Page 3 of Fighting the Odds

The more minutes that tick by, the more anxious I get. Sweat beads across my forehead and I have to wipe the palms of my hands from where I’ve gripped the steering wheel so tightly. Fuck, what’s taking so long?

I’m not sure how much more time passes until I finally see the door to her building open and I sit upright. What I see next grips my heart tightly. No!

The officer exits, followed by Sierra. She walks slowly, with her head down, and a bag clutched in her hand. She has her arms wrapped tightly around Sam, who is also carrying one. They are walking so close to each other, it’s like their bodies are trying to meld together. The look on Sam’s face tells me everything. I can only imagine the heartbreak Sierra is feeling. The social worker exits behind them. The officer guides them to the car in front of me with the CPS decal on it, and Sierra raises her head. Her glassed-over eyes lock with mine a second before she disappears inside the car.

The pain shining back at me feels like a gut punch. A soul-crushing sadness hits me like a tidal wave and sends anger coursing through my body. I will do whatever I have to do to save her and find out who did this.

My gaze never wavers, following the car long after it pulls off until it completely disappears.

I grab my phone from the passenger seat. I know I’ve got to let Rico know. For whatever reason, he cares for her and if he can help, then I’m going to do whatever I can.

The phone rings twice before he picks up.

“Is everything okay?” His deep voice rumbles through the speaker.

“No, she’s not—” I don’t get a chance to finish.

“What the fuck’s wrong? Is her—” he starts, but I cut him off.

“CPS showed up. Someone turned them in and they were just taken away.”

“Where to?” he yells, fear mixed with unbridled anger lacing each word.

“I don’t know, Rico. She looked so frail, so upset. Shit, she hasn’t even recovered from her injuries. What’s going to happen to her? To Sam?” I stop when my voice cracks and clear my throat. I can’t let myself break down. Not now. Rubbing my hand down my face, I take a deep breath. Fuck, I’m a mess.

“Go home. I’ll call you once I find something out,” he tells me, then the line goes dead. I place my head down on the steering wheel and sigh.

My world is crumbling around me. I finally confessed my feelings to the woman I’ve wanted for so long, only to find out she’s not exactly who I thought. But I don't care. I want her, and I have no problem waiting a couple of months until she’s eighteen. I just need to find out how she feels.

Taking another deep breath, I turn the keys in the ignition and start my car, pulling away from the building that just crushed me metaphorically.

God, I hope Rico can fix this.

Chapter 2

Colton

The whole ride home, all my brothers could do was talk about her. Damn, can’t they see her for what she is—a whore, nothing more than a cock tease? They can say what they want, but Wesley was right about her. I knew it the minute I saw that guy in her apartment and how she looked.

Yeah, I feel bad CPS showed up, but maybe it’s a blessing in disguise. Obviously, someone was looking out for Sierra’s sister. I can only imagine what the aunt is like. Shit, Sierra probably learned everything she knows from her.

As soon as I pull into the driveway, I jump out and head straight for the house. I’m not listening to any more of their boo-hooing over this girl. I love my brothers but come on, can’t they see the truth of what’s right in front of their eyes?

I do!

“I expected to see the three of you home before now.” Dad’s standing at the stove with John and the smell of their homemade pasta sauce fills the house.

“We would’ve been, but there was—” I start, but Brax doesn’t let me finish.

“Dad, Sierra needs your help.” Brax’s voice is urgent.

“What the hell!? What happened to your face?”

It’s then I actually look at my brothers. Zan has a black eye and a cut on his lip. Brax’s hair is disheveled, and he’s sporting bruises all over his face, with a little dried blood around his nose.

“That’s what I’m trying to tell you. We showed up at Sierra’s house and there was this older guy there,” Brax explains.

“Braxton Stevenson, do not tell me you boys got in a fight because she had someone at her house!” Dad’s voice booms.

---