Page 2 of His To Claim

When Chaz was released early on probation, my mom stopped going out and they would spend hours in their bedroom onlycoming out to get more alcohol when they’d run out. Roman used to say they had to make up for lost time, but I knew what he meant. They were having sex. The thought of it made me cringe.

The next three years passed in a frenzy of misfortunes. Mom and Chaz would argue constantly only to “make up” even louder. When things would get really bad, he’d leave to stay at his buddy’s place, and we’d get the wrath of my mother’s aching palm. Our landlord threatened on multiple occasions to kick us to the curb, only I think she was terrified of what Chaz would do to her.

Everyone in town was. He was the psycho ex-con who nearly beat a man to death for touching his even more psychotic, whore of a girlfriend. A true Harlequin Romance.

Roman took off when he turned sixteen and left Jade and I to fend for ourselves. He was smart to save himself but it devastated Jade. He was her brother, but she and I were best friends now, true sisters.

After being through so much together we kind of had no choice. It was either stick together or end up alone, and we refused to choose the latter. We still argued constantly but isn’t that what sisters are supposed to do?

Which brings us to today. It’s the eve of my fourteenth birthday and mom and Chaz are back to their old tricks. We spent our last night as a “family” sitting around a fire pit outside our mobile home, mom with a bottle of vodka in hand and Chaz with his hand around my mother. If I’d have known it would be our last night here, I can’t say I would have done anything differently.

The next morning,the morning of my fourteenth birthday, I awaken to the sound of Jade furiously throwing her things against the wall of our shared bedroom.

“That stupid bitch. She took it, she took all of it,” Jade yells as I sit up in bed rubbing my eyes before turning to face her.

“What are you talking about, Jade?” I ask, my voice still groggy from sleep.

“She took my money. The cash I had hidden away to get out of this fucked up place. She took it all. I swear I’m going to kill her,” she yells, hysterically laughing, and throwing her hands in the air.

At her remark, she storms out of our shared bedroom while I throw the covers off of me and onto the ground, sleepily following behind her.

Jade fiercely bangs her fists on our parents’ bedroom door, nearly knocking it down and yelling at the top of her lungs. “Come out you stupid bitch!”

“What’s going on, Jade? You’re freaking me out!” I shout, not understanding what she’s talking about. I try to calm her down to talk to me, but we’re suddenly startled by an even louder pounding on the front door.

I look over at Jade silently motioning for her to get behind me. I may only be three months older than her, but I’ve always taken on the role of the older sister. The protector.

We slowly walk over to the front door and I grab a bat that’s hung up against the wall by the door.Yeah, it’s that kind of neighborhood.

“Hillcrest Hills Police Department, open the door!” they shout, banging on the metal screen door as we stand motionless, suddenly at a loss for words.What are the police doing here?

I turn to Jade who stares at me with her wide green eyes, her dirty blond hair falling out of her messy ponytail. Nobody ever believed we were actual sisters like we always swore to be. Her bright green eyes are just like her father’s, while apparently my cerulean ones match those of my so-called father, whoever he is.

Frankly, if it weren’t biologically possible, I wouldn’t be so sure he exists.

Jade’s hair is a complete contrast to my dark locks, courtesy of my mother, but right at this moment I know I’d do anything to protect my sister, blood or not.

Outside our front door, voices continue shouting loudly.

“Hand over the keys!” someone shouts, startling us even further.

Maybe my mother and Chaz are outside?

Suddenly the door is swung open aggressively, as five officers with SWAT like uniforms come barging in, filling up the small space of our mobile home. I turn and grab Jade holding her in a tight embrace.

“We’re looking for Chandler Zander Wolfe & Lilith Steele,” one officer shouts. That’s right, my mother’s name is Lilith, the devil’s mistress herself.

“They’re not here!” I shout back, hovering over Jade, not bothering to look their way.

“Search the place!” the officer I assume is in charge, yells out ignoring me.

“Please, they’re just children, you’re frightening them,” Mrs. Presley urges as she appears from behind the cop. Well, what do you know, looks like the old hag cares? This must be affecting her reputation as well.

The officer in charge walks slowly toward us as Jade and I walk backward until we hit the kitchen wall behind us.

“Sweetheart,” he says, his dark glasses hiding the eyes I assume are looking straight at me. “I’m Agent Wesley Servite and I’m going to ask you this one more time. Where are your mom and dad?”

“We don’t know,” Jade shouts from behind me. “But let me know when you find her because that bitch stole my money.”

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