Chapter 27
CHAPTER 27
RACHELLE
“W elcome home,” Emil says, smiling as I walk up to the door.
Unfortunately, Lili has to go see her dad so she can’t spend the night tonight, which is understandable. We’ve been pretty much attached at the hip.
“Thank you,” I say with a smile, dragging my little suitcase behind me.
“I see you brought someone with you,” my stepfather murmurs as Ignacio pulls into the driveway.
Emil waves at Lili as she drives away to go see her dad at home, while Ignacio sits in the SUV for a second. I don’t even know whose car that is, it’s not one I’ve seen before. It’s a beautiful emerald green, the color even more stunning as the sun begins to set.
“He found us first,” I mutter. “He’s been searching the coastal towns for us. We probably should have taken a car that wasn’t as flashy.”
Emil smirks even as he rolls his eyes.
“I had that car checked for trackers several times, which is why I figured it was fine,” he says. “My son is apparently a fool and very determined. I would never fuck up as badly as he did for the record, but my grovel game would be on point.”
“Oh would it?” Mom asks, amused as she joins us. “You wouldn’t be dumb enough to fuck up. He’s home… wait, Rachelle what am I missing?”
“My stepbrother stalked me across Oregon,” I answer as quickly as possible, hoping she won’t freak out too badly as she begins to add things up.
“Is this like where boys in the playground pull your hair because they like you, but instead they try to kill you?” Mom asks. “If that’s what this is, I’m going to question your lame parenting skills, Emil.”
This shouldn’t be funny. It really should not, but I feel a bubble of laughter moving through me. Maybe not enough to escape.
It’s a very inopportune and inappropriate feeling, though.
“No, I can reassure you that he did not learn any of this from me,” Emil says. “Damn boy is making me look bad!”
Ignacio is still sitting in his car, gazing at his steering wheel as we discuss him.
“All of this isn’t really appropriate. Ignacio is Rachelle’s stepbrother,” Mom says firmly.
“I think you need to tell that boy’s heart that,” Emil mutters. “It’s very complicated, mi amor.”
“Fuck,” Mom sighs.
Stomping down to the SUV, she knocks on the window, making him jump with an audible shout.
“He already had his nuts zapped once today. Does she have any weapons on her?” I ask, amused.
“Well, he probably deserved it. Was it you or Lili?” he asks.
“She pulled a gun on him, while I fried his nuts. Teamwork,” I say, smirking.
“I would say I pity my son, but I think you’re both what he needs,” he says. “That being said, don’t go easy on Nacio. Make his life hell.”
The boy in question rolls down the window, flinching as my mom goes to knock again.
“Maybe move faster,” she advises. “Are you planning on sleeping in your stepsister’s car, or are you coming inside?”
My car… what?
“You said I wasn’t welcome inside, so I’m probably going to sleep in the car,” he says glumly.
Shut up, heart. Don’t feel bad. Not one little bit!
“This is your home, even though you are an idiot,” she says. “I’m still angry, you will still grovel at my daughter’s feet. She needs water? You get the fuck up and get it. The only servant she has is you.”
“Okay,” he says with a quick nod, sneaking a look up at her.
“If you’re the reason I lose my only child, no one will be able to save you, Nacio,” she says. “Your father gave me full permission to kill you.”
His eyes widen, but I’m sure it’s true. Mom would only do it if I was no longer here. I’m burying the past and everything that happened after my dad died. She’s a much better mother now than she ever was before. I’m not sure what the change was, but I’ll grab it with both hands.
Ignoring the whispers in my head that tell me otherwise, I take a deep breath. I’m going to need to text Barrett when I get upstairs. I was really hoping I could go until tomorrow until I needed to see him.
“Get the fuck in the house, Nacio,” Mom says, making Emil chuckle under his breath.
Turning away, she walks back up where we are as Ignacio turns off the car and gets out.
“You’re fantastic,” Emil murmurs, kissing her forehead.
They are so cute together. I love that they found each other.
Ignacio pulls his bag over his shoulder, walking slowly over to us, hitting the button to lock the vehicle.
“These are yours,” he says, pressing the keys into my hand. “Happy belated birthday.”
“Ignacio decided to buy you a car and teach you how to drive,” Emil says, much to my surprise.
“What?” I ask, blinking rapidly. I will not cry because the asshole did something this nice for me. Absolutely not.
“Eh, it’s not that nice,” Mom grumbles as she walks inside, making me smile on the inside.
She will absolutely not be forgiving this boy anytime soon.
It’s a really fucking nice car.
“I wanted you to have a way to get places, and independence by teaching you how to drive,” Ignacio says softly. “If you want a different car?—”
“I don’t think that’s the point,” Emil murmurs. “This is a really large gift, Nacio. She’s not used to being spoiled. Especially not by you.”
“That’ll change,” Ignacio says confidently. “Just watch.”
He walks into the house after gazing at me as if he needs to memorize what I look like, reminding me of his recurrent thoughts.
“You okay?” Emil asks as I gaze helplessly at him.
“I don’t know what to say,” I admit, squeaking.
“You don’t need to say anything,” he says. “Just see where it goes. I don’t completely understand what’s going through his head, either. It’s frustrating as shit.”
Walking inside with him, I sigh as I pull my phone out, annoyed with myself.
“What’s wrong?” he asks.
“I should schedule something with Barrett,” I tell him. “A lot has happened…”
“Are you nervous?” he asks, confused. “He’s not in a space to judge you. All of that was really fucked up.”
“I know, a part of me worries he still will,” I finally say truthfully.
“He won’t,” Emil practically growls.
It’s a miracle my therapist hasn’t quit already with how scary my stepfather is.
“I’ll call him if you’d like and set things up,” he adds. “Go get settled, maybe have a snack before dinner.”
Nodding, I bring my suitcase upstairs so I can go through it later. Right now, I want a shower and to change into comfortable lounge clothes.
“Hey Rachelle,” Ignacio says as I begin to walk past him. “Put your hamper out for me, will you?”
“Do you have a secret fetish for my dirty clothes?” I ask, wrinkling my nose. “I promise you they don’t smell good with all of the running I’ve been doing.”
“Really? You started running?” he asks, surprised. “That’s cool. Maybe I can go with you one morning. No, I’m asking because I’m doing laundry.”
Looking down at my suitcase and then him, I feel as if we’re speaking two different languages. Why…
“Dad is making me do my own laundry now, so I figured I’d do yours as well,” he explains. “Being your self proclaimed slave means washing your clothes, cleaning your room and bathroom, and whatever else you want.”
“I don’t know what to make of that. Why? Is this because my mom said you had to?” I ask.
A part of me will be disappointed if the answer is yes.
“No, it’s because it’s a place to start,” he says. “I’ll never be able to make it up to you. If I want you to know that I’m serious, I have to make you take notice.”
Shaking my head, I decide I’m really dense.
“Explain this to me as if I’m a five year old,” I tell him. “I’m not understanding where you’re going with this.”
He’s in the middle of changing, wearing low slung joggers that make my mouth dry. There’s so much gorgeous, tanned skin pulled tightly over muscles that go forever. God, he even had that insane V that disappears into his pants.
It should be illegal for him to go without a shirt.
His footsteps move almost as if they were in slow motion, telegraphing his next move. His thumb pushes my chin up as he cups my face, his gray eyes intent and serious.
“Alright, nena ,” he rasps, his head dipping to brush my lips with his. I’m shocked, my eyes wide as I freeze. “If things were different, and I didn’t fuck everything up so badly, I would be in your bed every night. Every kiss you give Lili would be shared with me. I’m uncontrollably attracted to you, my soul is linked to yours. I’ll do anything I can for you to give me a chance.”
Shooting his shot, his lips brush against mine again, filled with promises I don’t know if he can keep. My heels threaten to rise so I can get more pressure, a deeper kiss, something before he backs away and my mind tells me what a bad idea this is.
“Words mean nothing, so I’ll show you,” he promises before returning to his room.
God, I might just fucking fall over.
Forcing myself to walk, though it’s wobbly, I go into my room, feeling how vacant it seems even though I was only gone for a week and a half.
Shit, if this is my stepbrother’s starting position, I don’t even want to know how far he’s willing to go. Closing the door behind me, I lock it, though I know they don’t mean much in this house. Taking the time to wait until I’m in the bathroom, I undress as I firmly tell myself that I will not fold.
Nacio Reyes is not good for my continued health.
* * *
Talking to Barrett makes me feel worse than I thought. While he’s not blaming me for how I reacted in the moment, he is definitely laying into me right now.
“You’re falling into destructive paths,” he says. “Taking a vacation after a traumatic experience is running away, Rachelle.”
“I don’t think it was,” I reply. “I needed space from the boys. They tried to kill me, Barrett. The police aren’t a possibility in this world.”
“What world?” he scoffs. “The one where your voices tell you to run? Giving in to them gives them power.”
“No,” I deny. “I took a pause on my life to be able to regroup. There’s nothing wrong with that.”
“You’re a very spoiled rich girl who believes she’s being treated unfairly,” he says. “Bullying happens in any educational institution, Rachelle. Get thicker skin. I really think it’s time to revisit medication.”
“What? That doesn’t make any sense!” I yell.
I feel gaslighted right now. He listened to my entire story, and began to turn everything around. Barrett used to be much more understanding.
Why the change? The paranoia in my mind is riding me hard, and I don’t know what to do.
Fuck.
Picking up my phone as my breaths begin to heave and I feel out of control, I text nine-one-one to my stepfather.
“Hey, we agreed to no cell phones during a session,” Barrett says. “If you can’t be serious about this, then I’ll have to discuss a more structured plan.”
“Yep, I’m done,” I rasp, unable to breathe as I stand and stumble to the door.
Pulling it open, I step out to find Emil racing around the corner to me. My mom is right behind him, brow furrowed.
“What the fuck is going on?” he asks, taking in my trembling hands and heaving chest.
I really can’t breathe.
Tears are beyond me, my eyes dry as a bone as I lean against the wall and drop my head back.
“Barrett!” Emil yells as my therapist walks out on the phone.
“I’m sorry, sir. I believe her delusions are just too powerful,” he says. “A chase in the woods, being thrown in a creek? Wouldn’t she be in the hospital otherwise?”
“Who are you calling?” Nacio asks, having followed my mom and his dad out to us. “What do you mean by her delusions? That all happened, you idiot.”
“Yes, I have a client who is currently having an episode that needs immediate attention,” Barrett says, raising his brow at my stepbrother. “She’s having a mental health crisis and needs to be committed.”
My feet slide out from underneath me as my legs collapse, the tears finally forming. I can’t, I can’t.
“You’re freaking her out,” Nacio says, pointing at me. “Who are you to tell her what she didn’t experience?”
“Why didn’t she go to the hospital?” Barrett hisses, clearly on hold. “If her feet were so badly injured, where is the evidence of that? Where are the words on her skin?”
“Her girlfriend and her mother helped her get the permanent marker off,” Emil says, his voice so low I’m waiting for him to shoot my therapist. “I have people who took care of my stepdaughter at home, as she is terrified of hospitals. Why are you twisting everything around? Rachelle isn’t a liar?”
“You’re clearly accomplices to her delusions,” Barrett says, ignoring as I begin to sob. “Rachelle is running away from her problems, has admitted to hearing voices, and she’s not getting any better. I believe the only course of action is the one I’m taking so they’ll be able to get her on a medication regimen.”
“This is against everything we discussed,” Emil says. “I could ruin your entire life and practice.”
“It’s a good thing I ran into some good fortune,” Barrett says with a smirk. “The Kings want to remind you that the society is forever. You don’t get to pick and choose just because you chose to do that with your family.”
Oh my God.
Nacio is across the space between him and my therapist in seconds to punch him in the face. Barrett is a pussy who can’t handle violence, allowing my stepbrother to catch his phone and toss it to his dad.
“Okay, Rachelle,” Nacio says, coming to drop to his knees in front of me. “I need you to take a breath for me, okay?”
Shaking my head as my lungs seize on me, I gasp soundlessly instead. That’s easier asked than done.
“Look, your therapist is knocked out, and Dad has this taken care of,” he reminds me, motioning to where Emil is discussing things on the phone.
“No, I understand what that sounded like, but I believe my adopted daughter’s therapist is under the influence of an outside party,” Emil says. “I have a lot of people who would love to fuck with my family, and it’s unfortunately spread to Barrett like a bad stomach bug. He is being fired for scaring my daughter. The very idea of being hospitalized is giving her an anxiety attack. He is using a code 5150 as a weapon to have her committed.”
“Come on, nena, ” Nacio whispers, pressing his forehead against mine. “Be a good girl for me and let your lungs open. You want oxygen, there’s nothing in this house that can hurt you, not now that Barrett is about to be thrown out like yesterday’s trash.”
Sucking in a lungful of air, I cough because everything is too tightly wound. My body is telling me to run, to save myself, I can’t have another experience where I felt like a vegetable. I was overmedicated with psychotropic drugs, and I couldn’t think. I twitched like a druggie needing her next dose, my dreams were fucked, and it was one of the worst experiences I’ve had.
I cannot go back.
Slowly, I focus on breathing when he does. His body wash smells like cedar, amber, and violet leaves, giving me something to draw into my lungs to distract myself with. I can still hear my stepfather discussing things on the phone, notice my mother walk over to kick my therapist in the head, but Nacio fills the rest of my senses.
My heart is still beating hard, and my stepbrother rubs my hands with enough pressure for me to feel it. Otherwise, things feel muffled, as if I’m wrapped in wool. I’m surprised at how well he’s handling this, because even I can admit that I’m losing my shit right now.
“Thank you. I appreciate that you have to send people out, however I live on private property and will not be opening my gate,” Emil says.
Listening to something else, I watch as he swallows back a snort of diversion.
“Yes, please see how well sending the police will go for you. Although, they’ll be able to take away my therapist who is now in breach of his commitment to my adopted daughter to take over her care, but he is also trespassing and threatening her. On second thought, please send the cavalry," he says, hanging up.
Walking over to me, he crouches beside me, making sure to give me space.
“Well, I was not expecting that,” he says. “I made a ruckus with the Kings Society, and someone got to Barrett. Assholes. You’re not going anywhere, Rachelle. I swear on my life.”
His words loosen the knot keeping me from breathing even more, and I gasp in disbelief. No one is telling me I’m being over the top or refusing to believe my words outside of my now ex-therapist.
Choosing the wrong side feels like a bad life choice, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Barrett finds himself having significantly cut his life short.
Next time, fucking believe me.