Chapter Four
Taking a last drag from my cigarette, I flick it out of the window, smoke swirling around me like a cloak of shadows. I grip the steering wheel of my Mercedes with a force I didn’t know I possessed. I bought this car two weeks ago, after I was finally free from the clutches of Ben Grenado, the drug lord who had held me as a fucking captive for seven years. Granted, I couldn’t be too angry. After all, he taught me everything I know.
To kill or be killed.
That if I don’t get my game straight, the only place I’m gonna end up is on a park bench.
That knowledge is power, and what you don”t know can hurt you.
He also dangled the threat of killing my family over my head, if I as much as tried to contact them while I was still under his thumb. And Sara was my family. The only person who cared about me, and the only person I cared about in this world. It was a tough choice, but I thought… I thought it would be okay. I wasn’t willing to put Sara in harm’s way.
Now, as I sit in my car in front of Will’s shop I realize that I had been stupid once again, thinking that I had solved Sara’s problem with Ron all those years ago.
I had thought Ron was unable to get to her.
When had he gotten better? Had he had a miracle recovery? Or was his walking a result of physical therapy? When I’d finished with him that night, he’d had a severed spine. He was, or so I thought, paralyzed forever from the waist down. He was ruined. He could never hurt my Sara.
But now he’s walking again. Did he get to her while I was gone?
I swallow my rage as I stare at the restaurant and tourist shop. It was the first place I had driven to after I had gotten the car. I have known about it for a while. I tried to keep tabs on Sara’s life as much as could from afar, but now I am finally here and a free man.
The place sits right off the interstate, and for that reason, it’s always done well. It belonged to Sara’s biological father—the one whom I only knew a very few short months before he was killed in a car accident. And then, seven months later, Will had walked into our life, bringing his creepy fucking brother, Ron. They took over the store, and they sucked the happiness right out of the house, leaving us all broken.
And, while I hate it, I might’ve always seen Sara as a sister had he not come into our life.
My eyes flick to Sara and her two younger sisters, Lilly and Eliza, whom I can see through the big plate glass window. I know that the very youngest is already with their biological grandparents. She’s not old enough to work yet. I have done my due diligence and had one of my men look into their circumstances. My intelligence tells me that the three younger girls normally go to their grandparents every weekend, but this weekend, it seems they are working as well, at least the Friday night.
I can’t understand why Will and Sara’s mom agreed to foster more kids, especially after what happened between Ron and me. I just can’t understand why they went and picked up more kids… Probably for free labor.
“But why are you still here?” I ask Sara the question aloud, even though I know she can’t hear me. It probably has something to do with those girls. But she shouldn’t have had to stay in that fucking house, reliving her trauma with no end in sight.
It’s our trauma, and she’s never escaped it.
I’m tempted to go into the restaurant and demand to know if Ron has ever touched her. I want to ask if that’s why she’s there—because she’s brainwashed into thinking she should stay. It makes my stomach sick. I wonder if the light in her bright blue eyes is gone. I always loved that light. Always. I remember when I first met her, and I let the memories settle me.
***
Fifteen Years Earlier…
“You’re going to meet your new family,” Miss Parker says to me.
I look at her as if she’s crazy. I don’t have a family. The man I meet with on weekdays after school sometimes tells me that my entire family is gone. Well, kind of. My dad hasn’t ever been here. I don’t think he even knows about me.
“The Parsons are really nice people. You’re going to have a sister, too.” She leads me to the car.
I nod. I don’t want a sister. I want a brother. Like two of them. They can help me build cool stuff with my Legos. I’ve been getting really good at that.
“You won’t be in the same school district, but it’ll be for the better. I promise.”
I shrug. I don’t have any friends anyway. No one wants to be the weird kid’s friend. They all think my clothes are old and my interests are dumb. Sometimes they shove me, but I don’t tell anyone. My life is none of their business.
I climb into the backseat and put my seatbelt on. Everything I own is in a backpack beside me. Sure, I don’t have a lot of things. Maybe that’s how it’s supposed to be. I let out a big breath and lean back.
I hope my new dad takes me fishing.
One time, when I got to watch TV in my latchkey program, I saw a program about a dad taking his son fishing. It seemed like it would be real fun. I decided right then and there that’s what I would do when I had a dad.
Maybe this is it. My opportunity.
It makes me feel better as the cityscape gives way to big fancy houses, spread out in gardens. Then I wonder if I really like this. I’d rather be close to the basketball courts—even if you gotta run real fast past the homeless man who tries to poke us. I don’t like him very much.
“This is your new neighborhood,” Miss Parker says as we pull through some big black gates. “I bet they’re so excited to see you.”
“Maybe,” I mumble. I don’t know how I feel about these big houses. Someone could get lost, but hide and seek might be fun.
The car finally pulls up next to a two-story, red-brick house. All I can think about is how big the garage must be. There’re two big doors. That’s like enough space for four cars.
“Alright, let’s go, Aiden.” She climbs out and opens the back door for me. There are already people standing outside. They look fancy, just like the house they live in. I follow behind Miss Parker as I take in the three people.
The man is tall with dark hair, and he’s got this big smile on his face. He’s like the younger version of Mr. Rogers or something. I like him already. I bet he’ll take me fishing. The lady has light-brown hair and olive skin. She’s pretty. She’s also smiling, but it’s not as big as my new dad’s smile.
Lastly, I look at the little girl. She’s smaller than me. I bet I’m gonna be the big brother. Her long, chocolate-brown hair is braided down her back, but that’s not all that interesting. It’s her eyes. They’re so blue, and they sparkle in the sunlight. I like that. They match her father’s eyes, but hers are brighter. They remind me of the picture I saw of Florida’s ocean. Yes, that’s what they look like.
“This is Aiden.” Miss Parker touches my shoulder and urges me forward. “He’s really excited to be here.”
“I think he needs a bath.” My new sister wrinkles her nose.
Fear courses through my body. Do I stink?
“Sahara,” the man snaps at her. “Don’t be rude. He’s been at school playing all day.”
“But his shirt…”
“We have a whole room ready for you.” The man beams, reaching out to me. I go rigid. Why is he trying to touch me? He frowns but stops his movement, sensing my reaction. “Can I carry your bag for you, son?”
Son.
I blink a few times. “Okay.” I lift my bag for him to take, and he does.
“We’ll put this in your room.”
I nod, and Miss Parker urges me forward, but I can’t stop looking at Sara’s eyes. I know that’s not her name, but her big name is too, well, big. I like Sara, even if she’s not all that nice to me. Kyle at school says that his sister is mean, too, and so this must be normal.
I trot to catch up to her as she follows the grownups inside.
“I’m Aiden.”
“I know.”
“Why you gotta be so snarky, Sara?”
She whips her head so hard her braid slaps me in the face. “My name is Sahara not Sara.”
I shrug. “I like Sara better.”
“I don’t care what you like.”
“I’ll make sure you get to school safe,” I say proudly. That’s what big brothers do. “And make sure none of the homeless people poke you.”
“Um…” She looks confused and maybe a little scared. She tugs at her mom’s shirt.
“Mama…”
“There’s no homeless people around here, Aiden,” she tells me. “You don’t have to feel unsafe. We’re here to take care of you.”
I nod. “Okay.”
That sounds good to me, and as we step inside the big house, I realize that it smells really good. It’s clean. It reminds me of that one store at the mall—the one that all the old ladies go into. I like that store.
“This is your new place,” my new dad says. “Home.”
“What do you think?” Miss Parker urges, squeezing my shoulder again. I hate it when she does that.
“I like it.” No point in letting her bother me. She won’t be staying for long. She’ll leave and never come back.
“Do you want a tour? Or would you like to see your room first?” My new mom has a pretty smile. She looks like some of my friends’ moms. Only richer.
“My room.”
“Okay, let’s head down the hallway, then. You and Sahara are on the first floor. Martha and I will be staying down here for a while, too.” My new dad grins.
Man, I like him.
“Right in here, buddy.” He swings open a doorway down the hallway. I notice the bathroom before I get there. It’s got weird black and white tile. It’s different. But I guess I like it. It’s my home.
I step into the room and am surprised. There are cars everywhere. How did he know that I like cars? He sets my bag on the bed and smiles at me.
“What do you think Aiden?”
“I like it a lot.” I’m not used to anyone asking me these questions, but okay. I guess it’s nice that they’re asking me questions.
“Can you take me fishing?” I blurt out the question before I realize what I’ve said. My cheeks get really hot. I reach up to hide them as everybody goes really quiet.
“You’d like to go fishing?” The man tilts his head at me.
I swallow hard. “Uh… I guess so.”
“I’ll get the poles out of the garage, and we can go this weekend.”
My brows shoot up as this strange sensation rushes over my body. I’m happy. I’m really happy. I’m going fishing… with my new dad. This is going to be the best family in the world.
I look over at my sister, Sara. She looks weirded out by me. I don’t care. She’ll realize really quickly that I’m a good brother. I haven’t been one in my entire life, but I know that if I have a good dad that takes me fishing, then I’ll make a real good brother. He can tell me how to be a good brother.
“I think he’s happy,” Miss Parker says.
“I hope he stays that way,” my new mom says, and I catch a hint of what sounds like worry in her voice. I ignore it. I know I must have done something really bad for my mum and dad not to want me. But whatever it was, I won”t do it again. And she’ll see.
I’ll be a good son.