Page 45 of The Favorite Girl

“Oh, how is Isabella?” Mrs. Ivory chirped and her eyes lit up.

“She’s everything I could have ever wanted. It’s as if I dreamt her up myself.” Officer Tate winked at Mrs. Ivory and turned to leave.

My mind was spiraling and my stomach was churning from everything.

“Demi, sweetie, let’s get you to bed.” Mrs. Ivory reached down and lifted my hand into hers.

“Actually, Conrad will take her. Won’t you, son?” Dr. Ivory boasted. I felt numb. It felt as if I were watching a movie, but here I was, living it.

“Yes, father,” Conrad replied softly before moving toward me, dropping his opened palm in front of me.

“Come on, Demi.” He nodded as I placed my hand into his. Following him out of the formal living room, I felt my peripheral vision grow fuzzy. I had to sleep; I couldn’t do this any longer with a mind that was completely scrambled.

Once we got back to my room, I expected Conrad to wait outside just like Bradley did until the door shut completely to ensure I hadn’t left again.

But he came inside, and the door shut behind him.

“Demi…” He grew closer to me, opening his hands he planted them under my elbows. “You have to stop. My father, he won’t… he won’t be as forgiving. My mother has taken a liking to you, and so have I, so we are doing everything to keep you…” he trailed, quickly averting his eyes.

“Alive?” I winced as I filled in the word for him, knowing without a doubt in my mind it was the truth.

“Demi, please, promise me that you’ll just stay strong and know that one day… we’re going to be okay. We’re going to have our fresh start. It’s always been the plan. You and me.” Conrad brushed a strand of hair out of my face. “I can’t believe you exist. The hair is perfect. They really kept their promise to me,” he breathed out in admiration.

I froze. Everything he had just said had me completely confused. What promise? But before I could even ask, he leaned in and tilted my chin upward just before locking his lips with mine.

Closing my eyes, every emotion in my body shifted.

My first kiss…

I took a moment before opening my eyes once his lips left mine. And as soon as I did, my cheeks heated as Conrad smiled down at me. “Be good for me, Demilion. Our time is coming.” He winked and turned to leave as I stood there speechless.

But it wasn’t speechless because I was some lovestruck girl. No, I was speechless because I wanted to know. I wanted to know why he had just used the nickname only one person had ever called me.

My dead sister.

CHAPTER

THIRTY

Demi – Two years ago

“Just close your eyes and count to three, then you’ll fall asleep,” she whispered in my ear.

“I can’t. I’m so scared, Layla,” I cried into my palms, terrified they’d hear us. Slivers of light seeped through the cracks of the closet we were forced to stay in for twenty-two hours a day.

I had learned to ignore the scent of urine, the pile of feces in the corner, and the sweat-covered clothes. I had learned to ignore the screaming women and the men roaring with laughter.

Sleep was something I didn’t know how to do without Layla—my sister essentially comforting me as if I were a petrified toddler.

“Go to sleep, go to sleep, my sweet Demilion,” she cooed. I couldn’t help but smile as she brushed her fingers through my knotted hair and massaged my scalp.

We’d been here for years now, but time didn’t mean anything. There were no birthdays, there were no holidays to help mark the passing of another year. We lived in the shadows. We were already dead. Our parents sold us to traffickers that couldn’t believe their luck acquiring two young, beautiful girls. ‘Exotic’ was what they called us.

One of the men, Trent, who ran one of the largest trafficking rings in Nashville, raped my sister multiple times a day. He’d tie her up and then have me watch as he’d brutally beat and rape her. He called her ‘his wife.’ She’d look me in the eyes sometimes and tears would stream down her reddened and bruised cheeks as she’d whisper with a small, forced smile, “It’s okay, Demilion.”

Demilion, the nickname she gave me. She said it’s because I was her greatest wish come true—a built-in best friend, a sister. She told me she made wishes on dandelions every single day, hoping for a baby sister, and then, just like that, I eventually came along.

Our parents were the perfect example of humans who should never have reproduced. They were poverty-stricken and told us we were going to chase the American dream. Layla and I were so excited to fly for the first time when my parents put us on the airplane. We couldn’t believe our lucky stars. Once there, they pretended we were meeting with a babysitter, an older woman wearing pearls, waiting for us at a park bench. Smiling, she pulled out two mints and handed it to us. She told us she was going to take us somewhere fun and new; she told us that we were going to love our new lives. My parents didn’t even think twice. They took the cash from her, watched the strange men come for us and left immediately. “Ma!” I called out after them, but they didn’t even look over their shoulder.

---