Page 7 of Property of Fox

My breath catches at her suggestion. “Leave. I can’t do that.”

“Why not?” she challenges. “What is holding you here?”

“My mom,” I admit. “She’s all I have left.” If Keira only knew why I put myself through hell, maybe then she’d understand why leaving isn’t an option now. Not unless I knew my Mom is safe, too.

“No, she’s not. You have me, B. You deserve to have a life. A real one. If your mom can’t see that, she doesn’t deserve your loyalty.”

“Running isn’t just leaving. It’s saying goodbye,” I reply quietly, the pang of guilt clawing at me. “What if I never get to see her again? What if something happens? I will never be able to live with myself if something happens to my mom.”

“You’ll live with those ‘what ifs’ forever,” Keira counters, stepping even closer. “You’re not living, B. You’re existing. And I refuse to stand back and watch you waste away because Tank wants to control everything. He’s married to your mom. Not you.”

I look into her azure eyes, looking for answers that might alleviate the gnawing anxiety in my gut. The longer we stand there, the more I can feel my resolve wavering.

“Brea, you deserve to be happy,” she suggests boldly, one hand reaching out to curl around my wrist. “Your dad wouldn’t want you living like this.”

“Low blow, Keira. Low fucking blow.”

“Sometimes that is what it takes to wake someone up,” she replies, the intensity in her voice unwavering. Her grip on my wrist tightens. “Let me help you. I don’t know how to make it easier for you, but I know that standing still in this hell won’t help either of us.”

“It’s not that simple.”

“It can be,” she states firmly, letting go of my wrist only to place her palm against my cheek, grounding me with her warmth. “Listen to me,” she says, her voice low and steady. “You’ve spent too long living on the sidelines of your own life. What do you really want?”

Her question hangs in the air. The life I’ve led—dictated by others’ decisions—Tank’s orders, protecting my mom, the heavy burden of loyalty to a brotherhood that has suffocated me more than it has protected me.

“I want…” My voice falters as I struggle to shape my longing into words. “I want my own life.”

“Then let me help you. I have some money saved up and a rich aunt in Dallas who has a place we can stay. All I need is for you to say when. My bag is already packed.”

“What about your classes?”

“They can wait, B. Getting you away from all this can’t.”

“And your parents?”

“Dad is off with his new flavor of the week, and Mom is well… Mom. They won’t notice.”

“You’re offering to give up so much for me, Keira.”

“B, you are more important than an expensive piece of paper that may get me an extra thousand dollars at my first big girl job.It can wait until I know you’re safe and sound. Tank’s behavior is getting increasingly erratic when it comes to you.”

“I know, but if we go,” I say hesitantly, “there’s no turning back.”

“That’s right,” she nods firmly. “But isn’t that the point?”

“What if we hit the road and it doesn’t work out?” I ask, my voice wobbly and laced with desperation.

“Then we’ll figure it out as we go,” she replies, unwavering confidence flickering in her eyes. “But you owe it to yourself to try.”

My gut twists at the idea of leaving behind not just Tank but everything I've known, everything that's framed my existence. Yet, standing here with Keira, I’m reminded that life has never felt as vibrant as it does right now.

“I’ve always played it safe,” I confess, “And look where that got me.”

“Look at where you are now,” she counters softly, her hand never leaving my cheek as she leans closer. “Do you really want to be stuck here?”

“No,” I admit, swallowing hard as hope mingles with a tinge of panic.

“Then what are we waiting for?” Her voice drops to a conspiratorial whisper. “I’m ready to go whenever you are, B. It’s your call.”

---