Page 9 of Bound by Vengeance
Not a lot I admire about my mother anymore, but her determination is still there. He hasn’t completely destroyed that yet, but it will happen in time. If only she’d just change her mind and get out.
“Yeah, you and what is it, four, eight, twelve? It’s been a long time since we’ve had this conversation; his numbers have to be up there.”
“How many sister-wives I have isn’t your business, Matthew. I appreciate your help—we all do—but you can’t come in here and dictate our lives.”
Crossing my arms, I stare at the woman who brought me into this world, took care of me, worked three jobs, and still does to put food on the table, and who read me stories before bed when she could.
Her tired eyes droop, and I can’t help wondering when was the last time she had a good night’s sleep. She’s probably up worrying about her asshat and what he’s doing with his other “wives.” He’s not really married to them. Instead, he says they are “spiritual soul mates,” whatever the fuck that means. He only has one wife who he’s legally bound to, and it isn’t my mother, who’s number two.
“You know, I don’t give a shit how many women want to put up with that fucker. Hell, the more the merrier. What I care about is the fucked-up mess you’re putting my brothers and sisters in. When your biological father is also your uncle, that shit is fucked up and twisted.” That’s just one of the fucked-up things going on in this cult. Yeah, that’s what it is. I don’t give a shit who says any different. Living it, I have a right to my opinions.
My biological father’s, mom’s husband, first wife is my aunt, my mother’s sister who is two years older than her. Yeah, so my fucking cousins are also my half-siblings. That shit is wacked. I’m down with a lot of stuff in this life, but that isn’t one of them.
Tears pool in her eyes, but she doesn’t allow them to fall. Another thing is, she’s strong.
“Breanna turns sixteen in a couple of months,” she reminds me.
Anger burrows as the bottom of my stomach falls to the ground like a brick. Fear has hit me a few times in my life. Seeing Austyn tied up was definitely one of them. Breanna turning sixteen is another.
Taking a step closer, her eyes lift to mine.
“Don’t let it happen, Ma. I’m serious as a heart attack. You’re the only one who can stop it and make this right.”
My heart feels as if a machete is having a fun time piercing through it as the past comes back to rock me on my heels. Guilt lays at my feet and eats me from the inside out.
I’d lost touch with my mother for a while because I was pissed as hell at her. During that time, shit happened that I can never change. That’s on me. I can’t let the same thing happen to Breanna. Not remembering her birthday is on me too. The weight on my shoulders gets heavier.
“It’s already in the works, Matthew, and you have no say.”
The robotic way she says those words eats at me. That’s him talking, not her. After this long, she just thinks it is. That pisses me off. She may as well be one of those zombies on that damn television show Cooper’s woman likes to watch.
“No. She deserves to choose who she wants to be with in this life. Not the other way around, and definitely not a fucking cousin, uncle, or what-the-fuck-ever-else he concocts. That shit is not right, and you know it. You saw Samantha go through it.
You can’t want that for Breanna. You can stop this.”
She gives out a loud sigh. “No, I can’t. It’s time for you to go.”
“You want me to take my money with me?”
Fear and panic crosses her features as her hand goes up to her neck. I know she needs it. She always needs it because her piece of shit husband doesn’t provide for her and my siblings. It baffles me why she stays, why she puts up with his shit. But, at this point, there’s nothing I can do. She continues to work her ass off for nothing; that’s her choice.
“Please, Matthew.” Her words are whispered, and I hate that, as well. If I could give her a fucking backbone, I would.
Reaching in my pocket, I pull out the wad of money and hold it out to her. She takes it quickly, as if it’s a mirage and if she doesn’t get it that moment, it will disappear. Truth, I’d give it to her, anyway. She needs it. My siblings need it.
I’m the oldest. Then there is Samantha, who is twenty-five and married off. Breanna, who’s turning sixteen. Ashley, who’s eleven. Brian, who’s nine. And Adam, the youngest, is seven. It’s a huge age gap, and with my mom’s age now, she doesn’t need to be popping out any more.
“Right. It’s been fun.” I turn and walk through the door, knowing my time here is done.
It always ends this way, because she chooses it to. Once, I thought she might just have the balls to actually let me see my brothers and sisters, but that was just hope, the one thing with my family a person should not have.
“Thank you,” she says as I face her again.
“I’m fuckin’ serious about Breanna. You can do something. You’re not helpless.” My look turns icy. By her small gasp, she sees it.
Saying nothing else, I get the fuck out of there.
It’s the fucking truth. I’ll do whatever it takes to get my sister out of that shit. Samantha was already gone before I could, but Breanna … she won’t live this shit if she doesn’t want to.
