Page 16 of Justyce
I swipe my long plait around to rest on my left shoulder and walk toward the car. My stomach is in knots and my spidey senses are tingling something cruel. Come to think about it, I haven’t been able to shake this sickly feeling since yesterday.
I throw myself onto the leather seats and slide in then close the door. The latch clicks, signaling that I’m locked in. I gulp loudly, swallowing the lead lodged in my throat, then steal a glance toward the driver.
My breath catches and I freeze in place. Lapis blue eyes peek through a black sugar skull mask. I try not to catalogue the heavy and ugly bloodied gashes, or how the angry painted vermilion eyes scream death cataclysm. I wish I didn’t recognize those eyes, and I wish I could go back three minutes and never step foot in this fucking car. But it’s too late.
A dark chuckle reverberates behind the mask, and I see the sinister smile in Acheron Hexino’s eyes. “I’m flattered you remember me, little one.”
I grind my teeth as he pulls off his mask and smirks at me. His slow assessment of my body makes my skin crawl, even more when those eyes linger on my tits. I hate the fact he’s attractive because the only thing Acheron has ever been is equal parts hot and crazy as fuck.
Light spills in from the streetlights outside the airport, and I decide to do my own assessment on the infamous baby Hexino. Acheron’s suit jacket hugs his muscular arms like a second skin, and I know its tailor made. He comes from money and reeks of it. My eyes travel up and I squint upon seeing a scar that runs up from his clavicle to his jaw before reaching the smug look on his face. His eyes twinkle with danger, and I swear I can hear the cogs clunking in his head. Shaking my head, I turn away from him.
Drawing my jacket closer, I look to the back of Dereke’s head. He’s been awfully quiet and I’m well aware that being in Acheron’s car is not a good sign.
The people and cars begin to blur as the Audi pulls away from the curb and we begin our commute.
My breath comes in short bursts. Once I have it under control, I ask, “She’s not dying, is she?” There is no emotion behind my voice and mentally I’m kicking myself for falling for their clusterfuck filled lies.
Dereke laughs but it comes out awkward and strained. “Alley is well… You’ll see her briefly when Mr. Hexino drops me home.”
My belly swirls with uncertainty and abundance of questions. “What do you mean dropsyouhome? I came here to see mom because you said she’s dying. What the fuck have you done this time to rope me into your bullshit, Dereke!” I hiss.
Acheron’s full bellied laughter fills the car. “You told her that her mother was on her deathbed? Everyone says I’m the cruel motherfucker, but fuck, Dereke, that’s an all-time low, he pauses. “Don’t worry, Little One, you’ll find out shortlyexactlywhat this fuckwit of a step-father has pulled you into.”
I swear my heart is about to eject from my chest cavity with how hard it’s hammering. My skin breaks out in horripilation, and anger paired with trepidation slowly sinks into every pore.
Words sit hot and leaden on the edge of my tongue, threatening to spill profanities, but as I open my cotton filled mouth, nothing escapes.
I run my pierced tongue against my teeth and the clinking against the enamel soothes me some. There’s a whirlwind swirling in my skull. I admonish myself for falling for Dereke’s trickery once more, but something tells me this time it’s more depraved than ever before.
I don’t entertain either Acheron or Dereke with idle chat. Even if I could utter a damn syllable, I’m sure I’d need to be sprayed with holy water once I finished my verbal onslaught.
A crack steals my meandering ruminations as thunder and lightning crash in the distance. It’s kind of fitting given my current predicament. A predicament I’m yet to figure out exactly what the fuck it is.
The car slows and pulls off to the side. I peer out the window and see a house I wish wasn’t familiar to my psyche. It’s dark, but that doesn’t fool me into believing that the sickly green paint isn’t peeling and the walls are shot to shit.
I close my eyes and take in a much needed breath. When I open them, I’m met with Acheron’s lapis eyes in the rear vision mirror. I don’t know what I’m seeing in them, but something tells me I won’t like it regardless. Breaking contact, I reach for the door and try to open it.
When it doesn’t budge, my eyes find Acheron’s. “What the fuck?” He shrugs and the nonchalance pisses me off. “You said I could see my mother.”
Dereke’s door opens and I reach for mine, once more finding it won’t budge. I purse my lips and quirk and eyebrow at Acheron. He turns to face me.
“Boss’s orders.”
The color drains from my face as the chaotic artic washes through my veins, making it feel like ice sluicing throughout my body, turning my blood to icicles. A buzzing sound and cool breeze to my left is the only thing to draw me away from Acheron’s penetrating gaze and to the window that is cracked open halfway.
“Kenzi! Baby!”
A small smile tips my lips when I see my mother running toward the car in the spitting rain. The long, pale green and cheap looking kimono is flying around her bare legs. I want to be angry at her, and a part of me is, but the little girl inside of me that’s been neglected only wants her mother’s love. How sad is that?
Mom reaches through the window and wraps her twig like arms around my neck, seeing it’s the only part of me she can reach through the small opening. “I’ve missed you so much, baby.” She pulls back and the tears sliding down her face shatter my resolve.
“Come on, Kenz. Come inside. Your room is exactly how you left it.”
I open my mouth but I’m silenced when Acheron speaks.
“Sorry, Ms. Adrina. Kenzi isn’t staying here,” he states, simply.
Mom’s features screw up and I can see she’s confused. One arm stays protectively around my neck as she points the other one at Dereke. “What did you do?” she snaps.
