Page 9 of Branches of Betrayal

Hadina breathed a sigh of relief as she got out the front door, filling her lungs with the crisp air. She looked down at her bare feet and groaned, knowing she would only cut up her soles if she tried to walk down the graveled pathway. Remembering she had some spare shoes in the back of her car, Hadina crept inside to grab her keys and then made her way to retrieve the shoes.

“Gotcha!” she muttered as she found the pair of black running shoes in the trunk. While she had mastered the art of living in high heels and stilettos, Hadina knew there would always be times where she needed to run and not be caught; running shoes would only aid her when that happened.

She quickly pulled the shoes onto her bare feet and then walked back to the front of the house, taking a seat on the step. A quick text to her team had a driver picking her up within ten minutes in a sleek black Cadillac, ready to take her wherever she wanted to go.

Honestly, she had no idea where she wanted to go. If she was being rational, she knew she looked a mess and stank of alcohol, so she definitely wasn’t going to show her face in public.

She could go to her apartment, but she had taken Peyton there before and it would remind her of what she was missing.

Kaira would welcome her without too much criticism, but she’d want Hadina to discuss her feelings, which was the last thing she wanted to do.

Hadina was in pain and she was drowning. She had been drowning for a long time, but Peyton had come into her life and kept her afloat. Without her, she was slowly sinking to depths she couldn't come back from.

A thought occurred to Hadina and she threw her head back against the seat as she contemplated whether she was reallygoing to do it. The pulling feeling in her gut was the thing telling her that it was what she needed to do, even if that was the last place she wanted to go.

Leaning forward, she gave the driver the address on where to go and then relaxed into her seat. She needed to preserve her energy.

She toldthe driver to leave her—she’d call if she needed to be picked up—but her feet wouldn’t move from their spot on the sidewalk. Hadina stared up at the old factory building and cursed herself for even considering showing up here.

Forcing herself forward, Hadina made her way around to the back of the building which was now used as the entrance. Sliding the metal door aside, Hadina stepped into the building and stood in the foyer.

It had been a long time since she’d been here and she couldn't help but stare in awe of the beautiful interior. While the outside looked old and abandoned, it was definitely by design. Inside had been remodeled completely, although the industrial look had been kept. Exposed brick walls, metal beams low hanging from the ceiling, old ventilation systems polished but still attached to the walls; it was truly stunning in its simplicity.

“¿Que demonios estas haciendo aquí?”

Hadina straightened her back and steeled herself as she turned around to look at her sister. “Hola,hermana.”

Zellie rolled her eyes and stepped aside, motioning for Hadina to enter. Hadina followed her sister as she led her through more of the building and into a small side room she had renovated into a sitting area. It was minimalistic with a low, black leather sofa and matching armchairs. A long, ovalcoffee table sat in the middle of the room, a few magazines and controllers for the flatscreen TV—which was mounted onto the brick wall—littered on top.

Hadina watched as Zellie lit a cigarette, taking a seat on the armchair furthest from her. She crossed one leg across the other, her wide leg pants rising to expose the small knife tucked into her boots.

“Well, to what do I owe the pleasure, Hadina?”

“Maybe I’ve come to make you face the consequences of what you did to Harris.”

Zellie barked out a laugh. “Hermana, you don’t have any weapons on you. You think I’m not able to recognise when someoneisn’tstrapped up? Besides, you look like shit and you absolutely reek of alcohol.Eres un desastre.”

“You’re right. I don’t have weapons on me and honestly Adrian’s wound is the last thing on my mind. But you know that, don’t you?”

She watched as her big sister evaluated her, taking a long draw of her cigarette before nodding. “I’ve spoken to Piper. She had a few choice words for me, but we both know she’s a kitty cat. She yelled at me, cried, yelled some more… She’s been calling me every day since with some updates.”

Piper’s heart was what made her so special, so kind, but her ability to forgive and move on was something Hadina would never be able to understand. No matter what Zellie said or did, Piper always gave her a free pass.

“¿Qué deseas?Why are you really here, Hadina?”

Hadina considered Zellie, watching her as she sat stoically, puffing on her cigarette in slow, deliberate actions. While they’d always had a difficult relationship, Hadina remembered how much she used to love and dote on her big sister. She had spent years trying to be someone like her, until she realized that Zelina was simply a cold, calculatingputa.

But if anyone understood the way she was hurting inside, it was Zellie.

“I’m here because I need your help.”

Zellie raised her eyebrows, not bothering to hide the shock on her face. She stubbed out her cigarette in an ashtray and leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. “What could I possibly do to help you?”

“I don’t know, but I know that I need all the help I can get.” Hadina took a deep breath, running her hands through her hair. She could feel the grease on the strands and she made a mental note to shower when she got home. It had been longer than she cared to admit. “All I know is that Peyton is out there somewhere and I can’t find her on my own. And the longer time goes on, the worse it’s getting for her. You helped Demi get free—this is on you. Youoweme this.”

“I don’t owe you shit, Hadina.”

Emotions began to swirl in her chest and whether it was the lack of control over herself or the lowered inhibitions from a night of drinking, Hadina found herself unable to push them down. A sob broke free and she buried her face in her hands. She was ashamed that of all the people to see her like this, it was Zellie.

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