatly. “Kids grow.”
“You’re going to be tall, just like your dad.”
“You know who my dad is?” Bird asked sarcastically.
“Disengage,” I warned under my breath. Getting into an argument with Ava was not only fruitless because she would never in a million years see things from any point of view but her own, but it also was exhausting because she’d never let it go until she felt like she’d won.
“Of course I know who your dad was,” Ava said, straightening. “I loved him.”
“Don’t,” I muttered, elbowing Bird lightly as he opened his mouth to respond.
“You’ve seen us,” I told my mother. “Now it’s time for you to go.”