Page 114 of Unspoken Truths

“The auction people have been asking for American girls,” Dad says. “People who are likely not to be missed. Unfortunately, the prep school will not be a good place for that. I’ll have to find someone willing to work for me at the public high school.”

“The Reyes girl has been making waves, I heard,” Mom mutters. “I was forced to listen to Emil drone on about the newspaper fiasco and then later the glitch in the gradebook. It would be lovely if we could pinch her right out of her life.”

“She’d bring us really great money,” Dad says with an evil chuckle.

No. Mine.I’m not sure where the feeling comes from, but I don’t want her to disappear. Not to mention, it would fuck up the bet. Yeah, that’s what I’m going with.

“Emil is very attached,” I say softly. This walk back to the car feels as if it’s taking forever, but I need to get this off my chest now. “He recently adopted her, after all. She’s also important to the Kings Society, because she’s the bet. The girl can’t disappear without going unnoticed. I’m sure that would be bad for business.”

It’s both a warning and information, sandwiched so my parents won’t think I’m challenging them. It’s a very careful dance I’ve been practicing for years. If I ever have children, I never want them to be as scared of me as I am of my parents.

I’m only important to my parents for as long as I’m worth something to them as their heir. I’m not under the illusion that they actually love me, though.

Not anymore, not for a long time.

“Well, fuck,” Dad says. “I’ll hold out hope, but it sounds as if she’s too enmeshed into the tapestry of our society, darling.”

“It appears so,” Mom says, her blue-eyed gaze heavy on me as we finally arrive at the car. “We have more to show you, son. We’re going to dinner first, though. It’s been a long string of flights.”

I can’t imagine what dinner will bring, knowing what I do now about my parents. Whatever it is, I’ll have to hope that my stomach is strong enough to deal with it.

I pulled the little mouse’s ass from the fire, which means she now owes me. I own her soul, her every breath, she just doesn’t know it yet. I guess I really am my parents’ child if I’m thinking about Rachelle as a possession.

The difference is, I don’t want to share or give away my toy. There will be no way she’ll be able to get away from the wave of terror coming her way when I return to the states. I hate the idea that we may be the same in some way.

I’m stronger, both mentally and physically. I refuse to believe that I share any attributes with her.

Hold tight to any joy you find while I’m gone, little mouse. It may be the last for a long time.I’m coming for you.

CHAPTER21

RACHELLE

“Good morning, baby,” Lili says, kissing my forehead as I smile. “Happy birthday.”

“Thank you,” I murmur, my voice still filled with sleep as I wake up. “I’m so comfortable here.”

She spent the night with me, and said there was somewhere special she wanted to take me today for my birthday. It feels surreal that she wants to spend today with me, since my birthday has largely been just another day for years.

When there’s no money and your mom is stressed to the max to put a roof over your head, birthdays tend to be forgotten. There have been years where even the day didn’t mean anything.

I always remembered her birthday, though. I learned how to make extra money through hemming people’s clothes. Since I already knew how to hem or sew my own clothes, it was easy to offer to others in the apartment complex.

People were happy to pay me for the services, and Mom never found out. She wouldn’t have understood why I was hemming clothes so that I could buy her presents or have some spending money. What she didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her.

It’s kind of my mantra.

“Better get up,” she murmurs before there’s a knock on the door.

I can see from here that it’s unlocked, which means that Liliana has already been up before me. We’re trying to be respectful to my parents when Lili spends the night, but I don’t feel comfortable anymore in this house without a locked door. Not when Ignacio’s room is across from mine.

Pushing myself to a sitting position, I make sure my boobs haven’t decided to escape from my tank top. I swear, they never stay inside of it, and Lili’s snuggling tends to push them out. Finding I’m completely covered, I tell whoever it is to come inside.

“Good morning,” Emil says, opening the bedroom door to step inside with my mom. They both look really excited, making me wonder why.

“Happy birthday, Rachelle,” Mom says, making me blink in surprise. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“No reason,” I lie. I don’t want to start anything right now. If she wants to wish me a happy birthday, that’s fine. “Thank you, Mom.”

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