Page 27 of Fighting the Odds

Oh shit. Suddenly, the joy of her messaging is overshadowed by a thought. If Sierra finds out I know who turned her in and didn’t tell her, she’ll hate me. I need to know if I should tell her.

Me: If I knew who turned you in, would you want to know?

The bubbles appear, then disappear.

Chapter 14

Sierra

Knowing Braxton and Zander are worried about me helps calm my nerves a little. But it doesn’t help with my racing thoughts. Maybe what they walked in on didn’t turn them away from me. But what will they think when they know the truth about me? About how I earn a living? That I lied to them about working at a restaurant?

It doesn’t surprise me to not see a single message from Colton. Not even a fuck you. He believes every lie that Wes has told him. I’ve lost all hope that a decent human being was buried somewhere deep inside of him.

But Braxton and Zander are the bright light in the dark tunnel I find myself in right now. Zander agreeing to be my connection to Sam until I can see her gave me some hope that we’ll make it through this. I love him for agreeing, even knowing the severity of what could happen if we’re ever caught. Which, by god, I pray doesn’t happen. But I’m not getting my hopes up until I see a picture of her. When he actually does what he promised. I’m so tired of being burned by people I put my trust in.

I still can’t believe I agreed to see Zander if I didn’t go back to school by Friday. But I need to see how serious he is, about what he says he’s feeling, before I tell him what I do for a living. Secrets have a way of coming out, and I need to come clean. I just can’t risk him telling his dad or social services, so I need to tread lightly.

My heart feels lighter than it has in days until he messages again and drops into my stomach.

Zanders#1: If I knew who turned you in, would you want to know?

My fingers move across the screen, typing and erasing until I stop completely. He knows who turned me in and just thinks to say something now. Why didn’t he lead with it? Why didn’t he say something to his father? Or did he? I’m so confused. I don’t know what to think.

Cyrus chooses that moment to step back into the living room with a plate of sandwiches and a bag of chips.. He picks up one of the sandwiches along with a napkin and turns his body to face me, holding it out for me to take.

“Why are you crying? Did something happen?” He quickly places the sandwich back on the plate and wraps his arms around me, pulling me close to his chest.

“Zander, one of the guys from that day, sent me a message, so I texted him back. He’s going to send me pictures of Sam since she was placed in his dad’s care,” I manage to get out between sobs.

He pulls away from me, looking me in the eyes, as if he’s searching them for something. “That’s a good thing, Lilac. It’s a way to see her until you can.”

“I know. It’s just in the last message he sent, he said he knew who turned me in. He asked if I wanted to know.”

I’m not even sure how I should feel. Should I be mad? Hate him? How long has he known?

“The question is, do you want to know? Will it make a difference?”

I think about that for a minute. It won’t change what happened, but I still need to know who ruined my life.

“No, I guess it won’t.” I sniffle.

“But you still want to know, don’t you?” He places his free hand on my knee, squeezing it gently.

I nod and look down at my phone, pulling the text thread back up.

Me: Who?

My heart pounds and I break out in a cold sweat. When my phone vibrates in my hand, it feels like I’ve been waiting for an eternity.

Zanders#1: Colt said Wes told him he did

I don’t even know what to say. Hasn’t he done enough to make my life miserable? Why? How did he even know? Or was it just a fluke, and it turned out in his favor?

“It was Wesley,” I sigh, feeling sad and exhausted. I should have known.

“He’ll get what's coming to him. Fucker better hope I never see him in public. How old is he, anyway? Please tell me he’s eighteen. The asshole will be eating crow when it comes out that he’s told nothing but lies and Sam is back home with us.” His tone is hard, and his eyes are dark.

“He’s eighteen. Is it bad I hope you do run into him?” I can’t help the laugh that escapes, envisioning Cyrus beating the shit out of Wesley.

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