Page 152 of Rhet

I turn in the direction of the voice and my heart drops.

Draven must notice because he steps in front of me.

“No, it’s okay.” I touch Draven shoulder, pulling him back.

“Get ma in the car. I will there be soon.”

Draven looks back at the man who called my name before he gets my mom in the car.

“Hi, Mr. C.”

“I see you have been living your best life.” His voice is low and guttural, He is standing under one of the basement lights, in a dark trench coat.

Sweat runs down my back. Him being here is making me nervous. I lift my chin and throw my shoulder back to act confident.

“How can I help you, Mr. C?” he mocks me.

He comes closer to me and grabs my arm. “Listen here, you’re not responding to my texts or emails.”

“Let go of my arm before you cause alarm with the boy,” I seethe between my teeth.

“Do you know who can give your brother his life back? Me. Who has your mom’s meds covered? Me.

“I know Mr. C and we are so thankful.” I tug my arm, his as fingers dig into my skin.

Draven looks over at us again. “I said, let me go.”

Slowly he releases me. “The bids are in two days, and I need you to be on top of things.”

“I am.” I sure as hell am not but I’m not going to tell him that shit. He is not going to get away with this.

“If those Banners win those bids, I will come for you and your family,” he threatens.

I stay silent letting him talk, “I will kill you myself.”

“I’m going to tell him. I don’t care. I’m going to fix this” There I said it. I get those words out of my system. Feeling confident since I have Rhet by my side.

“Tell him? If you tell him, you go down with me for fraud. You will be in jail. As for your family—”

“What about them?” My hearts races from the thought.

“This is my clinic your mother gets treated at. It’s my doctors who go to your home to help your brother. It’s because of me your brother is being accepted into the Bio-N program. I can make your life hell. Think of the unpaid bills. I can have you arrested. Don’t forget that Mitchell. I will destroy you and your family.” He points his stubby finger in my face.

The car door opens and I know I have to act quickly.

“Well, it’s been fun, Mr. C.” I pull him into a hug. “Tell your wife, hi for me.”

“It’s too late now, Zeeta. Way too late.”

I didn’t even bother to look back. I slide into the car quickly and closed the door. Draven still stands outside.

“Draven.” He doesn’t move. “Draven, get in here.”

He bends, hanging his arm over the open car door and roof. He glares at me. Then he raises and says something to Mr. C before he slides into the car and closes the door.

Minutes later, my mom is asleep on my shoulder and I meet Draven’s eyes in the rare view mirror.

“Why are you afraid of him?” he asks.

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