Page 96 of Justyce
“You found your girl, homes, and in the nick of time it seems,” Rodriguez remarks, his grip tightening around my mother’s arm.
I cock my head to the side, ignoring his question. “Ma? What are you doing?”
Her graphite eyes that are so similar to mine swim with emotions that I can’t grasp. “I’m so sorry, baby,” she says, the words catching in her throat.
“What is going on here?” I demand.
“She’s coming with me.”
“Like fuck, Rodriguez! She’s my mother and she doesn’t need another controlling fuck to dictate her every move.”
I cling to Kenzi, something isn’t right here.
“Watch your mouth, homes, we had a deal.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?”
He smirks, the knowing glint reaching his whiskey eyes. “You agreed I could take something from the house, and now I have her.”
Everything spins and I lean on the staircase banister for added support, his words perforating through my hazy mind. He played me. Red mist coats my eyes but I shove it away, knowing the only way I’m getting out of here alive with Kenzi is if I play the game.
“I said something, not someone.”
“A deal is a deal. Plus she wants to leave with me, don’t you, hermosa.”
My mother nods and I have no fucking words left. Shaking my head, I walk toward Rodriguez and his brother’s raise their guns at my head.
Rodriguez motions for them to lower their weapons and they comply. He pulls my mother in closer. She sighs and it sounds like a happy sigh.
My eyes meet his. “You hurt her in any way, shape or form, the deals off. Understand? Don’t play with me, Rodriguez.”
He nods once and I lean in awkwardly with Kenzi in my arms and kiss my mother’s cheek.
“Love you, ma. You have my number if you need me.” Then I shoulder past Rodriguez and issue a tight nod to Miguel, we have an understanding and I know I’ll be able to put that to use one day.
There is so much I want to say, so much I want to know, but with Kenzi laying limp in my arms has my questions turning to vapor. She is my priority.
The front door is open and the frigid air coats my body in ice as I stagger down the stairs from my childhood home.
I’m relieved to see Raine waiting for me in her pink porche. Through her half mask I see pity and sadness etched in her cobalt blue eyes and it annoys me. If there is one thing I fucking hate it’s pity.
“Don’t, Raine.”
Knowing better, she turns away and faces the front of the car, prompting me to slide into the passenger seat with Kenzi cradled in my arms.
It’s only been hours but it feels like years have passed when I draw her closer into my chest. She feels lighter, and broken, and the anger percolates once more in my veins, making me despise my father even more.
Raine takes off down the windy driveway and out of the street like a grand prix driver. My thoughts waver and fluctuate with so many damn conflicting emotions that I don’t know where the hell my head’s at or if it’ll ever be the same after this.
Scrap that. I know it’ll never be the same, and I know I’ll never forgive myself for everything Kenzi has endured because of me.
Raine pulls up at the front of my house and I’m surprised to see that Angelite, our discreet loving doctor, is already there.
She stands there stoic, her medicine bags grasped firmly in each hand at her sides. I peer at her through the windscreen and notice Angelite’s natural blonde hair is tinted with hot pink at the ends now and pulled up in a tight ponytail. The glasses resting on her nose do nothing to disguise the no nonsense vibe she gives off in her white lab jacket, and her baby blue eyes probe us through the car window of Raine’s porche. I’ve never understood why she insists on wearing that shit, but for whatever reason she does.
Raine turns the engine off and I climb out of the car with Kenzi awkwardly in my arms. Angelite gasps, clearly having caught a glimpse of her.
I walk past her and head straight for the front door. “Thanks for coming on short notice, Angelite. It means a lot. Please follow me.”
