Page 27 of Come Alive
Yara was the only person he had ever allowed himself tocareabout, to grow close to, to share the darkest parts of his heart with. He had kept himself closed off for so long, not trusting anyone to stick around, always expecting the other shoe to drop, to be left behind. But she never had. She had brought him into her orbit. Into her life, her home, her bed, her heart.
Her soul.
He would be repaying that gift for as long as he lived.
“You are. And maybe Mateo and James aren’t there yet, but they are calling to pieces of my soul that have been aching. I can almost feel my insides healing, the trauma being replaced with…with hope?”
Kazi squeezed her to him again, offering a kiss to the top of her head, but then the front door clicking caught his attention. “Where’s Mateo?”
Yara picked up her head from his chest. “He’s picking up James. They were right beh—fuck!”
Chapter 12
Steve
His Doll
“Come here, doll,” Steve barked, slamming the door shut behind him.
He marched through the hall, waiting impatiently.
The clack of metal drew his attention and then a small blonde woman made her way around the corner, her progress strained by the shackles that rested around her ankles.
“There you are.” Steve lifted his hand as she approached causing her to flinch back, but he caught her chin. He took her in. Murky blue eyes, brown roots showing, wrinkles on her dress, too much fat. “A filthy replacement.” He slapped her. “A useless doll.” This time when he hit her, she fell to the ground. “An ugly mistake.” He placed a loafer on her face, pushing her into the hardwood below. “Soon, I won’t have any need for you, but until then, you are to keep up appearances.”
“I’m sorry,” the woman murmured demurely, shaking beneath him. “Father.”
Steve’s blood sung at the word. Steve’s adopted daughter, Hallie, had brought him this girl a few years back. She wasn’t quite who he was looking for, wasn’t exactly the replacement he wanted, but the girl had lasted longer than any of the others.
“That’s better,Eve.Now go clean yourself up. Soon enough you will meet your sister.” He released her, turning away and pulling out his phone.
The clacking was barely audible over the hum of anger that pierced his temple. James had arrived at the airport, but he hadn’t taken the cab as planned. He had gotten into a nondescript black vehicle.
What is this? Who is he with?
Steve spun around, wanting to expel his wrath on his doll, but she was gone.
Smart girl.
No matter, he always enjoyed a game of cat and mouse.
Chapter 13
James
“Where are you taking me?” James leaned forward, knocking on the partition glass for the tenth time.
For thefirsttime, Mateo answered, “To Yara.”
James fell back against the leather seat. “Are you actually okay with this? With her being with me? With ussharingher?”
James still wasn’t fully comfortable with the idea. When he grew up, the thought of being in a relationship with more than one person wasn’t only frowned upon, it was illegal. In fact, it wasstillillegal. And past all of that…James was a jealous man.
“Yes,” Mateo bit out between his teeth, turning a corner.
The sun was just starting to rise, and James attempted to take in his surroundings. He had never actually been to Florida before, and the muggy wet air had been a harsh slap to the face as he left the airport, but it was nicer from the comfort of the air-conditioned car. They appeared to be heading towards the outskirts of the town and the longer they progressed, the more unease filtered through James’s nerves.
Is he going to kill me? After all, I am another man vying for Yara.
