Page 63 of Bound by Vengeance
She’s also socially awkward, being so sheltered her entire life. It’s another thing I have to keep in mind.
“Dad had me meet with William today.”
Bile rises up my throat. William is the leader, if that’s the correct term nowadays. He’s the one who determines your spouse match.
“He has men picked out for me, and I just can’t …” She trails off, and then I hear her soft crying on the other end of the phone.
“Tell me what you need, Breanna,” I prompt, hoping she comes out and says it. I try not to let the anger show through, afraid I might scare her.
“I want out. I don’t want to marry those men. Two are my cousins, and one is my half-brother. That’s just icky, Matthew.”
Icky. It reminds me of how sheltered my siblings are from the outside world. She may be going on sixteen, but she’s much younger than that socially.
“Alright. When do you want me to get you?”
“Just like that?” She sounds surprised, but she should know I mean business from Samantha. No way I’ll let her stay in that place if she doesn’t want to be there. My thoughts are, if William and James think she’s old enough to be picking out a potential husband to be with for the rest of her life, then she’s completely capable of making the decision that she doesn’t want to be in that life.
“Yep. What’s the plan?”
“I …” She hesitates. I forgot again that I need to walk her through it.
“When will Mom and the kids be gone while you’re at home? Or would you be able to leave at school?”
“Not at school; too many people. It has to be at the house and with dark cover. Either while everyone’s sleeping or when Mom goes to church tomorrow night.”
There’s only one option there. “When Mom goes to church.”
“I’m supposed to watch all the kids.”
Fuck.
“So, they’ll be there then?” Shit.
“Yeah.”
Okay, change in plans.
“Here’s the deal, since the kids are home, let’s do it while everyone’s sleeping. That’ll be better than the first.”
“Okay.”
“Tomorrow night, one in the morning, I’ll be waiting outside the back left window to the basement. You’re going to crawl through the window, and then we’re out of there. Got it?”
“I’m scared. If she catches us …”
“It won’t happen, and even if it does, I’m not the same little boy I was when I left. We’re doing this quietly, so I don’t jolt the neighbors and they start making phone calls, then I have a mob or cops on my hands. Quick and quiet.”
“Okay.”
“You only pack what you need in a duffle bag. One. Don’t bring curling irons and shit like that. Only bring clothes and personal things that you can’t get at a store. Don’t start packing until everyone goes to bed tomorrow. That way, no one will catch you and ask what you’re doing.”
“Okay.”
“Are you okay?” I ask when she says nothing else and the dead air takes over.
“Yeah, I’m just scared, but I can’t do it. I have to leave.”
“You leave, that means no contact with the other siblings or Mom. You’re on your own, but I’ll help you get all set up.”
