Page 38 of Redeem
I freeze for a moment. They’re only three simple words, but they mean the world to me.
She trusts me.Me.
With a massive grin on my lips, I roll us over. Jumping up, I hold Lily against my chest and run. I don't stop until we're both hidden in her room with a belly full of laughter.
"I love having a big sister around," Lily says, snuggling into my chest.
I'll do anything to keep her safe.
No matter the consequences.
CHAPTER27
ADDIE / ISABELLA
"Remind me again why we have to watch this trash." Stella groans, squeezing her eyes shut. "I feel my brain cells dying little by little."
Serena scoffs, picking up a slice of pizza from my bedside table. "Because it's girls’ night and trashy TV is a must. It gives us a break from all the shit we gotta deal with in our fucked-up lives." She bites into the cheesy pizza and grins over at me.
"Hate to admit it, but Serena is right. As much as I hate the thought of watching this, it's doing a great job of helping me forget about all the shit going on," I say, looking back at Stella, who's leaning against the wall on the opposite end of my bed.
She rolls her eyes and shrugs. I guess things are different for her. I never really asked, but I’m sure her dad is a normal guy. Like, he’s not involved in crime and stuff. Pretty sure Arrow said that he was an accountant or something. But I’m glad she's my friend and we need to watch trashy TV.
We spend the next few hours lounging on my bed, watching trashy television, eating pizza, and it's pure bliss. But I can't help the guilt that's been eating away at me, reminding me that this may be the last time I get to see my friends.
My chest tightens like somebody is stepping down on it, increasing the pressure. I don't want to lose this. My first ever friends. I already lied to them once before, and that didn't turn out so great. I don’t want to leave without a trace. It's not fair.
The room goes silent, and I look up to find Serena and Stella staring at me with mixed looks. Serena holds the TV remote in her hand, and she switches it off, dropping it between us.
"I can practically hear your thoughts from here. You've been quiet all day, stuck in that little head of yours." Serena touches my forehead with her finger, and I shake my head. "What's going on?"
"This is most likely going to be the last time we can hang out together," I say, my head falling into my hands.
"Wait, hold up. Are you breaking up with us?" Serena huffs, peeling my fingers away.
"Yeah, that's not gonna happen. We are ride or die, bitch," Stella says as she inches closer to sit next to Serena.
"I guess I sort of am breaking up with you, but not by choice. I have to go away for a bit. I'm not sure how long, and you can't ask why," I reply, playing with the bottom of my tee.
"Well, that's not suspicious at all.I might have to break up, but not by choice. You have a choice." Serena scoffs and Stella whacks her over the back of the head. Serena curses under her breath.
"I know this is probably a stupid question, but is everything okay?" Stella asks and I sigh.
"Honestly, no. But I’ll be safe, I promise. I'm going to be with Arrow, Emilio, Keegan, and Madden. They will protect me." And Lily, but I don't add that.
"They fucking better, or I’ll start a war looking for you. And you have no choice. You’re keeping us. Those guys can't keep us away," Serena says, her voice turning serious.
I laugh, knowing full well that she'd do that. "This isn't by choice, and I can't ask you both to come with me, either. That isn't fair," I say with a tight smile.
"I mean, if you're going somewhere that's tropical and full of hot older guys, then I could be swayed." Serena smirks.
"Wouldn't your family keep you close?" I ask with a frown, knowing full well that my family won't let me go without a fight. That's why we have to be careful. The mafia sticks together, and we all have a role to play in our family business.
Mine is simple—to marry into a family that my father arranges and benefits from. That turned out great for me, and now it's Emilio I'm to marry. I do love Emilio, ever since he gave me pretty red roses from his mother's garden, but I don't want him to be forced to marry me.
"I've got my family wrapped around my little finger. They know better than to go against me. My father treats me well. He isn't like yours." Serena then frowns and mouths “sorry,” but it's true.
"You're lucky, then," I reply. "It's not all rainbows and sunshine for me. Quite the opposite. What about you?" I ask, facing Stella. She hasn't talked much about her family, and I've always been curious about her father.
