Page 7 of Fighting the Odds

“No, sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.” I blow out a deep breath. We need to stop panicking, it isn’t helping Sierra and Sam. What we need is a plan and level heads.

“Damn it. The messages I sent aren’t even showing read. That can’t be good.”

“Boys, time for dinner,” Dad yells from the bottom of the stairs.

We all shuffle out of the bedroom and down the stairs. Normally, we sound like a horde of elephants, but tonight we’re as quiet as mice.

John is setting the table when we enter the dining room, while Dad sets a bowl of salad on it. A tray of lasagna and a plate full of garlic bread is already in the middle. It’s our comfort food, but I don’t think it’s going to help tonight.

After we sit down, we pass the dishes around, filling our plates. No one says a word, the silence almost deafening.

Dad tries to break the somber mood by asking us about our classes, but it doesn’t do any good. Nothing will until we hear from Sierra—until we know she and Sam are okay. Then I’m going to beat the living shit out of Wesley. He’s a fucking punk-ass bitch who deserves everything coming to him.

“So baby, I was thinking we could go to the movies this weekend. I know you and the boys used to do it every Saturday night before moving here. Well, when you weren’t visiting me.” John blushes, looking down at his plate. I don’t even want to know what the two of them were doing when they didn’t have us around.

“What do you think, boys?” Dad smiles, and I try to return it, but I don’t have the energy.

“Sure, if you want.” Zander doesn’t even look up, just keeps sliding his salad across his plate.

“Okay, that’s enough moping, boys. There’s nothing we can do to change what’s happened. We don’t know the whole story, or why CPS is involved.” Dad drops his fork and tosses his napkin on the table.

“Wes called CPS on them. He ran into her aunt, and whatever was said between them gave him the idea to do it. That’s not all, though. They’ve been harassing her nonstop. Wes seems to think, and I quote, ‘she betrayed and destroyed him,’ and has convinced the entire school to bully her. She doesn’t have one friend there. Other than Zan and Brax. I should have been one, but I was more concerned about what everyone would think of me.” Colt stares at his plate, finally getting everything off his chest.

“Is that why you were so rude when she was here, Colton?” John asks.

“Yeah, Wes had me believing him. I misinterpreted her actions as flirting with you.” He winces and turns to Dad.

“But she wasn’t, Son.”

“Yeah, I know that now, but I didn’t then, Dad. There has to be something you can do to help her. At least find out if she’s okay,” Colton pleads.

“Yeah, Dad, you’re the counselor at school. Surely they can speak to you. We can’t let her go into foster care. We know how bad it can be, and what it’s like to be separated from your sibling.” Just the thought of the six months Colton and I were apart makes me sick. It was hell on earth.

Dad places his arms on the table and looks at John. They stare at each other, silently communicating. As the seconds tick by, I get anxious. We all seem to be holding our breath, waiting for an answer.

Finally, Dad sighs. “Fine. I’ll see what I can do, but I won’t make any promises. This issue is beyond the scope of a school counselor and I don’t have any jurisdiction. I don’t even know if I’ll be able to find out anything at all, but I’ll try.”

It’s not much, but it’s something and I’ll take it. Anything is better than nothing right now. If he can find out what’s going on, maybe he and John could foster them.

“Do you think you could foster them?” Zander asks, literally taking the words right out of my head. It’s like he’s my twin instead of Colt.

“Boys, that's a large undertaking, and John and I haven’t even gotten licensed here as foster parents.”

“But you could be. You were back home, and you adopted us. Couldn’t they look at that and give you a pass?” I’m not letting this go.

“It’s not that easy. There’s nothing we can do now, so let’s just put this on the back burner and have dinner. Tomorrow I will see what I can find out.” I go to open my mouth, but he gives me a stern look. I don’t want to make him mad, not when I need him to help Sierra.

Chapter 4

Wesley

Everything is going just as planned. It couldn’t be more perfect. I never imagined CPS would show up that quickly, but I guess when you mention a young child and fear that she may be exposed to physical and emotional abuse by her drug-riddled aunt, it catches their attention. And well, I may have also mentioned having seen her sister being rough with her, leaving bruises on her body. I’ve got a fucking hard-on knowing that bitch is getting what she deserves. I’d much rather be out celebrating with Colt than waiting for Savannah to respond. But I’ve got a stiffy and no desire to handle it on my own.

I can’t seem to wipe the smile off my face, knowing that finally, I’ll be free from Sierra and she’ll no longer be a thorn in my side. She’s a constant reminder of the life I had before she came in and tore it down like a wrecking ball.

At first, I was devastated, unable to process what I’d seen. When I dropped her off that morning, I could still feel the shock pulsating within me. But then the next day came. As my emotions shifted to hatred, my life unraveled into catastrophe. All I’ve wanted since then is to inflict the same pain on her.

It’s been my life’s mission, and at long last, it feels like I completed what I set out to do.

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