Page 1 of Fighting the Odds

Prologue

Sierra

No, no, no. This can’t be happening.

“Sierra, did you hear me? I’m Norma Jenkins with Child Protective Services. We’ve received an anonymous tip about child abandonment and you and your sister are listed as the victims.”

“I heard you.” My lip quivers as I try to fight back tears. I can’t break down, not now. I need to fix this.

“Okay, gentlemen,” the officer speaks as he steps further into the room. “I need you all to step out into the hallway with my partner while I speak with Miss Johnson and sort out what we walked in on and why she looks the way she does.”

“It’s him you want to look at,” Colt lashes out, his tone dripping with venom as he points in Cyrus’ direction.

No, he can’t be accused of this.

“He didn’t do this to me. Cyrus was just helping me and the other three are classmates just dropping off my homework. They saw what I looked like and misread the situation. Please, there is no need to detain them.” I clasp my hands tightly, desperately trying to release some of my anxious energy. I refuse to let Cyrus take the blame for this.

I can already hear the rumors that will spread through the school like wildfire tomorrow.

The officer frowns as he glances back and forth between us. The vacant look in his eyes makes me think he doesn’t believe me. My eyes catch his badge; Jensen. “Officer Jensen. They have no idea who did this to me. Please let them go.”

“Are you sure, Miss Johnson? I’ll still need a statement and some information from them.”

“Yes, sir.”

He finally nods and follows them out into the hallway, where his partner is standing, saying something that I can’t hear. I’m trying not to pass out. My nervous system is going haywire, and it feels like I’m going to have a heart attack. I take a deep, shuddering breath in, trying to push the panic clawing up my throat down.

I was so close to being eighteen. Why did it all have to crumble around my feet now?

Officer Jensen steps back inside, shutting the front door behind him. They both stare at me with pity in their eyes. But I don’t want their pity. It’s not going to do me any good. I know no matter what, by the end of this night, my sister is going to be ripped away from me. Because I know by the end of this night, my sister is going to be ripped away from me.

“Why don’t we take a seat while you tell me where your aunt is?” Mrs. Jenkins gestures toward the couch and I slowly make my way over, dropping down on it as she sits beside me. Officer Jensen continues to stand, legs shoulder-width apart and arms crossed. A terrifying sight.

Now’s my time to tell her about everything Sarah’s done. How Sam and I would’ve starved because she takes all the money if I didn’t work, but the words never leave my lips. As soon as I tell them the truth, it’s over.

“Umm… She's at work.” I actually have no clue where she is, but I’m not telling them that.

“We’ve been trying to contact her but haven’t been successful. Her phone keeps going straight to voicemail. Do you know when she’ll be home? And where is your sister, Samantha?”

Fuck, fuck, fuck!

“Her hours vary. I think she works late tonight, maybe seven. Sam is with our upstairs neighbor. I haven’t been feeling well, and she offered to take care of her while Sarah was at work.” Not a total lie, but not the complete truth, either. It seems that’s all I’ve been doing since my aunt came into the picture.

“Okay, Sierra, I’m going to step away for a moment and make a phone call.”

She stands, walking over to the kitchen table. I watch her go, picking at my nails. When she pulls out her phone, she dials a number and sticks it to her ear. I can tell when someone picks up because she starts talking. She keeps glancing at me, whispering. Her eyebrows crease as a frown pulls the corners of her lips down and I know whatever it is, it’s not good.

That look sets my teeth on edge. My knees start bouncing uncontrollably. I’m so afraid of what’s going to happen to us, I can’t even think about the four people who were escorted out into the hallway.

Shit, I wonder what’s going through their minds right now. Their view of me will probably change. Who wants a girl with this much baggage? Oh god… What if they tell people at school? That’s just what I need—for everyone at the hellhole to have more ammunition. I’d like to know who called and made the complaint. It wouldn’t be Aunt Sarah. She would never want to lose the money she makes from us.

“Who did this to you?” the officer asks.

Do I tell the truth? Do I lie? It’s now or never.

“It was just an accident. I’ve had the flu and fell.” The story rolls off my tongue so easily. I keep my head down, afraid he’ll see the truth on my face.

He goes silent, but I can feel his eyes on me. Mrs. Jenkins comes back and takes a seat beside me. “Sierra, are you sure there’s not something you want to tell us?”

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