Page 7 of Zade (Den of Sin)

She pushes the papers toward me, “At her friend's house.”

Glancing down, I spot the divorce papers in front of me. Arching an eyebrow, “When is Amira coming home?”

Her glazed eyes meet mine, “Doesn’t matter. You will have no access to her. Leave before I call the police.”

I haven’t had a marriage for years so this really has no effect on me other than Amira, my step-daughter. I don’t want to lose her and honestly I’m the only parent she has had for a long time.

“Is this because I confronted you about your drug use?”

She glares at me with hatred I’ve done nothing to earn. No good deed goes unpunished, “Doesn’t matter. My lawyer says you have no rights because she’s not yours.”

I laugh bitterly, “The lawyer I’m sure I will be billed for?”

This is absolute bullshit. She is taking Amira away from me because I told her the drug use was not acceptable and wouldn’t be tolerated. Chelsea and I both know I’ll continue supporting her because of her daughter. I will never watch her go without. Amira was born a victim of circumstance. I refuse to abandon her as Chelsea expects of me.

“I need to see her.”

She glances up at me with a vicious smile on her face, “Unfortunate. She’s not your daughter, you need to go. I will call the police. What happens to lawyers that are arrested for assault?”

I grip the edge of the table so hard my hands hurt, “I have never fucking touched you.”

Again she grins at me, “It’ll be my word against yours. Do you want to take that risk?”

I didn’t want to take the risk. I couldn’t. Still, I fought my ex wife in court for years. I tried to get custody but would’ve settled for visitation. The judge repeatedly told me I had no case, unless Amira was being abused. I called CPS time and time again because I was concerned about the drugs. To my knowledge nothing ever came of it.

“If there’s anything I can do for you, just say the word.”

Her tears have stopped, and her lips curve into a small smile, “There’s one thing.”

I nod, “Tell me.”

“I want to know what’s in that locked room.”

I chuckle, “Anything, except that. Now let’s go get you some dinner. It’s getting cold.”

* * *

Amira

“I’ll be down in a minute, I want to wash my face.”

He leans forward and kisses me on the top of my head before he walks out of the room, leaving my brain in a swirly fog. For the hundredth time I ask myself, did he always look like this? Smell like this? They could make a fortune if they bottled that sweet spicy scent. I frown at my gross thoughts. He’s my step-dad or was, I shouldn’t think about him like that. Besides, I’m leaving the minute I turn eighteen and then I’ll never see him again. Well, maybe not the minute but the next day. I have plans to get the money I need cash that Zade won’t know about. Six months ago, Cyndi told me about this sex club she had heard about called Den of Sin. It’s a private club that caters to every dark and depraved desire the sick mind can conjure. They have a Virginity Auction, where women have made as much as thirty thousand dollars. Can you imagine? Thirty thousand for one night? There’s only two requirements to be part of it. You have to be a virgin obviously, and you have to be eighteen. Like probably every other girl I thought I’d give my first time to someone that matters. However, money talks. I have plans in life, ones that require cash. I don’t want to live with Zade longer than I have to. He walked out of my life for a reason. If he wanted me, he would’ve stayed in my life. Now that my mom is dead I have to stand on my own and take care of myself.

I wash my face and look in the mirror. Much better, although my eyes are still red from crying so much. Taking a deep breath, I walk out of the bedroom and make my way downstairs for dinner. I’m really sad that my mom is gone but not as much as you’d expect. Part of me feels relief because my life has been hard. It’s not that I’m glad that she’s dead but I’m tired, so fucking tired. It’s been my job to take care of her since the day Zade walked away from us. He could wash his hands of his mess, I was not. There was literally nowhere else to go. If I’m honest with myself, I probably wouldn’t have left her like that even if I had anywhere else to go. As the years went on, we drifted further apart. It’s hard to be close to someone when they’ve isolated themselves. My mom had a lot of problems, I did what I could but I was a kid.

I walk into the dining room, located just off the kitchen, and take a seat opposite Zade at the large rectangular shaped oak table. Glancing up I admire the chandelier above the table, it has bronze and silver coloring to it with sixteen lights. There’s a bouquet of tulips in a burnt orange vase sitting in the middle of the table. Everything is tasteful in his home. He clears his throat, “Help yourself.”

“Thank you.”

As I serve myself pork chops Zade says, “I know this is a lot to process but is there anything you want for the funeral?”

I scoop some vegetables on my plate as I shake my head because he is not making sense, “Why would you be in charge of it?”

Zade puts his fork down and glares at me, “Relax. I’m paying for it so I wanted to make sure you have everything you want.”

I throw my fork on the plate and stand, “Why would you pay for it?”

He points to the chair, “Sit down, please.”

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