NADIA
"Hold on," I heard from behind me. It took every fiber of my being not to cave into his touch. I closed my eyes, breathed in deeply, and turned around. "What is it?"
I almost regretted it. Just seconds ago, I was lost in his eyes, overwhelmed with emotions. But now, it was as if he had erased them all, leaving me staring into the eyes of a stranger – just like the first day we met.
"Get in the car," he said, his voice firm but gentle.
I exhaled, unaware that I had been holding my breath. "What?"
"Get in the car," he repeated. "I'm not going to let you roam the streets alone at this time."
I felt a pang of guilt and didn't protest. Instead, I did as he said, and we walked silently towards his car. The familiar scent of his cologne enveloped me, transporting me back to memories of riding shotgun, feeling like I owned the place. But those days were fleeting, lost in the blink of an eye.
The ride home was quiet, the tension between us was palpable but in no time, I was at my front door. I thanked him and he nodded, his eyes not leaving the road ahead of me. I got out of the car and made my way to the house I was running away from.
When I arrived, I called out, "Hello? Anybody up?" but received no response.
I found my mom sitting on the kitchen island, a bottle of whiskey beside her. She poured herself another drink, and my heart sank. This was my new reality, at least until I graduated. Thank God it was only a matter of months.
I then quickly charged my phone before making my way back to my mom.
"The princess herself has returned," my mom said, taking a sip of her whiskey. I grabbed a glass and poured myself a drink. She gave me a pointed look.
"I'm a woman now, Mom. Isn't that what you guys always wanted?" I asked, taking a sip. The whiskey burned my throat, its smoky flavor lingering on my palate. The liquid fire coursed through my veins, leaving a warm, tingling sensation.
I continued, trying to hold back tears. "Oh, Mom, when did it all go wrong? Why did this have to happen to me? I finally found something good, something special, and it's ripped away from me because of some rivalry?"
"It's not just any rivalry, Nadia," my mom said.
"But that's not fair. Why do we always have to pay for your mistakes, for your decisions? When you did those things and got blood on your hands, did you ever consider us? Did it ever cross your mind the price your kids would pay for your selfishness? All because of revenge?"
"Honey, it's not like that—"
"Then what is it like, Ma? Oh, I get it—there's more that you didn't tell me." I was bluffing, but the look in my mom's eyes confirmed my suspicions.
"You've got to be kidding," I said, my voice shaking with anger and disappointment.
"Do you think it's fair? What about our future, Ma? Your grandkids? Well, that's if we ever make it. But what about them, Mom? You've already got their lives planned out for them?"
"Someday you'll understand," my mom said.
I scoffed. "I'm serious, honey. When you have kids and you realize this is a life you can't escape... it won't be as easy as you'd like."
I sank into my seat, sipping more whiskey.
"What actually happened with you and that family, Mom?" I asked. "Why do they hate you so much, and why do they hate me too?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me. But my mom just took a large gulp of her whiskey.
"That's unimportant," she said. "All you need to know is that now, more than ever, we have to stick together."
I scoffed. "Unimportant? Oh, Ma, you never cease to amaze me. You're still keeping secrets from me? There's something you don't want me to know, right?"
My mom's expression turned stern. "Okay, it's time for bed. I'm tired."
I rolled my eyes. "Go ahead, run away like you always do."
Suddenly, I felt a stinging sensation across my cheek. My hair swung to the side as I stumbled from the impact. I held my cheek, picking myself up and glaring at my mom.
"Don't you ever talk to me like that," she warned.
"It's not my fault you can't handle the truth," I shot back, then turned and went upstairs.
"Get back here, Nadia!" my mom yelled, but I ignored her and searched for my brother. I wanted to leave.
"Zeke!" I called out, wondering where he was. I searched his room, the guest rooms, and the living rooms, but he was nowhere to be found. I even checked my dad's room, but he wasn't there either.
Where was he? He was the only one who could help me.
I returned to the hallway, and my mom was gone. Suddenly, I heard a loud bang and a grunt coming from the door. I furrowed my brows, stepping closer.
"Sis, open up!" a faint voice called.
Speak of the devil – it was Zeke. He was probably out drinking, which wasn't like him, but I wouldn't put it past him.
I rushed to the door, opening it to find my brother practically on the floor, blood gushing from his belly. My heart sank.
"W-what happened to you?" I stuttered.
"Mama?" I yelled, panic setting in.
I gathered all my strength and began dragging my brother into the house, bloody and all.
"Mama!" I yelled again, this time I was shaking but I had managed to get him on the inside. "Who did this to you?" I asked him, lifting up his shirt to inspect the wound. "An ali of the Grey family probably, " My heart dropped. That couldn't be.
"Okay, just stay here. I need to get the first aid kit," I told him and walked off.
It couldn't have been him.
I thought to myself. Yes, Nicholas threatened me but the bastard said he wouldn't lay a finger on him if I ended things with Elijah. I came back with the first aid kit in my hands and this time, my mom was in the living room.
"I wonder who could've did this?" I murmured, really trying to think about it.
"Elijah, obviously," she replied.
I came to the defense of Elijah. "He wouldn't do that, Ma."
My mom's words cut deep. "Oh, really? Suddenly you know him now?"
My conviction wavered. Elijah was with me this whole time so when else did he get the time to orchestrate all of this? It didn't make sense. "Mom he was with me,"
"That doesn't mean anything. He has people who work for him and his father for a reason,"
My mom's parting words echoed in my mind: "Open your eyes, sweetheart."