Page 50 of Roaming Holiday

“I, uh… When I was eleven,” he begins, “I was away on holiday—in a camp. A man with a gun showed up looking for me… I had to hide in a small cabin for three hours as the police searched for him.”

Maia perks. “Did they ever find him?”

He nods. “He had a—rifle.” He stares at me, unwavering. “And grenades.”

“They told you that?” I ask. I have a hard time believing they would’ve revealed that information to an eleven-year-old.

“I heard my mother talking when she thought I was asleep.”

“That must have been scary,” Maia says.

“It was. He didn’t touch me, but I understand the fear. People don’t think of us as humans sometimes.”

I don’t say anything. Is this a regular occurrence? Will a lot more people try to hurt me in the future? I believe Wesley when he promises no one would ever touch me again, but he won’t be at my side forever. The reminder twists my stomach painfully.

“We want to take you out of the city,” Vanessa says in the quiet, placing a hand over mine. “We can go on a boat ride along the coast toward Antina. It is a very beautiful and peaceful town. A lot quieter than Kosita.”

“For how long?”

“As long as you want. A night, a week.”

“Where will we stay?”

“We will drive to the boat and take it down the coast to a small neighborhood where we have a house. No one knows about it. Very private.”

“I promise you’ll like it,” Jace affirms.

I look at Maia, who only says, “It’s up to you. I go where you go.”

Part of me hates the pressure. I hate to disappoint her if she wants to go, but a change would be good, and I want to see more of the country.

“I would love to.”

When my cousins leave to arrange the plans and transportation, I don’t get a chance to slip upstairs with Maia to pack because my parents arrive.

“We came as soon as we heard,” Dad says, dropping his bag. “Beverly didn’t call until this morning.”

I’m enveloped in a hug in the middle of the lobby. My body tenses when his arms wrap around my shoulders, far too close to my neck for comfort. I fight every instinct to shove him off as my heart thunders in my chest. I squirm out of the hug when I feel his hand on the back of my head. He only means well, but I battle the returning emotions from last night. I don’t want anyone touching me above my shoulders.

“This happened last night?” Ruby asks, surveying the damage to my neck. “Why the hell didn’t Beverly tell us right away?” I’ve never seen her this angry until now.

“I’m fine. I’m okay.”

“Like hell you are,” Dad snaps, his hands shaking with either worry or anger.

“Dad—please.”

“Where’s the man who did this to you?”

“In custody.”

“Did he say why?”

“Pierce,” Ruby warns, noting my demeanor. She squeezes my arm and brushes a curl from my face. “Let’s calm down. It’s been a long night for her. She needs rest.”

“You’re right.” He sighs, and I notice the redness under his eyes. Ruby’s, too. They were crying. I shouldn’t be shocked—they’re my parents.

“Vanessa and Jace invited Maia and me to travel down the coast to Antina. We’re gonna go.”

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