“Don’t worry boss; we’ve got this. Everything will be set in motion. That fucking bitch isn’t going to know what’s hit her.” He’s got his shit eating grin on his face and I know that he’s not going to stop until he finds out who the buyer is.
Fifteen
Reli
"You ready?" John asks.
I nod. I’m nervous, but I know that John is going to be there. Every day for the past two months he has shown me more compassion than I have ever felt, more love than I believed I deserved, and he's shown me what happiness truly is.
He walks up to me, his arm snaking around my waist. "You have nightmares due to this bitch. There's no way she's getting away with what she's done." He always seems to know just what I’m thinking or feeling.
My body begins to shake. I don't want to go back to that place.
"Baby girl, do you trust me?" he asks, and there’s a slight hesitant tone to his voice.
“Yes," I tell him instantly. I do trust him; he's been my absolute rock. I think I love him, but I'm not sure if what I'm feeling is love or gratitude. There’s no way I couldn’t trust him; he’s an honorable man.
"I'm not going to let her hurt you. I'd kill her before she even tries anything." The anger in his voice makes me jump. "Shh, Reli, it's okay." He kisses the top of my head. "It's going to be okay, you'll see,” he promises me and if I’ve learned anything in these past few weeks is that he really does keep his promises.
"I know, but I'm still scared."
A smile forms on his lips; he's hiding something, I can tell by the twinkle in his eye. "Of course you are, after everything that woman put you through I'd be surprised if you weren't. But I'm going to be with you every step of the way." His lips softly graze mine, he’s so soft with me, so loving and gentle.
"Lance is waiting," he mutters, taking my hand.
He presses the doorbell and I stand behind him, not wanting the first thing Talia sees to be me. She's here; her car is parked in the driveway. My fear is rising and if it weren't for John, I'd be on the ground sobbing. He reaches his hand behind him and I grab a hold of it, clutching it for dear life. The door opens and I press closer to John's back.
"You!" It's an accusation, "What the hell are you doing here?" Talia's anger makes me flinch, it brings back memories of when she first began hurting me.
The front door slams shut and I look up to see Zella barreling toward me. Her eyes narrowed and her lips pursed; she’s mad. “Anna!” she yells, pushing past me toward the stairs.
I’m jolted and the glass I was holding slips out of my hand, smashing to the floor. I stare at the broken pieces on the ground. Damn, that was the last juice.
"Yoreli!" The shrill voice of Talia has me rolling my eyes; what's wrong with her now? Lately her panties have been in a bunch about something. She's been different; she no longer talks to me as though I'm a human being. Every time she does talk to me, it's short and demanding. Mostly to do cleaning for her.
Talia comes to a halt in the hall; she’s glaring at me. She’s dressed in a robe and a pair of heels. “Clean this mess up.” She shakes her head in disgust. “Then go to bed.”
I frown. “Bed? Talia, it’s not even seven. I’ve not had dinner.”
She takes a step toward me, her look, one of hatred and loathing “I told you to clean it up and go to bed. Are you deaf?”
“No, but it was an accident.”
Her fingers go to my throat; they tighten, squeezing the air out of my lungs as she does. “You are not to have dinner with us ever again. If you want food, then you’ll eat scraps. You are not family; you are my servant. Do you understand?” she says through clenched teeth.
I struggle to breathe as black spots dance in my eyes but I manage to nod, letting her know that I understand.
She releases me, throwing me to the floor as she does. “Good, now clear this up and get out of my sight.”
I scramble onto my knees and begin picking up the pieces of glass. Her foot presses down on my hand and I ye
lp in pain; the glass pressing against my skin, cutting into it.
“You are my servant, Yoreli. Anything I want, you will do. I mean anything.” She lifts her foot and I turn my hand to see the blood seeping from the cuts.
I frown as she grabs me by my hair and pulls me toward the kitchen, her heels clinking against the floor. Once we’re in the kitchen, she slams the door closed and locks it behind her. My mouth dries as I wait for her to explain what’s going on. “Yoreli, since your father has died, I have needs that I need satisfied.”
I frown; what the hell is she talking about?