Brothers Black 7 - Blue Saffire Page 0,23

body, away from the pain and the torture. A distant memory is triggered.

“This world will never love you back, Roni,” my mother said as she sat in the window.

The scent of lemon pine and honey filled the room. She had her hair wrapped up. It was a Saturday, her day to clean. No doubt one of her friends would be coming to visit.

“Your father took what he wanted and left me as if he never had any love for me. I thought he’d come back for you.” She snorted. “Not even you could make him come back. Nope, this world will never show you love. It only knows how to take.”

“Daddy sends me things,” I said. “Maybe one day he will come back. He’s just busy.”

“Girl, you better get over that dream. He will leave you for dead like he did me.”

“He’ll be back.”

She turned from the window and glared at me with her dark eyes. I stood twisting my fingers in my T-shirt. I hated when she got like this.

“The world revolves around money. You don’t have it; it has no use for you. You keep waiting on your father. He will disappoint you every time. Money is the only thing that man is capable of loving. We are just pawns on the chessboard, pieces he can toss away,” she said coldly.

“But—”

“There are no buts, little girl,” she started to cough. That had started to happen a lot. “I’m trying to prepare you. We will never know your father’s world. He keeps us here, hidden, with the bare minimum. I deserve better.

“Remember this. You have to fight with everything you have to get what you want. If you show weakness, they’ll try to take everything, but there are times you will allow them to think you’re weak so you can live another day to fight and win.

“Don’t be like me. Don’t love them more than you love yourself. You’ll forget what you wanted in the first place.”

I didn’t believe her words. My daddy never met me. If he did, he would know I’m a good girl and I’m smart. Then he would want to take me away from here. If she wasn’t so angry all the time, maybe he would come back and stay.

She jumped up and slammed her hand down on the kitchen table. “You listen to me, Roni. I’m teaching you how to survive. He’ll never come to rescue you. You’ll have to rescue yourself. Always rely on yourself. Trust no one.”

“Roni, Roni,” Torque’s voice pulls me back to the present.

I look at the ceiling, but I can’t focus. There’s too much pain. I roll my eyes and try to breathe. It’s not easy. My breaths are coming shallow.

“Roni,” this time it’s Natasha. “Can you hear us?”

I nod as if they can see me. My mouth is so dry when I try to make a sound. Rolling to my side, I whimper.

“I heard something,” Torque exclaims. “Roni, you okay?”

I manage a groan. There’s the taste of copper in my mouth as I roll my tongue around. So much pain radiates through my body.

“I hear her now. Maybe we should leave her to rest,” Natasha says nervously.

“I’m here, Roni,” Torque says softly. “I’m here. Don’t let them break you. We’re going to get out.”

I close my eyes. Has my life always been shitty? The memories all have me so confused. Like puzzle pieces that refuse to fit together.

“Trust me, Roni. I’m here.” Torque’s murmurs are the last thing I hear as I pass out.

Chapter 10

Enough of This

John

“I want to leave,” Missy mutters.

“Okay, see you later,” I say and go to walk back into my parents’ house.

“Really, John,” she shrieks at my back.

I whip around. “Really.”

My body is tight with anger. I’ve had to step out of myself to evaluate this bullshit. I’m being manipulated.

My anger has burned away the guilt. Now that I’m looking with fresh eyes, I’m seeing things for what they are. Bullshit. This has been going on for months.

I’ve started to question everything and follow my gut. The PI in me promises that something is off with all of this shit. The only reason she’s even here this morning is because she showed up on her own.

“Why are you being like this? Did you poison your mom against me? Why does she hate me?”

I narrow my eyes. “Missy, I don’t have to poison anyone against you. You’re doing a wonderful job of that yourself.”

“What?”

“Look, I’m sick of this. Yesterday was the final straw. You asked

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