The only thing holding me back from taking the last gigantic step in our relationship is fear. I’m scared of losing it all. I’m terrified of losing him. But if I let this fear control me, I’ll never experience the full potential of what we can be. What’s the point of having wings if you don’t use them to fly? It’s time to lay down my demons and let down my guard. It’s time to accept the responsibility of loving someone without restraint. Yes, it may hurt, but like Aunt Ginger always said, living without trying is a major waste of a life.
I’m not going to call Leon. I don’t want to thank him for the enormous gift on the phone. I want to look into his eyes and kiss his lips when I tell him. I want to show him how much I appreciate his beautiful gesture.
An idea takes root in my mind. Leon and I never managed to have that restaurant dinner. Pulling my phone from my bag, I call Oscars. They’re booked up for months in advance, but I manage to get a reservation for the weekend when I mention Leon’s name.
I’m about to put the phone away when it rings. Leon’s name appears on the screen. Think about the devil…
I answer with a playful, “Hey,” and then add seductively, “I was just thinking about you.”
He sounds stressed. “Are you at work?”
“Yes.” I tense. “What’s wrong?”
“I need you to go home and lock yourself in the house. Set the alarm. I’m sending a few men I trust to guard you. A man named Walter is in charge.”
My pulse spikes. “You’re scaring me. What’s going on? Where are you?” A static noise pierced by the honking of a car reaches me through the phone. “Wait. Are you on your bike?”
He says in a quiet tone, “I shut down Starley Solutions this morning.”
“What?” I must’ve heard wrong. “What do you mean you shut them down?”
“The program you gave Elliot contained a virus. I planted a bug in the code.”
A hurricane of thoughts hits me all at once. He tricked Elliot. If Elliot uploaded a program with a virus, everyone would know Elliot didn’t create the program, and if Elliot was exposed, the video would’ve gone viral.
A rush of fear travels through me. “What about the video of my mom?”
“The virus wiped out the system, including the video.” He hesitates. “But Elliot had a photo that one of the neighbors must’ve taken. He just sent it to me.”
“What?” I clutch my stomach. “No. It can’t be true. Your friend checked with the neighbors.”
“He did,” he says in a tight voice. “A few of those houses are standing empty. Whoever took the photo either moved or was kicked out. Many of the lessees under-rent illegally. It’s impossible to trace everyone who lived there.”
“This can’t be happening,” I say in a breathless voice, rushing through the door. “Where’s Gus? Has he seen the photo?”
“We have to assume the worst. I’m handling it. I promise you. Now just go home and do as I tell you. I have to go, darling. I love you.”
The line goes dead.
I stare at the phone like a zombie. My mind refuses to function. All I can focus on is that Elliot has a photo of my mom. The stench of the warehouse comes back with vivid clarity. I gag. When I close my eyes, all I can see is the man on his knees. All I can hear is Elliot’s mocking laugh as I empty my stomach and Gus’s voice telling me what happens to traitors. All I can feel is my stepfather’s fist in my hair as he whispers in my ear what will happen if I make a sound.
I grip the edge of the table to steady myself as I sway on my feet. I never told my mom about that day. I didn’t want her to feel worse than she already was. Maybe that’s why she never realized how serious her infidelity was. If anything happens to her, it’ll be my fault for not telling, for keeping my mouth shut.
Fuck.
I swallow back bile, feeling wetness on my cheeks.
I have to warn my mom. I have to tell her. She needs to run. Now. If Gus gets home before she’s gone…
A wave of nausea pushes up in my throat. Dragging in ragged breaths, I dial my mom’s number with a shaky hand.
“Come on, Mom. Please, pick up.”
My mom’s phone goes to voicemail.
What if it’s too late? What if Gus is already there?
Dialing Flora’s number, I run from the kitchen.
Annie shoots me a concerned look when I rush past her.
“Is everything all right, Violet?”
I manage in barely intelligible words, “I-I… Have to go. Family emergency.”
Flora never keeps her phone switched on during working hours, but I have to try. Hers goes straight to voicemail without ringing.
Ignoring the stitch of pain in my hip, I sprint for my car. I fumble with the ignition button as I dial the landline at the house, but the phone only rings and rings. Why is no one picking up, for crying out loud?
I burn the tires pulling out of the parking lot, dumping my phone on the seat next to me. Leon and I are roughly the same distance from Kyalami Estate. He may get there before me, but I may have better luck with the quieter backroad via Dainfern.
I drive like a maniac, earning insults from the drivers I overtake on the single road. A bus veers onto the narrow shoulder when I speed past just as a car approaches from the opposite side. The bus driver waves his arm through the window, flipping me off.