Page 4 of Forbidden Desires

“I’m sorry,” she cried. “Zoya don’t cry, baby.”

“She named that baby Zoya. You better hope that ain’t your whelp, John,” a man said from out back.

Amelia could hear them taking a step closer not to miss what was being said.

“I’m waiting. What’s the baby look like?” There was quiet as everyone held their breath.

“Truly.”

“Don’t beg. It’s too late for you.” The baby started crying. “Oh, my God!” Amelia screeched like a fishmonger’s wife on the wharf. “She’s the spitting image of my man!” Her voice rose at the end. “You’re a dead bitch and so is my husband. Y’all want to be together. You can be there in hell.”

“Shit, John, that bitch got this. Let’s get out of here before anyone can try to pin it on us. That monster is long gone. We’ll look for him after the heat dies down.” There was more crashing in the house and random cursing.

Amelia sank to the floor after she was sure the men behind the house were gone. “Hi, I’m Amelia, and that purple monstrosity out front sent me in here to help. Sorry for the random destruction, but you can’t stay here.” Her upper body collapsed onto her legs. She spent the last two weeks on the run, sure that her oldest cousin was going to have her captured and killed.

She deserved it. That was what she told herself all the time. When push came to shove, she should have been brave enough to say no, kill me, but I won’t betray those I love.

“Where can I go? This is all I have.”

“No offense, but it’s not much. Pack up.”

“Anna-Mae isn’t going anywhere without me,” Sarah said, defiance lacing her voice.

“Then you should pack and make it quick.” She didn’t have time for this. Amelia was on the lam, running from place to place, experiencing as much of life as possible before she died. Didn’t they understand her time was running out? No, it ran out. The purple police was outside waiting to take her into custody.

Anna-Mae, the baby, and Sarah still needed a place to go. Bella might take them in. She had that extra domicile on their property and that way she knew they would be safe. Her cousin may hate her, but she was a sap for someone in need. Look at how she stayed with her older sister all those years. Jenna was the oldest sister, but Bella stayed with Jenna to make sure she was taken care of.

Zylar slipped into the house after Sarah ran out with a hasty wait for me. I’ll be right back.

“What’s your name?” Amelia raised her head to find her captor kneeling beside her.

“I guess we’re playing games now. My name is Amelia and I’m Jenna and Bella’s cousin. I know Jenna sent you to kill or capture me.” He gave a soft growl, not denying or agreeing with her suspicions.

“You can call me Zylar.”

“Zylar,” she rolled the name around in her mouth, liking it for some strange reason. “Rakha, my cousin Bella’s mate, has another domicile on their land. I thought they could stay there.” He was silent, waiting for Anna-Mae to pack and pick up Zoya.

“Follow me,” Zylar told Anna and Sarah “Amelia, you take the lead.”

She frowned, knowing he wanted to watch her, to stop her from escaping. Death was coming for her one way or the other.

She stopped at the front door, looking both ways to make sure no one was watching before stepping out. Sarah was coming out of a smaller house that looked more like a shack several doors down.

“I’m ready. I don’t have much,” Sarah said. Amelia looked at the three of them. They looked like they could do a cover for a plus-size magazine. She shook her head. There was no way she was pretty enough to be in a magazine, even if she was stick-thin. Anna-Mae looked like she was going to pass out soon. She justgave birth. Amelia didn’t know what she expected her to look like.

“Where are we going? Do we have to walk? Anna’s exhausted.”

“Mae,” Anna said reminding her of the other part of her name.

“I’m not calling you that. It’s not what your mother named you. John wanted you to sound like you were a country Daisy Duke. That shithead is gone.”

“I thought I loved him.”

“I know, honey.” Sarah went to her, wrapping her arms around Anna for a big hug.

Amelia choked on her tears refusing to cry. She used to have that kind of support when she was younger before her cousins left her behind. It was okay until her parents died. Tears she couldn’t hide for the life of her slipped out. She missed them. They were her rocks. She didn’t know John, but she could identify a waste of space easily and that’s what he was.

“Come with me.” She noticed that Zylar the purple menace never answered Sarah’s question about how far Anna would have to walk. They walked down the street, passing several homes. No one was peaking outside the windows. Either they weren’t home or didn’t want to be questioned about what happened in Anna’s home. Amelia couldn’t blame them.

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