Page 1 of Slavic

Chapter One

RUBY

“Hey,Sis!Whatchabeen up to since we talked last?”

“Oh, the usual.Hada dress fitting yesterday for a benefitRoberthas later in the week and other than that,I’vejust been fiddling with things here at the house.Whatabout you?”

‘HowdidImiss the signs?’,Ithink to myself as we continue this small talk like we’re strangers instead of sisters.She’smy baby sister, and even thoughIhaven’t been around her much since she got married to that asshole,Istill talk to her regularly enough thatIshould’ve noticed things like how much weight she’s lost.Orthe fact that she has to set the phone down on a stand because her hands are trembling so badly.Notto mention the dark rings under her eyes and that fake smile spreading across her face right now.

NowthatI’mmaking myself look closely, it’s easy to see the fear in her features asRowanglances behind her as weFaceTimeon the phone.Tuesdaysseem to be the only timeIever hear from her.It’slike that’s the only day she’s allowed to call me or something.Shemoves slightly out of frame, andIcatch a glimpse of him across the room.Iknew that sneaky bastard wassomewhere close and the look on his face shows his disapproval of our conversation.Grittingmy teeth, it takes everythingIhave to contain my anger while we’re on the phone, becauseIknow he’s watching or listening to everything she says.

Iwant to ask her so many things, but something holds me back.Reflectingon the past few years,Iwonder howIcould’ve been so blind.

Mysister’s a strong woman, so surely if she were in some sort of trouble, she’d find a way to tell me.Myeyes are seeing what my heart doesn’t want to believe, so maybe it’s time for me to visit for a few days.

Thenice thing about my lifestyle isIhave no true roots anywhere.Waitressingis a quick way to obtain cash and then move on if you want.Ileft home right after high school, much to our mother’s disapproval.Iwas determined to be and see more than the small town where we had been raised.

Inthe beginning,Ijust wanted out of that house and away from all the things everyone expected from me.Iwas tired of mom’s constant breakdowns and for once,Isimply wanted to take care of myself and my wants.DaysafterIgraduated,Ijumped on aGreyhoundbus going to the furthest point it would take me.Ifound myself a quick waitressing job in a local bar and life started.That’sbeen six-plus years now, andIstill haven’t found what my soul is searching for.

Rowanwas always the good girl when we were kids and she hated being in trouble.Thethought of rebelling never entered her mind, butI’vedone enough of that for the both of us.Shewas in her second year of college, taking a class on political science when she went to the capital to do a paper on some of the officials in our state.

Shewas easy prey, her innocence shining bright and with one look, that bastard latched on, taking advantage of her age and her limited knowledge of men.Promisingher a life of leisure and luxury neither of us could ever imagine,Ican’t really blame her for wanting it.Afterall, it’s the same thingIwas wandering around looking for, too.Hewas a good twenty years older than her, but nothing we said would makeRowansee past his fake charm.MomandIboth tried our best to talk her out of being his arm candy, but all she saw was the opportunity to become something more than who she was born to.

Thevery first timeImet him,Iknew he was a dick, especially with those roaming eyes of his.Hehad become very talented at hiding his flaws from all the others around him.Atfirst, my sister was all smiles and giggles as he paraded her around draped in jewels, wearing pretty dresses.Formonths, they were all over the front of the tabloids.Nomatter how many timesIasked her if everything was alright, she promised me she was fine, and that she was living the dream.

However, this was not his first rodeo, and he was smarter than us from the very start.Heeasily found multiple ways to keep her away from us by doing little things in the beginning.Liketaking her on surprise vacations when we were supposed to visit or having to leave town abruptly due to his job.Hewas always dragging her away, stating he simply couldn’t go without her.Anythingto isolate her from her family,Robertmade sure that she was dependent on him for everything.

Whenshe didn’t go back to school after summer break,Ivoiced my concerns again.Rowanreassured me that she was merely taking a break and would go back the following year.Onlyanother year came and went, and she never did.

Thenwe lost mom to a sudden heart attack, and life just happened.Idamn near disappeared trying to escape the pain and guilt of not being there at the end for mom and started bouncing from place to place.Iwas so wrapped up in myself thatIseldom even checked in onRowanmuch.

Onemorning,Iwoke up in a run-down apartment with a stranger sleeping next to me.WhenIgot up, gathering all my clothes that were laying around,Iglanced up in a mirror and saw my mother’s face staring back at me.

Forsome unknown reason, it really hit me hard thatIwas the only person to blame for all my bad decisions.Ididn’t want to go down the same path as my mother, who found herself raising two young daughters alone, because their father left them without a second glance.Iwas going to have to change my life, but so far,Ihadn’t been successful.

Nowthe only personIhave left in the world is in trouble,Ionly have three hundred dollars to my name and there’s nowhere to go that his goons can’t find us.

“Sis, are you listening to me?”

“SorryRowan, my mind drifted off there for a second.”

Shegets up slowly, taking the phone with her and walking over toward the counter to get a glass of water.Unbeknownstto him,Ican see her clearly through a mirror in the background on the other side of the room.WhenIsee the bruises on the backs of her legs,I’vegot to close my eyes and count to ten.Theseare not the kind of bruises you get from bumping into something.Thefingerprints on her skin are plainly visible.Whatkind of hell is she living in?

Rowanmust have seen something in my face because hers turns to terror.Beforeshe has time to remake that fake smile she had been sporting this entire phone call,Istart to blurt out.

“Rowan?Whatthe fu …”

Hereyes get huge and she shakes her head slightly.Thistime when she glances behind her,Inotice another bruise on her neck.Ok, enough of this shit!Someoneis going to answer for those, andIhave a nice nine-millimeter that has a bullet with his name on it.Puttingon my own fake smile,Idecide to act this out.

“HeySis,Iwas thinking of stopping by onThursday.I’llbe traveling that way to pick up some uniforms in the next city over from ya.I’msure the boss wouldn’t care ifIswung by on my way back.”

Instantly, she starts trying to dissuade me from coming. “Ohh,Thursdaywon’t work at all for me,Ruby.I’msorry,Iwould love to see you too.Roberthas a few of his colleagues coming over that evening and you know my main job here is to be a good hostess.”

Ican tell by the sound of her voice that the word hostess means something else entirely. “Hey,I’ma waitress, so hosting is whatIdo best.Idon’t care to help you out.”

Fora split second,Isee the old fire in my sister’s eyes before she once again hides it.She’sdoing her best to keep me from coming there. “Absolutelynot!”Shestops talking by clearing her throat. “Sorry, didn’t mean to snap at you, butRobertis so picky about how he wants things done.Youwould probably be in the way more than anything else.”

Iwant to scream at the phone and demand to see her, but suddenly he is hovering over her.Sheputs her hand over the speaker so thatIcan’t hear what they are saying, butIsee her shoulders slouch before she nods.Turningback to the phone, she has that fake smile back in place. “Sis,I’vegot to go,Robertneeds me.CallmeThursday, andI’llsee if any of our plans have changed.Ilove you, go have fun.”

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