Chapter Twenty-Seven #2
“No.” She replies. “And I’m kind of happy he isn’t because I’m still trying to figure out how to tell him about Dad.”
I take the last piece of chicken out the grease and put it with the others. Grabbing a spoon I take the top off the rice, letting the steam die down a little before stirring in it. Taking a grain off the spoon I place it in my mouth to see if it’s done. I smile.
“Well food is done.” I state. “Should I make him some soup or something?”
Frani shakes her head as she looks up.
“Let him sleep, he needs his rest.” She responds.
“Yeah.” I agree.
I grab a plate and make it for her before sliding it to her.
“Mmm, such a gentleman.” She jokes with a smile on her face.
I smile and roll my eyes before going to make my plate and sitting next to her. She digs in and groans.
“Ohmigod.” She says.
She chews some more before adding,
“... I’m going to need you to switch your major from medical school to cooking school.”
I laugh.
“You think so?” I ask.
“Mm, I know so, this is delicious.”
“Well, I’m glad you like it.” I say. “Your brother likes my Jollof rice.”
“Oh yeah, that was good.” She points her fork toward me.
I frown.
“You’ve had it?” I ask.
“Yeah, that night you made it and got called into work I um...” She looks behind her before leaning in closer to me. “Ate some of it from my brothers plate, he doesn’t know and if he does, he just hasn’t confronted me about it.”
I laugh. “I can make it again, it’s no problem.”
“Nah, food tastes better when it comes from my brothers plate.” She says.
I smile and shake my head before taking a bite of my chicken.
“My grandfather was the one to teach me how to cook.” I state. “Almost every night when he was about to cook dinner I ran into that kitchen and made sure I was cooking with him, even if it was to just add water to whatever it is we may be cooking.”
“He seemed like a good man.” Frani says.
I nod. “He was.”
Memories of my childhood with him flash in my mind and tears prick my eyes.
It seems like my eyes have been drowning in tears every few hours now.
Ever since I met Wraith... but that’s a small price I’ll pay to be with him.
I’d cry a literal river if I must if it meant I’d get my Dark Angel in the end.
“He didn’t have to take me in under his wing when my parents were unable to care for me, but he did, and I know I’m so fortunate to be in the position I’m in today because of him.
” I state. “I mean I could have been in a foster home, adopted to an abusive family, left to fend for myself, or dead but none of that happened because of my grandfather.”
“You so have a lot to be grateful for, but that doesn’t mean you’re not allowed to feel angry when life knocks you down when you don’t deserve it.” Frani says. “The evil in this life took a piece of you away from yourself and that’s something you can never get back.”
I look at her.
“And that same evil is trying to take away a similar piece of me and I’ll be damned if I let this evil go through with it.” Frani says.
“What are you talking about?” Wraith asks, walking toward us.
He heads straight to me and kisses my forehead while massaging my shoulders. It feels so good goosebumps erupt on my skin. Frani chokes on her saliva but clears her throat before turning to face her brother.
“Ah—um.” She says.
I can tell she’s mauling over her thoughts, trying to figure out how to approach this the right way.
She lets her fork fall and gets up. I watch her exit the kitchen and enter the garage.
Wraith looks at me and I smile, my heart warming at the sight of him.
I place my hand under his t-shirt and lightly tap his belly.
“Are you hungry?” I ask.
He shakes his head, moving to sit next to me.
“No, I ate before I unintentionally fell asleep.” Wraith says. “How was your day at school today?”
I make an exaggerated sound before answering.
“To put it lightly it was exhausting. Fucking hate midterms!”
“Tell me about it.” Wraith mumbles.
Frani exits the garage and reenters the kitchen. In her hands are rope and zip-ties. She looks Wraith dead in the eyes with a serious expression on her face.
“I need to talk to you.” She says. “...In the living room.”
“What’s the rope and zip-ties for?” I ask.
“Him.” She points at her brother.
She walks to the living room without looking back to see if Wraith is following her. He grabs my hand and pulls me into the living room with him.
“Let him go.” Frani says.
Wraith growls at Frani and Frani gives him a look. No not a look, the look, that threatening look mothers give to their misbehaving children. Frani walks up to Wraith and punches him in the stomach. It doesn’t phase him at all but it does make the current moment more serious.
“Let. Him. Go.” She growls in his face.
Reluctantly Wraith lets my hand go and sits down in the rocking chair. Frani then begins to tie Wraith to the chair, the rope going around his torso multiple times and the zip-ties holding his wrist to the arms of the chair.
“Okay.” Frani says. “I’m doing this for your own good because I have news you won’t like.”
She examines her handiwork before mumbling,
“Not that what I’ve done will do much.”
She looks at me and I nod at her, giving her the reassurance I’m sure she needs right now. She takes a deep breath.
“Ooh, okay. Dad... has been arrested.” She starts slowly.
Wraith grunts immediately, making my heartbeat speed up.
“It’s over some bullshit to be honest with you and I’ve been doing some research, though I’m not as tech savvy as you are but I have theories, and they all lead to one man... Jamie.” She continues. “I believe that Jamie has framed Dad for the murder of Julian.”
It’s silent in the living room and the silence almost becomes suffocating.
Then all of sudden I hear something rip.
Looking at Wraith I see him effortlessly and calmly ripping his wrists free from the zip-ties.
He then rips the rope from around his body as if it were a toothpick.
Cracking his neck I watch as all the emotion leaves his face, leaving him expressionless.
He walks to me, flexing his fingers, rotating his wrists before he leans down to kiss me on the lips and walking out the living room.
“Damn.” Frani says, looking at the now ratty looking rope.
As scary as it was watching him break his restraints it was also kind of hot.
“I don’t think he took it well.” I state. “He’s too calm.”
“Yeah, I know.”
We then hear the front door open and close with a slam. Running to the front door and exiting the house we see Wraith already on his bike, backing out of the driveway.
“Shit!” Frani shouts, rushing back into the house.